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Four times, McDiarmid has been part of Grey Cup teams, including title wins in 2000 with the Lions and the 2013 Roughriders.

For the past two seasons, the Argos’ special teams were under the guidance of Kevin Eiben, an all-time great as a player who had never coached at the pro level. Eiben, however, had no control when a field goal was missed or an Argos punt return did not flip the field.

The bottom line, though, is the Argos’ special teams, like other facets of their game, was not good, and too often well below standards. Even to the peripheral observer of the team, change was necessary. It’s why Chamblin was appointed as head coach, why a new special teams co-ordinator was necessary and why a new voice to oversee the team’s offence was a must.

The name being bandied about to guide the Boatmen on offence is Marcel Bellefeuille, who once served as head coach in Hamilton. But again, no official word on the Argos’ new regime has been made, including the team’s new-look front office.

When McDiarmid was shown the door in Edmonton, assistant Dave Jackson also became a casualty of the special-teams purge.Jackson’s name has also been linked to the Argos as an assistant.

Some key Canadians on special teams — all-star guard Ryan Bomben and long-snapper Jake Reinhart come to mind — have been signed in recent weeks, but explosive players on all sides of the ball must be acquired.

Martese Jackson had moments in the return game, but he lost the faith of the team’s previous coaching regime and was traded to Edmonton. Like many CFLers, he is eligible for free agency next month.

The Argos are coming off a four-win season, a year removed from winning the Grey Cup.