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If they feel the same way in a couple of months, so much the better.

“When you come to a new team everything is a project,” Claybrooks said Tuesday. “There are new systems, new things to learn. That’s why they call it training camp. You have to train them to get ready for the season.”

Sounds simple enough. Unfortunately, it’s not.

Photo by Al Charest / Al Charest/Calgary Sun/QMI Agency

“We understood there were going to be a lot of changes on the defensive side of the ball,” said Lions general manager Ed Hervey. “We tried to find the players and body types (Claybrooks) wanted in his system. We feel the combination of players in this group will give us a defence that will play good football.”

The next question is how soon?

Claybrooks, who made his CFL bones as Calgary’s defensive coordinator, and Stubler, who’s been coaching defences in Canada since the rouge came into the game, take over a group that wasn’t exactly The Steel Curtain last season and has since lost future hall-of-famer Solomon Elimimian and at least six other starters. The good news is defensive back Aaron Grymes arrives from Edmonton where he’ll team up with childhood friend T.J. Lee to give the Leos experience and quality in the secondary.

The more realistic news is there are question marks all over the field as the Lions prepare for their regular-season opener in less than a month.

“Every all-star started out as an unknown,” said Claybrooks. “You have to groom them. We think we have great coaches. Stubes and I have been in this system for longer than I can remember. We know what fits and we got the type of players who fit the system.”