Some of the Stamps’ most prized off-season acquisitions won’t be running out of the tunnel on game day before thousands of Red-and-White clad fans.

Or sporting a headset while frantically sifting through a call sheet.

With the recent addition of iPads featuring SkyCoach technology at Stampeders headquarters, CFL coaches around the league will be capable of accessing game footage from a full slate of TSN cameras immediately after each whistle blows. A total of four tablets will made available to each team either up in the press box or down on sideline during 2016 matchups, enabling coaching staffs to analyze video from numerous angles before consulting with players following every series.

Users are able to filter through various aspects of games – as well as practices – such as personnel packages, down and distances and specific play calls. Rewind, fast-forward and zoom features are also included.

“It will allow the coaches and the players to review the series as they come off the field,” explained Ross Folan, the Stamps director of video operations and IT coordinator now entering his 24th season with the club. “It allows you to make real-time adjustments. They’ll see how (other teams) are doing that blitz and if a player missed a coverage, they can see how that happened. And if a player gets a sack, they’re probably going to want to watch themselves.”

A five-year, $400-million agreement between the NFL and Microsoft saw the introduction of the Sideline Viewing System via Surface tablets to NFL games in 2015, yet only static photographs have been made available for in-game review by coaches and players.

“The NFL last year did a pre-season test of moving video, but they have not, in a regular-season game, had moving video on the sidelines,” Folan noted. “When you see the Microsoft Surfaces on the sideline, those are (just showing) images, those are just (showing) stills.”

Bo Levi Mitchell, sure to be one of the Stamps’ most avid users of the high-tech tool, sees the technological breakthrough as a long time coming.

“I’ve wanted that since college,” remarked the all-star signal caller, who left Eastern Washington in 2011. “They used to have just the pictures, and that’s OK, but having that film is a huge deal. A lot of times, you come in at halftime and you think you’ve been seeing something, you talk about it, and then come out (for the second half) and it’s not what you saw. Then all of a sudden, you get into the film and you’re like, ‘Oh, OK, that’s what it was.’ Now you can get it instantly for the next play.”

In fact, Mitchell has wasted no time familiarizing himself with the software as the revolutionary SkyCoach app has already become a go-to resource throughout training camp for the former Grey Cup MVP.

“In the mock game, we had one on the second play where I thought Joe (West) broke his route too deep, but really he broke his route at the right depth,” explained Mitchell, often times sharing a screen with quarterbacks coach Ryan Dinwiddie. “When we’re on the same page, it’s easy for us to look at that and say, ‘You know what, you were good on your depth and I’ve just got to make a better throw.’ Now you’re not arguing on the sideline, you’re not getting the riffles between guys.  So it’s a big deal to have that and really be able to create different plays off of it.”

Bearing in mind that the opposing defence will be afforded the very same state-of-the-art system, Mitchell is ready to put his newfound film study to the ultimate test.

“I wouldn’t say it’s an advantage because they also have it,” he said, “but I do think it’s going to create better football.”