Blocking. Running. Catching. Special Teams.

If you want to play fullback for the Stampeders, you better be a versatile athlete.

“It’s what a Stampeders fullback needs to do,” said running backs coach Marc Mueller.

“Pass blocking, run blocking, catching passes, and obviously all of those guys play special teams, they’re part of our core group there. We’re happy with that group. They need to be part of our leaders, on and off the field, and we’re expecting big things from them.”

“There’s a lot being asked,” admitted veteran fullback Charlie Power. “But we handle it well and it’s good that we have a bunch of guys who’ve been here for a few years.”

Being able to make plays in a variety of ways makes the fullback position extremely valuable to the organization, however it can put a lot of stress on the group as they have to be prepared for all situations.

“It’s a challenge for sure,” Power said. “Sometimes you’re going from specials then right into fullback plays. It’s a different mindset you have to have. Instead of trying to tackle someone, you’re trying to hold them up, so it’s a bit different.”

Power, a fifth year CFLer, is the elder statesman of the group now that Rob Cote has retired from the league. He’s joined by fourth-year man William Langlais, sophomore Ante Milanovic-Litre, and rookie Boston Rowe.

And while they’re without Cote’s presence for the first time in 11 seasons, no one is trying to fill that void by themselves.

“No one is here to replace Rob,” stated Mueller. “We need those guys to be themselves and play hard. It’s a veteran group: Will is in his fourth year, Charlie is in his fifth year, and Ante is in his second year. It’s those guys that we need to lean on their leadership. They’ve seen a lot of things in their time here and we’ve got to lean on that and lead the group.”

That’s not to say there hasn’t been a noticeable change, though.

“It’s different, for sure,” said Power. “Rob was a big presence in the locker-room and a big presence in the running back room. But it’s been good. We have a great group, we brought in some awesome tailbacks, we got Terry back. And then the fullbacks with myself, Will, and Ante, we’ve been around. Rob taught us well.

“It’s been different, but it’s been good.”

As the veteran of the group, Power is trying to take responsibility for some of the lost leadership.

And although it’s something new for him, he’s comforted by the fact that he has a great group of backs surrounding him, which makes his life easier.

“I’m trying to find my way. You know I’m not a super vocal guy, but I’m trying to be more vocal,” Power acknowledged. “I’m just working hard, helping the new guys with some of the scheme stuff that they might have issues with, but honestly, the guys have caught on fast. Will has been around, Boston is really smart so he’s catching on, and then we’ve got Mueller who gets us prepared. It’s a good room to be in and it’s an easy one to be a vet in.”

“I’ve got to be myself, but losing Rob is a big void. I’ve tried to take on a leadership role and I’ll continue to do that over the course of the season.”