Riders chasin’ Jason?
Eyeing fired Esks head coach as OC in case McAdoo exits
REGINA — A situation may arise whereby the Saskatchewan Roughriders create Maas confusion for opposing defences.
Per a Wednesday report by TSN’s Farhan Lalji, the Roughriders have sought permission from the Edmonton Eskimos to interview Jason Maas for the position of offensive co-ordinator.
The Roughriders currently employ Stephen McAdoo as their OC but he — like each of the team’s assistant coaches — is on an expiring contract, according to 3DownNation. com’s Justin Dunk.
McAdoo, however, is reportedly a candidate to become the Ottawa
Redblacks’ chief offensive strategist. Hence the Roughriders’ overtures toward Maas, who had been the Eskimos’ head coach for the past four CFL seasons.
Even though the Eskimos recently fired Maas, they must still be approached by any other team that wishes to speak to him — the reason being that he is under contract to Edmonton through the 2020 season.
Got all that?
It does make the head spin, especially when speculation pertains to the purpose of the Roughriders’ request.
Are they simply covering their bases in case McAdoo joins another team?
Failing that, do the Roughriders want McAdoo to stay in Regina?
Does McAdoo want to stay in Regina?
His status has been the subject of considerable debate since the Roughriders lost 20-13 to the visiting Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Division final on
Nov. 17.
There are two ways of appraising McAdoo’s performance during the 2019 season.
Positive: With McAdoo choreographing the offence, quarterback Cody Fajardo unexpectedly blossomed into a CFL all-star — and the West’s most outstanding player. After scoring a leaguelow 25 offensive touchdowns in 2018, the Roughriders increased that total by 18. The offence, as a whole, was solid.
Negative: The play-calling in the West final has been heavily criticized. During the fourth quarter, the Roughriders were at or inside the Blue Bombers’ five-yard line on three possessions, only to emerge without a touchdown. Whether it was a botched shotgun handoff on second-and-goal from inside the two, or an unsuccessful third-and-goal run from the one-yard line with an injured Fajardo moving laterally, the result was unsatisfactory. Many fans were understandably apoplectic.
Such was the sentiment for much of the 2018 season. But remember that the 2017 Roughriders had led the league in touchdown passes, with 35, with Kevin Glenn and Brandon Bridge at the controls.
It is all fodder for a spirited discussion about McAdoo’s future — the contention here being that, despite the strategic issues in the West final, he should be invited back.
The continuity would benefit Fajardo, who in May will begin a CFL season as a team’s unrivalled starter for the first time.
The retention of McAdoo would allow Fajardo to hit the ground running in 2020 and eliminate the need to consume time by mastering a new system.
This year’s West final notwithstanding, Fajardo has established that he can prosper in collaboration with McAdoo, so why mess with a proven formula?
Maas would be an excellent successor to McAdoo, should it come to that. But there isn’t a pressing need to force the issue, unless McAdoo leaves of his own volition.