Challenges is something that Kelly Jeffrey has actively pursued throughout his entire coaching career.
With the Saskatchewan Roughriders offence in 2022 averaging 18.6 points per game, finishing last in the league in total yards and allowing a league high 77 sacks, it appears that Jeffrey has found his toughest challenge yet after he was named the new offensive coordinator for the green and white on Monday.
On Tuesday, the Riders introduced the man who will be tabbed to reverse the fortunate of the green and white offence. Jeffrey says that he is looking forward to the task that awaits him.
“I don’t look for established organizations. ” He continued. “I don’t want to follow up a legend and have things easy. I see opportunity and I see an opportunity to improve greatly.”
Prior to joining the Riders in 2022, Jeffrey spent time with the Edmonton Elks in 2020 and with the Toronto Argonauts in 2016 as their special teams coordinator. He also contains several years coaching at the U Sports level as he served as head coach for the Mount Allison Mounties for eight seasons (2008-15).
When the Riders began their process of replacing Jason Maas as the team’s new offensive coordinator, it was believed that Saskatchewan had a long list of candidates.
Calgary Stampeders quarterbacks coach and local product Marc Mueller, former Montreal Alouette head coach Khari Jones, former Ottawa REDBLACKS head coach Paul LaPolice were some of the names speculated early in the hiring process.
But as the weeks unfolded, the list of potential candidates began to dwindle with Mueller announcing he would remain in Calgary, Jones decided to accept an offer from Ottawa to become their new offensive coordinator and LaPolice joining a group of coaches including Jarious Jackson and Markus Howell who reportedly declined to interview for the position.
This past week it appeared that the final two candidates for the Riders vacant offensive coordinator position were Jeffrey and Toronto Argonauts receivers coach and passing game coordinator Pete Costanza before Costanza announced that he was withdrawing his name from further consideration.
It looked like the Roughriders offensive coordinator was not a desirable option for a prospective coach, a sentiment that Jeffrey disagrees with.
“As people turned this down, if they’re so great then the circumstances about this organization shouldn’t matter, if they’re worried about the head coach or the G.M., their status, those things shouldn’t matter if you think you’re the guy for the job, I think I’m the guy for the job.”
Last week when running back Jamal Morrow agreed to terms on a contract extension, he gave his positional coach from last season a ringing endorsement for the offensive coordinator position. The support was appreciated by the former running backs coach, who felt that he had strong relationship with Morrow and the rest of the Roughriders running backs which was built on a strong foundation of trust. Saskatchewan’s new offensive coordinator believes that you can push a player as much as they trust you.
“I felt like I was the head coach of the running backs, which Craig (Dickenson) really supports and wants you to be, I did my best to establish trust, believe in those guys and worked with them in a partnership. ”
There are several features that Jeffrey will be looking to install in the Roughriders offence in 2023. He wants the unit to have the ability to play both a fast moving up tempo offence, along with the potential to drain the clock with a solid rushing attack.
During his interview with the Roughriders, Jeffrey said that a deep passing attack was something that was missing with Saskatchewan last season.
“I believe heavily in the play action game, max pro-ing and getting some double moves down the field, and getting those big chunk plays.”
With the offensive coordinator position now filled, the next big question that the Roughriders will need to solve, is who will be the team’s starting quarterback for the 2023 season. Jeffrey feels that he can adjust his offensive schemes to whomever the Riders decide to be the starter behind the centre.
“Over 17 years of coaching I’ve has pocket passers who can launch it down field, I’ve had athletic guys, I’ve had a little bit of everything, I’m kind of the believer that you take the offence and you bend it around the quarterback and not the only way around.”
Jeffrey didn’t rule out the possibility of Cody Fajardo returning to the Roughriders as the team’s starting quarterback as he noted the two have a little history after spending time together with the Argos in 2016. Along with Fajardo, the Roughriders offensive coordinator says they are considering several options at quarterback when free agency begins.
Following the conclusion of the 2022 season, Jeffrey was the lone offensive coach retained by the Roughriders, as the team let go Maas, receivers coach Travis Moore and offensive line coach, Stephen Sorrells, who has since joined the Edmonton Elks coaching staff.
