Even though the calendar says 2022, Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson’s mind is already thinking about next year.
“This year feels like a fresh start, 2023 I know isn’t here yet, but it feels like it is.”
On Wednesday morning, Dickenson spoke to media from his home at Whitefish, Montana to discuss the hiring of Kelly Jeffrey as the team’s new offensive coordinator.
With an offensive coordinator now in place, the Roughrider organization answered the first major question of their offseason.
The Riders head coach were happy with all the candidates that they spoke throughout the hiring process, but said that they found themselves circling back to Jeffrey throughout their search.
“We feel like Kelly is a outstanding football coach, he’s a good person, he’s got respect of the room, the players really enjoyed playing for him and he’s done it before he’s been a head coach at the University and in the NCAA ranks and he’s been a play caller and an offensive coordinator for really for the majority of his coaching career.”
Dickenson believes that the former Mount Allison head coach is an excellent teacher and communicator and thinks those skills will be very helpful when he is installing the offence. The Riders head coach is also pleased that his new offensive coordinator is planning to make the system very quarterback friendly.
“Quarterback is the toughest position to play on the field, you got a lot of things going on and you guys trying to hit you at the same time, so I think it’s important we make our system as quarterback friendly whatever that means to each guy.”
Having an offence that will be customized to the quarterbacks strengths is something that Dickenson is happy to see, especially since the Roughriders are exploring their options in the QB market.
“I’m excited that he’s going to get a quarterback regardless of who the quarterback is, he’s going to identify the strengths of that quarterback and then he’s going to tailor the offence to that quarterback.”
With last season’s running backs coach now taking over the Saskatchewan offence, the head coach is looking to place a further emphasis on the ground game next year since that is a big part of Jeffrey’s coaching philosophy.
“To be a run first team and to rely heavily on the guys upfront, so that’s something we want to do and that’s something we’re going to address in free agency and I hope we’re able to do so.”
Before the hiring earlier this week, the majority of the conservation about the vacant position was about the potential candidates who began dropping out of the race. Dickenson said the news about individuals withdrawing their names is apart of the process and said that it also shows that there are other desirable coaching positions within the league.
General manager, Jeremy O’Day along with Dickenson are returning in 2023 with only one year remaining on their respective contracts, which caused people to speculate that the lack of long term security would be a deterrent for the possible candidates, but the Riders head coach doesn’t think his contract status was that big of a factor.
“Anytime you’re hiring coaches especially coordinators it means the year didn’t go as planned. I think if you’re a coach that’s in a good spot with a team that has a good roster that’s won a lot of games, you’re going to be reluctant to move. ”
Filling out the rest of the offensive staff is the next item on the agenda for the Roughriders, adding he’s discussed the receivers and running backs coach with several candidates and is hoping to have someone in place in the near future.
