Roughriders’ Maas faces familiar foes in West Final

Jason Maas is familiar with Winnipeg’s coaching staff , but he knows he can’t be complacent.

Maas’ Saskatchewan Roughriders offence will try to solve the puzzle of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defence in the CFL West Division final. Kickoff for the game at Investors Group Field is set for 3 p.m. Sunday.

The Bombers defence has allowed an average of 13.4 points per game this year as defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall’s group was the CFL’s best. The Riders on offence have averaged 20.7 points per game in the regular season – third-fewest in the league.

Maas and Hall have had to gameplan for each other numerous times throughout their CFL coaching careers — Maas is in his ninth season coaching while Hall is in his 27th.

“They’re just well-coached more than anything,” Maas said. “With a bye-week, you always wonder if they are going to throw you something you’re not prepared for. That’s the beauty of having as much experience as Richie has is that he’s seen it all and done it all and he can throw in a wrinkle in there with a veteran group and they can probably get the job done.”

However, Maas pointed out that no one has been able to really find a way to overcome the Winnipeg defence in 2021.

“What’s gotten them here, you feel like they are pretty comfortable with and you know the things you expect to see but they do throw some wrinkles in there,” Maas said.

Along with linebacker Adam Bighill, who was voted Winnipeg’s most outstanding defensive player, the Riders will need to find a way to slow the pass rush from defensive ends Jackson Jeffcoat and Willie Jefferson. Jeffcoat had nine sacks this year while Jefferson had seven.

“There are things you can try to help with but generally speaking those guys are good and paid to do what they do for a reason so as much as we try, our guys have to play well and use really good technique and we’ve got to mix it up on them so they can’t just pin their ears back (and rush the quarterback),” Maas said. “That’s always important when you play great rush ends.”

One of the ways to do that is to have a strong running game. The Riders were able to use running back William Powell to help deal with the pressure from the Calgary Stampeders early in the game, with Powell rushing 18 times for 73 yards in the 33-30 overtime win.

“Getting the big guys up front tired and worn down in case you do have to get into more passing situations late in the game or you’re mixing it up, that thought of physically controlling the line of scrimmage is big,” Maas said.

Maas isn’t just facing a familiar face in Hall – Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea was the Toronto Argonauts special-teams co-ordinator while Maas was the quarterbacks on the same staff.

“I feel very privileged to know Mike on a personal level. I love the guy and I think he’s a great guy – he’s a fantastic football coach and he’s a fantastic player. He’s grown into the head coach he is today by experience,” Maas said. “The thing about going against O’Shea and those guys is that they are well-coached. You can see his players love playing for him and they will get everything out of their guys playing at home and all that stuff.”

While Winnipeg won both games against the Riders this year by a combined 56-17 score, Maas said Sunday’s game is going to be about who can execute their game plan better.

“Ultimately they just made more plays than us in the second half of both games and you’ve got to tip your hats to them – they are as good as they are for a reason,” Maas said. “It’s up to us to match that intensity and that level of play in the second half and hopefully do it better early so we don’t have to come from behind.”

Notes: Defensive end A.C. Leonard (hip) didn’t practice Friday. He is expected to be a game-time decision.

Slotback Duke Williams (toe) didn’t finish practice and his status is uncertain. Head coach Craig Dickenson said he believes Williams will play.

Linebacker Micah Teitz (foot) isn’t expected to play in the West final and defensive lineman Micah Johnson (ankle) didn’t practice Friday but is expected to play.