‘I believe I can help’: Jeffrey excited for opportunity as Riders’ offensive co-ordinator

Kelly Jeffrey isn’t one to shy away from a challenge.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ new offensive co-ordinator’s first head-coaching role came in 2002 at Mayville State University, a program that only had one winning season in 34 years.

Then in 2008, he became the head coach of the Mount Allison Mounties, a program that had a 3-45 record in its previous 48 games as well as a 105-point loss in 2001.

“I don’t look for established organizations. I don’t look for somewhere where everything is rolling. I don’t want to follow up a legend where everything is easy. I see opportunity and I see an opportunity to improve greatly,” Jeffrey told media Tuesday in a Zoom call from his home in Fredericton, N.B.

His next challenge will be improving a Riders’ offence that finished the 2022 CFL season in the bottom third of most statistical categories, including touchdowns scored (32, eighth in the league), net offence (302.6 yards per game, ninth), average yards per play (5.6, ninth), first downs (321, ninth), first downs passing (174, ninth), passing yards per game (233.6, eighth) and average gain per pass (7.8, tied for seventh).

“When I look at the Riders and our struggles we had last year, I believe I can help. I think I’m going to bring good leadership (and) a positive attitude. I’m going to put guys in a position to be successful  and we’re going to work hard to get playmakers the ball in ways that they can do damage on offence,” said Jeffrey, who coached the team’s running backs last season.

He also will be Saskatchewan’s quarterbacks coach next season.

The job came open Nov. 1 when the organization announced Jason Maas had been fired after the team went 6-12 in 2022.  Offensive line coach Stephen Sorrells and wide receivers coach Travis Moore were informed their contracts would not be renewed.

Maas has since been interviewed for the Montreal Alouettes’ head-coaching job while Sorrells has been hired as the Edmonton Elks’ offensive line coach.

The Riders reportedly interviewed or requested interviews with numerous candidates during the hiring process.

Jeffrey admitted he knows he wasn’t the first choice for the job, but will use that as motivation this upcoming season.

“I’m very fired up and pumped about it. I’m going to use that as fuel,” Jeffrey said. “People turned this down. If they are so great, then the circumstances about this organization shouldn’t matter. If they are worried about the head coach and (general manager) and their status, those things shouldn’t matter if you think you’re the guy for the job.

“I’m betting on myself and if you bet on yourself, then the outside factors don’t ring true.”

Along with filling out the rest of his offensive staff, Jeffrey and head coach Craig Dickenson will need to determine who the team’s starting quarterback will be. Cody Fajardo hasn’t been offered a contract yet, but Jeffrey said he has faith in the 30-year-old pivot if he comes back to Saskatchewan in 2023.

“Cody is a good player. We’ve got history together. When I was in Toronto in 2016, he was my personal protector for a while on the punt team. He was someone a long time ago I identified as a strong athlete who was versatile and could do a lot of stuff,” Jeffrey said. “All of these quarterbacks that we’re evaluating can be successful and Cody is one of them. I like his style of play.

“Over 17 years of coaching quarterbacks, I’ve had pocket passers who can launch it downfield. I’ve had athletic guys. I’ve had a little bit of everything. I’m a believer that you take an offence and bend it around the quarterback and not the other way around. If Cody were to be the guy, we would win games and would win a Grey Cup and bend the offence to things he could do really well.”

Another major point for the Riders this off-season is improving their pass-protection. They gave up a league-high (and team-record) 77 sacks in 2022.

“We’ve got to be able to help those guys out and the quarterback play is one of those things we can do better at,” Jeffrey said. “The Canadians that we have currently on the roster and had this year, I really believe in them. I think they are tough as nails and I think they really tried and worked their tail off.

“We can help out those guys with scheme and how we coach the quarterbacks and getting rid of the ball on time and moving the pocket with the play call.”

But while Jeffrey looks forward to the challenge 2023 will bring, he admitted it’s a dream come true to finally get this opportunity.

“There’s no place I’d rather be. I just want to say thank you to my family – my wife and kids who make an incredible sacrifices so that I can go out and get my dream job. And this is my dream job. I’m excited to be a part of Rider Nation and can’t wait for 2023 to get here,” Jeffrey said.