MAAS TAKES CONTROL
Former QB Esks new coach
Eskimos general manager Ed Hervey remembers the chemistry he had as a wide receiver on the field with former Esks quarterback Jason Maas.
On Monday, the team announced its decision to embrace that formula again and welcomed Maas back to Edmonton as the team’s 21st head coach.
Maas fills the job left open by Chris Jones, who departed just days after leading Edmonton to a Grey Cup victory for an opportunity to be both coach and general manager of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Maas leaves his job as the Ottawa Redblacks’ offensive co-ordinator to take his first post as a head coach in the Canadian Football League.
“He understands the dynamics of the locker-room — not just this locker-room, not only the Eskimos’ way — he understands the dynamics of a player, and of the players of today,” Hervey said.
Maas and Hervey got to know each other during six years with the Green and Gold from 2000 until 2005. They competed in six CFL West Finals in that span, allowing their camaraderie to grow as their careers continued.
They beamed at the highs, including two Grey Cup wins in 2003 and 2005, and withstood the lows, including three West Final losses.
“There’s a lot of trust in Ed from my standpoint. I’ve known him for a long time, 16 years now, he’s always been the same guy to me,” Maas said. “I trust him. I’m loyal to him. We are great friends, but that doesn’t get in the way of the job that we have to do.”
Hervey said he saw Maas was more than just a player from the outset, saying his ability to communicate with other players is what stands out.
It could be a byproduct of spending years as a backup on the sidelines when he wasn’t receiving snaps as a starter in the CFL.
In the 2015 campaign, observers such as Hervey took note as Maas drew the best out of 40-year-old Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Henry Burris.
Ottawa had a 12-6 record in 2015 and ultimately fought the Eskimos for the Grey Cup.
“When Henry Burris made the statement during Grey Cup week about his relationship with Jason, he solidified what I already knew about Jason, and his ability to teach and be able to relate to a player regardless,” Hervey said.
As for Maas’ foresight, he never imagined in his time on the Eskimos’ player roster that he and Hervey would one day be directing the team as coach and GM.
“When we were playing back in the day, I always thought Ed wanted to be a truck driver,” he said. “So the fact that he got into the scouting and the general manager, this fits him better than anything and, again, when I knew finally this was the position he was taking on, I was just hoping one day I’d be a part of it as well.”
After knowing one another for 16 years, Hervey recognizes just what he has in Maas.
“In the football world, football community, we know who can do it and who can’t; we know who’s acting and who isn’t, and when you’re given an opportunity, you don’t want to put an actor in this position, and I can assure you that I have not put an actor in this position,” he said. “I put a guy who is capable of getting the job done and I’m very proud of that.”
Hervey said he values Maas for what he will bring to the Eskimos both on the field and in his relationships with the broader Edmonton community.
“It’s how you treat your teammates, it’s how your accountable to every action that you have, it’s about your dedication, your discipline, your desire; come into work every single day and wanting to work like a blue-collar person,” Maas said. “That’s what the Eskimos way was to me, and being a part of the community.
“And so, that’s what I foresee in the vision, and I know that’s been here, I know Ed is very strongly opinionated about that.”
As for the pressure of becoming maintaining the throne as Grey Cup champions, Maas said he doesn’t feel any of it, but is clear on the goal
“I played quarterback here for nine years, I know what the expectations are every single year here; you’re expected to win.”
Maas said he plans to make Edmonton his permanent home and will be joined by his wife Marjean, daughter Makaela and son Garyn.
He alluded plans to select his coaching team on Monday, saying it will be a mix of veteran and young coaches. But said he will make formal announcements about his assistants in January.