Eskimos treating final six games like playoffs

CFL.ca Staff

EDMONTON — Coming of off their second bye week of the season, the Edmonton Eskimos are getting prepped to embark on their final six games of the season, pushing to secure a home playoff spot.

With the intensity that the last half of the season holds, Edmonton’s week off certainly brought some time to reset their minds and get refreshed before they head to the nation’s capital to take on the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Saturday.

“It was a great bye week,” Edmonton’s head coach Jason Maas said while addressing the media on Monday. “It’s nice to rest up, spend some time with the family and doing something other than football 24 hours a day, so it gives you a nice little break.

The Eskimos acquired Martese Jackson from Toronto last week during their bye, which should provide a boost to Edmonton’s return game. (The Canadian Press)

But as Mike Reilly says, a week off comes and goes faster than you expect.

“Same as every bye week, it seems like it’s taking forever at the beginning and then towards the end you wonder where all the time went,” the Eskimos starting quarterback stated on Monday. “I think everyone was excited to get back into town for those that left, and get back out onto the field. I think everyone is well rested, which is what you want going into the last third of the season.”

The bye week, however, wasn’t all for relaxation for some, especially for the Eskimos latest acquisition in return-man Martese Jackson, who was picked up via a trade with the Toronto Argonauts as both his old and new teammates were all enjoying the time off.

“Just business, that’s what I was told,” said Jackson, commenting on whether there was any particular reason for his departure from T.O..

Jackson joins the Green and Gold after spending the last two seasons with the Argos. During his time in the Double Blue, the native of Asheville, North Carolina has tallied two punt return touchdowns and a major off of a missed field goal, which came against the Eskimos last season.

When asked on whether anyone had brought that up since arriving to Edmonton, Jackson said with a chuckle, “Nah, ain’t nobody talking about it.”

Despite changing threads during the bye week, Jackson addressed there came some opportunity with the move coming while both the Argos and Eskimos spent Week 14 off.

“It gave me the chance to get comfortable because I got here Wednesday,” Jackson said. “A lot of the guys were gone but I was still here at the facility meeting people, going over certain protections and plays. I think it was a good thing.”

Edmonton’s general manager Brock Sunderland made comments last week when the trade was first announced that Jackson has the potential of being a star returner in the Canadian Football League.

On the compliment from Sunderland, Jackson said, “you just got to take it as motivation and try to live up to the standards for the team, and try to put your best work in every day to help the team be the best that they can be.”

The addition of an electric player like Jackson has certainly trickled its way to the face of the franchise as well, as Mike Reilly can’t wait to see the impact Jackson has for the team.

“He’s going to be a great addition for our team,” Reilly said. “He’s an athletic, dynamic guy that gives us a lot of opportunities on special teams, of course, but as we’ve done in the past, we try to fit guys like that into the offence here and there.”

Reilly stated the similarities in how the two offences are orchestrated is very similar with Jackson coming from a system run by an offensively-driven mind.

“Seems like a smart kid. Coming from Trestman’s offence, terminology is very similar to ours. I don’t expect it will take him long to figure it out and pick it up.”

Mike Reilly, accompanied by the latest acquisition in Martese Jackson, is hoping the Eskimos can seal their playoff hopes in the coming of weeks and ensure they’re playing their best football. (Walter Tychnowicz, CFL.ca)

With only six game remaining in the season for the Eskimos, the team is readying to quickly switch from their resting mindset over the bye week to getting prepared for a strong and tough push to ensure their playoff hopes.

This comes after the middle third of the season didn’t quite go as planned for the Eskimos, dropping games against the Lions, Tiger-Cats, as well as the Labour Day Classic versus the Stampeders.

“I think the second six (games) we played really good football,” head coach Jason Maas stated on Monday. “I think our record was 3-3, but I think we played better football than that. We didn’t put it all together in all three phases for the entire six games, I think that’s why you saw a 3-3 record rather than probably what it could have been. I still like the way we’re playing. I think we’re right there. (We) just have to finish this off and have a great six games.”

With the Eskimos currently sitting in second place of the West Division standings, Reilly and the Green and Gold aren’t ready to take any one of their remaining games lightly.

“I don’t think anybody feels like anything’s locked down, no matter who you are in this league,” Reilly said. “We all know the last part of the season is where you want to be playing your best football, and in order to do that you’re going to be playing against teams that have a lot to play for. We’re no different. It’s a bit of a log-jam in the West, which is kind of how it always is.”

The Eskimos face the REDBLACKS on Saturday in Ottawa, then matchups against the Bombers, Lions, Riders and another meeting with Ottawa all compiling their final six games of the schedule before playoffs.

“It’s a long way away,” Reilly says. “But each game you’re trying to build, and each game is important.”

“I think the second six (games) we played really good football. I think our record was 3-3, but I think we played better football than that. We didn’t put it all together in all three phases for the entire six games, I think that’s why you saw a 3-3 record rather than probably what it could have been. I still like the way we’re playing. I think we’re right there. (We) just have to finish this off and have a great six games.”

“We talked about it today,” Maas said. “These are six playoff games in a row the way we’re looking at it. The standings are so tight, you can’t slip up at all. Our focus has to be tight all week, every week, and it starts with this one.”

Article contains filed from Esks.com

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