The Edmonton Eskimo Accountability Two Step


We hear it after every game we need to look at this or that and get better for the next game. It is time for Jason Maas to look himself in the mirror and answer who’s running this show. Is Maas as the head coach getting through to the veterans or are the veterans running the show and doing whatever they want? Some say coach Chris Jones would have better control of this group of men who continue to find ways to stumble and play inconsistent sloppy football. However, some Esk fans forget that it was Mike Reilly, Adarius Bowman, J.C. Sherritt and Odell Willis among other veterans that instilled accountability in locker room last year. A core group of veterans that are still in that locker room today. So why do they Eskie continue to find ways to lose?


Is About Leadership


It seems that other than Mike Reilly there is no sense of urgency from the veteran leaders on the team. The theme of the Eskies media interviews this season has been a couple of minor fixes and the Eskies are back in race for first in the CFL west. Well reality has hit home and the Eskies are now battling for the playoff lives. While Maas can be an intense individual he also comes across as a player coach. At this stage of the season with a 5 - 6 subpar record the player coach needs to leave the room and the boss has to enter. It is time for the coaching staff as a whole get through to the team that there is no more time for platitudes, but rather it is put up or shut up time. If the Esks do not win the next 3 games they can kiss the playoffs goodbye in the west.

As good a leader as Reilly is he needs other leaders to step up in the room and on the field. In the last two games Willis has failed to be a playmaker, but he has created negativity with ill timed selfish penalties. In one act of foolishness Willis threw the shoe of Bakari Grant costing the Esks. Then there is the offside call in overtime. As much as Eskimos need Willis it is time he saw less of the playing field. In part for his poor and selfish play, but mostly for his failure to lead. Reducing the playing time of Willis will not solve the problem on its own, but it will imprint on the thinking of the locker room that bad choices come with consequences.


Game Plan Adjustments

http://yegboneyard.blogspot.ca/2016/...ility-two.html