Scott Grant/CFL.ca
In 1996, Rick Campbell was a 21-year old graduate assistant with the University or Oregon. Jason Maas was a quarterback on the Ducks trying to find his way, who could never win the starting job throughout his University career.
Fast forward 19-years later and the duo, who have won Grey Cups together, have game planned against each other, now have the Ottawa REDBLACKS set up to make a run for the Grey Cup.
Campbell, the second year Head Coach, asked Maas to join him last season. Maas took a pass, thinking he wasn’t quite ready to take full control of an offence after just a few seasons as an assistant under Scott Milanovich in Toronto.
When Campbell came calling again this off-season, Maas felt it was time to reunite with someone he’s known for almost his entire football career.
“I felt like after (2014) I was ready to take that next step and then getting the call from Rick, it was a little bit easier (to leave Toronto) with the past history with the coach, knowing the person, knowing the family. They’re a solid, solid family and great football people as well.”
When Maas was a quarterback in Edmonton, Rick was an assistant on the defensive side of the ball and at the very top of the organization was Rick’s father, Hugh, a Grey Cup Champion player, coach and executive.
Maas says the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.
“They have a very similar demeanor. They’re both pretty much laid back people who have a great command when you’re around them, a great presence about them.”
“Rick doesn’t get too high with the highs or too low with the lows. He’s pretty even keeled all the time and I feel that was the way Hugh led with the (Eskimos), you always knew what you were going to get every day with him. They always have the organization’s best interest at mind.”
“That’s something Rick preaches here is do what is best for the Ottawa REDBLACKS and I know that’s what one of the things the Hugh always preached with the Edmonton Eskimos.”
To Maas, he saw a great coach way back in Oregon when the only interaction he had with Campbell was as the holder as Campbell was assisting special teams. But what he heard from other players was all positive when it came to their young graduate assistant making his first steps as a coach.
Maas is now making his own steps toward the ultimate goal of being a head coach. First, was the assistant role in Toronto, working with quarterbacks and receivers.
Last year, he was taking a serious look on how Milanovich and offensive coordinator Marcus Brady prepared knowing he was thinking of taking a jump to run his own offence.
“Towards the end of the year, I felt I was getting it a little bit better at understanding it. To see what they went through every day as coordinators on how to prepare and how to prepare a team and I just felt I was getting closer and closer to it. After three or four years in a system, I felt if I’m not ready, when will I ever be ready.”
Maas looks just fine. While the offence isn’t among the top scoring teams in the league, they have tallied the most yards with Henry Burris leading the charge at quarterback.
After signing on with the REDBLACKS, Maas started to see the plan GM Marcel Desjardins and Campbell had to repair an offence that was lacking play makers for Burris to utilize.
In came Ernest Jackson, Brad Sinopoli, Chris Williams, Maurice Price and Greg Ellingson. A rookie coordinator’s dream.
“They all were different types of receivers. That’s kind of what you need in this offence, you need guys who can compliment each other and guys you can put in different spots. Once we went to our first mini-camp and I got to see all of them live, that’s when I really became excited.”
Having the talent is one thing, being able to put them in positions to succeed is another.
Head Coach Rick Campbell has been impressed with Maas’ work putting together an offence that is giving opposing defensive coordinators headaches.
“I knew what he brought from a knowledge point of view and competitiveness point of view and the good thing about our offence is it has clear reads for our quarterback, in terms of what we’re supposed to do on each play and where the ball is supposed to go.”
Maas admits as they play the Argonauts in a big game there is a lot of Scott Milanovich’s offence in his game plan, but he’s taken a little bit from each and every offence he’s seen, including going back to where it all began in the CFL in Edmonton and former coordinator Danny Maciocia.
But there are three keys to Maas’ system; protect the football, protect the quarterback and let our play makers make plays.
The work Maas is doing is earning big praise from not only his Head Coach but his players.
“Maas is a brilliant offensive mind in our league and I think he’s yet to hit his ceiling,” admits offensive lineman SirVincent Rogers.
“I think he’s got to continue to flourish and continue to grow. He could possibly be one of the best coordinators in this league at some point so hopefully he can keep dialing it up and keep us in a good place to be successful.”
While many point to the improvement in the receiving corps and additions to the offensive line as the reason for the quick turnaround in Ottawa, don’t ignore the man running the ship.
Although the best sign of a leader is one who takes none of the credit but all of the blame. A trait both Maas and Campbell have shared since they first walked into a locker room together 20 years ago.
