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On the SportsCage, every Monday we talk with a member from the Saskatchewan Roughriders' coaching staff. This week, Teagan Witko and Dave Thomas chatted with Jeremy O'Day.
The Riders' vice president, football operations and general manager Jeremy O'Day is optimistic about the new CFL rules set down by commissioner Stewart Johnston.
"I know it's going to be a different look on the field, different rules. I know that everyone is very opinionated on whether they like the changes or whether they don't like the changes, but ultimately we're all employed by the CFL and sometimes things change. I think that everyone wants change until there's change and then they don't want the change," O'Day said on the SportCage.
"I give them credit for trying to do things a little differently, looking outside the box to see if there are ways we can improve the game. I know that when we moved the hashes [in 2022] everyone was concerned about the hashes, and I think our scoring is up the most it's ever been in our league, so sometimes you do have to try things. I think some of them, personally, are great. Other ones, I'm going to wait and see what the numbers show and how it impacts our game. Everyone watched the games last weekend and the goalpost got hit quite a few times. I'm open to change, and we'll see what the numbers say."
Commissioner Johnston issued those changes on September 22, they will come in effect over the next two years. In 2026, all nine CFL teams will be required to have benches on opposite sides of the field. The rouge will be modified so that it will only be awarded if a returner can't bring the football out of the end zone or a single point is voluntarily conceded by taking a knee in the end zone. That replaces the old rule under which the rouge was given when a punt or a missed field goal went through the end zone. The 20-second play clock will change to a 35-second play clock for next season. In 2027, the goalposts will be moved back to the end zone. Also, the end zones will be shortened from 20 yards to 15 yards; additionally, fields will also be shortened from 110 to 100 yards.
Besides talking about the new CFL rules, O'Day wanted to elaborate on how he and head coach Corey Mace pranked offensive linemen Jermarcus Hardrick and then told him he had been named the West Division's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.
"Our head coach is really good at getting a feel for players and it wasn't really by design with Jermarcus. We read off each other, the mood of Jermarcus, and Corey wasn't sure where I was going to go with it. It timed up perfectly because I think Jermarcus got into it with one of the defensive lineman at practice and I think Corey had to talk to him a little bit, so it led up to a perfect environment," O'Day said.
"We're doing it for a reason because we care about the player, it loosens the tension a little bit, but also it tells them that we have a fun side to us and also gets the point across of how awesome of an accomplishment it is for him to be the Western nominee for offensive lineman of the year. We can share a moment with him, I know that we like to do that anytime our players are given an award or they achieve something great. We like to try to give them the message because we know it's special to them, then dial them back in by saying, 'Hey, it's not about you, it's about the team.' Let's go get the next win."
Meanwhile, in recent news, people in Saskatchewan celebrated when they learned the Grey Cup is returning to the province in 2027.
"I don't know if you put any more pressure than you do on any other year. If you think of two years down the road, then you're not really focused on now. Ultimately, what we're trying to establish here is long-term success and put ourselves in positions where we have home playoff games. If we put ourselves in that position enough times then hopefully you're going to have chances to win the Grey Cup, so we'll continue to do that," O'Day explained.
"We're always thinking in the now but also in the future. I think that I have to do that a little more than the coaching staff or the players, but that's my job, that's what I signed up for and it's the exciting part of the job. We're going to attack it, as every year, we're going to try to put the best roster available."
Overall, 2027 will be Saskatchewan's fifth time hosting the Grey Cup, the other years: 2022, 2013, 2003, and 1995.
The Riders host the B.C. Lions in the West Final on Saturday at Mosaic Stadium. Teagan Witko, Justin Dunk, and Wes Cates bring you the pre-game show at 2:30 p.m. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder have the game call at 5:30 p.m. Listen or watch our detailed coverage on the 620 CKRM Co-operators Rider Broadcast Network.
