Jeffcoat’s retirement leaves hole on Bombers defensive line

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This article was published 13/05/2024 (484 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It sank in on Day 1 of training camp for Willie Jefferson.

After terrorizing quarterbacks with fellow Blue Bombers defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat for five seasons, he now needs a new partner in crime.

Jeffcoat, who played his entire six-year CFL career in Winnipeg and recorded 38 total sacks, retired during the off-season at the age of 33.

“It’s not me and Jackson no more. It’s not going to be the dynamic duo, the Twin Towers, the Texas Boys, and everything that everyone called us. Now, it’s just me,” said Jefferson, also 33, after Day 2 of training camp on Monday.

“It’s sad because that was my guy for a few years… Now that he’s not here, it’s just different.”

Filling the shoes of a premier pass rusher is no easy task.

“Jackson had the innate ability to make really big plays when they mattered most,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

“He was just so stout in all areas. I often said, not just cause of his dad (former Dallas Cowboys great Jim Jeffcoat), but he was born to rush the passer.”

Someone must be the next man up, and it might just be second-year pro Celestin Haba.

The Texas A&M-Commerce product didn’t sign with the Bombers last year until May 30 but made strong enough of an impression in the final preseason game to earn a spot on the roster. Jeffcoat ended up missing the first three games and Haba responded with three sacks in his first three starts.

“When I heard (Jeffcoat retired), it was just like, ‘OK, that’s an open spot. So be prepared to try and make the best out of it so I can put myself in position to have that starting spot.’ My mindset is to step right into his shoes. He wears a size 12, I wear a size 12, too. I’m just going with the flow and know how they operate the Winnipeg way and I’ll keep doing that to the best of my abilities,” said Haba, a 24-year-old from South Carolina.

“Obviously, it’s a different mindset (this year). Of course, I’m more focused, more confident, but at the same time, I’m not too confident. It’s still an open competition.”

It’s a competition that also features newcomer Chauncey Rivers who played four games with the Green Bay Packers in 2021. Just when the edge rusher was starting to find his footing in the NFL, a torn ACL took him out.

He initially signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2020 where he dressed for one regular-season game.

“Being undrafted there’s always that title portrayed on you that you’re just a body. Until you change that narrative, and they see you can make a play or two, or you go in there and you’re disciplined, you’re learning fast, you’re catching onto the scheme, and they see that you honestly want to be there, you honestly want to be on the team. And once you find that, the sky’s the limit, but it’s always kind of hard because you got everybody in front of you,” said Rivers, 26, who once sacked Buffalo Bills superstar quarterback Josh Allen in a preseason game.

“You’re not gonna get that many reps, you’re not gonna get that much coaching, it’s like that… I was just getting at that level where coaches were trusting me, I was getting more reps in the games, and it was kind of heartbreaking to tear my ACL in a practice.”

After using 2022 to recover, Rivers got back into action in 2023 with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL where he recorded 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The Atlanta, Ga., resident recently tried out for the UFL, but didn’t make the cut, so he reached out to Bombers defensive back Brian Cole — who also went to Mississippi State — about continuing his career in Winnipeg.

It turns out Rivers, who missed rookie camp owing to an issue with his passport, was already on the radar of Bombers assistant general manager Danny McManus.

Since arriving, he’s peppered Jefferson with questions to get up to speed on the Canadian game.

Virginia Tech’s TyJuan Garbutt, who played one game with the Bombers last year, is also in the mix for the opening.

“I heard (Jeffcoat) was one of the people you had to double team a lot and he got after the quarterback,” said Rivers.

“I just want to do the same, honestly.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31