Jeffcoat back to bolster Big Blue D-Line

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This article was published 14/06/2022 (1182 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Blue Bombers certainly missed Jackson Jeffcoat in Week 1.

Without him, the defensive line failed to sack Ottawa Redblacks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli in Friday’s 19-17 victory at home.

Fortunately for the Blue and Gold, the star defensive end, who was sidelined with an ankle injury, was on the field Tuesday and looks ready to play Friday night in Ottawa for the rematch.

“If they let me go, I’m ready. I’m excited,” Jeffcoat said after practice. “It’s always frustrating to miss any game, so I’m just amped up and hopefully I get the opportunity to go.”

Jeffcoat, who led the team with nine sacks a season ago, was on the shelf for most of training camp as well. The 31-year-old Texan isn’t worry about showing signs of rust.

“It’s like riding a bike when you go out there and play football,” Jeffcoat said.

Jeffcoat’s replacement was rookie L.B. Mack III who finished the contest with one tackle. Willie Jefferson was also quiet at the other end as the 2019 season’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player had two tackles.

“The D-line played well, there was just a couple things here and there that we need to correct,” said Jeffcoat.

“Watching film, we were able to see the things we can do. It wasn’t anything big. I think we’ll be able to have some fun this game.”

ROUGH WEEK 1 FOR ROSE

If there’s anyone that didn’t have fun on Friday, it’s defensive back Winston Rose. The former all-star led the CFL in interceptions in 2019, earning him a spot on the practice squad for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020, but Rose looked nothing like a guy with that résumé. Rose was torched by receiver Jaelon Acklin for 143 yards and that number could’ve been over 200 if Acklin didn’t drop a perfect deep pass from Masoli in the first half that would’ve gone for a touchdown. Rose’s worst play came against Marco Dubois, a 227-pound Canadian receiver who used to play fullback, for 54 yards. Dubois had nine catches, none longer than 25 yards, in his first three CFL seasons.

After the game, Rose said he was putting too much pressure on himself to make an interception and he paid for it.

“He’s been a top notch corner for a number of years. He’s led the league in interceptions for a couple of years. Something was a little off (but) everybody’s got all the confidence in the world in him,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

“I don’t think it’s any one thing and I also think you’re discounting the idea that it’s 12-man football, right? Sometimes, there might be someone else affecting the play. I expect Winston and Winston expects Winston to have a better outing. We’ll never judge a guy on one game, that’s for sure.”

BOMBERS ADD QB

The Bombers added American quarterback Joe Mancuso to the roster from the suspended list on Tuesday. With Dakota Prukop put on the six-game injured list, Mancuso, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards during his five-year career at the University of Richmond, has a shot to take over short yardage duties.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31