In a move to shake things up for a struggling 2023 Edmonton Elks season, head coach and GM Chris Jones announced yesterday that quarterbacks coach Jarious Jackson has been promoted to offensive coordinator.

The move comes entering a week 9 bye week in which the struggling Edmonton Elks had a drastic display of any offensive output to put themselves in a position to compete thus far for the 2023 Canadian Football League season. In the end, the inevitable occurred, in which Stephen McAdoo will be relieved of his duties as offensive coordinator, and will be replaced by Jarious Jackson.

Stephen McAdoo will still be present in day-to-day operations with the Edmonton Elks. He will now be assisting with duties on the defensive side of the ball. 

Jarious Jackson photo via the Canadian Press

Why This Move Works

With the obvious being there, and in last in just about every offensive category in the CFL; this only made sense to do this now.

A lot of football fans of the CFL would say what took so long?

And rightfully so.

But it goes beyond the playcalling for the Edmonton Elks this season. No fan would have said that the Edmonton Elks would be entering their week 9 bye week with a 0-8 record.

The offence had been one of the hot-button issues this season. Their output has not been able to compete with the majority of the games that have already been concluded. And in the end, the changes had to be made.

Jarious Jackson will be an offensive coordinator that will give you the perspective from a quarterback’s point of view as a former quarterback himself. He has come to an abundance of knowledge as both a quarterbacks coach and an offensive coordinator at various stages since the 2013 season after concluding his pro football career with Toronto in 2012. And his resume speaks for itself.

2013:  BC Lions (QB coach)

2014 – 2015:  Edmonton Eskimos (QB coach / passing game coordinator/player development)

2016 – 2017: Saskatchewan Roughriders (QB coach / passing game coordinator/player development) 

2018 – 2019: BC Lions (QB coach/offensive coordinator)

2020 (Cancelled season) – 2021: Toronto Argonauts (QB coach/offensive coordinator)

2022: Edmonton Elks – Present.

What seemed to be an upside season for the 2023 Edmonton Elks after being aggressive in free agency with the additional signings of Eugene Lewis, A.C Leonard, Loucheiz Purifoy, Kyran Moore, and Steven Dunbar Jr to name a few, there was a lot of optimism entering this season.

And why not?

Although the 2022 edition of the Edmonton Elks still concluded the season with a dismal 4-14 record, there was a vast improvement in the overall performance of the football team that competed well down the stretch of the last seven games. There were a few of those games that could have possibly transitioned into victories.

The fact that Taylor Corneliius regressed at his quarterback play placed a big burden on the offence. Although he was turning a corner late last season, it has simply not transitioned into success this season. And it is no knock on Taylor Cornelius. He is still young at 27 years old and has only been with the Elks, and in the CFL, since 2021. In that 2021 season, he would start in 8 games. So, in reality, he only has had 2 full CFL seasons under his belt.

Sometimes it will take longer for a quarterback to develop. There will be times of flashes of great plays displayed throughout a game. And then, it will regress to the reality of what it is like to play football at a pro level.

One of the first approaches that Jarious Jackson will do is to have Tre Ford take a few snaps in practice and be given a more thorough examination heading into their week 10 tilt vs the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Thursday, August 10th, 2023.

With that said, Taylor Cornelius and Jarrett Doege will still be part of the offence moving forward in different capacities.

The Edmonton Elks Are Looking at Everything for a Shot in the Arm

As the Edmonton Elks move towards the 2nd half of the 2023 season, it only makes sense to use all of your resources at their disposal.

After all, you have nothing to lose. Right now, the goal for the Edmonton Elks is to try and obtain as many wins as they can collect for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Maybe one of the three quarterbacks finds a rhythm in the second half of the season and ignites a spark in the offence moving forward.

Only time will tell.

But what has come to fruition, and not a great one by any stretch; It is time to start making adjustments when needed to see what option will place you in a greater successful position. With that said, Jarious is the right fit in shortening and or expanding to a quarterback’s needs and or talent to complement the outcome moving forward.

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