ARMSTEAD WAS A MAJOR ACQUISTION

In 10 regular-season games, Riders return man Jason Armstead returned 42 punts for 387 yards (sixth in the CFL) and 33 kickoffs for 806 yards (eighth in the CFL).
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post files

REGINA — Jason Armstead's role in the rejuvenation of the Saskatchewan Roughriders' special teams is almost complete.

Since being added to the Roughriders' roster prior to the Labour Day Classic against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Armstead has added a much-needed spark to the return game — thus making him one of the more effective mid-season pickups in the CFL.

While he can take pride in resurrecting his career as well as the Roughriders' return game, the six-year CFL veteran is holding out for something more.

"I am (proud) in a way, but the job is unfinished right now," the 30-year-old product of Moss Point, Miss., said Wednesday after the Roughriders practised at Mosaic Stadium. "I'm just here to help this team get that Cup and put a ring on my finger as well."

The Roughriders play host to the Calgary Stampeders on Sunday in the West Division final. The winner advances to the Grey Cup game, Nov. 29 in Calgary.

In the 10 regular-season games he played with Saskatchewan, Armstead returned 42 punts for 387 yards (sixth in the league) and 33 kickoffs for 806 yards (eighth in the CFL). The Roughriders' return teams — moribund up until that point — were dangerous again.

"We had a returner that guys were confident was going to get the ball upfield," said Kavis Reed, Saskatchewan's special-teams co-ordinator. "He would make plays on his own sometimes, too. Those guys saw a guy who came in with a track record, a proven commodity who they were familiar with, so they knew what he was about."

"He gives us hope," added Roughriders head coach Ken Miller. "Every time the ball is punted or kicked off to him, there's hope that he's going to break the big one. That provides an extra level of motivation to the men who are on the field with him."

Armstead won't take the credit for changing the attitude of the Roughriders' special teams. Instead, he suggested his mates simply have adopted a more positive outlook that didn't necessarily originate with his arrival.

"Sometimes I'm proud of coming in, helping out and doing my part, but crossing that tape is our ultimate goal," he said. "Trying to get to that Cup and win that Cup — that's what we're doing."
Armstead tried to help the Winnipeg Blue Bombers get to the championship game last season. But his nine punt returns for 122 yards — including a 93-yarder for a touchdown — didn't help as Winnipeg lost 29-21 to the Edmonton Eskimos in the East Division semifinal.

After he was released by the Bombers in March, Armstead waited for a call from a CFL team that needed a returner. That team turned out to be the Roughriders, who had traded Armstead to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2007.

Reed said that, along with breakaway speed and a résumé as a proven returner, Armstead offered the Roughriders another intelligent football player.

"His football IQ," Reed said, "is often underestimated."

It'll be tested again Sunday. When the teams met Nov. 7 for first place in the West, Armstead had limited success with four punt returns for 34 yards and four kickoff returns for 64 yards. But in the Stamps' West semifinal victory over Edmonton on Sunday, they gave up 211 yards on six kickoff returns (including a 93-yard TD to Skyler Green) and 86 yards on five punt returns.

Reed was in Calgary and said the Stamps' cover teams actually came up big when the game was in doubt. Having said that, Reed noted that burning them for a TD on Sunday would be "lovely."
That would suit Armstead just fine. When asked if he's happy with what he's accomplished this season, he said he isn't — because he hasn't returned a punt or a kickoff for a major.

"We've got to finish," he added. "We've got two more games. It's one of the goals I've set — that and winning the Cup. Eight more quarters and that ultimate goal is reached."

ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com