COACH OF THE YEAR

Jones belongs in discussion

Chris Jones has been excoriated at various times during his tenure as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ (inhale) head coach, defensive co-ordinator, general manager and vice-president of football operations (exhale).

Repeated losses and leagueissued fines were the catalyst for criticism in this space and in other forums. The cold-blooded severing of ties with beloved players such as Darian Durant, Weston Dressler and John Chick was excessively ugly.

An assortment of 2016 freeagent signees flopped like a marginally injured soccer player. Khalif Mitchell’s brief residency in Regina was the result of a tone-deaf move by Jones and Co.

And, especially in Year 1, Jones did not seem to embrace the concept of accountability.

With all the negativism regurgitated, we now bring you the other side of the story.

Jones merits serious consideration for CFL coach of the year.

Despite some sputters and setbacks in 2016, and in the early portion of this campaign, Jones has built a team that belongs on the league’s podium.

Who’s better than the Riders? The Calgary Stampeders (owners of a 12-1-1 record) are a mortal lock to finish first in the nine-team league. Even so, they were held without a touchdown in their most-recent meeting with Saskatchewan — a 15-9 Stampeders victory Sept. 24 at Mosaic Stadium.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (10-4-0) are seeded second, but they barely won the season series with Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan and the Edmonton Eskimos are both 8-6-0. However, the resurgent Roughriders have won six of their last eight games. The Riders’ 6-2-0 run includes a 54-31 victory in Edmonton Aug. 25.

So, really, what’s not to applaud about the job Jones has done in 2017?

His defence, while not the type of high-pressure unit with which he is synonymous, now has the capacity to assume control of games and make crucial stops.

Offensively, the reasonably priced quarterbacking tandem of Kevin Glenn and Brandon Bridge has combined for 30 touchdown passes in 14 games. The team’s single-season record is 41, set by Kent Austin (32), Rick Worman (8) and Ted Wahl (1) in 1991.

Saskatchewan could end up with three 1,000-yard receivers. Naaman Roosevelt has already reached that milestone for the second successive year. Bakari Grant (887 yards) and Duron Carter (806) are also good bets to hit quadruple figures.

Jones re-signed Roosevelt well before he could have tested the open market in February. Carter and Grant were inspired freeagent signings by Jones, who also struck it rich by agreeing to terms with Glenn. Sure, there have been some swings and misses — Vince Young, we barely knew ye — but they have been outnumbered by the home runs.

That is worth remembering down the home stretch — a portion of the season that was a waste of time (and ink) in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Six games into the 2017 schedule, it appeared the Roughriders were serving up another stinker. They were 2-4-0 and once again a target for torrential criticism — Jones being the lightning rod.

Dissatisfied customers complained Jones had too many job descriptions, that his trademark black apparel included only hints of green, that he wore sunglasses too often, that he wasn’t a yearround Regina resident, et cetera.

But lately, the critics are quiet while the Jones-led Roughriders are making plenty of noise.

Coach-of-the-year voters, take note.