Carter has become go-to guy for Riders head coach
Jones meets with talented receiver regularly as a liaison to the other players
Early-morning meetings between Chris Jones and receiver/ defensive back Duron Carter have paid off for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Jones, Saskatchewan’s head coach and general manager, meets with Carter before practice throughout the CFL season to discuss the day’s events, what Jones wants to accomplish during practice, things Carter needs to focus on, and any messages Jones wants to pass on to the Riders.
“It’s good for both of us so that we both have clarity about exactly what each other is thinking,” Jones said. “We know each other’s expectations and certainly he knows what our expectation levels as a team are and as an organization are. I think that is important. The more clarification and communication, the better.”
Carter said it’s the first time a head coach has met with him on a daily basis.
“It definitely made me step up, grow up and be part of the team,” said Carter, 26, who is in his fourth CFL season. “I know that guys are looking up to me and I need to set a good example.”
That includes filling any position Jones asks Carter to play Saturday when the Riders play host to the Edmonton Eskimos with playoff positioning on the line.
“I have no idea how much I will be playing (on defence),” Carter said. “I didn’t know last game until right before the game. Coach Jones has some kind of ticker in his head and it just goes ‘that sounds good.’”
Carter has responded to Jones’ hands-on approach with the controversial receiver/cornerback. In October, Carter was involved in a skirmish during practice with backup defensive back Sam Williams, a conflict that contributed to media reports that Carter would be suspended or fined for his role in the altercation.
Jones followed up the speculation by announcing that, due to a number of injuries, Carter would be starting at cornerback for the first time at any level of football when the Riders visited the Calgary Stampeders.
Carter recorded two defensive tackles and returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown in the Riders’ 30-7 win over the Stampeders, snapping Calgary’s 17-game winning streak at McMahon Stadium.
“We’ve still got work to do,” Jones said. “Duron knows what my expectations are and I know what Duron’s expectations for himself are. We’ve got a good relationship and it’s just a matter of Duron finishing it up like we’ve played all year.”
Carter’s contributions on offence and defence were recognized Wednesday when he was nominated as the Riders’ most outstanding player.
Carter leads the Riders in receiving yards (1,043) and touchdown catches (eight) and is third on the team in receptions (73). Most notably, Carter had 11 receptions for 231 yards in a 33-32 loss to the visiting Ottawa Redblacks on Oct. 20.
“It feels good to be recognized for what you’ve done during the regular season,” Carter said. “Nothing has changed for me and I feel I could have played a lot better. There were five or six games where I had 12 (receiving) yards or less. I feel I could have played much better.”
The overall performance of the Riders stands out for Carter. He was nominated for his first most outstanding player award in 2014 as a member of the Montreal Alouettes, who closed out the year with a 9-9-0 record. The Riders carry a 10-7 record into Saturday’s contest against Eskimos.
“I will probably remember that this is my most winning season being on a team,” Carter said. “I’ve been to the playoffs before (in 2014), but not with the momentum that we have going right now. I want to keep that up.”
Carter’s pick-six was a staple of highlight packages. Another play garnered nearly as much attention earlier in the year and remains his personal highlight of the season.
On July 29, Carter made a onehanded, back-handed snag in the Mosaic Stadium end zone for an 18-yard touchdown that helped the Riders beat the Toronto Argonauts 38-27.
“The catch from Toronto got us going because it was right before halftime and we needed an offensive jolt,” Carter said. “It brought us a lot of energy and I like to do that.
“The Calgary interception felt like a movie and you couldn’t have planned it any better. It was a lot of fun and he threw it right to me. He might have done it on purpose. So definitely I would go with the catch (as the season highlight).”
Marcus Thigpen, meanwhile, is expected to start at tailback for the Riders on Saturday. Thigpen is being activated from the injured list due to Cameron Marshall and Trent Richardson being unavailable with undisclosed injuries.
Thigpen signed with the Riders on Sept. 12 and appeared in three plays as a returner against the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sept. 15 before injuring his collarbone.
Tailback Shakir Bell, whose signing was announced on Wednesday, won’t dress on Saturday. Jones said Bell was signed for precautionary reasons.