Exit opens up field of decisions for Riders

What’s next for the Roughriders now that Chris Jones has bolted for the NFL’S Cleveland Browns? That has been the question since news broke on Tuesday that the Riders were losing their vice-president of football operations, GM, head coach and defensive co-ordinator. Murray Mccormick looks at some of the possible moves ahead. 1

Who will be the GM?

The easy response is Jeremy O’day, the Riders’ assistant vice-president of football operations and administration. He’s in his 21st year with the Riders and knows the franchise inside and out. He has also been learning the many nuances of being a GM.

O’day gained experience in the role while serving as the interim GM in 2015 after Brendan Taman and head coach Corey Chamblin were fired mid-season.

O’day may be astute enough to navigate the unchartered waters of the football-operations salary cap and rebuild a staff that lost the league’s best defensive co-ordinator.

2

Who will be the head coach? The Riders need an offensively-oriented head coach, which was obvious after the 2018 season when the offence struggled.

Paul Lapolice may be a pipe dream. He may want to be a head coach, but why would the Winnipeg Blue Bombers let him leave at this late date to join a divisional rival? That’s not going to happen.

Marc Trestman is a possibility, but does he want to return to the grind after being fired — and to a team without a quarterback?

Riders special-teams co-ordinator Craig Dickenson may be the leading in-house candidate, with 16 years of CFL coaching experience. However, he doesn’t have any as a head coach.

3

Who will be the defensive co-ordinator?

The Riders will never have a defensive co-ordinator like Jones. Jones had built the defence into what he likes — filled with versatile players who can fly and bring loads of pressure. Whoever comes in as DC won’t be able to put his stamp on the defence because they will be Jones’ guys for the time being. That ultimately leads to a hire from within and Jason Shivers, the defensive backs coach. He knows the Riders’ defence and has some experience with calling plays.

4

What about free agency?

The free-agent deadline is Feb. 12 and the Riders don’t have a head coach or a general manager in place. Ugh.

That’s a concern for players because they want to know who they are negotiating with and who will be their coach.

Riders defensive end Willie Jefferson loved playing for Jones. Jefferson also loved playing for the Riders with Jones as his coach. Whether Jefferson re-signs with the Rider remains to be seen. Maybe Jefferson will sign with the Browns.

5

Who will be the quarterback? Jones’ departure still leaves the