Jones plans to keep rolling the dice
PLAYING TO WIN: Coach’s gambling style has paid off in past and his Roughriders players love him for it
REGINA — Chris Jones has folks around the CFL scratching their heads over some of his decisions on third downs this season.
But that group doesn’t include his players, who appreciate what the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach-GM has been trying to do.
“You love having a coach who believes in you, who believes that you can get a yard on third down if we’re backed up, or believes that a fake can work at a certain time,” Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant said after Wednesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium.
“It’s great that he has that confidence in us, so I’m all for it.”
Jones couldn’t say whether his decisions have provided a spark for his players — “I can’t think for them, so you’ll have to ask them,” he said — but slotback Rob Bagg was another Roughrider who approved of Jones’ aggressiveness.
For Bagg, many of Jones’ calls are actually a reflection of the players’ mindset.
“Most of the time, when you’re behind closed doors, it’s the players begging for the coach to take those chances,” Bagg said.
“We always feel like we can get the job done. That’s why we’re at this level and why we believe in one another.
“The coach takes the blame, but oftentimes it’s the players who are in his ear all week and, when the time comes, who are begging him to go for it. He’s the guy who has to answer for it.”
Jones certainly has had to do that this season.
According to CFL statistician Steve Daniel, the Roughriders have gambled on third-and-short 13 times in their first 11 regular season games. They have converted on just six of those gambles. Their seven misses are the most in the league.
Saskatchewan gambled three times during the Labour Day Classic, converting on a third-and-one but failing on a fake punt and on a third-and-four.
In the Banjo Bowl, Jones rolled the dice on a third-and-three from the Winnipeg 49-yard line with around five minutes to go in regulation time.
The Bombers sniffed out the fake field goal and then snuffed it out, maintaining their 17-10 lead. That ended up being the final score as Saskatchewan lost its seventh straight game.
On Wednesday, Jones said he hasn’t second-guessed any of his decisions on third down this season — from the failed quarterback sneak in overtime that ended Saskatchewan’s 39-36 loss to the host Edmonton Eskimos on July 8 to Saturday’s fake.
“When we’re behind, you need to try to keep the football in order to try to score and win the game,” said Jones, whose squad takes a 1-10 record into Sunday’s home game against the Eskimos.
“We’re not playing to sit here and be scared and worried about somebody pointing the finger. We’re worried about trying to win a football game and that’s it.”
Jones’ gambling style paid off during his years as the Eskimos’ head coach, helping contribute to a Grey Cup victory in 2015. But his approach has yet to pay dividends for the Roughriders.
Korey Jones, who signed with Saskatchewan in the off-season after spending two seasons in Edmonton, has seen Jones take chances before — and the linebacker likes it.
“Some coaches avoid it because they don’t trust their players and their execution of the plays,” Korey Jones said. “When they’re willing to call something like that, it means they have a lot of trust and confidence in us.”