Riders’ 5-13 season gets big old ‘F’ from Jones
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 2016 season received a failing grade from head coach and general manager Chris Jones.
“You can’t grade us with anything but an ‘F,’ ’’ Jones said Monday while meeting with the media at Mosaic Stadium. “You win five football games, and that’s not very good when you have 18 opportunities to win.
“I look at myself very hard, and I’m very critical with myself. I expect to win every time that we take to the field and every day when we go on the practice field. When you only win five games, you have to give yourself an ‘F.’ ’’
The Riders struggled from the beginning of Jones’ first season with the CFL team in his multiple roles that include vice-president of football operations and defensive co-ordinator.
Injuries played a big role as the Riders lost 10 of their 11 opening games en route to 5-13-0 record and missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
Saskatchewan set a league record with 107 players under contract during the 2016 season.
A total of 100 players dressed for at least one game, another league record.
“I never thought of how much injuries can play into whether or not you win or lose a game, because it has always been plug the next guy in and you’re ready to go,’’ Jones said.
The 2016 season was the first for Jones overseeing the entire football operations of a CFL team. He was the Edmonton Eskimos’ head coach for two seasons, leading them as the head coach to a 26-20 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks in the 2015 Grey Cup game.
Jones didn’t feel he was spread too thin in his roles with the Riders.
“I really don’t do anything other than what I’ve always done,’’ Jones said.
“I have great support in (assistant vice-presidents) John Murphy and Jeremy O’Day. They did a heck of a job, and they do the large majority of the paperwork.’’
Looking ahead to the 2017 season, Jones said he expects his entire coaching staff to return. All but one member of the Grey Cupchampionship staff from Edmonton joined Jones with the Riders.
Jones said the Riders are to conduct seven free-agent camps before Christmas in a bid to improve roster depth.
Positionally, Jones feels the Riders need to find a backup quarterback regardless of how negotiations proceed with Darian Durant, who is eligible to file for free agency in February. Jones would like to upgrade both his lines.
“(The offensive line) is the one area we may address in free agency,’’ Jones said. “We have to look at every option there.’’