Jones can’t quell the quarterback queries

There’s something about Murray.

The Regina Leader-Post’s Murray McCormick is conventionally the first member of the local media mob to ask Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations Chris Jones if he is prepared to divulge the identity of his starting quarterback.

With Murray luxuriating at his sprawling east Regina estate on Tuesday, there was some uncertainty among the reporters who staffed the Roughriders’ second full practice in preparation for Friday’s regular-season opener against the visiting Toronto Argonauts.

Who would ask the question? When the matter of Murray’s irregularly scheduled day off was brought to Jones’ attention, he feigned exasperation while noting he had ample “ammunition” prepared for anyone who dared to inquire about the quarterbacking.

Global’s Taylor Shire, the bravest among us, promptly asked whether Jones had decided between Zach Collaros and Brandon Bridge.

“I’ve known for two weeks how we’re going to play, but I ain’t telling y’all until we get ready to play,” Jones responded. “Why would I give something like that up to our opponent so they can know exactly what we’re going to do? That doesn’t make good sense, right?

“I know how we’re going to play. Our quarterbacks know how we’re going to play. You’ll find out when we play the game exactly how they play.”

There was, for the record, some progress on a McCormick-free Tuesday.

The day before, McCormick had asked a perfectly apt question: “Do Zach or Brandon know who’s starting ?” To which Jones responded: “No.”

So now the starting quarterback — bet on Collaros, he of the $430,000 salary — has been anointed internally. As for the media and fans, Jones said they will have to wait until Friday’s first offensive series to find out who is behind centre.

“I don’t understand why that’s such a big deal,” Jones said.

“I told them (Tuesday) morning. I talked to the quarterbacks. It’s not that big a deal to me. I treat them just like I do anybody else.

“They know exactly how we’re going to play. They know what we’ve got to do to win football games. They’ve both been playing for a long time. That’s just the way we’re going to do it.”

So there.

“We don’t know our defensive rotation,” Jones added with a smile, “so I’m not going to let you know that, either.”

This much is certain: The Roughriders will need elite-level quarterbacking if they are to challenge for first place in the CFL’s ultracompetitive West Division.

The Edmonton Eskimos are quarterbacked by Mike Reilly, who occupied top spot Tuesday when TSN released its annual list of the league’s top 50 players. Reilly was also the lucky winner in 2016.

Last year, the distinction of No. 1 was held by Calgary Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who placed second in this year’s poll.

For the Roughriders to earn a home playoff game this season, they must finish ahead of a team quarterbacked by Reilly or Mitchell. No small feat, that.

Hence the persistent, pertinent questions about the quarterbacking.

McCormick, you should know, is back at work on Wednesday.