The Saskatchewan Roughriders enter the 2016 season looking to bounce back from a league-worst season with a new, decorated head coach in Chris Jones and a healthy again quarterback in Darian Durant.

 

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New era begins on the sidelines Eight years ago, the Roughriders snapped a near 20-year drought to win their third Grey Cup in team history, only to watch the architect of that team – Kent Austin – bolt for the NCAA, taking the offensive coordinator position at Ole Miss. Karma owed Riders fans one, and they're now on the other side of that feeling this off-season, with the team prying Grey Cup winning coach Chris Jones from Edmonton to be their GM and head coach. The plan is for Jones to orchestrate a similarly quick turnaround in Saskatchewan after taking the Eskimos from a four-win bottom feeder to Grey Cup champions in just two years.

New era begins on the field With change in the front office/coaching staff, so too comes change on the roster. And it’s drastic; likely a good thing for a team that managed just three wins a year ago. Gone are mainstays and fan favourites like Weston Dressler and John Chick, to be replaced this year by a lot of competition for starting spots. A number of free agents could vie to fill those vacated fan favourite rolls however, including defensive end Shawn Lemon, middle linebacker Greg Jones, SAM linebacker Otha Foster, and wide receiver Shamawd Chambers, the latter two following their head coach Jones east from Edmonton.

Durant health watch There is, of course, at least one main holdover from the previous regime in Saskatchewan, and his starting spot is challenged only by his own durability. Darian Durant has missed 25 games over the past two seasons, battling elbow and Achilles injuries. Saskatchewan is a different team with Durant on the field. That, combined with the roster still lacking a proven backup at the position, means Durant’s health is vital in the first year of Jones’ reign in Saskatchewan.

Additions and Subtractions

+ HC Chris Jones. Chris Jones. Oh, and Chris Jones. The Riders made him Mr. Everything. He’s in charge of personnel, he’s the head coach and he’s the defensive coordinator. Jones brought most of his coaching staff plus personnel man John Murphy to Regina. 

- John Chick, WRs Weston Dressler and Ryan Smith. Jones needed to restructure the Riders payroll and that meant releasing key vets such as Chick and Dresler as well as letting Ryan Smith walk.

 

Canadian Content

Embedded ImageThe Roughriders reached the Grey Cup game four times between 2007 and 2013, largely because their Canadian talent and depth were consistently among the best in the CFL.  Among their Canadian starters, only guards Brendon LaBatte and Chris Best, and wide receiver Rob Bagg remain from Saskatchewan’s 2013 championship team. Dan Clark, now the starting centre, was a backup on that squad. Needless to say, replenishing the Riders pool of National talent is a big part of the job for Jones and director of player personnel John Murphy.

The rebuild began during the February free agent sweepstakes, when Saskatchewan inked receiver Shamawd Chambers, the Top Canadian in last year’s Grey Cup, and defensive end Justin Capicciotti, who posted 19 sacks over the last two seasons with Ottawa. Both should step immediately into the starting lineup. The free agent haul also yielded depth players in guard Andrew Jones, defensive tackle Hasan Hazime, defensive end Kalonji Kashama, running back Matt Walter, and DB/LB Graig Newman. The Roughriders also traded for speedy DB Tevaughn Campbell.

At that point, Saskatchewan could pencil in six of its seven Canadian starters – LaBatte, Best, and Clark on the offensive line, Chambers and Bagg in the receiving corps, and Capicciotti at defensive end.

Embedded ImageOn Draft Day, the Riders added some of the most talented players available, but they’ll have to wait varying degrees of time for the payoff. First overall pick Josiah St. John, a potential ratio breaker at OT, remains unsigned. The 24th overall pick, athletic and versatile DB Elie Bouka, signed with the Arizona Cardinals, and the 35th overall pick, dominant DT David Onyemata, was drafted by the New Orleans Saints. However, the Roughriders did land 6’5”, 220 lbs. Kevin Francis in the Supplemental Draft. A receiver in college at North Carolina A&T, the Riders are auditioning him on defence, as their seventh National starting position will be in the secondary, likely at safety or possibly field corner. Other candidates for that job include Campbell, Newman, and holdover Matt Webster.

The highest drafted player in camp is top kicking prospect Quinn Van Gylswyk, who will battle placekicker Tyler Crapigna and punter Josh Bartel for a spot on the active roster. Other key special teamers include sophomore Nic Demski, who can return kicks and should also have an increased role on offence, backup defensive end Dylan Ainsworth, fullbacks Spencer Moore and Levi Steinhauer, and long snapper Jorgen Hus.

 

Impact Imports

Embedded ImageThe Roughriders lack ideal import talent on offence and that’s even if Durant stays healthy all season.

Durant’s had a tough go the past couple years: after winning his first championship and finally convincing the doubters he’s an elite QB, injuries struck to tarnish his newly minted reputation. Durant returns this year healthy from elbow and Achilles injuries that robbed him of several games the last two seasons, as Saskatchewan’s offensive centerpiece.

He’ll have to be, with little proven talent around him. There will be ample oppotrunity for an American receiver to make his mark in Saskatchewan this season while Xavier Fulton, the team’s mainstay at left tackle the past few seasons, returns to help anchor the line.

John Chiles could be an interesting addition however. The former Toronto Argonauts receiver returns to the CFL after a year with the Chicago Bears earned through two promising seasons in Double Blue.

There’s more to be excited about on the defensive side of the ball where Jones secured more free agents. Foster followed the head coach east from Edmonton, and Greg Jones came west from Toronto to bolster the linebacking unit. Alongside holdover Jeff Knox, one of the few bright spots on last year’s Riders, the middle of Saskatchewan’s defence should be a strength.

And the free agent additions of Lemon and Eric Norwood, once he’s healthy, should team nicely with Capiciotti to ensure the Riders’ reliable pass rush goes unimpeded despite the departures of Chick and Alex Hall. The moves also help the unit shed some years.

Derrius Brooks, another former CFLer making his return from the NFL to Saskatchewan, should be a solid addition and leader in the secondary.

Who to Watch: Jones has big plans for RB Kendial Lawrence. They’ve used him as a tailback, slotback and return man in camp. 

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Season Outlook

Jones now has more power than he ever has in his career and now it’s his opportunity to move into the GM/HC territory occupied by the likes of Wally Buono and Jim Popp. It’s a lot of responsibility. It pays well, but when things go bad, it’s all on one man’s head. The Riders will be OK if Durant stays healthy, but that hasn’t happened in a while. There’s an old expression in pro sports, “good players make for good coaches,” and the question in Regina centres around whether Jones has got enough done in one off-season to turn around the Riders.

 

CFL on TSN Predictions Most Popular Pick
West Division Edmonton Eskimos
East Division Toronto Argonauts
Grey Cup Toronto Argonauts
Most Outstanding Player Mike Reilly
Most Outstanding Defensive Player Simoni Lawrence
Most Outstanding Canadian Andrew Harris
Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Jovan Olafioye
Most Outstanding Special Teams Brandon Banks