What to watch as Saskatchewan Roughriders kick off training camp
From a 3 win season, new Riders boss expects a Grey Cup
The sun is setting on the grand old stadium which the Saskatchewan Roughriders have called home for more than a century.
Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field deserves a team with at least a winning record before its date with the wrecking ball.
For an organization that went 3-15 last year, some might consider that too much to hope for.
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But Chris Jones is here now and the man has made a habit of turning losers into winners.
Take his last job for example. Taking over a 4-14 Edmonton Eskimo club in 2014, going 12-6 in his first year, and winning the Grey Cup the next.
Is there any reason why he may or may not be able to do that in Saskatchewan? Here are a few:
Darian Durant
Once known as an iron man, Darian Durable if you will, the team's franchise player was quite brittle the past two seasons.
A season-ending elbow injury midway through 2014 was followed by a season-ending Achilles tendon injury in the first half of the first game in 2015.
Chris Jones said it himself this week: "Quarterback play and Canadian content is the key."
So Saskatchewan's new boss is pinning his hopes on a quarterback who hasn't really played in close to two years.
By all accounts, Durant looked impressive during his mini-camp appearance in April and there's no reason to believe he won't look equally as sharp at training camp.
But he hasn't been hit yet, and when he does it will be the moment all Rider fans cringe.
Below Durant on the depth chart is Brett Smith and B.J. Coleman.
Canadian content
The other key factor, according to Jones, for having a successful season is Canadians.
Did they upgrade in this area? Probably.
Justin Capicciotti, Shamawd Chambers, and Matt Walter are three players who would be a nice addition to any team.
It will be interesting to see how the Riders work Nic Demski into the lineup for his sophomore year.
It would also be nice to have Josiah St. John make an appearance at camp to provide another battle for a job on the offensive line.
By why are the Riders being so cheap with their first overall draft pick?
Reportedly, the Riders offered St.John a one year plus an option deal for $52,000 — minimum wage in the CFL.
Chris Jones said, "Certainly we hope to be able to have him signed. I'd like him to join our football team, but we've got certain philosophies and ways we're going to do things."
So the flagship franchise of the CFL has a philosophy to be cheap?
You would think the guy who is picked ahead of everybody else in a draft should get some kind of carrot.
As of Saturday morning, the Riders and St.John had yet to come to terms. I wonder why.
Offence
Goodbye Weston Dressler, Ryan Smith, and Chris Getzlaf.
Hello John Chiles, Kendial Lawrence, and Clarence Denmark.
Whether the Riders have actually improved at receiver will be a big question mark.
Certainly the marketing department took a major hit with the loss of No. 7, but at least the receiving corps will be bigger.
That's a big thing for Chris Jones, who likes tall targets.
The battle at running back will start with former Toronto Argonaut Curtis Steele. It will be his job to lose.
Chris Jones-lead teams are not shy about running the ball either. In his two years as a head coach in Edmonton, the Eskimos were in the top three both years.
The offensive line should be decent with returnees Brendon LaBatte, Dan Clark, and Chris Best.
Unless St.John shows up, the tackles should be all American with Xavier Fulton looking to reclaim one spot.
Defence
Can you say "complete makeover"?
None of the 12 players who started the season opener on defence last year are back with the team this season.
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However, Jeff Knox turned into a stud and he's back too to lead a linebacking corps, which will also include Greg Jones.
Jones lead the Argos in tackles last year en route to being named an East Division All-Star.
Up front, John Chick, Tearrius George, and Alex Hall are either in Hamilton, in court, or wherever.
Capicciotti, Shawn Lemon, Jonathan Williams, and Eric Norwood have taken their places.
The secondary will be totally reworked with Ed Gainey and Otha Foster looking to provide some veteran leadership.
Chemistry will be the operative word for the 'D' and can they find it?
Special teams
If nothing else, the next Roughriders kicker will have an interesting name.
The training camp battle for the kicking job should be a good one between incumbent Tyler Crapigna and third round draft pick Quinn Van Gylswyk.
Collectively, they have four CFL field goals worth of experience, all kicked by Crapigna last year. However, Van Gylswyk was a CIS All-Canadian with the Vanier Cup-winning UBC T-Birds, who should make Crapigna more than a little nervous.
Coaching staff
No questions marks here.
The Riders pulled off the coup of the off-season recruiting nearly the entire Grey Cup-winning coaching staff.
These guys know how to win and they expect to again in Saskatchewan.
Let's leave the last words to Chris Jones.
"They pay us to do one thing and that's win a Grey Cup. That's why they brought us here and that's our expectation level."
Let training camp 2016 begin.
