Ask not for whom the bell tolls because the Riders practise is closed
One of the interesting games this weekend will be the Toronto/Saskatchewan game on Saturday pitting Marc Trestman against Chris Jones. Trestman and Argo GM Jim Popp got a late start to their season and somehow have the Argos in first place.
Chris Jones, granted more power than any other figure in Rider history, is in the second year of his reign and the Riders are 1-3 and last place in the west. If the Riders lose against Toronto, it may spark a downward spiral for the team who have two games against BC, then Winnipeg and could have only one win by the Banjo Bowl if they don’t get their act together.
A downward spiral will prompt questions of whether the Riders should fire Jones, but by giving Jones all the power, it makes how the Riders proceed an interesting experience, especially if they have to pay out Jones to sit on the sidelines.
The Riders 27-10 loss to Calgary was not entirely unexpected, but the flat way the Riders came out in the first half was baffling. While Jones supporters like to point out Jones did not have much talent to work with when he took over, while he has filled the roster with projects and places great store in what are called measurables, there is an intangible that has yet to show up on the field – intelligence.