Chris Jones knows the Saskatchewan Roughriders made progress during the 2017 CFL season after a trying 2016 campaign.
Progressing is better than regressing, but that doesn’t satisfy the Roughriders’ vice-president of football operations, general manager and head coach.
In 2016, Saskatchewan posted a 5-13-0 record and missed the playoffs for the second straight season. It was Jones’ first campaign at the Roughriders’ helm — and the first time in his 15 seasons in the league that his team didn’t qualify for the post-season.
In 2017, the Roughriders followed up a 2-4-0 start to the regular season with an 8-4-0 stretch that earned them fourth place in the West Division and a crossover berth in the East playoffs.
Saskatchewan defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 31-20 in the East semifinal on Nov. 12 before losing 25-21 to the Toronto Argonauts in Sunday’s division final.
A victory in Toronto would have put the Roughriders into the 20th Grey Cup game in franchise history. Instead, they’re in the off-season.
“(Being closer this season) is not any more comforting to me,” Jones said during his final media availability of the year. “You know that you can compete, but when you don’t win the big game — when you’re not playing and competing and winning Grey Cups — it’s not where you want to be.”
Here’s a look back at the Roughriders’ 2017 campaign by position.
Quarterbacks
After trading Darian Durant in the off-season, Jones chose Kevin Glenn to be the Roughriders’ No. 1 quarterback — and so began Glenn’s up-and-down season.
The 38-year-old started 17 regular-season games and both 
playoff contests, but he was replaced by backup Brandon Bridge in six regular-season games and in the East final.
Glenn was sharp at times (he had more than 295 yards passing in seven of Saskatchewan’s first 10 games) and off target at others (he exceeded 130 yards in only two of the Roughriders’ final seven regular-season games, primarily because he was replaced in five of them).
But ever the good teammate, Glenn supported Bridge when the change was made. Bridge repeatedly said his play was a product of his athletic skills combined with Glenn’s experience and analysis on the sideline.
Together, the quarterbacks threw 35 touchdown passes in the regular season. That total led the league and was the fifth-highest single-season number in franchise history.
Bridge made one start in the regular season, becoming the first Canadian quarterback to start and win a CFL game since the Calgary Stampeders’ Greg Vavra in 1985.
Bridge also threw a touchdown pass in the East final, making him the first Canuck QB to accomplish that feat since the Ottawa Rough Riders’ Russ Jackson in the 1969 Grey Cup game.
Glenn and third-stringer Vernon Adams Jr., are under contract for 2018. Bridge is eligible to become a free agent in February, but he recently said talks about an extension have started.
The rotation system isn’t ideal — Bridge said no one spends the off-season preparing to be a backup — so it’ll be interesting to see what the Roughriders have in store for 2018. Youngsters Marquise Williams and David Watford are in the picture as well.
Jones also told reporters that the hunt for a franchise quarterback is an ongoing thing, just like the search for tailbacks and receivers.
Running backs
The tailback-by-committee approach was in full effect in 2017.
Cameron Marshall appeared to be an all-around threat through Saskatchewan’s opening nine games, rushing for 490 yards, adding 278 yards receiving and providing excellent pass protection.
But Marshall suffered a knee injury in the Labour Day Classic and appeared in just one more game the rest of the season.
Free-agent signing Kienan LaFrance replaced Marshall as the starter and was solid, but LaFrance averaged just four yards a carry.
Former NFLer Trent Richardson showed flashes — he averaged 5.4 yards per carry — but an ankle injury suffered in Saskatchewan’s second-last game of the regular season (his first and only 100-yard game of 2017) put him out of commission.
Enter former NFL returner Marcus Thigpen. Despite being out of football for two years, Thigpen proved to be a breakaway threat out of the backfield, rushing 29 times for 235 yards (an average of 8.1 yards per carry) and two TDs in Saskatchewan’s final three games of the season.
National Greg Morris and international Shakir Bell also have played in the league, so the Roughriders certainly have options at tailback as they try to improve a rushing attack that averaged a league-low 82.1 yards per game in the regular season.
Receivers
Experts around the CFL spent the season debating which team’s receiving corps was the best in the league — and the Roughriders’ group was part of the discussion.
Saskatchewan had three 1,000-yard receivers in the regular season (Duron Carter, Naaman Roosevelt and Bakari Grant) and Chad Owens proved at age 35 to be as energetic as ever.
Carter could become a free agent in February and there’s NFL interest in him, so his future in green and white is up in the air.
Roosevelt, Owens and Grant are under contract for 2018, as is Caleb Holley. Antwane Grant, who made it all the way from mini-camp to the end of the season, showed some promise when given a shot.
Third-year man Nic Demski got off to a fine start before suffering a foot injury in the Labour Day Classic that ultimately ended his season.
Demski, Rob Bagg and Josh Stanford gave the Roughriders some production from the Canadian receiver spot, but Saskatchewan may be in the market for a big-play Canuck — especially if Demski decides to leave after becoming a free agent in February.
Slotback Mitchell Picton, a 2017 draft pick out of the University of Regina, could have a future in the Roughriders’ receiving corps.
Offensive line
Brendon LaBatte was excellent in two positions in 2017 en route to being named the team’s top O-lineman.
He manned the left guard spot with typical aplomb and also filled in at centre for nine games when Dan Clark was injured.
An ankle injury suffered in the Roughriders’ final regular-season game ended LaBatte’s season before the post-season. But he signed a four-year contract extension in October, so he’ll once again anchor the O-line in 2018.
Clark and tackles Thaddeus Coleman and Bruce Campbell are eligible to hit the market in February, but Jones suggested Monday that the team has reached verbal agreements with some of its potential free agents — and that could include those linemen.
Jones deserves kudos for bringing aboard Peter Dyakowski in training camp. With no clear replacement for the retired Chris Best at right guard, Jones sent receiver Armanti Edwards to Toronto for Dyakowski — and the 11-year CFL veteran was a fine addition.
Free-agent signing Derek Dennis, who had stints at left tackle and left guard, struggled with a back injury during the season. Meanwhile, rookie Dariusz Bladek got valuable playing time which should benefit him in 2018.
Defensive line
End Willie Jefferson was a force from start to finish for Saskatchewan, topping the team with eight sacks and leading the league with 37 quarterback pressures.
But the Roughriders finished eighth in the CFL with just 27 sacks in the regular season. They didn’t have any sacks in six games and only one sack in five contests, which seems to fly in the face of Jones’ pressure-heavy defensive philosophy.
Tackle Eddie Steele was a veteran presence on the D-line, while Nick James showed some run-stuffing promise in the three games he played.
The most intriguing prospect on the line is Tobi Antigha, who played receiver before attending a Roughriders tryout camp in the off-season. Converted by Jones to defensive end, Antigha had 18 pressures, five sacks and three tackles for losses in the regular season en route to being named the team’s top rookie.
This group could take a big hit in free agency unless the front office can cut down the list. Jefferson, Steele, Ese Mrabure and Zach Minter (who played only six games before suffering an injury) reportedly are among those who could test the waters.
Linebackers
A talented group was hurt by injuries during the regular season.
Otha Foster III was re-signed mid-season after a stint in the NFL, but he injured his back on the second play of his first game. His season lasted just three games.
Sam Eguavoen, who played six games in 2016 before suffering a season-ending injury, started 11 contests in the 2017 regular season. He missed four games due to injury.
The one constant was Henoc Muamba, who led the Roughriders with 82 tackles and three forced fumbles over 17 regular-season games. His status as a ratio-breaking national middle linebacker only increased his value to the defence.
Jeff Knox Jr., who was Saskatchewan’s top rookie in 2015, returned from the NFL to split time with Eguavoen on the weak side. Rookie Derrick Moncrief was a late arrival at training camp, but he ended up taking over for Foster at strong-side linebacker and played well.
Defensive backs
Ed Gainey was the pick of the litter for the Roughriders.
In his second season with the team, Gainey had a league-best 10 interceptions — including a franchise-record four in one game. He was named Saskatchewan’s top defensive player.
Crezdon Butler didn’t have any interceptions, but the former NFLer was impressive. He had four knockdowns and two sacks and showed an innate ability to diagnose plays early (hence his three tackles for losses).
Veteran Jovon Johnson was signed just before the regular season and became the secondary’s leader, sharing with his younger teammates the advice that came with 11 years of CFL experience.
One of Johnson’s chief pupils was Kacy Rodgers II, a converted safety who’s still learning the ropes on the corner. Rodgers recorded his first career interception in 2017.
When either Johnson or Rodgers got hurt, Carter moved across the line of scrimmage to play corner. For Roughriders fans, the receiver turned in one of the highlights of the season when he intercepted a Bo Levi Mitchell pass and returned it 43 yards for a touchdown in a road win in Calgary.
The Roughriders rotated three safeties (Marc-Olivier Brouillette, Mike Edem and Jeff Hecht) during the season, but didn’t get a sack or an interception from any member of that trio.
Players like national Elie Bouka and international Chris Lyles could play roles in the secondary next season.
Special teams
Returner Christion Jones was spectacular after getting onto the Roughriders’ roster in August.
In 10 regular-season games, Jones posted an average of 14.3 yards on 45 punt returns and took two punts back 
for touchdowns. He added another punt-return TD in the East final.
Kicker Tyler Crapigna rebounded from a slow start (with key misses in each of Saskatchewan’s first two games) to finish the regular season with the third-highest field-goal percentage in the league (85.7). He also was a perfect 47-for-47 on convert tries.
Josh Bartel was among the CFL’s best directional punters, helping the Roughriders finish third in the league in punt coverage (9.8 yards per return).
Rookie Denzel Radford was a revelation on the cover teams, finishing in a tie for fourth in the league with 24 special-teams tackles. Glenn Love, an off-season free-agent signing who’s renowned for his work on the teams, tied for 10th in the CFL with 18 special-teams stops in just 11 games played.
One season after Saskatchewan went through three long-snappers, Jorgen Hus handled the duties flawlessly in 2017. His value to the Roughriders was reflected in a two-year contract extension he signed in early November.
