Greg Marshall.Photograph by: Don Healy, Leader-Post filesREGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders' brass is in the final stages of deliberation over who should be hired as the head coach.
The decision apparently comes down to this: Greg Marshall or Richie Hall. However, the package could very well include both gentlemen.
Marshall has the inside track on the head-coaching job, which was vacated Dec. 3 when Ken Miller stepped aside.
If Marshall is indeed next in line, one of his initial moves could be to appoint Hall as the defensive co-ordinator.
There is a chance that the scenario could work in reverse, but that is less probable. Marshall, after all, is currently employed as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' assistant head coach, defensive co-ordinator and defensive line coach. Hall, by contrast, is looking for another football job after being fired as the Edmonton Eskimos' head coach on Nov. 29.
It would be a lateral move for Marshall to assume an assistant-coaching position with another CFL team. The prospect of a long-awaited head-coaching gig would serve as an inducement.
Given that the Roughriders' next head coach will not occupy a dual role as a co-ordinator, Marshall would have to appoint someone to choreograph the defence. That creates a potential opening for Hall, unless Marshall — or someone in the Riders' hierarchy — is bullish on retaining the able Gary Etcheverry as the defensive co-ordinator.
This is where it gets a little confusing. Etcheverry was the Toronto Argonauts' head coach in 2002 when Miller was hired to coach the Boatmen's quarterbacks. Miller, who remains on-board with the Roughriders as the vice-president of football operations, now has the final say on the hiring of the head coach. If a defensive-oriented head coach is appointed — and that is a virtual certainty — what happens to the assistant coaches on that side of the ball?
Miller, who will select the head coach in consultation with general manager Brendan Taman, has a long-standing admiration for Etcheverry but is also highly respectful of Hall. Can everyone be accommodated? Stay tuned.
Another defensive-oriented coach, Corey Chamblin, was interviewed for the head-coaching job. In fact, the Roughriders spoke to him twice, as they did with Marshall. However, Chamblin — the Calgary Stampeders' defensive backs coach — is no longer part of the equation. Do not be surprised if Chamblin is one day calling the shots on the sidelines for a CFL team.
The Roughriders were not averse to hiring a head coach with an offensive pedigree. Montreal Alouettes assistant head coach, offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach Scott Milanovich was flown to Regina for an interview, but did not advance to the second stage of the exhaustive process.
Saskatchewan offensive co-ordinator Doug Berry was also interviewed for the top job but is unlikely to assume that post.
In many ways, Berry is the logical heir, being that he is the assistant head coach, and that he experienced success as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers' field boss. But if Berry was the guy, why conduct a series of interviews? If the Roughriders were going to promote the assistant head coach, as per an organizational line of succession, such a move would have been made two or three weeks ago.
Nonetheless, there is a very real possibility that Berry will return in 2011. He has one year remaining on a contract that calls for him to be well-compensated. Despite speculation to the contrary, there does not appear to be a philosophical chasm between Berry and quarterback Darian Durant.
And look at the results. With Berry calling most of the plays, Durant threw for a league-high 5,542 yards — the third-highest total in franchise history — in 2010 and also paced all quarterbacks in rushing yards (618) and TDs along the ground (seven). Many Roughriders fans are allergic to Berry — and inexplicably so — but the status quo is preferable as far as the offensive blueprint is concerned. Otherwise, Durant will end up playing under his fifth offensive co-ordinator in six seasons as a Roughrider.
Obviously, many dominoes have yet to fall. The entire process should become much clearer next week, when the Roughriders are expected to make an announcement. The likelihood is that Marshall will be front and centre.
rvanstone@leaderpost.com
NOTE: DEBBIE AND I SAW GREG MARSHALL IN THE RIDER LOCKER ROOM, LAST THURSDAY, WHEN WE STOPPED FOR THE LOCKER ROOM SALE !!
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