DYCE THROWS HIS NAME IN THE HAT
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| Photo courtesy Global’s Derek Meyers |
REGINA – Learning “on the fly” was the biggest challenge Bob Dyce faced this season as the Saskatchewan Roughriders interim head coach.
Dyce assumed the job at the end of August after Saskatchewan fired head coach Corey Chamblin and GM Brendan Taman following an 0-9 start to the season. Dyce, who began the year as the club’s special-teams co-ordinator, compiled a 3-6 record in his first experience as a CFL head coach.
The Riders also promoted Jeremy O’Day to interim GM to replace Taman.
Saskatchewan finished the season last in the West Division with a CFL-worst 3-15 record but ended the campaign by rallying for a 30-24 win over the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday.
“I didn’t have huge expectations in certain ways because it wasn’t something that I planned on doing,” Dyce said Monday. “Once I stepped into the role, it was a great role and a challenging role.
“You know, I think it’s one thing becoming a head coach when you’ve had a whole off-season to prepare for it as opposed to eight hours. But the role itself I thoroughly enjoyed.”
Dyce took over a team whose struggles began right from the beginning of the season. Starter Darian Durant suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the club’s opening game, then shortly afterwards veteran backup Kevin Glenn went down with a torn pectoral muscle, thrusting rookie Brett Smith into the starting lineup.
Dyce says it’s going to take a while to look at what went wrong.
“We were challenged from the start and you know, you look at different aspects of the season or different aspects of the team and you have an idea,” he said. “But I think it’s going to take a little more analysis than just saying, right now, 24 hours after you just played your last game … ‘Well, this went wrong.’
“You know the things that have to be corrected. I mean obviously when you look at our season, we were challenged defensively from Week 1 and throughout the season.”
Dyce is interested in becoming the Riders’ full-time head coach but hasn’t spoken directly to team president/CEO Craig Reynolds about the position.
Defensive back Tristan Jackson, an eight-year CFL veteran, said the 2015 season was also a learning experience for him.
“I tell people all the time man, this was probably one of the toughest seasons of my career,” Jackson said as he cleaned out his locker. “You just get up and pray, because when you lose, it’s tough.
“You lose a lot of keys guys on offence, then you lose keys guys on defence and just going in … it was just a constant struggle.”
Veteran defensive end John Chick agreed, saying it was “a rough season.” But Chick gets the feeling the Riders are all looking towards being better next year.
“Right now, it’s just about closing that chapter,” he said. “It was a bad chapter, but you know I think, not only does it remind you of the good times, but it makes you look forward to the better times.”
(Canadian Press)
Dyce is the best HC candidtae that there is out there right now. None others come close.
Long long shot candidate. I've got great confidence that Reynolds will choose a great GM that will have an ability to choose a great head coach. If that guy happens to be Dyce then I will hope on board and support him as the right guy.
Better roll the Dyce on this one.
Say what you want about his coaching, but Dyce is sure a lot more eloquent with his words in front of the media and in the press than Chamblin ever was or ever will be . We can actually understand what he is saying (whether or not you agree with him or not!)
Does not matter who the HC or GM is if the scouting dept is not significantly upgraded.
It is good to have good people interested in the position, but the HC will be hired only after the GM is in place. That will be the interesting one to watch, as this person will set the tone for the rest of the team, from the Coaching staff, to the scouting team, to the players they bring in. Maybe the high profile applicant is Tom Higgins for GM, nobody knows or will say. I am looking at Benevedies as a candidate for DC. He turned it down last year to work with Chamblin as HC, hopefully a new HC… Read more »
"NO CONVENIENCE HIRING"!!!!! Mr. Reynolds.. End all the shenanigans and when the time is right, go get Eric Tillman! The guy is proven, he will bring in the right people, the right scouting and coaching staff and Eric Tillman will turn this ship around FAST! He is the right guy for the job and all the idiots who can't get over the past, well.. turn in your season tickets as I'm sure there are MANY!! AND I MEAN MANY fans out there who will snatch them up!.. Jeremy O'Day is a candidate, but in my opinion, he isn't ready and… Read more »
Dyce (and O'Day for that matter) is the best candidate? Based on what? They filled an immediate void.
By the way, Durant will be traded at some point next season.
That statement is just as valid as 'Dyce is the best HC candidate'.
Tillman? LOL
Been there, done that. He will never work for the Riders again unless Jerry Jones buys the team.
Cant work for the riders, but can live in Regina , pay taxes, raise his family and be part of the community. What a joke.
How Saskatchewan of you.
Mightier than thou.
So, how do you know he(Tillman) will never work for the Riders again?
I've never seen a fan base with so many know-it-alls. Incredible.
Hey Rod, Gene Simmons owns a football team does he not!! Half time shows would be awesome!!! You wanted the best you got the best!!! And his wife comes from toon town. Bet he is connect or could buy some!!!
Lol Mick jagger pffft this ain't soccer!!!
Coach Dyce has earned the right to apply. The fact remains however that the challenges this team is facing are daunting. It would entirely unfair to put the burden of what's ahead on a virtual rookie head coach, considering how much he will be under the light. Even with DD this job is going to but very huge and difficult. The new HC whoever he is has to be able to assemble a top notch coaching staff and that's hard when your a relative newcomer yourself. It seems a bit preposterous to think that a rookie HC and a rookie… Read more »
Open letter to Mr. Craig ReynoldsSaskatchewan Roughriders President. Please retreat immediately by yourself back to the forest of Hudson Bay, Sk, deep into the woods where no man has ever been. So far away from civilization you totally "cut off from all". Take no cell phone or any other means of communication devices to the outside world. Do not, REPEAT, do not let anyone follow you or let anyone know your where abouts as you will need total hermit solitude to make a once in a life time decision to the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club future with your name "stamped"… Read more »
It's the NDP way afterall "Mightier than thou"
O'Day as GM yes, Bobby D as Head Coach, no. Bob would make a great assistant coach, he is too nice a guy to be HC. I think Benevides could be the top candidate, if he is available. Or Matt Dunigan if we could pry him away from the TSN panel. Definitely need a PR type person and we all know Corey, for all his strong points, wasn't much for public relations. By the way, why do all you easy chair coaches have to hide behind the "anonymous" banner? Nobody is even asking you to provide your real name! Make… Read more »
Randolph said…
I apologize for my “easy chair coaches” comment, I find that I am a guiding light in my family and my community and as such see little value in those that have a differing opinion than mine. I cherish these open forums where anybody, regardless of their intellect or life experiences can openly leave an unvalidated comment…thank-you Rod. God bless.