Cortez canned as Roughriders offensive coordinator

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will have a new coach running the offence next season.

George Cortez will not be coming back. The team has decided not to renew his contract.

General manager Brendan Taman said he and head coach Corey Chamblin made the decision.

"I think Corey and myself just felt it was time for a change," said Taman. "We wanted to get sort of a different look and a different approach to things."

Cortez spent the last two seasons on the sidelines in Green and White. He helped lead the Riders to a Grey Cup championship on home turf in his first season.

Despite the decision to part ways, Taman had praise for Cortez.

"George is a really good coach. He's a good guy, said Taman. "He helped us win a Grey Cup, did a lot of good things for us."

This season started well. The team enjoyed a seven-game winning streak in the season's first half.

Then, star quarterback Darian Durant went down with an elbow injury. The offence never recovered.

The Riders lost seven of their last nine games, including an 18-10 loss to Edmonton in the Western Semi-Final.

The Saskatchewan offence finished the season ranked sixth out of nine teams. It finished dead last in passing yards, averaging a paltry 185.3 yards per game.

The search for a replacement is underway.