Darrell Davis
Regina Leader-Post
It’s halftime, the midway mark of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ regular season.
Time for a midterm report card.
With their 6-3 record as they prepare to visit the surging B.C. Lions on Sunday, the Roughriders have a winning percentage of .667, sit second in the West and look capable of winning a second straight Grey Cup. There are some areas that need attention, but they’re certainly an above-average football team.
Here are the grades position by position:
Quarterback: Trevor Harris started the season on fire, passing for 417, 349 and 409 yards in Saskatchewan’s first three games. In four of his next six outings, Harris hasn’t exceeded 250 yards and his most recent showing was a season-low 207 yards. Of course there’s recency bias, Harris is allowed occasional sub-par performances and the offence has been missing two key receivers and its starting running back, making things tougher on the veteran pivot. Don’t forget short-yardage quarterback Tommy Stevens, who hasn’t thrown a pass but has scored 11 rushing touchdowns and is virtually unstoppable when called upon to get tough yards or run out the clock. Strange that he wasn’t deployed in those crucial situations in Saskatchewan’s last game, a 26-19 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Grade: B.
Running back: Without injured running back A.J. Ouellette for five games, the Roughriders have replaced him with newcomers Quali Conley and Star Thomas. Ouellette averaged 72 rushing yards per game. Now they average 45. Ouellette is also a superb blocker and an emotional leader. The team misses him. Grade: C+.
Receivers: No team can overcome the losses of Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker, who contributed 1,152 yards and nine TDs before getting injured. KeeSean Johnson, the third member of Saskatchewan’s “Big Three,” has valiantly tried carrying on with a lesser-known cast. It’s not the same without their honour students. Grade: B+.
Offensive line: This is a solid group, showing itself to be capable of filling holes when left guard Zack Fry became the first of several players to be sidelined by injuries or illness. The Roughriders started four American O-linemen en route to winning last year’s Grey Cup, realizing the importance of protecting Harris. They have three Americans this season and have surrendered only 13 sacks. Impressive. Grade: A-.
Defensive line: Something is lacking with the pass rush, although the Riders average a respectable two sacks per game. Maybe it’s because prized defensive linemen Micah Johnson, Malik Carney and Habakkuk Baldonado were among the off-season departures. Maybe it’s because Saskatchewan’s defence rarely supplements the pass rush with blitzes. The Riders typically dress eight D-linemen and rotate them during the game to keep them fresh. Maybe a fearsome unit will rotate into place. Grade: C.
Linebackers: Despite losing starting outside linebackers A.J. Allen and C.J. Reavis in free agency, replacements Josh Woods and Antoine Brooks Jr. are having all-star-worthy seasons. Woods, to the consternation of the DBs, leads the team with two interceptions. Brooks and dependable middle linebacker Jameer Thurman lead with 53 defensive tackles. Grade: A-.
Defensive backs: All-star halfback Rolan Milligan Jr. and cornerback Tevaughn Campbell are injured. Safety Nelson Lokombo just returned from the injury list and moved into Campbell’s spot. That forebodes trouble. Indeed, the Riders have scrambled to assemble a solid secondary and it has worked … at times. Other times have been disastrous. That likely explains why the Riders don’t blitz very often and only one DB, Jonathan Edouard, has grabbed an interception. Grade: C.
Special teams: The Roughriders have surrendered two special teams touchdowns and have scored one. Punter Oscar Chapman is last in the CFL with a 46-yard average. Kicker Alex Hale is third last in the CFL with a 78-per cent accuracy rate in field goals, ahead of Toronto’s two kickers, and last with 62-yard kickoff average. However, Hale has been perfect his last two games, improving his stats to 18-for-23 and adding three field goals of 40-plus yards (to a total of four). Chapman is becoming more accurate and the cover teams are getting better. Grade: D.
Coaching: Here’s some free, unrequested advice: More blitzes are needed on defence. Don’t forget to use Stevens when the situation warrants it. The field-goal kicking (or non-kicking) strategies have been quite comical. Amazing job piecing together a roster, convincing the players they can win. And doing it. Grade: B.
Administration: That’s a nice stockpile of offensive linemen, defensive backs, receivers and running backs, although the last three positions are wearing thin because of all the injuries. When healthy, this team has the front-line talent, backup depth and coaching experience to challenge again for a championship. Grade: B+.
