QUARTERBACK CONTROVERSY? RIDERS YET TO CROSS THAT BRIDGE
Glenn has played admirably this season despite team’s lack of pass protection
Robservations ...
I understand quarterback controversies. ■ In fact, I have gleefully inflamed them at times.
I have lived through Kent Austin versus Tom Burgess, Burgess versus Warren Jones, Reggie Slack versus Kevin Mason, Nealon Greene versus Kevin Glenn versus Henry Burris, Darian Durant versus Steven Jyles versus Michael Bishop, and even Tino Sunseri versus Seth Doege. These debates are fabulous fodder for columnists, and for conversation in general. But, honestly, I cannot comprehend why Glenn versus Brandon Bridge is even an issue.
The 38-year-old Glenn began this season with the best fivegame totals of his 17-year, Hall of Fame-worthy career. Then he had one bad game — a week removed from throwing four touchdown passes — and some fickle fans have responded by lobbying for Bridge to start after he excelled in garbage time. The time may come for the Roughriders to audition a younger quarterback, but now? Seriously?
Give Glenn passable protection, which he did not receive Saturday during a 30-15 loss to the B.C. Lions, and see how he fares.
Roughriders defensive players
■ continue to be allergic to the football. On Saturday, the Green and White did not have a single player on the roster who had registered an interception this season. Saskatchewan’s two interceptors this season are defensive lineman Jonathan Newsome (who is now on the Ottawa Redblacks’ six-game injured list) and Sam Williams (who is on the Roughriders’ practice roster).
One common criticism of
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Roughriders head coach, defensive co-ordinator, general manager and vice-president of football operations Chris Jones is that he is wearing too many hats. Fair enough, but keep in mind that president-CEO Craig Reynolds would not have been able to woo Jones away from the Edmonton Eskimos — where he was the head coach in 2014 and 2015 — without giving him additional titles.
And what is the sense in bringing in Jones without putting him in charge of the defence? He has been a part of four Grey Cup champions as a defensive co-ordinator. In 2015, he guided Edmonton to a Grey Cup win while serving as the head coach and defensive co-ordinator. The dual role was not a problem in the Alberta capital. Sweetener was required to make it feasible for him to leave.
But where is the pressure-based
■ defence for which Jones is renowned? The Roughriders have been surprisingly passive during their first 24 games under Jones. Ash-can the ineffectual three-man rush. Blitz with everyone except WorkSafe Bob if need be. The defence is being repeatedly lacerated, anyway, so what is the harm in trying a more assertive approach?
If you think Jones’s job
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description is wordy, check this out: On Tuesday, I interviewed (deep breath) director of sport, community engagement and athlete development Lisa Robertson at the (another deep breath) University of Regina’s Centre for Kinesiology, Health and Sport.
Regina-born receiver Addison
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Richards, just 23, has retired from football following an injury-plagued three-year stint with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Even though Richards’ time in the CFL didn’t turn out as he would have liked, he does have an earlier-than-anticipated start on a post-football career that will assuredly be a success.
It was always a pleasure to watch Richards develop into a CFLer while he starred for the Sheldon-Williams Spartans and U of R Rams. He is a first-class person and that trait, among other attributes, will serve him extraordinarily well.
Ideally, Saskatchewan’s next
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premier will be an ardent sports fan. Roy Romanow was a sportscaster, once upon a time. Grant Devine once cleared the Taylor Field fence during a home runhitting contest that preceded a visit by the Toronto Blue Jays. Brad Wall coached minor football, guested on CJME’s Green Zone, and made no secret of his affection for the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders — an allegiance that has survived several lopsided losses to the Denver Broncos. Politics is a lot more fun and folksy when there is a sporting side to the premier.
Nice people who deserve a
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plug: Lisa Robertson, Dave Taylor, Bill Buckner, Bucky Dent, Aaron Boone, Mookie Wilson, Grady Little, Andrew Hamilton, Patti Schlechter, Braden Konschuh, Sawyer Buettner, Reid Quest, Stefan Endsin, Scott MacAulay, Don Young, Addison Richards and, with much respect to the remarkable jazz drummer to whom I am listening while typing this, Butch Miles!