COLLAROS DEMONSTRATES STATISTICS CAN BE DECEIVING
Robservations ...
It has been reported repeatedly
■ that the 2018 Saskatchewan Roughriders had a 10-4 record in games started by quarterback Zach Collaros. When you delve a little further into the numbers, they are not as eye-popping.
Read on ...
The losing team actually scored
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more offensive touchdowns (19, to the Roughriders’ 17) during the 10 games in which Collaros was the victorious quarterback. And, one of Saskatchewan’s touchdowns was scored by short-yardage quarterback Nick Marshall after Matt Elam returned an interception to the one-yard line.
Consider, too, that Saskatchewan
■ scored nine touchdowns on defence or special teams during those 10 games, which the Roughriders won by an average of 7.4 points. Saskatchewan posted two of the 10 victories without registering an offensive TD. Collaros also threw a pick-six in games that Saskatchewan won by point differentials of five and one.
Saskatchewan won five games
■ despite reaching the end zone only once, or not at all, on offence. In those five games, the Roughriders scored eight non-offensive touchdowns.
Positive note: Collaros did help
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the Roughriders put up 36 field goals, 16 more than the opposition, and often managed the offence smartly before the drive stalled. Saskatchewan moved the ball 40-plus yards leading up to 20 of the aforementioned 36 field goals. Although the inability to finish possessions was an issue, Collaros was adept at putting the Roughriders in position for kicker Brett Lauther to deliver. With Collaros behind centre, Saskatchewan kicked 22 field goals during games in which it did not score more than one offensive TD. Oddly enough, the field goals — not the touchdowns — are the strongest defence of Collaros’ performance during those 10 wins.
One other Collaros-related
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note: The Roughriders’ brain trust did not do him any favours by saddling him with a mediocre receiving corps. On Aug. 2, for example, Collaros returned to the lineup after missing four games with a concussion and threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Duron Carter — who just had been moved back to a receiving position after his talents were wasted at cornerback — in a
26-19 loss to the host Edmonton Eskimos. Despite the defeat, Collaros threw for 257 yards and gave the offence the spark, and hope, it had lacked with Brandon Bridge at the controls. So, naturally, the Roughriders proceeded to release Carter, and never came close to replacing him as a downfield threat.
Veteran receiver Emmanuel
■
Arceneaux, whose signing was announced Friday, should give Collaros another reliable target. However, Arceneaux turns 32 in September and missed the second half of last season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Will the Riders get the Manny of old, or just an old Manny?
Can the Roughriders wring
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another standout season out of 35-year-old Charleston Hughes? Although Hughes led the CFL with 15 sacks in 2018, he felled the opposing quarterback only twice over the last seven regular-season games. Hughes and Willie Jefferson gave the Roughriders a dynamic defensive-end duo last season. Now that Jefferson is a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, more of the onus will be on Hughes. Newly signed A.C. Leonard was an East Division all-star defensive end with the Ottawa Redblacks last season, but his sacks total (six) was modest.
Roughriders general manager
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and vice-president of football operations Jeremy O’day, wisely, has signed Lauther to a one-year contract extension, locking up his services through 2020. Lauther’s proficiency from 40-plus yards last season helped the Roughriders to camouflage a poor offence. Given the likelihood of more offensive struggles ahead, and with the CFL’S premier passers obligated to rival teams for multiple seasons, Lauther provides a crucial security blanket.
Canada West needs a new format
■ to determine playoff seedings. The RPI — Ratings Percentage Index — should be RIP. Per the RPI, the University of Regina Cougars women’s basketball team was the third seed for the playoffs, despite having the best record in the conference (17-3) and having swept the two higher-seeded teams (the University of Calgary Dinos and University of Saskatchewan Huskies) in two-game series. Moreover, the Cougars swept Calgary on the road.
Nice people who deserve a plug:
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Darren Szabo, Leonard Zachidniak, Dr. Tom O’malley, Dr. Aaron Kastelic, Murray Wood, Mike Silvius, Jay Willimott, Troy Casper, Claire Ledingham, Dick Stark, Dr. Bryan Hillis, Dave Hall, Rick Brodsky, Mark Zbitnew, Gordon Magel, Shawn Stieb, Michael Ball, Darren Simpson, Jade Belmore, Bob Irving, Leslie Demars, Jade Belmore, Kelsey Starchuck and Ty Kolle.