NOBODY IS PICKING ON THE KICKING ANYMORE
The weekly Leader-Post-mortem is a between-the-posts-mortem.
Tyler Crapigna split the uprights on an 18-yard field-goal attempt with seven seconds remaining in Saturday’s fourth quarter to give the Saskatchewan Roughriders a 27-24 victory over the host Toronto Argonauts.
Remember all the heat Crapigna absorbed after a couple of key early-season misses? The detractors have been strangely silent of late.
Crapigna has hit 25 of 29 fieldgoal attempts — an 86.2-per-cent accuracy rate — and is 18-for20 (90 per cent) since Week 3. Moreover, he has made 10 consecutive field-goal attempts.
Among kickers who have appeared in at least 10 games, Crapigna is third in accuracy, behind the Calgary Stampeders’ Rene Paredes (91.7 per cent) and the B.C. Lions’ Ty Long (86.5).
Also, Crapigna has been flawless on converts, going 35-for-35. The Argos’ Lirim Hajrullahu (32-for-32) is the only other kicker without a missed convert.
Converts included, Crapigna has hit 60 of 64 placement attempts this season, connecting at a 93.8-per-cent rate.
Here are some other numerical nuggets ...
ARMS RACE
The Roughriders look downfield more frequently when Brandon Bridge is at quarterback.
Bridge’s throws have travelled an average of 11.7 yards beyond the line of scrimmage — 2.2 more than Kevin Glenn’s average.
On Saturday, Bridge averaged 13.6 yards per throw, compared to Glenn’s 6.4.
Overall, the Roughriders’ passes have travelled an average of 9.9 yards this season.
Bridge has been the most efficient Saskatchewan quarterback, according to a statistical model known as the Positive Plays Percentage (PPP).
The PPP was invented by this statistical nerd as a means of evaluating the consistency with which the Roughriders execute on both sides of the ball.
Per this formula, a win is awarded to the offence or defence on each play from scrimmage. A positive outcome for the offence is defined here as a touchdown, a first down, a firstand-10 play that gains at least five yards, or a second-down play that creates at least a third-and short opportunity.
With Glenn at the controls, the Roughriders’ offence has a PPP of 52.7. Saskatchewan’s offence has operated with a PPP of 55.7 with Bridge behind centre. The overall PPP is 53.0, compared to the opposing offence’s 51.5.
It is important to take into account Bridge’s smaller sample size, because Glenn has been the quarterback for more than 80 per cent of the Roughriders’ offensive plays.
Glenn’s performance is a major reason why the Roughriders have an 8-6 record. Saskatchewan has matched its victory total for the previous two seasons combined, with four games remaining.
STING RAY
The Argonauts’ Ricky Ray threw only two passes that travelled 20-plus yards — both of which were completions to S.J. Green. They teamed up for a 23-yarder in the second quarter and a 19-yard TD in the final frame. Green caught the latter pass three yards deep in the end zone, though, and therefore was 22 yards downfield.
Worth noting, though, is that Ray did not attempt a pass that covered more than 23 yards. He averaged a meagre 6.5 yards per attempt — the lowest figure against Saskatchewan this season.
The previous low of 7.1 had been set by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ Matt Nichols on Sept. 3, when Saskatchewan registered a 38-24 victory in the Labour Day Classic.
The low average reflects the Roughriders’ tendency to rush with only three or four men and drop back everybody else into coverage. With so many defenders, the Roughriders are difficult to beat over the top.
Over the last seven games, Saskatchewan has allowed only two completions on passes that have covered 30 to 39 yards. There were seven such connections over the first seven contests.
Opponents are increasingly reluctant to throw deep against Saskatchewan. There were 30 attempts of 30-plus yards over the first seven games, but only 13 long-distance tosses over the last seven contests. HAPPY HOLLEY DAY
The Roughriders’ Caleb Holley made the most of his two receptions on Saturday.
Late in the second quarter, head coach and general manager Chris Jones decided to gamble on third-and-three from Toronto’s 37-yard line. The move paid off, as Bridge found Holley for an 11-yard gain. Three plays later, Bridge collaborated with Naaman Roosevelt for an eightyard touchdown. Crapigna’s convert reduced Toronto’s lead to 16-10.
Holley struck again on the final play of the third quarter, catching a pass 10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage, breaking a tackle attempt by Matt Black, and motoring the rest of the way for a 75-yard major. Bakari Grant’s two-point conversion gave Saskatchewan a 24-17 lead.
Grant, by the way, is closing in on his first 1,000-yard season. He has 887 receiving yards with four games remaining.
His career high: 947 yards in 17 games with the 2013 Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
And here’s one for you: In five of Grant’s last six seasons, his longest reception has been for 50 or 51 yards.
Grant topped out with 51-yarders in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and has had a 50-yarder in each of the past two seasons.
BLITZ BITS
Jones threw a new wrinkle at the Argos — the Roughriders’ first eight-man rush of the season.
That is one of the factoids that were kindly provided once again by TSN’s superb Derek Taylor, who scrutinizes and analyzes every CFL game.
With profuse thanks to Derek, here is how the Roughriders fared while using their assorted pass rushes on Saturday:
Three men: Ray was 15-for-19 for 175 yards, with one interception (by Henoc Muamba). The Argos’ quarterback also ran five yards for a first down.
Four men: 8-for-10 for 106 yards, including both Toronto touchdowns.
Five men: 3-for-4, 34 yards. Six men: 1-for-2, six yards. Seven men: 1-for-3, 11 yards. Eight men: 1-for-1, 14 yards. According to Derek’s data, the Roughriders rushed with more than four men 25 per cent of the time.
In blitz situations, Ray averaged 6.5 yards per attempt — compared to 9.7 when the Roughriders sent three or four pass rushers.
BARTEL’S BOOMING BOOTS
The Roughriders’ Josh Bartel enjoyed a productive eastern road trip.
On Sept. 29, Bartel punted for a 55-yard rouge that proved to be the game-winning point as Saskatchewan defeated the host Ottawa Redblacks 18-17.
He followed up Saturday by punting five times for a gross average of 48.6 yards per punt. The net average: An eye-popping 42.2.
Over Bartel’s last three games, he is averaging 47.9 yards per punt. His season average: 44.5.