RIDERS STILL NEED TO ADD SOME EXPLOSIVENESS

Signing of three free agents is a start on improving a putrid passing attack

When it comes to the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offence, there has to be another shoe to drop … or another pass to drop … or something.

One week into the CFL’S free-agency period, the Roughriders have not injected desperately needed fuel into their passing attack — the league’s worst in 2018.

As of this writing, on Monday afternoon, the Green and White had the same starting quarterback (Zach Collaros), the same offensive co-ordinator (Stephen Mcadoo), and a receiving corps that should not scare anyone except Roughriders season-ticket holders.

What could possibly go wrong? The one saving grace is that there is still ample time in which to rectify the problem.

The quick fixes are off the board, the premier free agents having found their destinations, so the Roughriders will have to rely on some ingenuity — especially that of assistant general manager Paul Jones.

Jones has long been regarded as one of the league’s elite player-personnel men. It is imperative that he live up to that reputation as the Roughriders strive to repair a putrid passing attack.

As it stands, the Roughriders have done little to inspire confidence that there will not be a reprise of last season, when they eked out a league-low 11 aerial touchdowns.

The team has already acknowledged, if not addressed, the deficiency at quarterback.

If Collaros was truly the answer, general manager and vice-president of football operations Jeremy O’day would not have made such an aggressive play for Bo Levi Mitchell, who ended up re-signing with the Calgary Stampeders.

Now that the Roughriders have settled for Collaros, they must surround him with some weapons to make the best of an unenviable situation.

The receiving corps was mediocre, to put it charitably, last season. Since then, slotback Jordan Williams-lambert — the West Division’s rookie of the year in 2018 — has signed with the Chicago Bears.

Over the first seven days of free agency, Saskatchewan signed three receivers — Cory Watson, Naaman Roosevelt and Emmanuel Arceneaux.

Watson, approaching 35, is a consistent but hardly dangerous veteran.

Roosevelt, 31, is the best of the Roughriders’ receivers and the team was wise to re-sign him. The onus is now on O’day and Jones to find or facilitate the development of some complementary targets.

Arceneaux has been a game-breaker with the B.C. Lions, but how much remains in the tank? He turns 32 on Sept. 17 and is coming off a knee injury that forced him to miss the second half of last year. “The Manny Show” may not make its debut in Saskatchewan until around mid-season.

The Roughriders’ roster also includes receivers Shaq Evans, Kyran Moore, K.D. Cannon, Patrick Lavoie, Christion Jones, Douglas Mcneil III and Mitch Picton.

Evans led the team in receiving yards (785) last season, albeit without scoring a touchdown. Moore and Cannon have tremendous speed, but are unproven. Lavoie is an established CFLER who can play fullback and slotback, but not a downfield threat.

Jones is an explosive returner who has yet to establish that he can transfer that big-play capability to the offence. Mcneil, 30, has not ascended beyond the Arena Football League for any significant period. Picton, a former University of Regina Rams standout, is still looking to make an imprint at the pro level.

Hence the incessant questions about the passing attack.

In most other areas, the Roughriders appear to be fine.

All five starting offensive linemen are set to return.

William Powell, who rushed for 1,362 yards for the Ottawa Redblacks last season, gives Saskatchewan an instant running game.

The Roughriders lost standout defensive end Willie Jefferson to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers via free agency, but welcomed a three-time CFL star defensive tackle, ex-stampeder Micah Johnson.

A.C. Leonard, an East Division all-star defensive end with Ottawa last season, was a nice addition.

An excellent defensive backfield will likely be unchanged from 2018.

There are concerns about the linebacking corps, following the departure of Sam Eguavoen to the NFL’S Miami Dolphins. However, the defence as a whole is solid.

The special teams will be above-average as long as Craig Dickenson, the Roughriders’ new head coach, continues to be the co-ordinator.

But as for the resuscitation of the passing attack, well, we’re still waiting …