Resilient Roughriders an unlikely success story
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are winning the turnover battle.
Despite unexpectedly turning over most of their highest-ranking football-operations personnel early this year, the Roughriders have fielded a highly competitive team — a 5-3 squad that boasts a four-game win streak.
And they have made winning a habit even though their No. 1 quarterback, 27-year-old Cody Fajardo, had not started a CFL game until Week 2 of this season.
Consider, too, that Fajardo has yet to enjoy the luxury of being protected by perennial all-star guard Brendon LaBatte, who has missed the first eight games due to injury.
Zach Collaros, who began the season as Saskatchewan’s firststring quarterback, lasted only three plays before being concussed and joining LaBatte on the shelf.
Major injuries, combined with upheaval in the front office and on the staff, could have destroyed a team that wasn’t as resourceful or resilient as the 2019 Roughriders have proven to be.
Saskatchewan finds itself tied with two other 5-3 teams — the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos — for second in the West Division, only one game behind the front-running Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-2).
The toughest battles await, but the Riders’ accomplishments are worth lauding, especially when they are contextualized.
At the beginning of the 2019 calendar year, Chris Jones was the Green and White’s head coach, defensive co-ordinator, general manager and vice-president of football operations.
The Riders’ Jan. 8 announcement that Jones signed a oneyear contract extension, carrying through 2020, did not portend the major changes to follow.
Only a week after the extension became public, Jones bolted to become a member of the Cleveland Browns’ coaching staff.
The sudden departure of one man, Jones, created three voids — which were filled by an equal number of in-house promotions.
Shortly after being named the general manager, Jeremy O’Day hired Craig Dickenson as head coach. Dickenson soon appointed Jason Shivers defensive co-ordinator.
Dickenson did not enjoy the luxury of hand-picking his coaching staff. After all, Jones had signed his assistants to extensions shortly before leaving. The CFL’s newly enacted football-operations salary cap left Dickenson with little flexibility.
Complicating matters, Jones left Saskatchewan without ensuring that a long-term solution was in place at quarterback. Collaros was re-signed shortly after O’Day was unsuccessful in wooing star signal-caller Bo Levi Mitchell. O’Day then signed Fajardo — formerly of the B.C. Lions and Toronto Argonauts.
Mitchell was Plan A, considering the Roughriders offered him in the vicinity of $700,000 per annum.
Collaros, now of the Argonauts, was Plan B — as in Brittle — with Fajardo next in line.
Then Plan B fell apart mere minutes into the regular season.
Honestly, there was every reason for the Roughriders’ 2019 campaign to become an utter disaster, considering all the sudden, unpredictable and high-profile personnel changes.
A 1-3 start hardly buoyed optimism the Roughriders would enjoy a prosperous season.
Look at them now.
O’Day, Dickenson and associates should take a bow. rvanstone@postmedia.com twitter.com/robvanstone