Desperation rules the day

There is desperation in the Rider Nation.

How else can one describe the manner in which the Saskatchewan Roughriders have administered their quarterback situation?

The quarterback carousel has been spinning uncontrollably as the Riders have attempted to cope with the absence of 2013 Grey Cupwinning QB Darian Durant.

Durant has been sidelined since Sept. 7, when he suffered a torn tendon in his right elbow in the third quarter of a road game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Roughriders held on to win 30-24 and extended their winning streak to seven games while improving their record to 8-2.

In five games without Durant in the lineup, the Riders have absorbed four losses and a torrent of criticism.

Tino Sunseri started three straight games before giving way to Seth Doege, who was elevated to front-line duty for an Oct. 3 home date with the Calgary Stampeders.

Doege was pulled in the second quarter after throwing his third interception. The Riders were trailing 9-0 when Doege was lifted.

The deficit swelled to 240 before Sunseri directed three consecutive touchdown drives — with each major being punctuated by a two-point conversion — to knot the game at 24-24. Calgary subsequently scored a tiebreaking TD in the final minute, winning 31-24.

Sunseri was unable to build on his 289-yard passing performance against Calgary. More to the point, he wasn’t given the chance due to the game plan that was installed for Monday’s game against the host Montreal Alouettes.

The offensive package was more conservative than Ezra Levant. Sunseri attempted only 12 passes through three quarters before being relieved by Doege, who didn’t fare any better as the Riders lost, again, 40-9.

With little faith being demonstrated in Sunseri — perhaps justifiably — and Doege no longer a candidate for front-line duty, that leaves (cue trumpet) Kerry Joseph.

Yes, dear reader, the Roughriders’ quarterbacking crisis has reached a point where a 41-year-old who has not seen significant game action since last November will be the starting signal-caller for Sunday’s clash with the visiting Edmonton Eskimos — a game Saskatchewan must win to sustain its hopes of opening the playoffs at home.

What does Joseph’s presence and brisk promotion say about the Riders’ ability to recruit, appraise and/or develop quarterbacks?

And what is the likelihood of Saskatchewan winning on Sunday with a warmedover starting quarterback?

Even if you follow the Riders while wearing greentinted glasses, it is difficult to make a compelling case in favour of the home team.

The Riders, whose defence had been performing in robust fashion only a few weeks ago, have now allowed the second-most points in the five-team West Division.

The special teams have been a concern for the better part of two months.

As for the offence ... well, what offence?

Despite scoring a rapidfire 24 points against Calgary and registering a 35-32 victory over the visiting Ottawa Redblacks on Sept. 21, the Roughriders have managed only 71 points over the five games that Durant has not started.

The Roughriders have been especially anemic out of the gate, scoring a mere 20 points over the past five first halves.

Hence the game of musical quarterbacks.

The Roughriders’ desperation has reached the point where starting a 41-year-old quarterback is actually the most sensible decision — at least in the short term.

Joseph, who guided Saskatchewan to a championship in 2007, does possess the requisite experience, along with credentials that few Riders can rival. He is one of only four Grey Cupwinning signal-callers in franchise history (the others being Durant, Ron Lancaster and Kent Austin).

Moreover, Joseph is one of only three Saskatchewan players to be named the CFL’s most outstanding player. In 2007, Joseph joined an ultra-exclusive fraternity that also includes Lancaster (who won the award in 1970 and 1976) and George Reed (1965).

Lancaster, who was 40 when he took his final snap with the Roughriders in 1978, was the oldest quarterback in franchise history until Joseph resurfaced.

And now, barely a week after arriving in Regina, Joseph is poised to start a crucial game against Edmonton.

If the Roughriders can somehow prevail under these circumstances, it would truly be a victory for the ages.