It’s time for the Riders to rebuild
REGINA — Once again, the Saskatchewan Roughriders failed to finish — and now they are finished.
Eleven regular- season games remain in the Roughriders’ 2015 schedule, but they are strictly for show after only the third 0-7 start in franchise history.
The latest setback was Saturday’s error-laden, penalty-plagued 30-26 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at Rogers Centre.
And now it is Roger(s), over and out.
Forget about the hopeless cause that is the 2015 season. Look ahead to 2016 and, particularly, 2017.
With an immaculate new facility scheduled to open in two years’ time, the Roughriders’ brass needs to adjust its mindset and concentrate on assembling a team that can be a factor during the inaugural season of Mosaic Stadium 2.0.
The 2015 season will be less distressing if it is viewed as a blessing.
The Roughriders, who have chronically coughed up fourth-quarter leads to the point where a collapse is anticipated, now have an 11game head start on the 2016 season.
Instead of appraising younger players during training camp or the preseason, the Green and White can conduct its evaluations in a multitude of games that actually count in the standings.
In so doing, they can foster a feeling of hope. They can convey an emphatic message that there is, in fact, a plan.
There is an evident need to start planning, given the often-exasperating events of this lost season and the composition of the roster.
The Roughriders approached this season with a win-now mentality. The prevailing sentiment is now: “A win? How?”
If a team is unable to win while being heavily reliant upon veterans, why persist with that approach? A year or two from now, the 30-somethings on the roster will simply be older and, it stands to reason, less productive.
Hence, the time has arrived to build a team in conjunction with a $278-million stadium.
There have been signs that the Roughriders’ brain trust — Brendan Taman (vicepresident of football operations and general manager) and Corey Chamblin (head coach) — are leaning in that direction.
In recent weeks, the Roughriders have mothballed veteran receivers Taj Smith, who is nearing 32, and Jamel Richardson, 33. Why stop there?
Even in the cases where the older players are still contributing, it isn’t doing any good. The 2015 Roughriders have emulated the 1959 and 1979 editions by losing each of their first seven games. Roll credits.
Perhaps the rival teams that can credibly focus on short-term goals can augment their rosters by trading for seasoned Saskatchewan stalwarts who have some tread remaining on the tires.
Maybe those deals would allow the Roughriders to stockpile draft picks, which they haven’t exactly hoarded with Taman in charge, and replenish the eroded base of Canadian talent.
If a flurry of timely trades was to cost the Roughriders a win or two — conceivably their only win or two — so what? Why risk relinquishing the first overall selection in the 2016 CFL draft?
When Saskatchewan last owned the top pick, it was 2012. The automatic choice was homegrown offensive lineman Ben Heenan, who quickly became a starter and contributed to a homefield Grey Cup victory as a sophomore CFLer.
Heenan’s arrival in Riderville coincided with an ambitious housecleaning that followed the five-win eyesore of 2011.
Back then, the Roughriders stuck with a nucleus that had suffered back-to-back Grey Cup losses to the Montreal Alouettes.
In 2011, the Roughriders kept trying to win the 2009 and 2010 Grey Cups, with the result being an utter mess.
Granted the autonomy he had been lacking as part of a confused front-office structure, Taman assumed firm control after the 2011 season. He quickly hired Chamblin and tore apart the roster.
By the time the 2012 season began, only a few members of the 30-plus set remained. Foundational pieces were put in place, with an eye toward the Regina-based Grey Cup game of 2013.
Although Taman signed a number of veteran free agents, the Roughriders also granted opportunities to players such as Smith (who had a team-high 78 catches for the 2013 champions), tailback Kory Sheets (the 2013 Grey Cup MVP), safety Tyron Brackenridge (who became a two-time CFL allstar), defensive back Terrell Maze (Saskatchewan’s best cover man) and left tackle Xavier Fulton (who deserved, but did not receive, all-star laurels in 2012 and 2013).
Most of those players were in their late 20s when they became CFL stars, but they performed at a high level — given a chance to do so — and joined in the celebration of 2013.
Given the realities of the CFL, in which players are often nomads, it is unrealistic to have a five-year plan. But how about a firm two-year plan that is designed to come to fruition in 2017?
The Roughriders would be prudent to retain a few key pieces — such as quarterback Darian Durant (who is about to turn 33), slotback Weston Dressler, 30, and defensive lineman John Chick, 32 — and make everyone else available via a fire sale.
In the meantime, the Riders should use the remainder of the regular season to develop quarterback Brett Smith and find out whether he can be Durant’s heir apparent.
If there was a bright spot to be extracted from Saturday’s game, it was the determined and generally effective play of Smith.
Despite the absence of Dressler, who missed Saturday’s game with a reported thigh injury, Smith was still able to move the offence with some consistency.
Yes, Smith threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown. But such misfortunes will inevitably befall young quarterbacks. Why not get them out of the way in games that don’t matter?
If that mentality is allowed to prevail over the next three months, perhaps some significance can be attached to games that are otherwise devoid of meaning.
At this point, when anyone who talks about playoff possibilities should consider sending a resume to The Comedy Network, all the Roughriders have to sell is hope — along with a few veterans, to anyone who happens to be interested.