Despite setback, things could be worse for Riders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have suffered a loss — this is a recording — but the predominant sentiment among the fans should be one of immense relief.
It is easy to become benumbed by the chronic defeats during a 30-game stretch that has included only five victories. At the same time, there is an inclination to expect the worst.
For once, though, the Roughriders got a break — in the form of a sprain.
Part of the scenario is acutely familiar to followers of the local CFL team. When marquee quarterback Darian Durant left Saturday’s game against the B.C. Lions after throwing a 31-yard touchdown pass to Rob Bagg at 4:11 of the second quarter, a Roughriders fan transmitted a succinct and sombre text message: “Here we go again.”
Durant had missed the better part of 1 1/2 seasons with serious injuries — a torn tendon in his right elbow (sustained Sept. 7, 2014) and a ruptured left Achilles tendon (June 30, 2015). The drastic descent in the Roughriders’ fortunes coincided with the beginning of Durant’s protracted battle with injuries.
With Durant in the lineup, the Roughriders won a Grey Cup championship in 2013 and began the 2014 season with an 8-2 record.
Although the Roughriders entered Saturday’s contest at 0-2, the back-to-back losses could hardly be pinned on Durant — who had thrown four touchdown passes in a 39-36 overtime loss to the host Edmonton Eskimos on July 8.
Durant was sharp once again on Saturday, completing seven of 10 passes for 104 yards and boasting an efficiency rating of 137.1.
His payoff pitch to Bagg, who withstood a ferocious hit to make a terrific catch, helped the Roughriders assume a 10-7 lead.
As most of the 31,014 fans celebrated Bagg’s touchdown, Durant limped off the field. When the Roughriders next possessed the football, backup quarterback Mitchell Gale was at the controls of the offence.
There was a collective gulp at Mosaic Stadium.
Gale helped the Roughriders enjoy a 23-10 halftime lead. But the Roughriders’ highlight reel ended there. Roll credits.
The Lions outscored the home side 30-4 over the final two quarters and won 40-27, leaving Saskatchewan at 0-3 and once again fielding questions about the health of the starting quarterback.
“The X-rays were negative, thank goodness,” Roughriders head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations Chris Jones said.
Durant described the injury as a “severe ankle sprain.”
That is hardly a cause for exultation but, after the events of the past two seasons, considerable solace should be derived from the fact that Durant is not sidelined for the season.
It might be a week, or two, or even three, but he will be back.
The way things have gone in recent years, this is progress.
There is a modicum of hope — even at 0-3.
Yes, it is true that on Saturday night the Roughriders fell apart faster than The Tenors.
The Green and White couldn’t eke out as much as a first down during the third quarter. Nonetheless, the home side led 23-19 with 15 minutes remaining.
Then the Roughriders were thrown to the Lions, who amassed 21 fourth-quarter points, and the traditional postmortem ensued.
Of course, Durant’s absence wasn’t the only reason for the Roughriders’ unravelling. Two blown assignments by the alleged defence resulted in two long passes — a 52-yard pass to Nick Moore and a 59-yard scoring toss to an uncovered Shawn Gore.
On the 52-yard play, two Lions receivers — Gore and Moore — were lined up to the right of quarterback Jonathon Jennings. Coverage-wise, the Roughriders countered with Tevaughn Campbell and ... uh ... er ... nobody else. Is this what they mean by Cover Zero?
The defence was supposed to be considerably better under Jones, but so far Roughriders fans have been subjected to more of the same.