RIDERS’ QB QUEST AT KEY POINT
Free agency sees proven performers Reilly, Harris and Mitchell on market
The Capital Pointe site looks like a mere pothole compared to a cavernous void on the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ roster.
The local CFL team is in dire need of a quarterback — someone whose arrival signals the disappearance of the grunt-and-punt offence.
The anticipation builds leading up to Tuesday’s kickoff of the CFL’S free-agency period.
As of this writing, premier passers such as Bo Levi Mitchell (whose rights are held by the Calgary Stampeders), Mike Reilly (Edmonton Eskimos) and Trevor Harris (Ottawa Redblacks) are eligible to hit the open market.
(That said, Mitchell likely will return to Calgary if he is not suitably enticed by an NFL opportunity.)
Jonathon Jennings, who has regressed since enjoying a banner 2016 campaign with the B.C. Lions, will be fielding offers.
Veteran signal-callers Travis Lulay (B.C.) and Kevin Glenn (Edmonton) are two other familiar names on the list of prospective free agents — one that also includes Zach Collaros and Brandon Bridge, both of whom, er, contributed to the league’s ugliest passing attack last season.
Collaros was supposed to be The Answer after the Roughriders acquired him from the Hamilton Tiger-cats in January of last year.
He soon agreed to a restructured contract, calling for a salary of $430,000.
That was the only big number he put up all season.
Bridge and Glenn combined to give the Roughriders a leaguebest 35 touchdown passes in 2017.
But even then, the Green and White ended up making an utter mess of the situation.
The unravelling began in the East Division final, in which the Roughriders lost 25-21 to the host Toronto Argonauts. Saskatchewan head coach Chris Jones was so delighted with his quarterbacking that he made three switches on Nov. 19, 2017 — going from Glenn to Bridge to Glenn to Bridge.
Jones’ approach basically amounted to a non-confidence vote on both quarterbacks.
Glenn, who threw three interceptions in the first half against Toronto, was released shortly after the Collaros trade was consummated. Complicating matters, it was never the same for Bridge.
Bridge was known to enliven the Roughriders’ offence in 2017. When Glenn struggled, Bridge was capable of coming out of the bullpen making plays with his powerful throwing arm and nimble feet. Offensive co-ordinator Stephen Mcadoo seemed to be fine with allowing Bridge to use his array of skills.
Then came 2018, when Bridge was not trusted to do anything except hand off the football or throw wobbly hitch screen passes.
With Mcadoo likely returning as the offensive co-ordinator — newly appointed head coach Craig Dickenson has yet to announce his staff — that cannot be good news for anyone who holds out hope that Bridge will rejoin the Roughriders and reprise 2017.
So now what?
Plan A: Offer Reilly at least $600,000 and all sorts of fabulous prizes, in the form of unmatchable off-field perks. Plan B: Offer Harris at least $500,000.
Plan C: Jennings? Really? Lions general manager Ed Hervey recently told TSN’S Dave Naylor that Jennings “probably should go somewhere else.” That would seem to be a red flag.
Plan D: Develop a young quarterback, while adding Glenn as a mentor.
The Roughriders might very well be able to sell Plan D, if necessary.
In the absence of Jones, who left in mid-january to become the Cleveland Browns’ senior defensive assistant, the Roughriders have a new look. Dickenson and general manager/ vice-president of football operations Jeremy O’day have both signed three-year contracts.
Year 1 of a regime would be a logical time to start from scratch at quarterback.
Perhaps the negotiation list includes a prospect or three who would offer the Roughriders hope for, you know, sustained success.
Under Jones, quarterbacking was a year-to-year proposition. He went from Darian Durant (2016) to the Glenn/bridge combo (2017) to Collaros/bridge (2018) to Cleveland, leaving the Roughriders without a passable passer.
This from someone who, upon trading Durant to the Montreal Alouettes in 2017, said: “We’re going to leave no stone unturned and we’re going to continue to look until we do find a quarterback.”
As evidenced by the not-sogrand canyon at the intersection of Albert Street and Victoria Avenue, the act of leaving no stone unturned can have its drawbacks.
Collaros was supposed to be The Answer after the Roughriders acquired him from the Hamilton Tiger-cats.