In lieu of points, Riders settle for progress

The Saskatchewan Roughriders did not receive the W, but they did make a statement.

While the Calgary Stampeders adhered to team policy by winning Sunday’s game against Saskatchewan — 15-9, for the record — that victory came without scoring a touchdown.

Calgary could not breathe easily until 34 seconds remained in the fourth quarter, when Saskatchewan quarterback Brandon Bridge — a fourth-quarter replacement for Kevin Glenn — was sacked and lost a fumble.

Calgary led 15-2 before Bridge found Devon Bailey for a 14-yard touchdown — the game’s only major — with 4:56 left in the proceedings.

At that point, Saskatchewan was without its first-string QB (Glenn having been pulled) and its leading receiver (Naaman Roosevelt having absorbed a helmet-to-helmet hit in the first half ).

The Roughriders’ punt-oriented offence put unrelenting pressure on their defence, which was facing the CFL’s reigning most outstanding player Bo Levi Mitchell and his associates.

Calgary owned the football for 36 minutes and 10 seconds, but only scored five field goals.

Yes, the Riders were susceptible to the run — Jerome Messam churned out 127 yards on 23 carries — but the Saskatchewan end zone was off limits. In that, there should be some solace.

The Stampeders are the league’s elite team, but the Roughriders went toe-to-toe with them. The gap, which was once considerable, has narrowed — although that is of no comfort to Riders head coach and general manager Chris Jones.

“We’re 0-2 versus Calgary,” Jones said, “so that’s a pretty (big) disparity.”

Consider, though, the manner the Roughriders performed in comparison to their previous game against Calgary. On July 22 at McMahon Stadium, Saskatchewan was shut out in the first half and lost 27-10. Sunday’s showing was far more respectable — on defence, anyway.

For the second successive meeting against Calgary, the Roughriders struggled to protect Glenn. There wasn’t any threat of a run — Bridge had a team-high 12 rushing yards — so the Stamps could tee off on the quarterback.

Given the lack of what Jones referred to as “second-and-manageable” situations, he said: “We’ve got to put somebody in there to make them defend the length of the field.”

Bridge performed admirably and demonstrated he can come off the bench and enliven the offence while providing a different dimension.

The Stephen McAdoo-choreographed offence, however, is perfectly suited for a quarterback such as Glenn. He possesses an agile mind and a quick release. Give him any time in the pocket and the offence will move the ball. Give him matador pass protection, as was the case Sunday, and a single-digit point total will result.

Remember, though, the game wasn’t a joyride for Mitchell, either. The Riders pressured him despite routinely rushing with only three men. When there was time to throw, the receivers were often blanketed.

“We’ve got nine guys in coverage,” Jones said, “and he’s having to pat the football.”

That was one of the pat answers Sunday. As for the questions: Well, there are far fewer of them than there used to be.