Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
Hello, Saskatchewan Roughriders. Do you have a secret crop of speedsters growing in the middle of a vast field of canola somewhere? Every time we turn around, another one hits the field with jets firing. Now it’s Kyran Moore, the 21-year-old who lit up the Blue Bombers for a 65-yard punt return on Sunday. The Saskatchewan Roughriders have a roll of speed demons hanging over their kitchen sink like paper towels and whenever they have a need they just tear off a new one and trot him out.
Here are this week’s takeaways.
1. LABOUR DAY A WOULDA, COULDA (ALMOST SHOULDA) KIND OF THING
The woulda came in Calgary, where the Edmonton Eskimos woulda beaten the Stampeders and changed the complexion of the race for first in the West if they’d only gotten out of their own way, particularly in the second half, when turnovers snuffed out promising drives and a late illegal contact penalty allowed the Stampeders to continue the game-winning field goal march, instead of punting.
The coulda came in Regina on Sunday, where the Winnipeg Blue Bombers coulda beaten the Saskatchewan Roughriders and mothballed their crisis of confidence if they’d avoided leaks on offence and special teams. Key plays so often come right near the end of a game but in this one, they came earlier; an interception on Winnipeg’s opening drive, turned into a major a play later, and a punt cover Houdini escape for a TD allowed in the second quarter.
Looked like we might hit the “woulda, coulda, shoulda” trifecta for a time, too, as the Toronto Argonauts got up off the matt in Hamilton, aided in large part by Ticat mistakes; an ill-advised throw that became an interception that was turned into a touchdown, and sloppy ball security that became a 100-yard fumble recovery TD. The Ticats, however, had more than enough muscle on offence to make up for their mistakes, including redemption performances by the two men who made those errors; quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and running back Alex Green.
2. ARE THESE QUESTIONS OR ARE THESE ANSWERS?
Four teams come out of the first games of September in a disappointed mood, maybe even bitter. Dispirited and disjointed.
For the Argos, Eskimos, Blue Bombers and REDBLACKS, there will be a lot to moan about this week, a lot to worry about and a lot of second-guessing. Each of them showed us reasons why they should be counted out when it comes to serious talk about championship contending, to varying degrees, of course. Each will insist that they just need to put the sting of these losses behind them, and march forward with proper purpose, noses to the grindstone and all that. For one or two of them, that might be right.
The REDBLACKS’ ongoing search for consistency of command continues. The Eskimos’ quest for eliminating costly penalties goes on. The Blue Bombers? See the REDBLACKS, above. And the Argos? Plugging defensive holes is job number one.
Each of those teams lives in the hope that Labour Day matches merely gave us suspicious questions about them and not damning answers.
3. THERE’S ROOM FOR MANNERS IN FOOTBALL
I like Mike Sherman’s demeanor on the sidelines. Intensely invested, he is, but there’s also a hint of friendly local shopkeeper in there, too. Or visiting granddad.
During the late stages of Montreal’s upset win in Ottawa, there was an crucial moment. The Als were up by ten and defensive back Tevaughn Campbell was called for pass interference in the end zone. Sherman disagreed. He threw his challenge flag and coolly explained his objection and as the referee was retreating to relay the message to the command centre, Sherman was clearly heard to say “thank you.”
A little more time in Canada and he’ll be throwing challenge flags, then immediately saying “sorry to bug ya” as the official comes over.
I get the feeling that when local kids are on his grass, Mike Sherman doesn’t shake his fist at them and holler “get of my lawn.” Instead, he waves from the porch, chuckles and then sets up a badminton net for them. Then coaches them up.
We could all probably stand to be a little more like Mike.
4. WHAT TIME IS IT? IT’S TEVAUGHN TIME
Sure, Tevaughn Campbell got flagged for PI late in Montreal’s win over the REDBLACKS. That was about his only mistake, though, on a night when the young Canadian corner shone. Is he bursting through in his fourth year?
Campbell had a whale of a game in Ottawa, with three tackles but more importantly, two knockdowns and an interception to go along with those tackles. He covered Ottawa receivers so completely and effectively they could call him Tevaughn the Tarp.
The University of Regina product has been around; drafted by Calgary in 2015, traded to Saskatchewan in 2016. Dealt to Montreal midway through last season. Then, released by the Als last May. With Montreal facing an injury crunch in their secondary, they brought him back and the 25-year-old is, so far, taking advantage of the new lease.
5. STEPHEN MCADOO CAN GO LARGE ON YA, SURE
Saskatchewan Roughriders’ offensive coordinator Steve McAdoo was feeling some heat a few weeks back, taking some blame for what was then a tepid and boring Riders’ offence.
Head Coach Chris Jones got some of it too when he pretty well told everyone to get used to running plays and screen passes, because that’s what they needed to do while quarterback Zach Collaros was out of the line-up.
With Collaros back in the line-up, it seems the restrictions have been lifted and a pretty good example of that came late during the fourth quarter of Sasky’s win over Winnipeg, the Roughriders up by a solitary point. With two minutes remaining and scrimmaging 2nd-and-3 from the Winnipeg 42, Saskatchewan could have gone conservative and handed off. Might have gotten them a first down, might not have.
With field goal range already secured, McAdoo had Collaros look deep and the QB found receiver Jordan Williams-Lambert (great catch) at the Blue Bomber five-yard line. A comforting touchdown was to follow.
So, you see, Steven McAdoo has some colourful paint on his palette and is not afraid to splash it on the canvas from time to time, as long as he has what he feels is the correct brush for the job.
AND FINALLY…
What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East and the Montreal Alouettes are the sun. Don’t like Shakespeare? How about old movies? It’s alive! It’s alive!
