Inside the CFL: ‘The team that is the toughest, wins’

By GRAHAM KELLY on July 22, 2021.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have outstanding quarterbacking, sticky-fingered receivers, a solid running game and a great punter in Jon Ryan. Defensively they have been decimated by defections. Four players, including two starters, blew their Achilles’ tendons during an unsupervised pre-training camp drill. Throw in COVID complications, and luck has not been a lady at Mosaic Stadium.

The CFL’s 2019 sack leader, Charleston Hughes, signed with Toronto. Chad Geter joined the U.S. Air Force, leaving solid veterans A.C. Leonard and Micah Johnson. The entire starting linebacking corps is gone, Solomon Elimimian to retirement, Cameron Judge to Toronto, and Derrik Moncrief to the L.A. Rams. Freddie Bishop III was to take Hughes’ place with newcomer veteran Larry Dean starting at middle linebacker. They were two of the Achilles’ casualties.

Coordinator Jason Shivers is considering moving All-Star safety Mike Edem to linebacker. Second-year Seun Idowu will like start in the middle with Deon Lacey on the outside. The secondary will be solid with Ed Gainey, L.J. McCray, Nick Marshall, Loucheiz Purifoy and Zach Sanchez.

In his first year as a starter, Cody Fajardo was the Western All-Star quarterback and nominee for Most Outstanding Player. Always a backup, he became the starter when Zach Collaros was concussed in the opening game of the 2019 season. For the first time in his career, he comes into camp as the main man, a key member of the leadership group, a role in which he excelled.

“This year coming in as the starter, it’s getting the team close together in the short limited time we have, trying to get the timing down, being available to be the facilitator between the offence and defence and building a Grey Cup champion from the first day of training camp.

“My challenge is getting my timing back, getting back into a routine. The biggest thing is standing in the pocket and having real guys coming after you trying to tear your head off. There is no way you can do that in the off season.”

After a 20-month layoff, “I’m just getting back to comfortability. I had an honest conversation with Coach (Jason) Maas (Former Edmonton All-Canadian quarterback and head coach), I said, ‘coach, in 2019 I was in such a groove. My first time as a starter I felt comfortable’. He told me he would do everything to get me back to that comfort level. He reminded me I wasn’t the only one who has been off for so long, that everybody in the league is dealing with the same situation.” Although bringing in a new offence, Fajardo was pleased that Maas assured him they would retain what he did well two years ago.

Expected to be a big part of the offence is running back William Powell who finished second in rushing in 2019 with 1,093 yards. Fajardo ran for 611 yards. Shaq Evans was fourth in receiving. Other targets are Jordan Williams-Lambert, Kyran Moore and likely Carlos Henderson. Naaman Roosevelt signed with Montreal.

A month ago, the offensive line was a strength. Then Takoby Cofield and Braden Schaan retired. The big blow came June 26 when All-Canadian guard Brendon LeBatte decided to sit out the season. Said Rider GM Jeremy O’Day, “with all the COVID rules and regulations and the stuff that’s going on in his personal life, he’s not going to play under the current circumstances. He hasn’t decided to never play football again but he will revisit that at a later date.”

He remains optimistic: “We signed Brett Boyko and Josiah St. John. We feel very strongly about our American tackles. You can never replace a guy of Brendon’s status but every time a door closes, another opens.”

Unlike their Western rivals, Saskatchewan is deep at quarterback. Behind Fajardo is second-year Isaac Harker, who played well when called upon. An interesting prospect is Paxton Lynch. The 6-foot-7 244-pound QB was drafted third overall in 2016 by Denver, behind starting NFL pivots Jared Goff and Carson Wentz. Injuries have dogged his career.

Asked about team identity, Head Coach Craig Dickenson replied, “We expect our team to be a bunch of hardworking tough guys, blue collar lunch pail guys who come to work every day. I’ve always believed football is a game where the team that is the toughest, wins.”