Inside the CFL: Time for Roughrider redemption

By GRAHAM KELLY on September 8, 2022.

After the Blue Bombers flew out of Regina last Sunday with a 20-18 victory, the TV talking heads were unanimous that great teams find a way to win. That is true, and the Bombers are a great team. But the fact of the matter is the Saskatchewan Roughriders found a way to lose, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

I had no real expectation the Riders would win. Still, in front of a sellout crowd, they had a chance to knock off a great team and threw it away.

Some will say Winnipeg was lucky. However, they held the Rider offence to a single point in the second half. From early in the second quarter, they outscored Saskatchewan 20-4. The much-maligned Bomber kicker Marc Liegghio who cost his team their only loss of the season, also ending a 10-game winning streak by missing, booted the longest (55 yards) of his career. Still, the Riders beat the Bombers in every category on offence. But the Bombers were disciplined, the Riders were not. Head coach Craig Dickenson acknowledged the problem.

“Penalties cost us the game and they came at the worst times. We get a big gain, holding. We get a big gain, offensive pass interference. We do a good job of coverage, we get a no yards. We make a big play and get objectionable conduct on the sideline. We’ll do our best to address it. I can live with physical mistakes but not bad decisions. We are who we are right now. (The most penalized team in the league). We’ve got to clean up our plate. Each individual does. Hopefully the locker room takes a little bit of ownership of that stuff after the whistle because we’ve talked to them until we’re blue in the face.”

Saskatchewan was penalized 11 times for 99 yards. The offence had eight of those infractions, special teams two, the defence just one.

The most egregious offender was receiver Duke Williams who is still in that locker room. Suspended in July for tearing off an Argo’s helmet and throwing it at him during the pregame warm-up, dressed in street clothes Sunday, he got called for objectionable conduct when he confronted a Bomber who crossed the sideline at the Winnipeg 53. That turned a 2nd and short into a 2nd and long. On the next play, the Riders were nailed for an illegal block. Instead of being in field goal range with the game tied at 17, they had to punt.

Yes it’s true the players have to show leadership in cleaning up bad behaviour. Easier said than done. Dickenson has to show leadership on this issue. Past players I have talked to in similar situations lead me to believe Williams’ teammates have no use for his selfish antics and want something done. Coach Dickenson, cut Williams now. Either Williams is out of a job or you likely will be.

Said the coach, “He’s an emotional guy and his emotions got the better of him.” Dickenson is a wonderful man who cares deeply about all his players and coaches. Saint Peter was admonished to forgive not seven times but 77 times. That won’t work in this situation. By keeping Williams around, he’s enabling bad behaviour and hurting his team.

Despite the penalties, they still could have won. The Riders had a first down at the Bomber 26 with 2:10 left. Instead of running the ball twice and kicking a game leading field goal while running down the clock, offensive co-ordinator Jason Maas called for a pass which was intercepted. Dumb call, even if it had worked. Saskatchewan has a superb defence. Dickenson should have had confidence they could stop the Bombers from coming back in the dying seconds.

The teams meet again in the Banjo Bowl on Saturday in Winnipeg.

Time for Roughrider redemption.

Meanwhile in Calgary, the Stampeders dozed through the first half, trailing the Elks 8-7 after 30 minutes. But they finally prevailed 26-18. Since the two teams first met in June, Edmonton has seven new players on each side of the ball. Calgary has four total. The Elks repeatedly shot themselves in the hoof, Monday, characteristic of a team with no chemistry. I can’t see them beating the Stamps on Saturday at Commonwealth, giving the Stampeders a four-game series sweep.