Inside the CFL: Will any quarterback be spared?

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on August 10, 2023.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

“And another one bites the dust” – Queen

Under menacing storm clouds over McMahon last Friday, early in the second quarter, another starting quarterback went down. This time it was Argo Chad Kelly who limped to the sidelines with a wonky ankle. Although his head coach Ryan Dinwiddie was optimistic he wouldn’t be gone long, you never know with that kind of injury. At the time, Toronto was undefeated and Kelly was having a MOP season. Although he hadn’t done much against a stout Stampeder defence up to that point, without him the Good Ship Argonaut capsized and lost to the 2-5 home team 20-7.

With only two wins and a quarterback under pressure for untimely turnovers, the victory was sweet and deserved because the Stamps played well in all phases of the game. They were physical up front, conservative with their play calling and for once this season, Lady Luck was dressed in red and white.

Coach Dave Dickenson acknowledged all that:

“We really needed the win. Our backs were against the wall with a great team coming in. We caught a few breaks, the touchdown fumble before the half and then they lost their quarterback. It was a very physical game and we won that battle.

“The offensive line stepped up, the fullback as well, receivers blocking off the edge. We didn’t throw that much. They have a great front four and real ball hawks on the back end. We wanted to run the ball, control the line of scrimmage, control the clock and we did that.”

Jake Maier: “We needed it bad. First night all year offensively we didn’t turn the football over, lo and behold we gave ourselves a great chance to win.”

Slow starts have dogged the Stampeders. This time, on their second possession, Maier engineered a 42 yard, nine-play touchdown drive, set up by a humungous Cody Grace punt that pinned the champions at their nine yard line. The Aussie has been blasting the ball to the moon this year. It was two and out with the Stamps taking over at the Argo 42.

The roars of approval had barely died down when Chad Kelly hit Cam Phillips who clearly beat veteran Titus Wall with a 66 yard pass and run to tie the game. “Oh, no, here we go again,” groans were heard. But the defence was great the rest of the way, leading me to believe Calgary would have won even with Chad Kelly at the Argo helm the entire game.

The turning point came at then end of the first half when Javon Leake fumbled Grace’s punt in the end-zone, recovered by Michael Griffin II, giving the home team a 10-point lead.

The teams traded field goals the rest of the rainy way.

With Maier’s penchant for throwing interceptions, Dickenson simplified the game plan, throwing less and running more with Dedrick Mills picking up 137 of his team’s 167 yard rushing total. In the fourth quarter, the Cowboys set out on an eight-play drive, seven of which where Mills carries for 43 yards. Critically, the possession took over six minutes off the clock. Mills has been filling in for the 2022 CFL leading rusher Ka’Deem Carey who will be back Saturday against B.C.

After losing to Ottawa July 23, Dickenson said they had to do things differently. Mission accomplished.

The other quarterback under severe scrutiny was Mason Fine in Saskatchewan.

With attendance dropping after three straight losses, the Roughriders also needed a win badly. To beat the visiting Redblacks, Fine had to step up and deliver. He justified coach Craig Dickenson’s faith in him by coming through with a 26-24 win.

But Ottawa tallied 16 points off turnovers. Fine and running back Jamal Morrow botched a hand-off, which led to three points. Backup QB Jake Dolegala fumbled on a 3rd and 2 in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Douglas Coleman took it to the house. Near the end, Saskatchewan gambled on a 3rd and inches at their 21 yard line, but Dolegala couldn’t make it. Quarterback sneaking is an art. Not anyone can do it. Dolegala can’t. Ottawa backup Nick Arbuckle is the best.

Saskatchewan almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. They must be better in Montreal against Cody Fajardo and Jason Maas.

Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 51 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.