There has been a ton of criticism directed toward those in helmets and pads during the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ steep post-Labour Day slide.
But SportsCage regular Glen Suitor believes the guys wearing the headsets on the sidelines deserve more attention on their performance.
“The coaching staff has to take a lot of the responsibility,” the CFL analyst said on Tuesday’s show. “They have to find the answer.
“I would say right now that this team, if they make the playoffs, and let’s say Calgary does, too, they will be ranked lower than Calgary based on these last four games. They’ll be the lowest-ranked team in the playoffs if they make it. They’ve earned that over the last four weeks. That’s just the truth of it.”
Suitor suggested the Riders could have taken a different tack against Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander, who threw for 403 yards and five touchdowns on Monday in the 44-24 decision.
The Alouettes used more bodies to protect Alexander, and he had loads of time to find receivers for big gains and long touchdowns.
“You can play more coverage,” Suitor said. “Let’s do straight math. If you want to protect (the quarterback) with seven and I only leave four or three up there and we’ll drop everyone else into coverage, now you’re wasting three guys. You’ve got three (extra) guys blocking my three.
“I know I’m not going to get pressure on Davis Alexander, probably, from those three, but what I’m going to do is double- and even triple-team Tyson Philpot down the field – have a guy underneath him, trailing him. We used to work on this technique all the time. It’s called cover 2 man. You have two deep guys that are free, and then underneath it’s all man to man. You’re trailing the receiver. You’re right on his back hip. If he turns in, you cut underneath. If he turns out, you cut underneath. Any double or deep move, you’ve got help over the top. You don’t have to worry about getting beat for that deep post or corner.
“I think a lot of team’s strategies in the back half of the season has been, ‘Let’s drop back in coverage. We’ll leave him back there hopping around doing whatever because we’ve got their guys double-teamed or triple-teamed.’”
The Riders have two games left, a rematch against the No. 1 Alouettes before a second home game against the No. 2 Edmonton Elks. The Riders likely need at least a win to make the playoffs.
The situation is dire for the players – and the coaches.
“The fan base should be concerned,” Suitor said. “They’re not playing at a high enough level.
“The thing that’s missing is, to me, the explosion plays. It’s those big plays down the field. Right now, the big plays on O, they’ve had 38 to this point in the season over 16 games. Only Ottawa is worse offensively at 27. The big play down the field has eluded them offensively.
“Part of that is injuries … but who cares. Every team has injuries. You’ve got to figure it out. You’ve got to bring in guys. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Put some receivers out there that are going to make those catches. Montreal certainly have them.
“When you look at their D overall, they are ranked seventh now, a defence that was ranked second or first early in the season, with a minus-8 turnover ratio. They’re giving up more big plays. Those explosions are game-changers.”
Watch the full segment below.
