Roughriders finally clear up quarterback questions

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It’s not nice to say mean things about someone who got cut, so here are some thoughts about the Saskatchewan Roughriders releasing veteran quarterbacks Mason Fine and Antonio Pipkin.

(Silence.)

The Roughriders had to do it.

To abide by CFL roster restrictions they had to waive 21 players Saturday; in that group were Fine and Pipkin. It was impractical to keep both. And just so it’s clear, after watching Pipkin accomplish absolutely nothing during the pre-season while Fine again demonstrated he can conduct only a dink-and-dunk offence, those deletions were absolutely, positively the right ones.

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It was impossible to remain silent during the pre-season, as the Roughriders tried to give fair playing time to the quarterbacks vying for roster spots. It’s an old adage that players don’t always play themselves onto a roster, but they often play themselves off a roster. While Pipkin and Fine were playing their way out of Saskatchewan, couldn’t the coaches see Shea Patterson had upped his game?

Patterson tossed numerous strikes during pre-season games and workouts, ran well and capably handled the short-yardage offence, plus he confidently professed himself ready to be a contributor. It was a noticeable change from late last season, when Patterson wallowed in the background, lacking confidence on a team that had no confidence.

Patterson’s well-earned promotion finally clarified the team’s depth chart at quarterback. It’s the most important position on a football team, especially for a squad whose success will rely on the health and productivity of an older quarterback who is returning from major knee surgery.

Although he just turned 38 and his first season with Saskatchewan ended early because of a fractured kneecap, well-travelled 12-year CFL veteran Trevor Harris is the undisputed starter for the second straight year.

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Newcomer Jack Coan, a Notre Dame product who threw exceptionally well during training camp and showed himself adept at understanding a brand-new offence, is the new trainee who sits third on the depth chart. The Roughriders may eventually add a fourth pivot, but right now their active roster is full as they prepare for Saturday’s regular-season opener against the hometown Edmonton Elks.

The spot that needed the most clarifying was backup quarterback, where the Roughriders struggled mightily last season after Harris got hurt. Fine and Jake Dolegala took turns running Saskatchewan’s anemic offence throughout most of 2023. Neither proved themselves capable of taking over a team.

Dolegala, with his height advantage and powerful arm, was marginally better until defences started taking away his deep-passing options. After the Roughriders lost their last seven games of a 6-12 season, a new coaching staff was hired. One of the first decisions made by incoming head coach Corey Mace and offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller — after expressing confidence in Harris — was to surprisingly re-sign Fine (for two years) and let Dolegala join the B.C. Lions as a free agent.

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Anyway, the Roughriders coaches decided Fine was a better fit for their new offence. What type of offence did they want?

In Pipkin they had a journeyman quarterback with limited skills who could no longer be counted on in short-yardage situations.

Fine was in his fourth season with the Roughriders. He spoke often about being consistent, a quarterback the team could rely on, but at this stage of his career there should have been noticeable improvement. There wasn’t. Fine had become a low-risk security blanket, capable of operating an offence but incapable of inspiring one.

It’s a vicious profession. Cutting two veterans, along with oft-injured receiver Brayden Lenius, can’t be easy for coaches. To be harsh, the only thing Fine and Pipkin showed when they played was that they weren’t good enough to play. The current coaches realized that and finally made the right decision to try someone else.

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