There is a somewhat modified old saying about winning isn鈥檛 everything, it鈥檚 the only thing.
So you have to credit the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who have pulled themselves into a second place tie with Edmonton, based on a win over Winnipeg Sunday, and an Eskimos loss Monday.
Chris Jones is noted for his defences and frankly that is what has spurred the current turn-around. They have a staunch defence that has done an admirable job of pressuring opposing quarterbacks and picking off some key passes, which have led to important points.
There was the early interception against Calgary on their ill-timed third and long gamble when a punt was the far wiser move. It went back for a 鈥楻ider touchdown and you know that one stung the Stamps who had to realize it was a massive coaching miscue on their side of the field.
Then last Sunday, in the Labor Day classic, the defence had an early pick-off on Winnipeg鈥檚 Matt Nichols that set up an easy TD early. It was a quick hit that put the huge fan base into action in a game that was highly entertaining for the opening kick-off.
Complementing the Roughrider defence are solid special teams which Sunday included a blocked field goal and Kyran Moore having a 65-yard punt return for a major. Those sorts of plays are huge in the CFL, where special teams are typically a big part of a game plan.
It is fortunate the defence and special teams are rolling well because the offence is still sputtering.
In the first half quarterback Zach Collaros was abysmal, and had his name been Brandon Bridge he would have been yanked.
In the second half Collaros鈥� number got better, but he isn鈥檛 exactly putting up CFL type numbers overall.
Collaros has been in six games and managed only 1305 yards passing, which rolls out at just more than 200-yards a game, hardly inspiring numbers in the CFL. In Toronto McLeod Bethel-Thompson through four games has more than 1,000-yards, and Antonio Pipkin in Montreal has 762 yards in three games as a raw rookie with what has been the worst team in the CFL the last two seasons.
Five touchdowns aren鈥檛 great either, especially measured against four interceptions. For comparison, the league鈥檚 best, Mike Reilly has more than double TDs to interceptions; 22-9.
The last time the Roughriders won the Grey Cup (2013), they scored 45 points in the final. This is far from that team offensively headed to this weekend鈥檚 banjo bowl in Winnipeg.
Just a quick note. Pipkin is looking great with the Al鈥檚, and has the team rallying behind him. Johnny Manziel is the anointed team savior at pivot, but would you upset the building chemistry by putting him back at the helm?
Given how bad the Alouettes have struggled, I wouldn鈥檛 want to upset the first positive play from a quarterback since Anthony Calvillo retired.
On the diamond
Josh Donaldson was traded Friday to Cleveland for what is basically a magical bean.
Toronto will reportedly pay $2.7 million of the remaining $4 million on Donaldson鈥檚 deal to Cleveland.
So the Indians are getting a month rental of Donaldson 鈥� and any playoff run they might muster 鈥� for just over $1 million and a player to be named later. That player one assumes gets better on paper if Donaldson hits big and they go deep in the playoffs, although reports say 鈥榥o鈥�, that is not the case. It鈥檚 just a player that they can鈥檛 announce yet, which doesn鈥檛 add much to the expectation.
Donaldson will be a free agent in November.
There was never any chance Donaldson was going to have an impact in TO this year, but this low return dump of a player who hit 41 homers in 2015, essentially writes off next season, too.
The Jays might have made Donaldson a one-year deal at about $18 million. He accepts and returns to form, making Justin Smoak and Kendrys Morales better. You hope the starting pitchers are better, or you add an arm, and the possibility of being relevant in the wild card hunt was reasonably a possibility.
Donaldson going means Smoak is likely a Jay until the trade deadline next summer, if he鈥檚 not chased out for prospects before that.
And the rebuild begins with the twin mountains of New York and Boston to climb in the American League East. This year it has been hard to watch the Jays plugging along, and the prospects for 2019, seem darker still at this point.
