On the surface, one might expect Kelly Jeffrey to be elated over the fact that the Saskatchewan Roughriders are ranked second in the CFL in passing yards per game.
But the Roughriders’ Offensive Co-ordinator and Quarterbacks Coach has a different, deeper perspective.
“It tells us that we probably need to get the run game to balance this out a little bit more,” Jeffrey said after the Roughriders practised on Wednesday at Mosaic Stadium.
“Great scoring teams aren’t necessarily great passing teams. They’re balanced so, if we can get a little more balanced and do a little bit better job on second-and-medium and second-and-short with the run game, I think that’ll help balance it out.”
The Roughriders are averaging 297.4 passing yards per game, just below the B.C. Lions’ league-leading figure of 299.6, and are first overall in completions (173) after seven games.
Along the ground, Saskatchewan is sixth-best in average yards per game (86.3).
Over the last two games, the Roughriders have 63 yards to show for 25 handoffs, but they have also thrown for 686 yards — including 402 against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday in Halifax.
Saskatchewan has played each of those contests without No. 1 quarterback Trevor Harris, who is recovering from knee surgery. Mason Fine has made two starts in place of Harris.
“Mason has thrown some tough balls,” Jeffrey said. “When we get the ball out on time and when we protect him, I think we’re very efficient.
“So far, we’ve had a couple of interceptions where we’ve got to get the receiver to either keep his line or look sooner. But there’s some really good takeaways — some really good stuff there (with the passing totals).
“I told the offence that if you got points for your minus-five to midfield, we’d probably be leading the league in points, but they don’t.
“We need to be better on the other end of the field. When we’re in field-goal range or whether it’s in the red zone, we have to be better and that’s how it’s going to get turned around.
“If we can turn those yards into points, that’s the only thing that matters.”
ONE-TWO PUNCH
The Roughriders boast the CFL’s leaders in catches and receiving yards entering Sunday’s game against the Ottawa REDBLACKS (5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium).
Shawn Bane Jr. has a league-high 41 receptions for 527 yards. The latter total puts him 21 yards behind Tevin Jones, who is No. 1 in that category.
“I didn’t even know I had all these yards,” said Jones, whose receptions total (37) puts him in a tie for third.
“I’m just out there playing my heart out and I’m tired every game. The next thing I know, someone comes to me and says, ‘You’re the leading receiver.’ I said, ‘I did not know that.’ It’s crazy.”
Jones is No. 1 in yards even though he did not play in the regular-season opener.
He has already soared past last season’s totals of 20 receptions and 265 yards, compiled in nine games with the Roughriders.
A similar scenario is applicable to Bane Jr., who had 24 receptions for 388 yards over 13 career games with the Calgary Stampeders before signing with Saskatchewan as a free agent on Feb. 14.
“The scouting guys did a great job with Bane,” Jeffrey said. “They saw him from a mile away and, when we (coaches) saw him on film, we thought he could be that type of guy.
“Tevin always showed flashes last year. Once he kind of got the playbook this year, you could just see the improvement every day.
“Last year, he was just in and out of the lineup so much that he had a hard time getting continuity and comfortability with the playbook.”
SHORT SNORTS
• Offensive tackle Jordan Tucker has rejoined the Roughriders after recovering from a knee injury he sustained early in training camp. The announcement of Tucker’s return was made on Wednesday, with the accompanying news that kicker Campbell Fair had been released.
• Wednesday’s injury report included references to five receivers. Kian Schaffer-Baker (hip), Derel Walker (knee) and Juwan Brescacin (shoulder) were limited participants in practice. Brayden Lenius (foot) and Mitch Picton (head) did not practise. Lenius, who was hurt late in Saturday’s game is doubtful for Sunday.
• Offensive linemen Zack Fry (lower back) and Brandon Council (knee) did not practise on Wednesday. The DNP designation also applied to defensive back Rodney Clemons (ankle). Defensive back Jaxon Ford (ankle) was a limited participant. Linebackers Matt Dean (foot) and Lukas Ross (hip) were full participants along with defensive lineman Nicholas Dheilly (head).
• Wednesday’s quote of the day goes to Jones, who was asked about catching a laser-like pass from Jake Dolegala late in the Toronto game. “Jake did a good job of hitting me right in the chest,” Jones said. “If I didn’t catch it, it was going to hit me right in the throat. If it was a spear, it would have killed me, so I’m just glad I caught that ball.”
