Can Cody Fajardo lead the Riders to victory?
By Olivia Lawrence
RP Show Intern
We are just two days away from the CFL Division Semi-Final games, and predictions are swirling in the CFL world about who will come out victorious. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are hoping to knock the Calgary Stampeders out of the playoffs, but Grey Cup Champion and CFL analyst Eddie Steele is not convinced the Riders will be able to do it.
“You’re going to have to tell me why,” said Rod Pedersen on Friday’s episode of The Rod Pedersen Show. Rod Pedersen predicts the Stampeders will not beat the Riders.
“Calgary is a well-oiled machine,” said Steele. “This year hasn’t been their year in the regular season, but a. they’re very well coached, we all know that, b. Bo-Levi Mitchell, yes, I’ve harped on him throughout the year, but he’s got a huge weapon coming back in [wide receiver] Reggie Begelton.”
Steele also praises the Stampeders defense, but acknowledges the Riders have strong defense as well. However, unless the Riders defense can cause complete havoc to quarterback Bo-Levi Mitchell, he believes the Stampeders are more polished and ready for this semi-final.
“I have lots of boys on the Riders, lots of buddies, but I have never been completely sold on the Cody Fajardo show,” said Steele. “I was just listening to a stat this morning on the radio, and he has completed three of 38 deep balls that are 30 yards or more. He’s got the worst deep ball percentage, and not saying you need to live or die by the deep ball, but you need to have that.”
Steele believes the Riders offense is not where it needs to be at this point, not just because of Fajardo, but the offensive-line as well. There are good elements of the offense, but as a collective unit, Steele believes they are not strong enough to stay standing in the playoffs.
“[Wide receiver] Duke Williams presents a really good threat,” said Steel. “But you can’t just run the rock with [running back William] Powell and then chuck it deep, they need to have some sort of resemblance of an efficient offense. [Wide receiver] Shaq Evans has got to get going, but he’s been visibly frustrated. I know he’s been banged up all year, but you can see he’s frustrated.”
I’m sure Stampeders fans agree with Steele, while Riders fans hope to prove him wrong. I guess we will have to wait and see who comes out on top. Kick-off is set for Sunday Nov. 28 at 3:30 CST in the Queen City.
Paxton Lynch calls his own shots with the Saskatchewan Roughriders Football Club and Gm Jeremy O’Day let’s him do it while paying his salary. Paxton not with the team, hmmm … a good Gm would have kicked him to the curbside and immediately released him, like gone, get out of here now!
Eddie Steele is bang 💣 on in his assessment.
I agree, Jim. Eddie is bang on. Duke’s numbers were good but 208 of his 285 yds came vs a poor Elks team. The Elks aren’t the Stamps. The other receivers’ #’s the past half dozen games are very average. The Stamps put up 9 big passing plays 29 yds or more in the 3 games on the Rider’s 2nd worst passing yds allowed D & that D tied for last with Ottawa with big pass plays allowed. My thoughts on Fajardo last season were this – is he the next Reilly, who averaged 308 – 323 yds/game under his… Read more »
I’m a Roughrider fan through and through but I have to totally agree with Eddie Steele.
Ha ha ha ha … infinity, those BUM’kins! Those hokey Saskatchewan BUM’kins did it again. Instead of watching their roughriders on tv they choose instead to watch a re-run episode of Murder She Wrote titled Showdown In Saskatoon. Canadian TV Ratings don’t lie. Lmao!
Eddy Steele should know better being a lineman he just standing up for fellow linemen. The blame should fall solely on the O-Line. Come on Eddie be realistic!