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Ferguson: In Bridge, Riders put forth fear of the unknown

CFL.ca
@TSN_Marsh

Is there anything scarier than fear of the unknown?

Not knowing what the weather will do on a day you have to drive across the province. Taking a financial risk by investing in a hit and miss proposition. Preparing for a team capable of playing multiple quarterbacks and not knowing who you’ll face, when or why.

Okay, the first two are a little more serious, but for the Ottawa REDBLACKS this week, fear of the unknown is very much a real thing.

Kevin Glenn was, is, and I believe for the extent of the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ playoff journey will be the Riders’ starting quarterback. However, his use as of late calls into question use of the word ‘starter’ or at the very least what it means to be a ‘starting’ quarterback.

In the second half of the Riders schedule (Weeks 12-20), Brandon Bridge has taken at least 12.5 per cent of quarterback snaps. That is except for Week 15 on the road in Ottawa and Week 17 at home against the REDBLACKS.

Did Chris Jones foresee a playoff matchup with the REDBLACKCS in a crossover situation? Would that possibility be enough for Chris Jones to save exposing Bridge to the REDBLACKS defence until it really mattered, even when Kevin Glenn got off to starts similar to other games since Labour Day where Bridge replaced Glenn?

Maybe I’m giving Jones’ crystal ball fortune-telling and long-term strategy too much credit, but maybe I’m not. Since Labour Day, Bridge has taken 221 snaps as a quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Zero of them against his current playoff opponent.

It’s often said ”better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” The Devil REDBLACKS players, coaches and fans know is a veteran quarterback capable of picking defences apart with accuracy and timing.

The devil they don’t – outside of film study – is a freakishly athletic ball of excitement capable of putting the ball literally anywhere on the field in a moment’s notice.

The Riders offence will be tough to stop regardless of who lines up under centre with all their highly skilled receivers and backs. If I had to build a defensive game plan to give Ottawa the best chance to play Ottawa in the Eastern final next week it would consist of a few major keys:

1. Force Kevin Glenn from the game with pressure

There is a reason Glenn has been bounced early in ball games several times this season. While his mind and arm are still sharp as ever, he can’t escape from pressure like Bridge can.

I fully expect the REDBLACKS to send some heat early and test Glenn’s mobility. The second Chris Jones sees plays like this:

 

… or this:

 

… he’s likely to make the switch just like he did in last Saturday night’s regular season finale against Edmonton.

2. Make interceptions when the opportunity presents itself.

Bridge has been a slow starter this year, which might explain why Glenn still takes the ball first for Saskatchewan.

Even though the Riders coaching staff appears to be insulating Bridge with the baseball-style reliever role, he has still danced with interceptions on his first throws of several games, including Week 19 at home vs. Montreal:

pic.twitter.com/Ly9katMFSo

… and Week 20 against Edmonton:

 

 

When the opportunity presents itself, Ottawa has to create turnovers or could be languishing for a long time about a missed opportunity to compete for the Grey Cup at home.

3. Keep Bridge in the pocket

Bridge is as dangerous a quarterback there is in the CFL right now when breaking the pocket. His mechanics are dramatically improved from his rookie season in Montreal and his ability to keep eyes focused down field when escaping is better than most CFL quarterbacks.

At first I wanted to say not to let Bridge escape to his throwing arm side (right) because he can make throws like this:

 

 

… and barely miss homer shots like this:

 

… but the more tape I watch, I have realized Brandon Bridge has become ambidextrous in his ability to create when breaking the pocket and looking to throw:

 

4. Limit quarterback runs

The Riders have adopted a smash mouth mentality at points in the second half of the season. Be it by running Cameron Marshall or Kienan LaFrance six times in a row or asking Trent Richardson to bulldoze the defensive line on third and short, the Riders welcome the physical nature of playoff football.

That can not be stopped, it’s an organizational philosophy which the Riders will no doubt employ at some point Sunday afternoon.

What the REDBLACKS can do to help their cause is limit gains on quarterback runs such as the second-and-11 situation attacked by Bridge below.

This isn’t a called running play based on the offensive line and route combinations, but Bridge sees an opening and he is gone for a gain of 14 yards on the ground and a much-needed second down conversion.

If Saskatchewan is allowed to establish the quarterback run, the receiver screen game to Bakari Grant and a downhill rushing attack, good luck stopping them.

Ottawa middle linebacker Taylor Reed can be a game-changer Sunday if he can, first and foremost, be physical in stopping the running back run game and second, act as an effective quarterback spy keeping Bridge honest on designed quarterback runs.

5. Eliminate the big play

The Riders thrive on explosive plays. In Week 15 against Ottawa it was a punt returned for a touchdown which set them off to come back against Ryan Lindley and the REDBLACKS. Ottawa has to prevent giving up a big play on special teams and defence so that big green ball of emotion doesn’t pick up speed and lead to a Riders trip down the 401 to play the Argos next Sunday.

Regardless of who plays quarterback for the Riders Sunday or how long they play the position, the REDBLACKS have their work cut out for them. While the fear of the unknown is very much a real thing,  ask any REDBLACKS player and they’ll tell you it won’t matter much if at all when the Wilson pigskin gets launched into the crisp Ottawa air Sunday afternoon.