Stevie Baggs has signed with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post file
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post file
REGINA — The Baggs are packed.
Stevie Baggs, a CFL West Division all-star defensive end with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2009, has signed with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. Not only that, Roughriders offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice is poised to become the next head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Such is the price of success.
Such is the price of success.
When rival teams are poaching, they typically pay scant attention to the doormats. The most accomplished organizations are routinely raided.
In the NFL, for example, disciples of Bill Walsh and Bill Belichick have been widely coveted by organizations with holes to fill. Given the demand for players with a winning pedigree, anyone with an association to Saskatchewan is likely to be courted.
The Roughriders should derive a measure of solace from the fact that other teams woo their personnel. However, that does not address the immediate problem: What now?
That question has been frequently posed in recent years. Leading up to the 2007 season, the exodus included tailback Kenton Keith, guard Andrew Greene, linebacker Jackie Mitchell, defensive tackle Nate Davis and cornerback Omarr Morgan. One year later, the Roughriders were faced with having to replace luminaries such as head coach Kent Austin, quarterback Kerry Joseph, tailback/returner Corey Holmes and linebacker Reggie Hunt. Last year's list of departees was highlighted by defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall, offensive line coach Mike Gibson, and all-star linebackers Anton McKenzie and Maurice Lloyd.
Baggs and fellow defensive end John Chick (now of the Indianapolis Colts) are the latest all-stars to find employment elsewhere. On the football operations side, two assistant coaches (LaPolice and offensive line coach Bob Wylie) and general manager Eric Tillman have left the organization. Brendan Taman was hired to succeed Tillman, the architect of Grey Cup finalists in 2007 and 2009.
Under Tillman, the Roughriders demonstrated an uncanny ability to address every void — even when it seemed incomprehensible that they could possibly withstand the double whammy of losing Joseph (the CFL's reigning most outstanding player) and Austin (coach-of-the-year) early in 2008.
Now the onus is on the Roughriders, under Taman and head coach/vice-president of football operations Ken Miller, to continue to be resilient.
Taman's player-personnel acumen will be put to the test as he strives to replace Baggs and Chick. The latter was named the CFL's top defensive player in 2009. The in-houses candidates are Joe Sykes, Willie Evans and Kitwana Jones. Given that Jones is a situational player, it is a roll of the dice to think that Sykes and Evans will both develop into every-down replacements for Baggs and Chick. Then again, who expected Baggs to be such a revelation in 2009? Chick came out of nowhere two years earlier.
As for the vacancy created by LaPolice's well-deserved ascent to the head-coaching ranks, it would be most prudent and practical for the Roughriders to promote from within.
The most obvious candidate is quarterbacks coach Jamie Barresi, who worked closely and productively with Darian Durant in 2009. Durant was named a West Division all-star late in his first full season as a starter. His rapid progression is a testament to the work done by the studious Barresi, who was the Hamilton Tiger-Cats' offensive co-ordinator in 2004 and 2005.
It is virtually important for the Roughriders to maintain continuity on offence, to the extent that is possible with LaPolice out of the equation. Keep in mind that Miller was the Roughriders' offensive co-ordinator during the Grey Cup-winning season of 2007. Although Miller does not have any designs on revisiting that role, he could still have an imprint on the strategy (as Austin did when Miller called the vast majority of the plays in 2007).
By retaining Barresi, elevating Marcus Crandell to quarterbacks coach and prevailing upon the wisdom of Miller, the Roughriders have the necessary expertise to ensure there is continuity.
The alternative is to bring in someone from outside the organization and potentially force
The alternative is to bring in someone from outside the organization and potentially force
Durant to adjust to a new scheme, just as he is becoming a star. The Riders could always search for a coach who can embrace the extant system, but how realistic is that? Why place restrictions on a new coach?
All things considered, the best call is to let Jamie Barresi make the calls.
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