It’s my Parting Shot for my version of a Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 2021 season post-mortem…..

The Green and White were pretty good for the most part…but moving forward I think they are hamstrung by a multi-year contract!

Yes, count me among the many who believe the Riders aren’t as strong at quarterback with Cody Fajardo as the football operations’ personnel and Fajardo, himself, believe they are! I don’t doubt that “Corn Dog Cody” is passionate and cares about the franchise and wants to win badly. Sure, the Saskatchewan offensive line was leaky far too often to not make Fajardo feel as though he was running for his life!

But, I don’t think many of his receivers are all that sold on their quarterback after showing them up following a lot of plays this year with hand and arm gestures and eye rolls, indicating they were at fault for a play not working and he was doing just fine, thank you!

That’s not a way to build chemistry and trust!

Let’s face it, the first three offensive drives of the season on August 6th at home against B-C were the best that Cody Fajardo played all season. Sure, there was a great, late fourth quarter march down the field in the semi-final game against Calgary that was pretty darn good. And, the deep out pattern pass he threw that Duke Williams caught and turned into a touchdown in the fourth quarter this past Sunday against Winnipeg may have been the best football he threw all year!

But, there was no consistency on offence. Part of that blame falls on offensove co-ordinator Jason Maas, but the execution of the offence falls squarely on Cody Fajardo’s shoulders. He wasn’t anywhere near the 2019 star-in-the-making that became a fallen star in 2021!

Since his contract calls for him to be back in 2022, Cody Fajardo needs to show better come spring of next year. If not, I hope the Green and White have someone very competent behind him…not named Isaac Harker or Mason Fine!

That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…..