Riders QB Dilemma – Mason Fine or Jake Dolegala?
Published: Wednesday, Aug 2nd 2023, 11:08am
By Alex Dormuth (@RealAlexD)
Saskatchewan Roughriders Head Coach Craig Dickenson has already made what is likely the most important decision of his entire coaching career for this upcoming week… does he roll with Mason Fine or Jake Dolegala as the Riders starting QB on Sunday against Ottawa?
Coach Dickey said after the Touchdown Atlantic loss that Fine has shown enough to earn another start and that’s who we will see get the first snaps. But this could ultimately end up being the final straw for what started out as a promising coaching career and ends up being the downfall for the Riders head coach.
So, SHOULD Mason Fine get the start over Jake Dolegala? First, we have to look to the past to look to the future. Fine is 0-4 as a starter in the CFL and in his two starts this season, hasn’t engineered a single touchdown drive. That’s… not good. Add in his two very forgettable starts at the end of last season and it would be fair to say that Fine doesn’t really deserve another start in the CFL.
BUT, Fine did well in relief of Trevor Harris against Calgary and actually had his best game against Toronto in Touchdown Atlantic. Despite getting no help in the run game and a porous O-Line, Fine still made some really good throws, was able to move the ball and his stat line was pretty nice. In fact, I think there was so much growth from Fine in TD Atlantic, that I agree with Craig Dickenson when he says that Fine did enough to earn another start.
Is that the right decision after Dolegala had a really nice touchdown drive at the end of last week’s game? I’m not sure. I think Dolegala SHOULD have been the #2 QB after the preseason and I think it’s time we see him play again. Of course, he did have a start last year against Toronto and while he didn’t win, he didn’t look that bad.
As for who to start… I have to go with Mason Fine. He gets ONE more start, but his leash is much shorter. If he can’t get a TD in the first half against Ottawa, it’s time to move on to Jake Dolegala and give him the reins.
We debated this on The Piffles Podcast this week (subscribe on YouTube!) and I went with Fine. As for the other guys?
Steve: Fine but on a short leash. He was making things happen and should have had a couple of scores. Dolegala’s drive was in garbage time.
Greg: Fine, but the leash is so short, Fine looks like Dolegala in comparison to it.
So Rider Nation, who would you start at QB if you had the choice?
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