The Saskatchewan Roughriders signing quarterback Tommy Stevens fell into place for general manager Jeremy O'Day.
"Going through free agency, I don't necessarily know that we 100 percent had targeted Tommy. As time went on and we talked about it more and more, it made sense for us to bring him in," O'Day said.
"It was tiring seeing him run against us because he's had a lot of success against us in short yardage. We felt like he's a weapon and that we could utilize him in different ways."
During the 2024 season, Stevens was great on third and short situations, converted 30-of-31 times. He played for the Calgary Stampeders last year and tied for the CFL lead with 10 rushing touchdowns.
"In the last five to seven years, short yardage, there's been times where you're not sure if you're going to get it and not necessarily just us, but other teams too,” O’Day said. "If you look at our game against Toronto, I don't know how many times we stopped them on the goal line last year, but it usually didn't happen."
The game in question happened on August 23, 2024 when the Riders held the Argonauts three times on the goal line.
Meanwhile, O’Day knows offensive coordinator Marc Mueller can incorporate Stevens into the game plan in creative ways.
"What we can do with him more than short yardage is going to be up to Marc, whether he has packages or what his plan is with him," O’Day said. "It feels like when he goes out that he's got a high percentage chance of getting the first down and if you're in second-and-two, second-and-three, you can utilize him and move the chains."
The Green and White have added Jake Maier and Stevens this offseason, but the team still believes in Jack Coan. Last year, Coan dressed for 18 games in his rookie season with Saskatchewan, completing 10-of-21 passes with one touchdown and rushing three times for 14 yards in Week 21.
"Jack Coan's another guy that we're not giving up on," O’Day said. "I know the natural thought: 'What does that mean for him?' We're still very high on Jack Coan and he'll have an opportunity to come and compete as well."
