Ryan Dinwiddie wavers on Redblacks’ QB job, takes McLeod Bethel-Thompson to task for ‘costly’ errors

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The Ottawa Redblacks finally pulled the trigger on a quarterback change in Saturday’s loss to the Toronto Argonauts, but the switch may not be as permanent as it initially appeared.

Starter Jake Maier was sent to the sideline midway through the second quarter, after completing seven-of-10 passes for just 42 yards. Veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson came off the bench and brought the Redblacks within striking distance of their first win of the season, but did not earn the endorsement of head coach Ryan Dinwiddie going forward.

“Just felt like Jake was off a bit. He missed that last throw down in tight. Just didn’t feel like he was in the right groove. Went with Mac; he obviously gave us some juice,” Dinwiddie told the TSN 1200 post-game show.

“We’ll see (who starts next week). I’ll look at it. It might not be fair to pull Jake, and I’m a little frustrated with McLeod.”

Bethel-Thompson was signed earlier this season as an insurance policy after Dru Brown was traded back to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The 38-year-old posted decent numbers in his first significant time under centre with Ottawa, connecting on 16-of-23 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. However, he appeared to get under his coach’s skin for an unsuccessful audible made in the red zone.

“When we got down there in tight, we had a gap scheme run called, and we had a slant built on the backside, which we hit against them earlier in cover zero. But it’s only a cover zero throw. Mac decides to tag sluggo (slant-and-go) to it, and we should hand the ball off. I wasn’t looking for us to throw it; probably would have walked in there. Those are things that are killing us,” Dinwiddie explained.

“You change the play for the touchdown to Keelan (White), which is great. It’s cover zero; you recognize it. Those are the plays that you usually change protections. Don’t change that play.”

Red zone execution has been a hot-button issue for the Redblacks. They were 50 percent converting from within the opposing 20-yard line in Week 15, but had to settle for field goals from the 20- and 12-yard marks in the fourth quarter. Both kicks came when Ottawa had the opportunity to take the lead with a touchdown.

“That’s just very, very frustrating. This game can be very cruel sometimes, and that’s a very cruel ending to what could have been something very promising,” Bethel-Thompson told TSN 1200. “Just disappointed that I played my role in the trials and tribulations of this tough season.”

With the game tied at 23 with under three minutes remaining, the Redblacks had the opportunity to mount a game-winning drive from the Toronto 53-yard line. Instead, the offence went two-and-out and was forced to punt after Bethel-Thompson was sacked by Ralph Holley on second down.

“We can’t take that sack. We’re in field goal range. It’s the CFL. You’ve just got to throw the ball across the line of scrimmage. We have to have that in the back of our mind,” Dinwiddie said. “We’ve got to protect it better too, but we had a chance to kick a field goal where we go up three potentially there. Those are the costly mistakes. They’re costing us each week.”

“We’re pushing the ball down the field a little bit. Maybe I get down faster either to the running back or the other one, but can’t take a sack in that situation. It’s just tough,” Bethel-Thompson admitted.

“Wish I could have gotten off something quicker and just gotten the ball out of my hands, even just throwing it in the dirt. Going through my progression, you second-guess always what you do. It’s another tough chapter in a tough season.”

The Argonauts went 74 yards on 12 plays on the ensuing drive to set up a walk-off field goal and secure a 26-23 win. The kick dropped the Redblacks to 0-12 on the season and extended their historic active losing streak to 18 games dating back to last year.

Maier will still get credit for the defeat as the starter, as he has for each of Ottawa’s previous losses. No quarterback in CFL history has ever begun a year with so many consecutive defeats, but Dinwiddie has continued to back him throughout. It appeared as if his leash finally reached its end at BMO Field, but the post-game comments now put that in doubt.

If the Redblacks aren’t satisfied by Bethel-Thompson, they could turn back to the devil they know. They could also give rookie Bryson Barnes some run, as Dinwiddie has frequently suggested but never delivered on. Either way, the decision will have to deliver results if the franchise wishes to avoid a winless finish.

“When you’re back’s against the wall like this, there are no moral victories. If you don’t get that zero, that goose egg, off the board, it means nothing,” Bethel-Thompson said. “You’ve got to be Sisyphus. You’ve got to roll the boulder back up the hill and work your ass off.”

Ottawa (0-12) will return to action on Saturday, September 19, when they visit the Calgary Stampeders.