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In the process, Fajardo created discomfort for the Redblacks’ defensive backs while attacking them with passes that travelled an average of 11-plus yards.

“Watching the Hamilton tape, I saw that a lot of it was short passes,” Fajardo noted. “I figured that they’d be sitting at the (yard)sticks and sitting on our short passes, so one of my goals was to push the ball downfield and show teams and opposing defensive co-ordinators that we’re not afraid to throw the ball downfield.

“I think our receivers did a great job of making contested catches down the field. We showed what we can do on offence, but obviously it wasn’t good enough.”

It was enough, mind you, to excite the fans and commentators who were rightfully concerned about the state of the offence after Collaros was felled.

There were flashbacks to Week 1 injuries sustained by Kent Austin (who suffered a partially separated shoulder in 1991) and Darian Durant (ruptured Achilles tendon, 2015).

In both cases, the Roughriders’ season was sunk after their marquee quarterback was injured.

At 0-2, the Green and White is hardly in parade-planning mode, but the season does not appear to be bereft of hope now that the “Fajardoffence” has been unveiled, to rave reviews.

The greater concern, at this juncture, is an experienced defence that was lacerated by Redblacks quarterback Dominique Davis.

Saskatchewan’s special teams, traditionally an area of strength under the tutelage of Craig Dickenson, are suddenly vulnerable.

Those deficiencies have not escaped the attention of devotees who inhabit Rider Nation, but many people who called CKRM and CJME to yak on the open-line shows Thursday night were upbeat about the offence and, in particular, Fajardo.

Granted, those effusive assessments were based on a small sample of evidence. But the fan base, remember, had become inured to the smallest of gains.

rvanstone@postmedia.com

twitter.com/robvanstone