Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Canwest News Service
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Canwest News Service
Several months after the fact, Darian Durant dealt head-on with one final nagging leftover from a dysfunctional 2008 football season.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback fought the ghost of seasons past Sunday, in the form of Michael Bishop. Bishop -- he of the rocket arm and prolific error rate -- started for Winnipeg during Sunday's 29-14 Saskatchewan victory, opposite ex-teammate Durant.
Bishop and Durant had an uneasy partnership last year when both played with the Roughriders, yo-yoing up and down the depth chart in dizzying fashion. Bishop took the reins for a playoff loss to B.C., and was released by the frustrated Roughriders in the immediate aftermath.
They anointed Durant their starter, a proclamation Roughrider fans -- while glad to be rid of Bishop and his penchant for mixing brilliant moments with head-slapping interceptions -- greeted with wide-spread trepidation.
Roughriders tailback Wes Cates came down squarely on Durant's side Sunday evening.
"He makes good decisions out there and he throws a good ball and he's a good team leader," Cates said. "That's what you need in a quarterback. You don't need somebody that can sling it 80 yards but he's throwing it to the wrong guy. That's not a slight against anybody; I'm just saying."
"He makes good decisions out there and he throws a good ball and he's a good team leader," Cates said. "That's what you need in a quarterback. You don't need somebody that can sling it 80 yards but he's throwing it to the wrong guy. That's not a slight against anybody; I'm just saying."
Durant admitted to being extra nervous before Sunday's game. In part, that likely stemmed from the whole crazy Labour Day atmosphere surrounding the iconic annual clash. But there was also the spectre of Bishop and the impending throw-for-throw battle.
"You don't really want to compete with the other team's quarterback," Durant said Sunday following a game that saw him beat his ex-teammate with a steady, self-assured performance. "But given the situation that happened here last year, (releasing) him to go with me and Steven (Jyles), I just wanted to come out and show them it was a good decision; show the organization that myself and Steven, we can lead this team. I think they made the right decision and that's one step towards validating that point."
Durant completed 23 of 37 passes for 246 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He both overthrew and underthrew receivers on plays with big-yard potential, so we'll refrain from throwing a solid-gold coating around his performance. But he managed the clock wisely and posted just three two-and-outs (plus a second-quarter series cut short on the second play with a badly-thrown interception).
Bishop completed 20 of 33 for 329 yards, one touchdown and -- here comes that stat -- three interceptions, all in the second half. The first pick led to a much-needed Weston Dressler touchdown catch that slowed a Blue Bomber rally; the second interception to a field goal by Luca Congi.
Durant has nine starts on his stats sheet this season and 13 in a CFL career stretching back to 2006. He won't stun anybody with his athleticism and he won't throw footballs through brick walls. But he is smart and he is winning the confidence of his teammates.
Cates talked approvingly of Durant's progress.
"He's got all the tools," Cates said. "He just needs to get comfortable and feel like it's his team. I think he's starting to feel like that now."
The team, at this point, is Durant's to lose. His grip was tenuous at the start of the season, but he is clenching it tighter to his chest as the weeks move along.
He calls his current comfort level "night and day" from where it was two months ago.
If that's true -- and it certainly looks that way -- the Roughriders will (blessedly) avoid the bizarre quarterback carousel that plagued their 2008 campaign.
If that's true -- and it certainly looks that way -- the Roughriders will (blessedly) avoid the bizarre quarterback carousel that plagued their 2008 campaign.
"I just try to play the game to the best of my ability and win games, no matter how ugly it is," Durant said. "I'm not your typical 6-foot-5 drop-back guy, so I try to make plays whenever I can make them and get the ball to our receivers and win. As long as you win, they can't say anything to you. That's my whole objective. I don't care about stats, I just want to win games."
At 5-4, those wins haven't exactly been flowing in watery fashion. And there's every chance
At 5-4, those wins haven't exactly been flowing in watery fashion. And there's every chance
Bishop could get the edge this weekend, beat Durant and plunge the Roughriders back to .500.
Durant wasn't entertaining those thoughts Sunday.
Durant wasn't entertaining those thoughts Sunday.
"I think it's a blessing and a good thing we have nine games left," he said. "I think we're just hitting our stride and I'm so anxious to work with these guys, man -- I can't wait."
kmitchell@sp.canwest.com
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