Earlier this season, the Roughriders rotated quarterbacks Darian Durant and Steven Jyles at various points in games. Head coach Ken Miller said Tuesday he may go back to that arrangement after some of Durant’s recent performances.
Photograph by: Nick Procaylo, The Province
REGINA — The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterbacks may be returning to early season form.
Earlier this CFL season, the Roughriders used a rotation of sorts: Darian Durant started games, gave way to backup Steven Jyles for a couple of series, and then returned to finish up.
Saskatchewan head coach Ken Miller said Tuesday he may go back to that arrangement — which he ditched after just two games — in light of some of Durant’s recent performances.
Saskatchewan head coach Ken Miller said Tuesday he may go back to that arrangement — which he ditched after just two games — in light of some of Durant’s recent performances.
“Certainly that’s something I have considered and have not done, but certainly would strongly reconsider,” Miller said after the Roughriders’ practice at Mosaic Stadium.
The idea was raised in the wake of Friday’s 19-16 loss to the B.C. Lions in Vancouver. Durant was 18-for-29 passing for 240 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. However, he had just 150 yards passing before the Roughriders’ final possession of the game.
A week earlier, Durant was 23-for-33 for 269 yards with three picks and no touchdowns in Saskatchewan’s 23-20 victory over the host Edmonton Eskimos.
Miller said he’ll assess each situation before making the decision.
“We just have to have some consistency in our offence and if we’re not being consistent, then certainly we have to explore other alternatives,” he said.
“In the last game, we weren’t nearly as consistent as we needed to be and, in retrospect, there was probably a situation when I could have put Steven in the game for a series or two or maybe even more.”
Does that mean Miller is regretting his choice not to hook Durant?
“I don’t second-guess my decisions,” Miller said, “but in another situation, I would probably address it differently.”
“I don’t second-guess my decisions,” Miller said, “but in another situation, I would probably address it differently.”
On Saturday, after the Roughriders returned to Regina, Miller said he thought about pulling Durant in Friday’s contest.
His decision not to hook his starter looked prescient after Durant went 3-for-4 for 85 yards during an 86-second drive that culminated in a 24-yard touchdown pass to Andy Fantuz. Durant then bought himself time with his legs before finding Gerran Walker for a game-tying two-point convert.
Even so, the Roughriders may be thinking about shortening Durant’s leash as they prepare for Saturday’s game against the visiting Toronto Argonauts.
Roughriders offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice suggested Durant has the arm strength needed to succeed in the offensive scheme, but he must get his feet set under him and put the ball where it has to be.
“I would say that in this game (against Toronto), we’ve got to make good decisions with the football,” LaPolice said. “We’ve thrown five interceptions the last two games, and it’s going to be hard to win football games when you do that.
“It’s very hard in this league with how well defences are playing right now. He’s got to continue to perform.”
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