RIDERS SHOULD HAVE GONE AFTER GLENN

By Rob Vanstone, Leader-PostMarch 23, 2009Be

REGINA -- The Saskatchewan Roughriders should have pursued quarterback Kevin Glenn.
That sentiment, when expressed by this contributor to the Leader-Post’s world-renowned Rider Rumblings blog, generated 22 responses from readers.

Five of them agreed with me. The other 17 felt it would have been wiser to invest in AIG than in Glenn, whose signing was announced by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday.
My view, which appears to represent the minority, is this: “The Riders’ quarterbacks have a handful of starts between them. Why not improve the position by signing an established passer?’’

The CFL, after all, is a quarterback-driven league. Good luck enjoying sustained success without a premier passer.

The last two Grey Cups have featured teams from which the most-outstanding-player finalists emanated. In 2008, Henry Burris and the Calgary Stampeders defeated the Montreal Alouettes, whose roster included MOP winner Anthony Calvillo. The year before, Kerry Joseph quarterbacked Saskatchewan to victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers three days after being decorated as the league’s top player.

The runner-up: Kevin Glenn.
Glenn missed the Grey Cup with a broken arm, suffered in the East Division final. After Saskatchewan beat Winnipeg 23-19 one week later — during a game in which Bombers quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie’s favourite target was Roughriders cornerback James Johnson — many observers pointed out that Glenn’s absence tilted the balance in favour of the Green and White.

Glenn’s effectiveness diminished in 2008. Even so, he managed to throw 20 touchdown passes in a bad year. The Bombers’ new regime, headed by Mike Kelly, proceeded to release Glenn.
The Riders’ brass pondered whether to woo Glenn, but opted against doing so — demonstrating faith in Darian Durant, Steven Jyles and Dalton Bell.

Durant started four games last season. Jyles had one start. Bell joined the team in the fall and impressed everyone, but did not dress for any games.

And then, of course, there was Michael Bishop.
The Roughriders shook up their quarterbacking situation near midseason by dumping Marcus Crandell and trading for Bishop. Everyone knew that Bishop was a customarily erratic performer, and he lived up to that reputation.

Bishop was part of a quarterback carousel that spun out of control. Down the stretch, THE question in town was: “Who is quarterbacking the Riders this week?’’
Come playoff time, head coach Ken Miller opted for Bishop — who was so magnificent in the West Division semifinal that he was released two days after the B.C. Lions won 33-12 on Taylor Field.

By severing ties with Bishop, the Roughriders conveyed an emphatic message to Durant, who was to become a free agent in February. The promise of a less-chaotic quarterbacking situation helped to induce Durant to re-sign. He will enter training camp at No. 1 on the depth chart.
He is a player of considerable promise, and a first-class person. He also provided the best quarterbacking the Roughriders received last season — albeit in limited duty.

There is a risk attached to entering the season with Durant as the starter. Saskatchewan is working without a net while attempting to remain near the top of a division which includes top-flight passers such as Burris and the Edmonton Eskimos’ Ricky Ray.

Like Ray, Glenn turns 30 this year. He is just entering his prime. He is well-suited for a Roughriders passing attack that is based upon timing and intuition. And, as a Rider from 2001 to 2003, he knows the routine.

In many ways, Glenn is like Durant. Both quarterbacks are highly cerebral. Both are under six feet tall. The difference, however, is that Glenn is more of a sure thing. Durant, for all his attributes, remains a question mark.

The opposing view — heard loud and clear — suggests that, at long last, the Roughriders should groom a passer.

As a reader named Rod put it; “I believe you have written a column or two about the last quarterback we developed — Kent Austin.’’
Uh, good point . . .
rvanstone@leaderpost.canwest.com