The Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the hometeam Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post files
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post files
REGINA — There is a difference of opinion between Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant and TSN analyst Glen Suitor.
Durant said after Friday's final on-field preparations at Mosaic Stadium for Sunday's Banjo Bowl against the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers that he deserved a C for his first nine games of the CFL season. Suitor didn't offer a grade but had higher praise than a C for the Riders' starting quarterback.
Suitor feels that Durant is pushing the numbers of the league's three elite quarterbacks — Anthony Calvillo of the Montreal Alouettes, Ricky Ray of the Edmonton Eskimos and Henry Burris of the Calgary Stampeders.
"I would like (Durant) to lead my team,'' said Suitor. "I like his intangibles, his leadership and the fact that he's a character guy. Every time that I talk to him, I'm impressed with his maturity.
He's continuing to find ways to improve his own game.''
Suitor was particularly impressed when he heard that Durant spent the bye week in Regina studying video and preparing for Sunday's Labour Day Classic against the Blue Bombers. Durant was 23 of 37 passing for 246 yards and a touchdown as the Riders beat the Blue Bombers 29-14.
"That was a small step to him becoming a great leader,'' said Suitor. "The guys like him and they play hard for him.''
The 27-year-old quarterback feels that he's improving, but his mid-level grade shows his understanding of where he's at in his first full year as a starter.
"I know that I can play better and that I can cut out a lot of the mistakes that I've made,'' said Durant. "I know if I do that we'll have a lot more wins than we have now. That's the goal we have for the second half. We want to be the best ball-security team in the league and we'll win games that way.''
With 2,079 passing yards, Durant was behind Ray (2,672), Calvillo (2,639) and Burris (2,609) heading into this weekend. Entering this weekend's games, Durant and Ray were tied for third in the league with 12 touchdown passes, behind Burris (14) and Calvillo (13).
But also heading into the weekend's games, Durant has thrown a league-leading 12 interceptions, including one in Sunday's win over the Blue Bombers. Among the aforementioned quarterbacks,
Calvillo had thrown the fewest interceptions (four) among starters, followed by Burris (six) and Ray (seven). Despite the interceptions, Suitor is still impressed with Durant's development as a quarterback.
"People have to remember that there have been some Hall of Fame quarterbacks in the league who have taken four or five years to play at a level where they could make things happen and play consistently,'' said Suitor, who spent 11 seasons as a Roughriders safety before retiring in 1994. "They also all played behind a good quarterback in a good system during that time too.
They played well when they got their chance and became starters and bona-fide stars. Darian really hasn't had that luxury. He's a guy who has been asked to go in and play.''
Durant has endured highs and lows in the first half of the season. The Riders are 5-4 under his leadership and were tied for first place in the West Division before Friday's game between Edmonton and Calgary. He has twice thrown three interceptions in a game but also threw for 300-plus yards in both of those outings. Durant gamely played through the Riders' experiment of sitting him for a series or two so backup Steven Jyles could get some playing time.
Durant has also put up with questions about his leadership and arm strength. At the halfway point of the 2009 season, Durant has emerged as a better quarterback for those struggles.
He showed that against Winnipeg on Sunday when he engineered two nine-play, 70-yard-plus drives into strong winds that staked the Riders to a 14-0 first-quarter lead. That kind of performance was what Riders head coach Ken Miller had expected from Durant.
"He's showing some of the characteristics and skill level that we thought he had,'' said Miller.
"You will see him continue to develop but not just for this year. You will see it into next year and the following year.''
Jamie Barresi, the Riders' quarterbacks coach, has worked with Durant since the start of training camp. Barresi has noticed Durant's steady improvement over those months.
"He works really hard and that pays off in having a better grasp of everything,'' said Barresi. "His timing is getting better and so is his footwork. He is able to recognize immediately when something is breaking down because of the repetitions that he gets. He's able to self-coach a little bit and correct himself.''
Durant doesn't want to rush the process. He knows that it's a long season ahead and he has to keep progressing for the Riders to enjoy success.
"I'm getting better every week but I'm taking it step by step,'' said Durant. "I have to try to improve with every snap. If I do that, everything else will take care of itself.''
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