DURANT COMES FROM A FOOTBALL FAMILY

Quarterback Darian Durant at Rider practice earlier this week.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post

REGINA — Darian and Justin Durant have two leagues covered when it comes to professional football.

Darian is the starting quarterback with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who open their 2009 CFL regular season Friday (7 p.m.) against the B.C. Lions at Mosaic Stadium. Justin is a third-year linebacker with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. Justin, 23, started 12 games in 2008 and eight in 2007 and has recorded 119 tackles as an outside linebacker.

"We talk about (playing professional football) all of the time,'' Darian, 26, said Thursday after the Riders completed their final preparations for Friday's CFL game. "We know how blessed we are to both be playing professional football.''

Football runs deep in the Durant family, which is based in from Florence, S.C. Keyshawn Durant, Darian's 36-year-old brother, was a quarterback at South Carolina State. Darian would go on to become a record-setting quarterback with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, graduating with a degree in African American studies.

In 2005, Darian attended training camp with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. One year later, Durant joined the Roughriders.

Justin, 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, was selected by Jacksonville in the second round (48th overall) of the 2007 NFL draft after starting 39 of 43 games at Hampton University. Darian was at the draft-day party and celebrated his brother's accomplishment without feelings of regret or envy.
"I was the happiest person around for him,'' said Darian, who is 5-foot-11 and 214 pounds. "God has things planned for everybody and it wasn't in His plans for me to play in the NFL. I'm totally fine with that. I'm up here, I'm playing and I have an opportunity to start. Of course, I would like to make millions of dollars but I'm still living the dream.''

It took time for Durant to earn the starting nod as the Riders quarterback. He was a backup until 2008 when starter Marcus Crandell went down with a hamstring injury in the second week of the season. Steven Jyles was first off the bench but struggled. Durant came in later in the game and helped guide the Riders to a 26-16 victory over the Lions.

"He brings a lot of intangibles to the game that you have to prepare for,'' said Lions defensive end Brent Johnson. "If he doesn't see what he likes, he can beat you with his feet.''
Durant is more than a scrambler. Jamie Barresi, the Riders quarterbacks coach, said that Durant plays the game in his mind before taking to the field.

"He thinks it out and does a lot behind the scenes,'' said Barresi. "He goes through scenarios and talking over coverages. People don't see him doing that but he spends a lot time at it.''

That's how Durant planned on spending Thursday night. Durant and some of the other receivers were to gather at the home of slotback Jason Clermont to watch the Winnipeg Blue Bombers play the Edmonton Eskimos. It won't be all football talk but there will be some communication that will help the Riders on the field.

"Jason is cooking too,'' Durant said with a laugh.
Durant earned the start based on his experience in 2008 and his knowledge of the team's offensive system. The Riders won all four games that he started, although he suffered a rib injury early in one start and was pulled at halftime in his final start. On the season, he completed 77 of 129 pass attempt for 1,122 yards, with seven touchdown passes and six interceptions. He showed some of his rushing ability with 204 yards on 24 carries.

Those modest statistics have led to concerns about the Riders' experience at quarterback. Durant knows it will take time to prove himself to the fans.

"Until you prove yourself, there are always going to be questions,'' said Durant. "This is a game I've played all of my life so there isn't any pressure. I'm comfortable in the system and there isn't any reason why I shouldn't be able to succeed.''

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com

CATES EAGER TO PLAY

The Saskatchewan Roughriders were busy on Canada Day practicing for their season home opener this Friday against the B.C. Lions. Wes Cates at practice.

Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post

REGINA -- It's killing Wes Cates to have a shoulder injury.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders' tailback won't play Friday when the CFL team opens its regular season against the B.C. Lions at Mosaic Stadium due to the lingering effects of off-season surgery on his right shoulder. In fact, it could be Week 3 before Cates is ready to go.
"Missing these games early definitely hurts because you want to get off to a good start," he said following Wednesday's practice at Mosaic Stadium. "But I know the most important games are going to be later on in the season.

"Personally, it hurts because I have individual goals and team goals that I want to accomplish. When I'm not out there, I can't do that. But I'm still part of the team and I can still help in other ways, so I'm just trying to focus my energy on that right now."
Cates, 29, has worked more diligently this week than in previous weeks, participating in more drills and running on his own while his teammates did their work. The 2008 CFL all-star also has been mentoring those who will be asked to replace him until his return.

"Obviously they haven't taken the reps at this level," Cates said of Hugh Charles and Stu Foord. "This is their first time going through it, so I'm trying to give them a heads up."

Charles is expected to start Friday's game, with Foord getting some time as well. Charles cemented the starting job with his showing in Saskatchewan's 27-19 pre-season loss to the visiting Calgary Stampeders on June 23.

"Hugh has a great step," Roughriders head coach Ken Miller said. "He has an extra burst and he's done very, very well. But as you know, Wes is person who's capable of carrying a team as he's demonstrated in past seasons."

Because of Cates' impact on the offence — and because of the recent ramping up of his participation in practice — has Miller been tempted to use Cates in Game 1?

"No, (there's) no temptation at all to put him in this weekend and probably no temptation to use him next week, either," Miller replied. "But we'll see how it goes. Maybe the week after that."

"There's no point in rushing it and throwing me out there right now," Cates added. "It's early in the season.

These games, although they do matter, they don't matter as much."
Cates, who had surgery on the shoulder in December, suggested the joint may never get back to 100 per cent. The fact that he's not ready to go for Week 1 disappoints him.

"When you have some work done in the off-season, you always hope you're going to be ready by the time the season rolls around," he said. "But everything doesn't always work out the way you want it to.

"There's obviously a lesson that I need to learn from this. I just don't know what that is yet."

- Rookie Johnny Quinn, who was expected to back up at all of the receiver spots and also play on special teams, rolled an ankle in practice Tuesday and won't play Friday. Miller said Quinn's replacement will be determined today.

ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com

RIDERS LIKE ERIC MORRIS

Roughrider rookie Eric Morris
Photograph by: Don Healy, Leader-Post

REGINA — Rookie Eric Morris could turn out to be a triple threat for the Saskatchewan Roughriders — returner/receiver/recruiter.

Morris is close friends with former Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, who's on

Saskatchewan's negotiation list. The undrafted free agent set multiple school and NCAA passing records during his college career, also finishing fourth in the Heisman Trophy race last season and winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation's outstanding senior quarterback.

The Riders have been in regular contact with Harrell since the NFL draft and there are rumblings he could be in town within the next two weeks. If necessary, Morris will gladly offer his services in an attempt to sell his former teammate on the virtues of football in Saskatchewan.

"I want him here just as bad as they do," Morris said after Friday's practice at Mosaic Stadium. "He'd be great in this league. He's one of the most savvy football players I've ever seen. He understands the game and sees the field better than anyone I've ever played with. (Saskatchewan's) offence is really similar to what we did at Texas Tech so he'd be really good at it. I'm hoping for the best for him. Hopefully he gets a call from the NFL but if not I'd love to have him down here and I think he'd be a great asset to the team."

Morris said he hasn't talked to Harrell in a couple weeks — his U.S. cell phone doesn't work in Saskatchewan — but the two have corresponded via e-mail. They met in 2003 while playing together in a Texas high school all-star game and were reunited the next year at Texas Tech.

They've been friends ever since.

"For five years we've done nothing but throw balls; we'd throw in the off-season every day together," said Morris, 23. "We developed a relationship and as friends too off the field, hung out all the time. I think that helps . . . build trust on the field. I hope he comes down here in the end. We'll have to see."

As for Morris, he has defied the odds by cracking Saskatchewan's lineup straight out of college, impressing the team's brass with his durability, dedication, football smarts and raw talent. Offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice noted that Morris's learning curve hasn't been as steep because the Riders run a similar spread-type passing offence to the one at Texas Tech. However, that doesn't take anything away from his innate ability to pick things up on the fly.

The Riders believe Morris can help improve their return game this season, but it's his talents as a receiver that put him over the top in competition with the likes of Casey McGahee.

"He has really stepped up in the return game," said LaPolice. "That allowed us to say, 'Well, he's close enough as a receiver now, but he's a great returner so let's get him an opportunity.' He'll have to learn a number of roles across the field and be able to step in and play a number of spots. He should be able to spell some of our starters and get reps.

We think he's going to be a good player."

In addition to being a full-time receiver in college, Morris also returned punts and the occasional kickoff. He previously scored 18 touchdowns as a returner in his high school career.

"I've done it my whole life," he said. "It's something I love to do and take pride in doing."
Despite Morris's size — 5-foot-8, 177 pounds — LaPolice has been impressed with his toughness, blocking ability and lack of fear catching the ball in traffic. In fact, you might say he was built for the CFL game.

"Hopefully," Morris said with a smile. "I like the fact you can't fair catch down here.

Three years in college I didn't fair catch one time. Some people thought I was crazy but it was just a part of my nature. I'd rather have the opportunity to make a play."

DURANT TO START FOR THE RIDERS

REGINA — It was a good Friday for Darian Durant.
That's when Durant heard from head coach Ken Miller that he would be the starting quarterback for the Saskatchewan Roughriders when their regular season opens Friday at Mosaic Stadium against the B.C. Lions.

"I was happy,'' Durant said Friday at Mosaic Stadium. "You play the game to be the starter and it's a dream come true. I feel like I'm ready and that's the main thing.''
Considering the events that have transpired since the Riders closed out the 2008 season, the official announcement of Durant's starting role could be considered anti-climatic.

Two days after the Riders were beaten 33-12 by the Lions in the West Division semifinal, quarterback Michael Bishop was released. The Riders said one of the reasons for the quick release of Bishop was to let Durant know they had confidence in him for 2009.

Durant then re-signed with the Riders in January rather than test free agency. It was repeated again that Durant was on top of the team's depth chart. He was followed by Steven Jyles and Dalton Bell.

Things seemed to change during training camp. On June 17, Durant struggled against the Edmonton Eskimos in a 45-12 loss. On Tuesday, he came off the bench in the second quarter and looked more poised as the Riders were beaten 27-19 by the visiting Calgary Stampeders.

"I was getting antsy,'' said Durant, who is heading into his fourth season with the Riders but first as the starting quarterback. "You hear a lot of people inside and outside the locker room saying that you are the guy but it doesn't count until you hear the coach say the word. Once he did, I was happy.''

That good humour appeared to carry over to Friday's workout because the 24-year-old looked sharp. His passes were crisp and he looked in control of the Riders' first-team offence.

"This is like any other job, you're going to have some good days and bad days,'' said Durant. "Out of the 20 practices we had, I two or three bad ones. I was really happy with that.''

That consistency and Durant's experience were among the reasons Miller went with Durant over Jyles. Durant dressed for 15 games in 2008 and started four. He started three games when quarterback Marcus Crandell was sidelined with a hamstring injury and helped the Riders win five straight to open the season. Jyles dressed for 18 games but had just one start late in the season.

"Darian has shown before that he can command our offence,'' said Paul LaPolice, the Riders' offensive co-ordinator. "When things break down, he can use his feet. He showed that in (Tuesday's game) where the protection broke down and it was actually (running back) Hugh Charles. Hugh came out of the backfield and Darian still found him. Those are the type of thing you want to see because it's not always going to be perfect. When guys make plays like that, it can keep you on the field.''

Jyles pushed Durant in training camp, which contributed to some of the uncertainity surrounding the naming of a starting quarterback. Jyles, 26, has accepted the coach's decision.

"I knew regardless of the outcome of training camp I would be starting or backing up,'' said Jyles. "I knew there was a possibility of each role and I'm ready to accept the one I have. I will help Darian and I know he will help me.''

The Riders head into the season with three unproven quarterbacks. Durant has heard some of the concerns but doesn't plan on letting them bother him.

"Stay tuned,'' Durant said when asked about those concerns. "I don't worry about what's said outside of the organization. The coaches and the team have 100 per cent confidence in me and as long as they do, we will just prove the nay-sayers wrong.''

Saskatchewan Roughriders offensive lineman Chris Best.
Photograph by: Bryan Schlosser, Leader-Post

REGINA — Chris Best has tried to be a studious pupil in his two seasons as a backup offensive lineman with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Now he's ready for the crash course.

Best is expected to step in for perennial all-star Gene Makowsky, who suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee during Tuesday's 27-19 CFL preseason loss to the Calgary Stampeders. Makowsky is slated to miss up to a month, leaving Best with a window of opportunity to show what he can do as the starting left guard.

"It's my third year now and I've really concentrated more on learning from the older guys (like Makowsky and Jeremy O'Day), learning the things that make them the players they are," Best, 26, said after Thursday's practice at Mosaic Stadium.

"I've been paying attention to those guys, just trying to be ready for this opportunity if it came. It's unfortunate Geno had to go down but he's going to be back soon enough and in the meantime I'm going to do my best to fill those really big shoes."

Best joined the Riders as a highly touted prospect after being selected fourth overall in the 2005 Canadian college draft. He dressed in three games as a backup in 2007 and six more in the 2008 campaign, including one start.

Makowsky's injury will test Saskatchewan's depth, but head coach Ken Miller said Thursday the team currently has no plans to re-sign veteran Mike Abou-Mechrek, who remains a free agent and has let it be known he's just a phone call away. Instead, the Riders plan to run with their youngsters, led by Best and home-grown rookie Nick Hutchins, 21, a product of the University of Regina Rams.

"It feels really good," Hutchins said of making the team. "A lot of work went into getting here. I came in hoping and being optimistic about where I would be and it worked out well."

Hutchins was one of the most pleasant surprises to emerge from training camp. That said, Riders offensive line coach Bob Wylie felt from the beginning that he had the potential to stick around.

"If I didn't think he could play, he wouldn't be here," noted Wylie. "From what I saw of him (on film) in college I thought he had the ability to do it. Now it's up to him. You have to have the passion and want to get better every day. That's what makes guys stick

around for a long time."

As for Best, Wylie expressed confidence that he can make a successful transition from backup to starter. It's simply a matter of raising his level of play to match the speed of the game, which goes up several notches from practice.

"I have no problem putting him in there," said Wylie. "He has to make the best out of the opportunity. I've been with other pro teams in the National Football League where guys went down and the guy stepped in and the other guy never got his spot back. Usually when God closes a door he opens a window somewhere else so this is his opportunity to show what he can do."

Best played mostly tackle during the pre-season but noted that he's "probably a better guard." The 6-foot-5, 301-pound Calgary native feels he made most of the necessary adjustments to Wylie's new system during the pre-season, it's just a matter of some last fine-tuning.

"I want to play the game already," he added with a smile, referring to next Friday's season-opener against the visiting B.C. Lions. "We've got a week and a half (to prepare). I'm going to be more than ready."

gharder@leaderpost.canwest.com

RIDERS LOOKING FOR RUNNING BACK

By Ian Hamilton, Leader-PostJune 25, 2009


REGINA — The CFL's transaction wire was buzzing Thursday — and the Saskatchewan Roughriders were watching right along with everyone else.

"Certainly we have interest and we'll look and see if there might be somebody we may be interested in," Roughriders head coach Ken Miller said after practice at Mosaic Stadium.

"I think probably Eric (Tillman, Saskatchewan's general manager) is doing that already."

Miller suggested the Roughriders may look for running backs because of his team's relative lack of depth at that position. Veterans Wes Cates (shoulder) and Neal Hughes (leg) were put on the injured and nine-game injured lists, respectively, as the Roughriders got down to the 46-man roster limit.

Around the league, some familiar names were among those released. That included ex-Roughriders linebacker Reggie Hunt (by the Montreal Alouettes) and former CFL rushing leader Joe Smith (by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers).

Three members of the University of Regina Rams — defensive end Stan van Sichem (Montreal), offensive lineman John Hashem (Calgary Stampeders) and receiver John Kanaroski (Calgary) — were released. The Als also cut Regina-born University of Saskatchewan defensive end Ivan Brown.

In Hamilton, the Tiger-Cats put former Saskatchewan running back Kenton Keith on the nine-game injured list.
* * *
Miller has indicated before he doesn't like cutting players. That was the case again Wednesday night.
"It's one thing to take a player out of a game and sit him on the bench," Miller said. "It's another to call him in a room and tell him he's going home. It's emotional for them and it's not a walk in the park for me."
* * *
The most surprising move by the Roughriders may have involved Hughes.
The Rams product hasn't practised in weeks — and Miller described his injury as "a mystery."
"We don't know what it is, but he continues to have severe pain and it affects him when he just tries to walk . . .," Miller said. "Right now it looks like it's going to be an ongoing thing. With that, we decided to put him on the nine-game. If we're able to get the situation resolved and we have a particular need, then it's possible that we could bring him off the nine-game."
* * *
With the release of rookie quarterback Juan Joseph, the Roughriders have nothing to show for the trade that sent defensive end Kitwana Jones to the Edmonton Eskimos.
"Any time you make a trade, you can be second-guessed on that," Miller said. "It was a situation where we were getting a young quarterback. Really, Juan showed us that he's very bright and could make good decisions. It's just that he's a developmental person. He maybe will be a CFL quarterback down the road, but not immediately."
With Joseph gone, Miller was asked if a potential emergency QB is currently working as a guest coach with the Roughriders — Marcus Crandell.
"Marcus has done a great job in the role that he has," Miller replied. "We feel he'll continue in that role and don't have any plans that he would be our fourth quarterback or higher than that at any time, really.
"We have talked about other people who might be available but don't have anyone scheduled right at this time."
* * *
Among the players released were Brandon Childress and Casey McGahee, who were competing for the job as Saskatchewan's main return man.
Instead, the Roughriders will go with Eric Morris and Johnny Quinn.
"The thing that Morris and Quinn have shown is that they're going to catch the ball consistently," Miller said. "We had some great returns, particularly with Morris, so we're going to go with consistency there."
McGahee let a punt go right through his hands in Tuesday's 27-19 pre-season loss to Calgary. The fumble was returned for a game-clinching touchdown by Juwan Simpson.
ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com

STAMPS BEAT RIDERS 27 19

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