RIDERS HOPE TO KEEP DURANT
Contract talks with veteran quarterback are expected to start soon. Meanwhile, the Riders are looking for a better result in the rematch with the Ticats. Here are some of the things seen and heard by The Leader-Post’s Ian Hamilton.
CONTRACT TALKS
Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant’s contract is set to expire at the end of the 2016 season, so his future with the team has been a topic of discussion of late.
Durant has said repeatedly that he wants to remain with the Roughriders, and Saskatchewan head coach-GM Chris Jones recently suggested that he expected talks to begin before the end of the season.
On Thursday, Jones was asked if those discussions had started.
“I spoke with Darian and we spoke with the people that represent him,” Jones replied. “Those talks are going to take place a little bit later, but they know of our interest and he knows we want him here.”
MISSING IN ACTION
Tailback/returner Kendial Lawrence wasn’t on the field with the Roughriders on Wednesday or Thursday, and a peek at the CFL transactions wire showed why.
Lawrence currently is on the Roughriders’ suspended list.
“Kendial’s at home (in Texas) right now,” Jones said Thursday. “He had an emergency in his family. He’s handling some family business.”
Lawrence played in Saskatchewan’s first 11 games, but was one of two scratches for Sunday’s game against the Edmonton Eskimos. Jones said that move was the team’s decision and didn’t play a role in the suspension.
Lawrence is expected to return to the Roughriders after their bye week, which begins after Saturday’s game against Hamilton.
TRY, TRY AGAIN
The last time the Roughriders faced Hamilton, the host Tiger-Cats handed Saskatchewan a 53-7 loss on Aug. 20.
Durant threw four interceptions in that contest and the Roughriders managed just 243 yards of net offence, including 48 along the ground.
“We’ve got to control the line of scrimmage,” Jones said when asked what has to change Saturday. “We’ve got to be more physical up front, we’ve got to know our assignments a little bit better and keep our quarterback upright. Then (Durant) has got to take care of the football when he gets his opportunities.”
ON THE OTHER SIDE
Hamilton quarterback Zach Collaros was 23-for-30 passing for 381 yards and five touchdowns in roughly three quarters of work in that previous meeting, taking advantage of a Roughriders defensive backfield that still was being rebuilt.
Veteran cornerback Fred Bennett had been acquired from the Calgary Stampeders in the days leading up to that game, but he didn’t play. On Saturday, he and his mates in the now-solidified secondary will get a rematch.
“Just sitting there watching that game, I had a bad taste in my mouth,” Bennett said. “I made a comment after the game that we’ve got (Saturday’s) game marked just because of what they did to us down there.
“It’s going to a fun, exciting game. I know we’re ready to play.”
ALSO ...
A number of Tiger-Cats regulars aren’t ready to play Saturday. Receiver Chad Owens, tailback Ross Scheuerman, guard Peter Dyakowski and safety Courtney Stephen have been ruled out, while tailback C.J. Gable and receiver Luke Tasker have missed practices this week due to injury ... If Gable can’t go, the Tiger-Cats may turn to Michael Ford, who was signed to the practice roster Tuesday. Ford, who’s in his third tour of duty with Hamilton, was released by the Roughriders on Sept. 14 ... Another ex-Roughrider, John Chiles, has been mentioned as a possibility to fill in for Owens at receiver ... Roughriders offensive lineman Andrew Jones has been fined an undisclosed amount by the CFL for a hit to the head of Eskimos defensive back Marcell Young in Sunday’s game.