BROTHERS IN ARMS
Competition for top QB spot can’t crush camaraderie
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterbacks have already become a family.
Kevin Glenn, Bryan Bennett, Brandon Bridge, Vince Young and Marquise Williams have grown that close during the first week of the CFL team’s training camp.
“I’m probably Grandfather Glenn,’’ Glenn said Friday.
“Vince is Uncle Young and the others are our godsons and nephews. That’s what the dynamic of this group is like.’’
Glenn, who turns 38 on June
12, is the wise veteran with 17 years of CFL experience of dealing with the different personalities in the quarterback rooms.
Young is making a comeback at 34 after starring at the collegiate and NFL levels.
The 25-year-old Bennett spent the entire 2016 regular season on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ practice roster, but has never taken a regular-season snap.
Williams, 24, is still finding his way after signing with the Riders on Wednesday.
Bridge, 25, is the only quarterback other than Glenn on the Riders’ roster to have started a CFL game. Bridge had one start in 2015 with the Montreal Alouettes before being released in 2016 and signing with the Riders.
“We have a really good quarterback room,’’ Bridge said. “Everyone is helping everybody and it’s not one of those rooms where people are withholding information from one another. Everyone is competing and we understand that. To get to where we want to go, we need everybody.’’
Young has fit into the group even though he has played the game at the highest levels.
“I really feel that our chemistry in the quarterback room has been great,’’ Young said.
“We had an opportunity (Thursday) to eat dinner together and I thought that was fantastic. Being able to listen to the conversations and the backgrounds from where the guys are from was really cool.’’
Young has enjoyed every aspect of his comeback attempt. That includes the times when he has struggled with some of his reads, adapting to the 20-second play clock and getting accustomed to the 12th man on the field. He’s not getting discouraged and will be content if he’s not the starter when the Riders open the 2017 season.
“I’m good and right now I want to fight hard to be a Roughrider first and to make the team,’’ Young said. “After that, I’m a Roughrider and it’s whatever it takes. It’s not about me or Kevin or Bryan or Brandon. It’s not about one guy. It’s about making sure that we’re doing what we are supposed to do as a quarterback to lead the football team, whoever is starting the games.’’
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, said Friday he hasn’t decided on the Riders’ starting quarterback.
Glenn is still expected to be the starter when the Riders open the 2017 CFL regular season June 22 against the host Montreal Alouettes. The Riders know what he’s capable of so his playing time may be limited during Saturday’s mock game (4 p.m., Saskatoon Minor Football Field). Williams may not see many repetitions
Vince is Uncle Young and the others are our godsons and nephews. That’s what the dynamic of this group is like.
because he’s still learning the playbook.
Bridge, Young and Bennett may have more opportunities in the tightly controlled scrimmage. Each of the plays has already been mapped out according to down and distance.
“I feel like I know more than anybody else because I was here last year,’’ Bridge said. “Obviously, Kevin Glenn has been around and in many offences, so it’s familiar for him. Despite Vince Young playing in the NFL, it’s a different game and there are a whole lot of guys who have come up here and couldn’t adjust whether it’s the 12th man or the different reads they have to look for. Because I did it last year, I feel I know the most out of all the quarterbacks because of the play calling.’’
EXTRA POINT: The Riders are to announce a $33,983 profit for the 2016-17 fiscal year during their annual general meeting June 21 at the Conexus Arts Centre. The profit follows a loss of $4,267,935 that the franchise posted in 201516. The Riders will also announce revenues of $37.8 million, down from approximately $39.3 million in 2015-16. The loss is attributed to the province’s struggling economy and the Riders’ on-field performance in 2016, when the team had a 5-13 record.