Former Als quarterbacks reunited
The backfield is full but former Alouettes are friends who ‘feed off the competition’
The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterback room has a familiar feeling to it.
Kevin Glenn, Brandon Bridge and recently acquired Vernon Adams Jr. were teammates with the Montreal Alouettes during portions of the 2016 CFL season. They were reunited as the Riders returned from their bye week to practise Monday at Leibel Field.
“It’s like a reunion because I was with those guys a year ago and now we’re back here together,” Glenn said Monday. “It’s like the little brothers who follow their big brother everywhere.”
Glenn has been with the Riders since the beginning of the 2017 season. Bridge signed with the Green and White in August of 2016 after being released by the Alouettes. Adams was obtained from Montreal on Aug. 15, along with a fifth-round pick in the 2018 CFL draft, for defensive back Tevaughn Campbell and two third-rounders (in 2018 and 2019). Glenn, Bridge, Adams and rookie Marquise Williams are the Riders’ quarterbacks.
“We’re all back together, so that’s pretty cool to come into a familiar quarterback room,” said Adams, who was 3-0 as a starter with Montreal last season. “I had heard of Marquise through college football, so I kind of knew about him, too.”
The trade for Adams altered the quarterback depth chart for Monday’s practice. Glenn is entrenched as the starter with Bridge as his backup. Adams sits third while Williams was bumped to fourth.
Adams may be more active during games because the newly acquired pivot is expected to take over in short-yardage situations. It sounded like Glenn has grudgingly filled that role with the Riders.
“Anytime you can get a hit taken off of you, I will go in with the coaches and be an agent for him and tell them that the guy needs to be running short yardage,” Glenn said with a smile.
“I don’t think any quarterback likes short yardage. The only quarterback who likes short yardage is (Edmonton’s) Mike Reilly.” Adams is ready for that role. “Sure, I like it,” Adams said. “You get the first down or the touchdown and you keep the chains moving.”
Adams was acquired by the Riders to bolster their quarterback depth and with an eye toward the future. Glenn, who has 14 touchdown passes in seven games, is among the league’s most productive quarterbacks. But, at 38, he’s not in the Riders’ long-term plans.
Behind Glenn are three young quarterbacks. Bridge is 25 while Adams and Williams are both 24.
“It’s crazy how it all worked out,” Bridge said. “I remember in my rookie year that (Adams) and I were talking that one of us would have to leave. Then I ended up leaving and he said during the year that he might get traded. It’s come full circle and we’re back in the same position. We’re all competitors. We’re all friends and we’re all working for the same goal.”
Glenn pointed out that all the quarterbacks are in competition, regardless of the depth chart.
“We’re all about competition and that’s what we feed off,” Glenn said. “After practice, there a lot of times when we’re throwing balls to see who has the best accuracy to hit the goalposts. It’s about bringing more guys in so we can have that competition.
“At the same time, as players, we don’t have any control over that. My advice is, don’t worry about things you can’t control. You just continue to keep playing and everything will work out.”
Bridge expects the familiarity the trio established with the Alouettes to transfer over to the Riders.
“Kevin, with his experience, talks to us and lets us know whatever he sees and I feel like I have another year under my belt,” Bridge said. “With me having an understanding of the offence, it will be a good transition for (Adams). It will be a good transition for our whole quarterback room.”
NOTES: On Monday, the Riders inked international defensive lineman Royce LaFrance and assigned him to the practice roster. The team released international defensive back Mark Roberts … The Riders, who play in Edmonton on Friday, are practising at Leibel Field because crews are setting up for Sunday’s Guns N’ Roses concert at Mosaic Stadium.
It’s like a reunion because I was with those guys a year ago .... It’s like the little brothers who follow their big brother everywhere.