SEARCH FOR NO. 2
Ex-NFLers getting used to CFL game
Coaches have a tough decision to make for the position of backup to quarterback Darian Durant
REGINA — Seth Doege has played in one game in his CFL career — and already he has made it into TSN’s plays of the week.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback appeared repeatedly on the SportsCentre loop Monday and Tuesday, flying head over heels after a hit during Saturday’s 21-17 pre-season victory over the Ottawa Redblacks at Mosaic Stadium.
“He’s from Texas, so he’s seen all those Texas football movies where you get hit and get back up,” Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin said with a smirk following Tuesday’s practice. “He’s just trying to emulate that.” Not quite. “I thought it would spark the guys if I got up really quickly and show them that’s what our mentality is about,” Doege explained. “That’s what (the) Roughriders are about is grinding through things and picking up first downs when things aren’t there.”
One of Adam Weber’s plays during that contest didn’t make it onto SportsCentre, but it too was memorable.
Weber, who’s battling Doege and returnee Tino Sunseri for the backup jobs behind Darian Durant, was intercepted on the first pass attempt of his CFL career. Weber rebounded and, on his next drive, threw a fouryard touchdown pass to Brett Swain.
“You picture how you want the game to go and (throwing a pick on his first attempt) was not part of it,” Weber said. “But in the game of football, there’s a lot of ups and downs. That’s one of those things where you learn from it and then you just move forward.
“It was nice to have another drive, (be) able to put something together and go down and score. (The start) was tough, but it’s still a learning process. That was just a dumb play by me, but definitely something that you chalk up, you remember and you learn from.”
Doege and Weber have been learning constantly over the past two weeks.
Both quarterbacks are new to the league — Doege spent the 2013 season on the practice roster of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Weber previously had NFL stints with the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers — so they’ve been trying to get a grasp on the CFL since Saskatchewan opened training camp.
For Doege, the learning process has covered things ranging from the different ball flight needed to make throws on the more expansive CFL field to learning when to slide to remembering that teams only have three chances to get a first down.
For Weber, the process has involved such topics as the 12th man, the receivers’ presnap motion and getting acclimated to new coaches and new teammates. “At first, it can be a little daunting,” admitted Weber, a 26-year-old who hails from Maplewood, Minn. “That first practice, definitely my head was spinning a little bit.
“But just like anything, the more you invest, the more you’ll become comfortable with it and it’ll start to slow down — or you’ll start to speed up a little bit. That’s what I found: Not to get too overwhelmed and just know that it takes time to learn things.”
Doege, a 25-year-old product of San Angelo, Texas, suggested his approach simply involves getting better steadily through film study and practice.
“You’re going to have your days when you’re not as good, but you want to improve on something each day,” said the former Texas Tech Red Raiders star. “That’s the mindset I have and I think that has really helped me.”
Saskatchewan traded last season’s backup, Drew Willy, to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the off-season, so the Roughriders need depth behind Durant. There’s a good chance that either Doege or Weber will be No. 3 this season, meaning the successful candidate has to learn his lessons quickly.
The Roughriders have to be patient as the quarterbacks get accustomed to their new surroundings, but Weber knows he or Doege will have to figure things out soon to win the spot.
“Obviously we have to compete and do our best job, but ultimately the decision is with the coaches,” said the ex-Minnesota Golden Gophers pivot.