QBS Bridge and Watford are like brothers
Brandon Bridge and David Watford are close comrades as well as competitors.
Despite vying for playing time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, both quarterbacks used the word “brother” to describe their relationship after the CFL team practised Sunday at Mosaic Stadium.
“He’s like a little brother,” Bridge, 26, said of the 25-year-old Watford after the Roughriders reconvened following a bye week.
“I feel like Kevin Glenn with him, because he asks a lot of questions. I try to give him all the answers if I possibly can. It’s definitely a brotherhood and a friendship that wants the next person to succeed. We are definitely supportive.”
Glenn, Bridge, Watford and Marquise Williams were all quarterbacks with the Riders in 2017. Watford signed with them late in the season and spent the final four weeks on the practice roster.
“(Bridge) took me under his wing last year and treated me like a younger brother,” Watford said.
“He taught me a lot about this game and a lot about this offence as well. He has been a standup guy and a solid dude. I have a lot of love for him.”
Bridge and Watford have drawn upon that connection while dealing with the Riders’ current quarterback situation.
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, has adopted a quarterback rotation — using Bridge and Watford — in an attempt to add life to an offence that has scored just four touchdowns over its opening four games.
Bridge and Watford are both seeing increased playing time due to Zach Collaros being on the sixgame list with a concussion.
Bridge made his second straight start July 5, when the Riders defeated the visiting Hamilton Tigercats 18-13.
Jones said Bridge would also start Thursday in Hamilton, adding that Watford will also play.
“It’s like in baseball when the starter comes in and he’s acing the opponent then he stays in the game until he starts to struggle,” Jones said. “If he starts to struggle, then the reliever comes in. It’s not any different, and it’s the same thing that we did last year.”
Glenn was the Riders’ starter in 2017, but would be replaced by Bridge if the offence needed a spark.
The scheme worked for the most part as the Riders led the CFL in touchdown passes (35) and reached the East Division final before losing 25-21 to the Toronto Argonauts — a game in which three quarterback switches were made.
Bridge would prefer to be the Riders’ quarterback from start to finish, but understands and respects that it’s Jones’s decision.
“The only way I can deal with it is not even worry about it,” Bridge said. “If you just worry about that single play and executing that play, whatever happens, happens.
“I can’t control if Coach Jones wants to take me out. Dave can’t control whenever he wants to throw him in or take him out.
“We’re going to be prepared, and we have a game plan. It’s not dumbed down for any of us. We actually have plays that we are comfortable running. We’re going to be supportive and try our best to win this football game.”
The friendship between Watford and Bridge has made it easier for them to handle the rotation.
“It makes a world of difference,” Watford said. “Knowing that I have him, who as a player is going through the same thing and has been in the system for a long time and has been playing in the CFL, (is beneficial). He knows defences and, with me coming from the American game and still transitioning with that stuff, he’s always there to help.”
The Roughriders do not have a timeline for the return of Collaros, who was injured in the team’s second regular-season game.
“I talked to him (Sunday), and he feels a whole lot better, but he’s not 100 per cent,” Jones said. “I told him that I would treat him like my son, and my expectation level is he will do everything that he can to get back.
“I’m not going to stick him back out there until he’s 100 per cent.”