Riders decide to rest roughed-up Durant
After declaring veteran Darian Durant as his starter for today’s game against the B.C. Lions, Chris Jones reserved the head coach’s right to change his mind.
Rather than submit Durant, the franchise quarterback, to more abuse, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are dressing backups Mitchell Gale, G.J. Kinne and Brandon Bridge for a game at B.C. Place Stadium — a game of little consequence to a 5-12 team destined for last place in the Canadian Football League’s West Division.
But today’s game gained greater importance for the Lions after the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 33-20 Friday night to move to 11-7. B.C., at 11-6, needs to defeat the Roughriders to claim second place and a home playoff date Nov. 13 against the Blue Bombers.
The Lions took the hammer from Winnipeg by sacking Saskatchewan QBs seven times in a 24-6 win in Regina last Saturday.
Last time out, Durant, a 10-year Rider, was part of a curious quarterback rotation with Jake Waters, one of five quarterbacks on the Saskatchewan roster. Waters was diagnosed with a broken collarbone after the B.C. game.
“I wanted Darian to play, but we’ve been battling some bumps and bruises all week long,” explained Jones, after the Roughriders arrived in Vancouver. “This morning (Friday), the doctors told me he couldn’t play. We basically went to our bullpen. Mitchell (Gale) will come in and be the starter, because he’s started games before and won football games before. We’re going to get an evaluation of G.J. as well.”
Gale, acquired by the Roughriders in a July 2 trade with the To- ronto Argonauts for defensive end Shawn Lemon, replaced an injured Durant in the second quarter of a July 16 game against the Lions in Regina. He staked his team to a 13-point halftime lead before B.C. came back to win 40-27.
Asked if he sees Saturday’s game as a talent audition for next season, Gale said he can’t think that way.
“We’re playing against a team vying for a home playoff game,” he said. “They came into our house last week and kicked our butts. If you’re focused on anything, other than this current game, then you’re setting yourself up for potential failure.”
A former University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane, Kinne has yet to play a down for the Roughriders. The 27-year-old quarterback battled for a roster spot for two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Just because he’s (Kinne) a new quarterback in the CFL, our defensive line is going to have its ears pinned back,” said Lions receiver Bryan Burnham, a college teammate of Kinne.
“They’re going to get after him, make him flustered and make him make decisions on the fly. He’s a Tim Tebow type, but with a better arm. He’s one of those guys who can really fit into any system, either staying in the pocket or getting on the edge and running with the football.”