Riders’ Durant adjusts to yet another new O-C
Cortez system results in learning curve
REGINA — Darian Durant does not have to adjust to a new offensive co-ordinator.
The quarterback knows the drill, given that the offensive co-ordinator’s position has been a revolving door since he joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2006.
That year, Tommy Condell choreographed the offence, before being succeeded by Ken Miller (2007), Paul LaPolice (2008 and 2009), Doug Berry (2010 and the first eight games of 2011, after which Durant and Miller handled much of the play-calling), Bob Dyce (2012) and, now, George Cortez.
Cortez was hired in January, shortly after being dismissed as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ head coach and director of football operations. In his one season with Hamilton, the Tiger-Cats led the CFL in points scored (538) on the strength of a league-high 43 touchdown passes by Henry Burris.
Durant hopes that a collaboration with Cortez will produce similar numbers, but acknowledges that it will take a little time to master the new concepts. “We’re trying get that chemistry down,’’ Durant said. “We’re trying to feel each other out. He’s trying to see what I’m comfortable with, and vice versa.’’
With that in mind, Durant and the first-team offence played the first three quarters of Thursday’s pre-season finale against the Calgary Stampeders, who won 2423 on Taylor Field. “I think that had a lot to do with my playing time,’’ Durant said of the need to familiarize himself with Cortez’s system, “and I feel comfortable with where we are.’’ And why not? Cortez has been associated with high-powered offences and big-name quarterbacks for most of his time in the CFL. Along with Burris, Cortez has worked with luminaries such as Doug Flutie, Dave Dickenson and Jeff Garcia.
Such an impressive resume can lead to assumptions that a Cortez-led offence will automatically purr, but it is not as simple as flicking a switch.
Last season, for example, the Tiger-Cats’ offence struggled in a season-opening, 43-16 loss to the Roughriders, who got four touchdown passes from Durant. Over time, though, the Hamilton offence began to amass some impressive numbers, albeit ones that were not reflected in the win column as the Tiger-Cats finished with a 6-12 record.
The Roughriders, meanwhile, went 8-10 before losing 36-30 to Calgary in the West Division semifinal. Durant sparkled in that game, throwing for 435 yards and four TDs while running an offence that was designed by Dyce.
Despite that showing, Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin ended up changing Dyce’s role — he is now the specialteams co-ordinator — when Cortez became available.
Cortez’s arsenal includes Durant, tailback Kory Sheets, and receivers such as Weston Dressler, Geroy Simon, Chris Getzlaf and Taj Smith. They have to pick up Cortez’s new offensive blueprint, but the learning process does not end there.
“He has to learn us, too,’’ Durant noted. “It’s one thing to have a system, but we don’t have Nik Lewis and Ken-Yon Rambo and Jeremaine Copeland and those type of receivers he had (with Calgary).
“Even though it’s his system, he still has to adjust it to the personnel. That’s what he’s learning to do and we’re learning how to work with him in that aspect.
“It’s going to take some time, but I’m comfortable with where we are.’’
And excited about where the Roughriders can go with Cortez in charge of the offence.
“I think we’ll be great,’’ Durant, who is to make his fifth consecutive opening-day start at quarterback Saturday against the host Edmonton Eskimos, said with a smile.