Jun 17, 2015
Roughriders have better QB depth this year
It's everything to have depth in the CFL, period; but particularly at the most important position, quarterback.
By Matt Dunigan
It's everything to have depth in the CFL, period; but particularly at the most important position, quarterback.
Take last year for example, Durant goes down in Week 11 vs Winnipeg and Riderville received a wake-up call as to the importance of depth behind the centre. Tino Sunseri (U. Pittsburg) was tossed into the fire along with Seth Doege (Texas Tech), then it was scramble mode and BANG, Kerry Joseph (McNeese State) is called upon to try and salvage the season. Not good; not good at all!
This off-season, Kevin Glenn (Illinois State) is snatched up because he has become TSN (THE SAFETY NET) for the last three seasons or more, so that what happened last season won't repeat itself...
This provides immediate assurance, productivity, leadership and a veteran presence offensively if Darian, God forbid, goes down again this season for the Green and White. Huge moving forward!
This past week I had a blast covering Northern Kickoff game in Ft. McMurray between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It was an opportunity to showcase the beautiful SMS Equipment Field at Shell Place on Mac Donald Island. Little did I know, it would be a coming out party for the Riders young quarterback Brett Smith (Wyoming). Smith seized his opportunity and clearly outplayed Sunseri to earned the third string job for the Riders.
Smith did what you want to see during the preseason, he played his way onto the roster and now he will find himself in an exceptional learning environment. The room/meetings now will consist of Jacques Chapdelaine (OC), Dan Dorazio (O-Line), Durant and Glenn. Heady stuff.
The quarterback situation in Saskatchewan has played out nicely over the first few weeks of training camp as Durant seems to be 100%, Glenn, aka TSN, looks razor sharp and Smith looks like he belongs.
Bottom line: Heading into the 2015 CFL season, the Riders are much better off behind the center than they were a year ago, thanks to the signing of No. 5 and No. 16.