IT’S DOEGE TIME
Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Corey Chamblin announced on Wednesday that rookie quarterback Seth Doege will get the start on Friday when they host the Calgary Stampeders (8:00 pm, TSN, CKRM).
“The decision was made yesterday and we’ll move forward with Seth for this game,” Chamblin reported. “Tino and Seth both have different skillsets but when I look at it, but for this week I thought it was a chance to get Seth a chance to see what he has and what’s moving forward. When I looked at it, they both complete the ball and throw it well but he had a good command of the huddle this week so I want to see him go forth.”
Chamblin was asked if it was a tough decision given the fact Tino Sunseri has started the past three games while Doege will be making his first pro start.
“I’m one of those coaches that it doesn’t matter what a lot of people say should be done,” Chamblin said. “I think I’ve made a lot of decisions since I’ve been here the past three years and some of it’s off of gut and different things like that. Sometimes it works for that week and sometimes it works for the season. That’s where my gut is right now and I’m going to go with that.”
Chamblin was asked how Sunseri received the decision.
“Disappointment, that’s a part of football because they’re both competitors,” Chamblin explained. “As far as accepting it, no one wants to hear it but they know that’s a part of football. Like I said you never know how things end. Maybe he gets another shot or maybe he doesn’t, I don’t know. But our focus is on Seth this week.”
Chamblin was asked how much offensive coordinator George Cortez played into the decision.
“We had a long discussion yesterday day and we had a long discussion today,” Chamblin continued. “It was a big part of the decision-making process. But at the end of the day I’m the head coach and I have to live with the ultimate decision that’s made and we go from there. We had the conversation and we ended up pretty much on the same page with what we thought and where we wanted to go.”
Meanwhile over in Calgary, Stampeders coach John Hufnagel announced Drew Tate will start at quarterback against the Riders.
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CALGARY (CP) After saying Bo Levi Mitchell looked ready to quarterback the Calgary Stampeders again, coach John Hufnagel gave Drew Tate the nod to start Friday in Regina against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“There’s two reasons. One is that Drew has had an excellent week of practice,” Hufnagel told reporters Wednesday. “The other reason I will tell you when I’m done with my coaching career.”
Calgary went 1-1 with Tate as the starter while Mitchell healed a sprained ankle and stretched ligament in his left leg.
After watching Mitchell practise Tuesday in wet conditions at McMahon Stadium, Hufnagel said “it looks good that he’ll be playing the game,” although the coach added he would wait another day before declaring his Friday starter.
Calgary (11-2) can secure a playoff berth with a win over the Roughriders (9-4). A loss by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-7) to Ottawa in Friday’s earlier game, however, would also ensure a playoff spot for the Stampeders.
Tate, 29, will get his third straight start this season. Meanwhile, the Roughriders announced Wednesday rookie Seth Doege will get the start Friday. The defending Grey Cup champions are also shuffling quarterbacks in the absence of injured veteran Darian Durant.
Doege split duties with Tino Sunseri in a 24-0 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos last week. Doege got on the field in the third quarter and was 5-for-11 in pass attempts for 61 yards. He threw one interception.
When Mitchell was injured in the fourth quarter Sept. 13, against Toronto, Tate completed a 40-33 comeback win going 6-for-6 in passing with a pair of touchdown throws and a two-point convert pass.
He completed 51 per cent of his passes for a combined 314 yards in his next two games. Tate rushed for a pair of touchdowns in a 31-15 loss to Montreal in Week 13.
Mitchell dressed as Calgary’s third-stringer but didn’t play in Saturday’s 14-7 win over the B.C. Lions. Tate didn’t throw a touchdown pass in the two games and was intercepted once.
“We have all the confidence in the world with Drew,” Hufnagel said. “I do, the coaches do, his teammates do and he has a lot of confidence in himself.”
Mitchell will dress for Friday’s game, Hufnagel added.
Chamblin must be smoking the same thing as Cornish. Calgary by 27 in this one.
As long as Cortez plans for Seth to roll out. Uses draw plays and doesn't just hand off to Allen on first down every time, the Riders might have a chance.
Desperation is showing…
Lets see Riders first offensive play hand off just like the rest of the season.Stamps will never catch on!!!!! Its pretty bad when my grandson tells me that first play of the Riders is a hand off like always and he is six years old. George Cortez has no originality and his offence plays stink.Have we seen anything different from the offence play calling this season.Do not think so. Same offence he runs when DD is in there and he is the master as rider nation can see when he is gone. All of the pressure is on the QB… Read more »
I'd believe Chamblin before I believe any of the other clowns on this blog.
I think Doege looked better in pre-season than Sunseri but Sunseri had been here longer so he got the backup role. In the Edmonton game he looked sharper and quicker than Sunseri. Also major point Doege is a Team player who takes responsibility for his play. Sunseri is an "I" guy.
Hopefully Cortez comes up with a game plan. He didn't do Tino any favours.
Don +1
Hmmm. just tuned into the cage cast to hear them all say "well lets just hope doege doesn't make a mistake.. just plays not to lose.." to paraphrase. WHAAAAT? Since when has that mindset ever won anything?? Now I get weve gotten used to DD limiting mistakes and it has won us some stinkers.. but remember where DD was when he was raw. He slung it out, made mistakes and proved a winner and made us believers. I sure hope the Riders play to win on friday and do NOT play to not lose. Check out last fridays results how… Read more »
btw is it "day-hee" or "day-gee" like the professional RP is pronouncing it??
Byob
This could be the start of the two- headed monster QB plan going forward – our new offensive leader Sethseri!
My buddy in Calgary heard that the Riders are moving Brian Peters to middle linebacker and he predicts that Jon Cornish and his Stampeders will Stamp Peters! Ouch!
Those stampeder are chickens they'll have to wear their mittens
There's far to much pressure on both Doege and Sunseri. The pressure should be on George Cortez. It's up to him to devise a game plan and call plays that compliment their skill sets. Neither one is Darian Durant yet George's play selection hasn't changed. C'mon George.
The Riders can win this game. Airtight defense, create turnovers, and play strong special teams.
Chamblin read this blog and knew that what I wrote was true. No offense to Sunseri, but 3 games I saw enough to know I don't need to see him play 3 more.
Whoever this guy they are playing is, it's his chance to step up. One man's misfortune is another's pot of gold.
Don't turn the ball over, and stretch the field.
The Riders can win on Friday. Had they left Sunseri in, forget it.
Y'er Welcome
Obama
Obama; I didn't realize that you are Cory Chamblin's consultant. Geez you have an ego bigger than Jon Cornish.
BB
You nine to fivers have no clue. You thought Cortez had lost his mind last year and what happened. Oh yeah, they won. Cortez knows more about football than any of your armchair quarterbacks who think you are the smartest thing on the go. Cortez would embarrass 97 percent of you in the film room. Its as simple as this. Durant isn't around thus the team suffers. It isn't the first time its happened in football and it won't be the last.
Andrew
Glad to see. Only way to find out what a rook is like … throw him in. I remember only winning maybe thee games the first year with Hank … but damn it was some entertaining football. (Yes expectations were lower back then … Waaaay lower in fact)
They are both pigs. But maybe he is thinking that sunseri needs to start on the bench then come in at some point like he did ib bc.
All i know after 36 years in the stands is that many tomes when you think the riders will lose they win and vice versa. I think this will be closer than most think with the other leaders on this team picking it up a notch.
Any professional that listens to Gil Renard….I mean Woz better realize it won't be long before they're sitting in the stands with him… End of the day if this QB doesn't get it done, then and only then does Taman call Ottawa, and it's welcome back Henry time. The Riders have the team, they need a guy to manage the Offense. I am not a Burris fan, but he knows Cortez' system. It's a one month deal, and it's to good to pass up.' YOu go for it when you have the team, you don't do the Blue Jays deal… Read more »