MULLINDER’S WEEK 12 PRIMER

9-year CFL veteran Luc Mullinder

By: Luc Mullinder

OPPORTUNITY:  A set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.  Synonyms include, but aren’t limited too: chance, time, occasion, moment, and opening.

There is no better word in the English language that describes the scenario currently playing out in the Saskatchewan Roughrider organization.

It’s been a hectic week for Ridernation.  Many of you have your own words for the situation the defending Grey Cup Champions are in; and those words vary from person-to-person depending on how you view the makeup of this team, especially its franchise quarterback.   But make no mistake about it folks …This game and all the other games that will be played after it are all about OPPORTUNITY.

Athletes relentlessly train for hours (and I’m not talking two, I’m talking four and up) every day during their offseason lifting, running, watching film, eating right, and doing anything else they believe will give them an edge during their upcoming season.  Visions of championships and team success are always present during this grind … But there is another constant vision.  And this vision is much more powerful.  This vision literally forces one to get another sprint done before they leave the track.  It questions one’s work ethic, and never allows the athlete to cut corners during a training session.

For the determined mind, whether it’s a younger guy trying to crack a spot on a roster, or a vet who is trying to establish himself amongst their league’s top tier…that vision is one of OPPORTUNITY.

Every scenario an athlete will run through in his mind during the offseason, in-season or during the playoffs, is based on the notion of an opportunity.  Whether one sees themself making the goal line tackle on a 3rd and 1, or catching the game-winning touchdown, that mental scenario is based on a chance to be special.  Some train and practise with the notion of taking a veteran’s spot on the team and that one chance may only be available in a window of two or three plays during a specific drill.  Again; we’re talking about opportunity.

For Tino Sunseri and the rest of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the tilt with the Hamilton Ti-Cats involves a ton of opportunities that have been played out mentally for some time now.  Even if one did not approach the off-season with the aforementioned demeanour, the recent events of the past week have surely engaged the minds of everyone in the locker room.

Our primer for this week will discuss these chances.  Hopefully those in Ridernation, whose adjectives regarding the current situation are negative in tone, will realize that they now have the opportunity to see what the 2014 Saskatchewan Roughriders are really about.

Darian Durant

News of Durant’s injury hit home for everyone.  I personally took it rough because Doubles is one of the closest friends, on the football side of my life, that I’ll have.  I’m not going to get into his journey, but some will never know of the borderline obsessive routine that he dedicated himself to, in order to be one of the greats.  You’ll never know of the relationships that were sacrificed inside AND outside of the locker room.

His journey and drive to be great were probably no different than any other great QB, but it’s different when you’re a witness to it.  It upset me because one of the “opportunities” that Doubles envisioned, has been postponed temporarily … that was the chance to be legendary.  Thankfully, there’s still PLENTY of time for that.  I can’t imagine the emotions that hit him when he was told that this season is most likely done.  You NEVER envision the worst case scenario when you’re training.

One thing I will say is that he knows that there is still work to be done, and he won’t want anyone to feel sorry for him.  Many of you only know the on-field persona of Darian Durant, but believe this — there are many other qualities that he has called on in order to become the leader of this team.

The Green and White didn’t just lose their starting QB for the remainder of the season; they lost the on-field production and the face of the franchise.  Every part of the process, starting from Day 1 of the practise week, all the way up to the last whistle of the season, has now entered unchartered territory.

Ridernation, you are about to see bits and pieces of what everyone in Riders locker room already knows … One day, when Darian Durant chooses to hang up his cleats, he is going to be a great coach.  There is nobody better (other than Ricky Ray) to have in your corner if you are a quarterback that has been asked to shoulder the load of a talented squad, for the rest of the year.

Tino can pick the brain of a championship QB not only when it comes to the on-field aspects and crucial situations of a game, but he also has a tremendous role model at his disposal who will help him deal with the constant scrutiny and attention that come with Tino’s new found “opportunity”.

Doubles will also be a welcome asset between Coach Cortez and the guys in the huddle.  I’m not saying he’ll be calling plays, but what I am saying is that he’ll be crucial for gathering information or assessments from the receivers etc. and letting the Saskatchewan Offensive Coordinator know where certain spots in certain calls may be vulnerable for an opposing defence.

Nobody sees the field better or shares the communication lines more openly an actual teammate, let alone the team’s unheralded star.  Doubles has never been a selfish player.  It’s never been solely about him.  That may be the saving grace here.  Whether it’s during the practise week, or game day, the Saskatchewan Roughriders haven’t lost their Franchise Player altogether.

The definition of leadership is not only defined by what one does on the field.  The meaning of leadership branches into every aspect of what it takes for a team to be successful.  #4 may not be throwing the passes or breaking the huddle, but you can bet your bottom dollar that his voice and influence will be stamped on every part of the process leading up too it.

Tino Sunseri

If you think for one second that this kid isn’t up to the task at hand, you better check his resume AND the stock that he is from.  Sunseri is a gamer, and not only that, he’s got the arm and the football IQ to match.  If you analyze the film on him, you will see a very polished QB that’s going to have the benefit of an O-line that will give him some time to go through his progressions.

Young QB’s in this league, that know they have the ability to utilize their legs to get positive yards, too often resort to scrambling if protection does break down a little bit.  Sunseri is more than capable of running the ball; however he’s never in a rush to do so.  Instead, Tino has shown the spatial awareness, and internal clock, to take a couple of shuffle steps into an open spot that will still allow him to make a throw.

The greatest quarterbacks, whether it’s the NFL or CFL, are all pocket passers.  Some have outstanding speed and athletic skill, but they’ve utilized those attributes primarily to complete passes.  If the Riders do choose to use his running ability as a weapon, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they rolled Sunseri out on a couple bootlegs (faking the hand off and rolling away from the action) with Getty or Dressler coming over the top.  Sunseri could have really burned Winnipeg and BC a couple of times during his short playing stints this year.

Tino is literally walking into the best-case scenario for any back-up QB in this league.  He will work behind one of the league’s nastiest and most efficient O-lines.  He has access to speedy receivers like Smith and Dressler and crafty and smooth vets in Bagger and Getzlaf.  Sunseri also has a crew of running backs that share reps at tailback and run like they’re never going to get the rock again during the game.

All this makes for a great “opportunity” to cement his mark on the 2014 season.  Tino will probably be the first too admit that this is Durant’s team until Father Time says otherwise; however there are a few CFL teams that would love to get their QB position improved in the 2015 season.  Again, that word, OPPORTUNITY.

I mentioned the family stock in which Tino comes from.  His father is a successful coach, his brothers have, and are, enjoying success in the same game.  This bodes well for Tino when we speak of his need to lead the offence.  He will definitely have the blueprint for how he needs to play.  The only thing we haven’t gotten a chance to see out of the new Rider QB is how he responds to adversity during the game where momentum and necessity clash.

*Gee…If only there was someone…Oh wait…#DoublesHasThatCovered

All Tino Sunseri has to do now is play within his abilities, and within the parameters of what the Riders need him to do.  He doesn’t need to be Joe Namath, but he also shouldn’t aim at being Trent Dilfer either.  I think you guys will be pleasantly surprised with the former Pittsburgh Panther.

Rally The Troops

The final opportunity that we’ll get into here Ridernation, is the chance that the entire Saskatchewan Roughriders organization has now that #4 won’t take the field.  A lot of the guys in that locker room today are the same guys that were in that locker room last year, when the team dipped into a 4-game losing streak and the pressure seemed like it was beginning to break down the walls.

Back then, that team “circled the wagons” and came together highlighted by a couple of season altering team discussions.  It seemed to work, because we all know the historical implications that followed.

This edition of the Green and White needs to pull from that same experience and rally around Durant, Sunseri, and especially those who will now be called on to “do more.”

Those guys won’t be hard to find either, because it’s all of them.  Everybody!  The practice roster, the 46-man roster, and the guys on the injured list; everyone needs to increase their workload.  The focus needs to be even more intense than it already has been.  Vets need to bring the newer guys along faster than the new guy may have thought.  Coaches need to find ways to extract every ounce of talent out of the guys they are including in the game plan.

Yes; losing Doubles’ presence between the white lines on game day and during the practice week was a huge blow.  But it’s also a chance to really underline what this production based business is about…

One can only focus on the variables that they can control.  There isn’t a team in the country that feels sorry for the Riders right now; they too see opportunity in the team’s misfortune.  Opponents will be watching with eagle eyes for any sign of weakness, and will move quickly to pounce on it and expose it.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have arguably the best defence in the country and they have proven they can score and create turnovers.  The special teams units have also proven they can score, however they have been inconsistent in coverage.  The offence is a built like a black rhino and used to violently to maintain control over an opponent.  Every ingredient that made this team a potential threat for a championship is still here.  It’s up to the coaching staff and the will of the players to figure out the right balance, now that one of the key ingredients will not be able utilized too its full potential.

Sometimes, all someone needs is one opportunity; that one opening that propels an individual to heights that he has only experienced in his mind’s eye.  For the entire organization, the first opportunity will present itself on Sunday in front of a great crowd and against a Ti-Cat team desperately hoping for their chance to get rolling.

From that point on, it will be a battle to see who’ll be the first to capitalize on those opportunities.  Here’s to hoping that under the watchful eyes of our Franchise QB and the passionate fans that exist in Ridernation, this opportunity is not squandered.

I, for one, can’t wait to see the boys compete…

Cups up to the fellas, as they look too go 1-0 this week.

#ProPerspective
#GetHealthyDubs