DURANT BEATING THE HEAT
With the Roughriders riding the wave of a three-game win streak, quarterback Darian Durant is loving life as the defending Grey Cup-champion quarterback and being in charge of a team on the rise. You don’t hear much negativity regarding Durant these days around here and if you do, it’s quickly scoffed away. I asked him what it’s like having no haters.
“I don’t think that’s the case! Really? That’s a first. That’s a first,” Durant smiled. “I just know that they’re undercover and waiting to come out! I wouldn’t say that they don’t exist. They’re there, and that’s for anyone. Some people are gonna love you and some people are going to hate you. I just want to deliver championships and that’s what they pay me to do.”
After two big road wins in Ottawa and Winnipeg to up their record to 4-2, Durant says Canada’s Team is anxious to get back home and defend their turf on Saturday against the Montreal Alouettes (5:00 pm, TSN, CKRM Rider Radio Network).
“No doubt about it,” Durant said. “It seems like forever since we played here and I know our fans are ready to cheer us on and be loud. Especially with us going on the road and getting two key wins to keep pace in the division, I know it’s going to be rocking and the fans have been waiting for us to come home. If they don’t hear this, I’m looking into the camera and say ‘Let’s make sure we get it rocking this weekend and make it hard on Montreal!”
Thursday was hands-down the hottest day of the year in Regina as the thermometer hit a scorching 38 degrees Celsius with the humidex. The Riders set up a cooling station for their players during the workout and Durant said the heat posed some challenges.
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| Rider K Chris Milo does the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge |
“It’s hot!” Durant continued. “It’s one of the hottest days I’ve been a part of in my nine year career. It’s good to get acclimated to it because who knows what it will be like come game day.”
It’s also no secret that Durant is clearly a cold weather quarterback. He seems to play his best in the big games in November when the temperature plunges below zero.
“No doubt about it. I hate the heat!” Durant laughed. “I’ll just be honest with you, I hate it. But I know it’s part of the job and it’s something we have to go through. That’s one of the things I like about it here; it’s not going to be hot for too long.”
With sweat dripping off his hands and forehead, I asked Darian if he’s had any problems gripping the ball.
“Not really,” Durant explained. “Our equipment guys do a great job of rubbing the balls down and minimizing how slick the balls are. It’s not too bad.”
The forecast for Saturday’s game calls for a high of 25 degrees Celsius and a 40% chance of showers.
It was good to see so many small children out to today's practice. I think there were more than a dozen groups of day care at practice today. While nice to see, but I could not believe the conduct of a couple of group leaders who instead of siting their groups in the shade higher up, sat the kids (most without hats and sunglasses) in the sun, some sweating profusely. A few kids started calling out "lets go to the shade", but with no action from the adults. Do these people not listen to the news? Wow!
Wondering about Weldon Brown and who steps in if he can't play. Also, un characteristic penalties last game, hope that is cleared up.
3 game win streak
Worst job description in professional sports. "I rub the balls down."
Great day for Milo's ice bucket challenge for sure. Hey Rod I'm surprised nobody's nominated you yet!
Dubya
Taj looked very sharp catching passes at today's practice. He could have a big game if allowed to play.
All I ask from Darian is to find it in himself to trust some these new receivers far more than he has. After game 3 when Darian said it takes years to get acclimated with a new receiver. We may have a bad year in the air. Other QB's are dealing with many new receivers too IE: Willy, Ray, Glen. They are not taking years and seem to have a better idea on how to throw to those guys. Time for Darian to throw the ball and allow other players to make plays. Having a solid run game is great… Read more »
It is providential for Doubles to be here if he hates the heat. Go Riders!!
Just a question about the Alternate Jersey. Both it and the "new" jersey have that annoying "S" at the bottom of the jersey where it nestles nicely at the crack of your a–. Is there a reason for that location or is the jersey maker poking fun at Rider fans. Why can't this S be put between the shoulders where it will at least look classier.
Alternate Jersey Guy …… Wear it backwards and then it will suit you .
Great defenses win championships, haven't you heard?
Everybody I talk to is down on Darian. I know he'll come through in the end but I'm sick of defending him without any stat's. He's seventh in the league for Pete's sake. Come on Darian enough of this chemistry BS, you've had as many reps with your guys as Willy, Mitchell or Glenn and a whole lot more than Ray with a complete second string receiver core. Cut the BS and play football.
Old Cuss
DD wins. Willy may throw a nice pass but he lost the Rider game with a fumble and pick 6. Cheer wins not stats. Agree that DD should be throwing better though.
A few posts above I asked Darian to start trusting his receivers more. I'm not getting down on Darian as our record of 4-2 is respectable. However you would have to be blind to see that DD is hesitant and is having issues with his throws. In the Winnipeg game there were a few open receivers and he one hopped the ball. Is Darian hurt and they are not telling us? We all know DD can air it out with the best of them. In Ottawa DD threw a beautiful ball to Swain for a pretty TD. Since that play… Read more »
Chemistry or lack of it is an excuse.
The running game is working for us. The Defense is doing it's job very well. DD is not throwing interceptions. It doesn't matter what his throwing stats are if we're winning the games. DD is not calling his own plays – why should Cortez reveal/provide game film of his passing plays if he doesn't have to.
I like the way things are. Great stats and lost games are not a better alternative for anybody except maybe DD and he's not buying it.
Stats, shmats… I was talking about the called pass plays. DD is hesitant and one hoping wide open receivers. If a receiver is wide open the only way the ball is intercepted is when it is under thrown. Like I said 4-2 is respectable but will soon change if we do not get things going in the air. You can not be one dimentional. A balanced attack is the only thing that will work going forward. Otherwise teams will load up the box and the run game will be shut down. Same with the Bombers all out air attack. The… Read more »
I really do wonder if DD is injured.
Comparing DD to perfection is not fair. Compare him to other QBs in the league. How many others "one-hop" some of their passes? How many of you are with the team when they study game film? Can you tell me how many of those "one-hops" are because the receiver made a wrong turn? How many because the throw was rushed? And how many because DD screwed up? Everybody knows all the answers and everybody knows which coach needs to be fired. Gimme a…never mind give us all a break. I don't know much but I know that this team under… Read more »
You say >> Compare him to other QBs in the league << Guess what, that's what we are doing and he presently sits 7 out of 9
The one hop in the Bombers game was to a receiver wide open standing in the middle.
There is something not right and you dont have to be a coach to see that. Either Darian is hurt or he is not mentally in the game.
If you dont understand football enough to know that a balanced attack is what every OC and HC preach!