….this is an opinion piece…
What a difference a year makes. Heading into last season nobody really had a firm idea who the starting quarterback of the Saskatchewan Roughriders would be. The Michael Bishop experiment and been checkmated. Stephen Jyles had proved to be inconsistant as did Darian Durant. As the team entered camp, many believed Durant was to be the guy, but nobody was willing to take the Vegas odds.
As we now know…Durant rose above the crowd and grew to become th top pivot in the West Division in '09. Not bad for a first year as a starter. Now entering season number 2 as 'the guy', Durant could have a very different looking cast of characters behind him. Jyles is gone due to free-agency. Third stringer Dalton Bell was shipped to Toronto. Graham Harrell, the college wunderkid sulked and got his release. That leaves only Cole Bergquist as the lone holdover behind
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Bergquist spent al of last season on the practice roster and in my opinion could find himself there real quick if he doesn't perform in camp. The Green and White have signed a couple of guys who will compete for a spot on the sidelines during games. Ryan Dinwiddie is a former Bomber that is the only one of the 4 backups with any CFL game experience. Todd Reesing was a college star at KU that is already drawing a huge amount of interest. And don't forget about the least talked option, tall lefty Kent Smith.
Here's how I see it shaking out. Dinwiddie is virtually a lock to be the backup. He's the only guy with experince. Durant is still a young QB and he needs someone to lean on from time to time. Dinwiddie has spent time under centre and on the sidelines in this league, that will be a huge help for Durant as he moves forward. Dinwiddie can help breakdown coverages, talk with DD about game plans and provide some words of wisdom when needed. The former Bomber also has ties to the current Riders staff. Doug Berry and Bob Dyce were coaches with Winnipeg while Dinwiddie was there, so they are familiar and comfortable with the QB. All this plus the fact that Dinwiddie has proven he likes to throw to guys in Green, although I'm not sure James Johnson is receiver in Regina. (kind of a low blow, but funny!!!)
Reesing has to be the next guy on the food chain. The Riders have recently learned what happens when you don't at least give one of these college kids a bit of the crumbs. Harrell was left taking no meaningful snaps in practice. This from the NCAA's all-time touchdown leader. I don't see Miller and Company making that mistake with Reesing. This kid is electric to watch and draws comparisons to Doug Flutie. He's elusive and seems almost impossible to bring down. He's small in stature, but throws a good ball. With his ability to extend plays on the massive CFL field, he seems to be the most exciting prospect on the club.
Cole Bergquist will in all likelyhood remain with the club at the #4 spot. Not that he's not a good QB and not that the staff doesn't like him, but it just is the way it is. Bergquist is more expendable than the two players in front of him, its just a fact. Its too bad, but that's sports, that's the way it is. Miller is high on Bergquist and if he has anything going for him in this competition its that he's been here for a year. But, with a new set of offensive coaches its conceivable that he's starting from the ground floor with everybody else and that doesn't bode well for him, given the reasons why I like Dinwiddie and Reesing to be ahead of him.
As for Smith, well, don't get too attached. Coach Miller hinted that one of the QB's could be cut before main camp. Smith could surely be that guy. However, he's an interesting prospect. He's a giant tall guy who looks to have the build of a pure athlete. I know very little about the prospect, but I'm extremely excited to see what he can do with the ball. He's definetly an engaging fella who is just bursting with enthusiasm at the chance to make this squad. He's a bit of a long shot in my opinion, but hey that's why they suit up and have camp, you never know.
In the end, the guy starting is the one who wins you games, and Darian Durant has proven he can do that, so the Riders seem to be in good hands.
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