Jamie Nye
CFL.ca
Success in the Canadian Football League is driven by the skill of your quarterback. Likely the next key to success is the whether or not that quarterback can stay healthy for all, or most of the 18-game schedule.
Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant had his coaches, teammates, and fans holding their collective breath last week when he had to take a knee after taking a big hit near the goal line in the Roughriders’ 27-24 win over the Montreal Alouettes.
It’s those types of hits that coaches will always rather see their quarterback hit the deck and avoid taking any extra hits.
However, for Durant, it’s a hit he’s going to take more often than not.
“I just got stuck between sliding and trying to score, but I wouldn’t change anything about it. Especially the moment in the game, the type of game it was and how much we needed that game so I’ll take a hit every now and then to get a win.”
Although it’s easy to tell a quarterback to slide and stay out of the way of danger, Durant’s attitude is one the Roughriders need to have throughout their locker room if they’re going to fully turn their ship around.
Yes, the Roughriders are feeling good about themselves after getting their first win of the season but after dropping their first three games there is still a long way to go.
The willingness to sacrifice can mean the difference between being great and being an average one.
So when the Roughriders see their leader and their most important player taking an extra hit to get an extra yard, it doesn’t go unnoticed.
“He’s the type of guy who’s going to slide when he’s supposed to, but there’s going to be times when he lowers his shoulder and takes a hit, just because, and it sends a message to the team that he wants to win,” said receiver Chris Getzlaf.
A clear sign of how Durant can will his team to win came in the West Final last year when he lowered the boom on Stampeders defensive back Dwight Anderson as the Roughriders trailed 11-0 early in the second quarter. The 22-yard run ended up being the catalyst in the Riders’ comeback.
Basically, as Durant goes so do the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
In the first three games of the season, Durant admits he didn’t take the opportunity to use his legs as he did in last week’s win and the stat sheet tells the same story.
In the three losses for the Roughriders, he’s ran a total of six times for 41 yards. In last week’s win, Durant took off seven times for 71 yards, 31 of which came on the Riders’ drive that was culminated with the game winning field goal.
Durant may be willing to take an extra hit now and again but his head coach Greg Marshall believes, or maybe more so hopes, it’s not his sacrifice that charges up his teammates.
“I think we get more excited when he just runs or makes a play. I’m not sure he has to finish it by taking a big hit. But I think it’s important for him to continue to make plays with his legs just to extend some drives because sometimes the defence is going to do some things to take away your primary read.”
After taking the hit that knocked the pivot out of the game for a few plays, Marshall had a chat with his quarterback about knowing when to play it safe.
But, as long as the Saskatchewan Roughriders need Durant to go the extra yard, he’s willing to make the sacrifice if it means piling up more wins.
“I’ve seen quarterbacks get their career ended by sliding so it’s just a thin line. You can’t play this game cautious, you have to go all out and sometimes when you slide you get hurt and sometimes when you stay up you’re okay so I just play my game and if it was meant to be, than that’s how it goes.”
If Durant continues to play with an edge, his team will win more often than not.
And you can be sure, that there will be a few more moments where he forces fans and coaches alike to hold their collective breathes.
