“I just do what I’m told”. It was a quote from Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant that said so little but also spoke volumes to how he felt about how things were going in 2011.
He was talking about the offence that staggered out of the gate under offensive coordinator Doug Berry before he and Head Coach Greg Marshall were fired after Week 8.
The team did see a surge for a three week period with the return of Ken Miller but the wheels came off the cart the same time Durant suffered injury after injury as the back half of the season wore on.
The Riders finished the season with the least amount of points on offence and second to last in total yards in the CFL.
When the season kicks off on Friday, it’s a new regime running that side of the ball. While Bob Dyce returns, he has been given the promotion to Offensive Coordinator.
Dyce isn’t doing it alone. He’s also got former Hamilton offensive coordinator Khari Jones by his side as Quarterbacks Coach and former Calgary Stampeders offensive line coach Kris Sweet running the offensive line with the added label of Run Game Coordinator.
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After failing to meet expectations in 2011, the Roughriders are banking on a new
roster to lead them back into the post-season and beyond.
In his rookie venture as an offensive coordinator Dyce has a mighty challenge in front of him but in the last 10 weeks of the 2011 season, Dyce learned a thing or two about the dynamic between Ken Miller and Darian Durant that made the Riders offence so successful and get to two Grey Cups in 2009 and 2010.
“Sitting in with Coach Miller it allowed me to see how he game planned and how he took input from the players and different from Doug. Not that his way was right or Coach Berry’s was right but any time you have varied approaches it’s great to see.”
The lesson learned appears to be going over well with the captain of the offence. Durant is promising to use his instincts more behind centre. Meaning, you’re more likely to see him run for 600 yards like he did in 2010 when he passed for over 5,500 yards rather than run for 300 rushing yards last season, which also saw his passing yardage take a serious blow.
On Wednesday, Durant said he’s not a 6’5 quarterback who is like a statue in the pocket. He wants to move and get going early and his offensive coordinator is encouraging it.
“When he does get into the mix and does run early it’s like it gets him into the game a little more. And when we talk about the offence and using people’s strengths that’s a strength that he has so we don’t want to cut back on that because when he does that often it puts pressure on defenses.”
The other big change addressed by head coach Corey Chamblin was the lack of a quarterback coach with the Riders in 2011. 
Khari Jones takes on the roll of being coach and mentor to Durant and back-ups Drew Willy, J.T. O’Sullivan and Levi Brown.
Jones knows the offence won’t be fixed over night but they’ve been working since the mini-camps in April to get the renovations started.
“It’s a process you just have to go through. Now it’s just about putting all the pieces of the puzzle together. Unfortunately, you don’t know how it’s going until you get into the game but they’ve been practicing well and hopefully we can carry over some of the things we did in the final preseason game and continue on. That’s all you can do.”
Jones has dealt with the pressure of being the marquee quarterback in an organization first hand. He was setting records in Winnipeg a decade ago and is now hoping to pass the knowledge to his new apprentices.
“I think every quarterback who has ever played the game has gone through those types of (disappointing) seasons and it’s how you bounce back and I believe he’s going to bounce back very well.”
Which should come as no surprise to those who dubbed the fourth year starter as ‘bounce back.’
A lot more than just the coaching staff has changed around Durant since the end of 2011. The Riders offensive line is brand new. All five starters for the regular season opener were not on the roster last season, with Chris Best sitting out with injury.
Wes Cates is out at running back as Kory Sheets and Brandon West carry the rock.
The biggest relief for Durant is four of the five starting receivers are players he has a great rapport with. Chris Getzlaf, Weston Dressler, Rob Bagg and Efrem Hill have all had success catching the ball for Durant as newcomers Justin Harper and Sinorice Moss will be given time to work themselves into the offence.
The Riders starting pivot is excited to get things going against the Tiger-Cats.
The game is being played at the stadium in which Durant first made a name for himself in the 2008 season. It was his first career start and he threw three touchdown passes in a comeback win to burst on the scene as the next potential great quarterback in the league.
It’s safe to say Durant would like to make a similar statement Friday at Ivor Wynne to punctuate 2011 was indeed the exception and not the norm.
