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CFL DIGEST EXCLUSIVE: The Gridiron Guru
Courtesy CFL Digest:
Whats it take to be a star in this Saskatchewan?
2 games. Just ask the rider faithful. That’s how long its taken them to decide that Darian Durant should be the undisputed starter in Saskatchewan. Marcus Crandell is yesterdays news. To bad everyone forgot to tell him and the rider coaching staff that.
Crazy right?
Truthfully many rider fans flip flop more than John Kerry did in the 2004 election. It was these same fans that said the riders had no depth at QB during the pre-season and thought the riders should try to obtain 3rd stringer Ben Sankey from Calgary and send Durant or Jyles packing. Ben Sankey has since been released from the stamps, while Durant is the new savior in Saskatchewan.
So am I anti-Durant then?
I guess I must think Durant is going to flop right? Wrong. Well I must think he can’t get the job done as a starter then. Wrong again. So why am I so reluctant to jump on the Darian Durant bandwagon?
Well the first reason is because he has only played 2 games. In my mind it takes more than 2 games to steal the starting role. Secondly, you shouldn’t lose your job due to injury. If Crandell was struggling like say Kevin Glenn (QB Rating of 65, 2 TD’s, 8 INT’s) I would be in favor of starting Mr. Durant. That is not the case, Crandell did more than enough to get the job done (19/29 278 yards 2 TD’s and the WIN) in the riders season opener while outshining CFL golden boy Ricky Ray in the process. Were Edmonton fans calling for Stephan LeFors after week 1? I think not.
Is the coaching staff losing it?
Not a chance. Coach Ken Miller came out early in the week and said that a healthy Marcus Crandell would start in the upcoming game vs. Toronto. He must just be being loyal to Crandell then, right? Again I highly doubt that. Crandell has obviously proved to Miller over that past couple years that he is more than capable of getting the job done as the starter. Why else would Miller start a healthy Crandell then over a guy who has been shooting the lights out? Would Miller willingly put an inferior player on the field because he doesn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings? I have a hard time believing that.
Let’s face it. Durant has been great in relief and has the potential to be something special but Marcus Crandell is the starting quarterback in Saskatchewan and fans need to deal with that. Fans who think those are crazy for being in the Marcus Crandell camp need to realize one thing……Ken Miller is the leader of that camp, calling us crazy is the same as calling him crazy.
GG
Actually, it was mostly Calgary fans saying how badly the Riders needed Sankey. Many going so far as to say he would be the starter by Labour Day.
The people most vocally saying Durrant should stay on the field are named Dunnigan, Clime and Schultz
Crandell isn’t starting this week…he’ll be saving face by holding off his “recovery” for weeks. 2-1/2 games maybe not enough to steal a starting role? What other position is that appropriate to? Can you imagine if Keith was replaced with Shaw when he came back from injury?- I don’t think so. How many games should it take? Will 4-1/2 be enough? What if Crandell comes in and pulls his hamstring and misses another 4 games- does the same message apply?
If you read between the lines, all Coach Miller is doing is eleviating any potential QB controversy that would be a distraction. That’s what smart coaches do. Your hypothesis doesn’t hold water…you are and always have been “crazy”! What does that have to do with Coach Miller? Crandell will “nurse” his injury as Durant gets an extended look. So long as he’s making plays that keep this team winning and progressing week to week, he’ll be the starter. Once he struggles, in will go Crandell…that’s it, that’s all. Simple.