Darian Durant’s viewpoint on the Saskatchewan Roughriders losing 30-16 to the B.C. Lions was like that of many people who took in the game. The Riders’ undoing was making many critical errors, he said.
But the legendary Riders quarterback took his critiques a step further.
When asked by Voice of the Roughriders Dave Thomas on his weekly segment on the SportsCage if those mistakes were concerning given that Saskatchewan is supposed to be a championship-calibre team, Durant answered in the affirmative.
He started by discussing quarterback Trevor Harris’ decisions in Lions territory.
“The thing you don’t want to do is turn the ball over and take at least three points off the board,” Durant said. “You have to be extra cautious when you get on that side of the field. I think that Trevor knows that.
“Sometimes you get caught up in the environment, the situations and things don’t really register on time. Especially on that first interception, you rarely see Trevor just throw the ball up for grabs and situations like that. I think they kind of surprise them a little bit with that zero coverage, and he and the receiver weren’t on the same page.
“I definitely think he’ll put that in his mental Rolodex and make sure that that doesn’t happen again.”
But this wasn’t all on Harris, Durant said. Not by a long shot.
Durant pinned some of the blame on the two intended receivers, KeeSean Johnson and Dylan Djete, for not breaking inward and not fighting hard enough for inside position, respectively. He was far more critical of the rookie Djete.
Durant believes Harris needs to target Sam Emilus and Johnson, his two veteran receivers, more often. Emilus was thrown to 12 times, most on the team. Johnson was second with nine passes sent his way.
“You can’t afford to try to force the ball to a receiver who you don’t have super good chemistry with,” Durant said. “There are times and places where if a play is drawn up with a new receiver and you want to take your shot at getting them the ball, get them some touches early to get into a rhythm of things – that’s one thing. But with the injuries that the Riders have at the receiver position, you definitely have to get to your main guys and say, ‘If I have to come, if I have to give you 15 targets, then so be it –15 apiece. But I’m looking for you guys. You guys have to make sure that you’re where I need you to be. Let’s try to get this thing back in order.’
“When you give young guys a chance and they mess up and you throw interceptions because of it, then, as a veteran, you kind of lose that confidence a little bit.”
The frustration from Harris was evident as the game wore on, especially after he threw his second interception in the second half. That’s the pass that was meant for Djete.
Durant was fine with Harris’ outward display of emotion.
“Sometimes you can’t help it,” he said. “Trevor doesn’t throw a lot of interceptions as is. So when he gets two in a game, and then it happens where you see a receiver not fighting back or not being in position, sometimes you just can’t hold it in. You have to let go.
“Especially in such a warrior sport like football, to just sit there and just look straight faced and hold in your emotions all at all times, you just can’t do that. He’s done a great job of being poised and always seeming to keep his emotions under control. But it’s so competitive out there. You want to win every time. Then when you make mistakes, which Trevor rarely does, these things start to compound a little bit. Frustration is going to set in. I think that’s exactly what we saw.”
Durant had lots more to say. Watch his full interview below.
