Saskatchewan Roughriders fans back in the day knew the chemistry between Darian Durant and Chris Getzlaf when they hit the field. Now with the current crop of players, Durant sees the same type of chemistry he had with Getzlaf in Trevor Harris and Samuel Emilus.
"You're going to have your best relationship with the guys that are closer to the ball, your slot receivers. Sam's that guy, whether it's to the weak side or the strong side of the field. He's the guy catching the bubble screens, he's the guy doing the quick, hot routes. He's the guy that has to read all the coverages, know where the safeties are," Durant said on The SportsCage.
"You have to be on the same page with your quarterback if you're going to play that position. He and Trevor seem to have a great relationship, they both know where they need to be in time and space, and you can see that. So, better than going to another team and trying to develop that, why don't you stay where you are and stay in a situation where you already have that chemistry?"
The chemistry between Harris and Emilus was on full display during the 112th Grey Cup when the Riders defeated the Montreal Alouettes 25-17. Harris threw to Emilus 10 times, he caught those passes for 108 yards. After the game, Harris was named Grey Cup MVP and Emilus received the Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian award.
Last year, Emilus played seven regular season games for Saskatchewan, registering 37 receptions for 588 yards and two touchdowns. Harris started 16 games, completed 74 percent of his passes for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Emilus and Harris had expiring contracts, however both decided to re-sign with the Green and White. Harris inked a one-year extension. Meanwhile, Emilus signed a two-year deal.
Durant shared his opinion on Emilus having a similar style of play to Getzlaf.
"You look at their running styles, I was looking at Samuel's highlights, he reminds me so much of Getz, the strides in and out of his routes. These are the types of guys you have to have, the guys who want it, the guys who play with passion," Durant explained.
"He's the leader in that locker room. You can see every time he catches the ball, he's fighting for extra yards. He's trying to set an example for his teammates to show that he's a guy that's willing to do any and everything. He's a guy you have to have on your team. He's a ratio-breaker and he's a very productive player."
For fans of the Riders will be interested in the CFL free agency communication period, which runs from Sunday, February 1 to Sunday, February 8, during which pending free agents can speak with other teams. They can officially sign with them on Tuesday, February 10.
Durant believes it will be easier for general manager Jeremy O'Day to convince players to come back for a chance to repeat as Grey Cup champions.
"You always feel like you should at least give it another run, and I think that's the mentality that J.O. has. This team is well put together, it has a great mix of young guys with your veteran leadership. I'm looking to see what happens with Tevaughn Campbell and the rest of those guys. But you start with the foundation, a reigning, most outstanding offensive lineman in Yoshi Hardrick," Durant detailed.
"You bring back the core foundation of guys because you feel like with those guys, you can make another run at it. It seems like that's the direction J.O.'s going. I think he should because, besides Trevor, even though the guys may be a little bit older, they're still playing at a higher level. They have so much experience, and they know how to win. When you have that great mixture of guys, then you definitely should try to make another run at it."
