Ticats in tough against Riders

When you’re a 2 and 7 football team, you should never be overconfident. So despite the fact the Saskatchewan Roughriders have lost quarterback Darian Durant, possibly for the rest of the season, the Tiger-Cats know they will be in tough when they host the Riders on Sunday.

It’s not easy trying to prepare for a quarterback who hasn’t had much game experience, but Tino Sunseri’s former Roughrider teammate, Craig Butler says we shouldn’t associate lack of playing time with lack of talent: “Anytime you have the opportunity to play behind an elite QB like that you’re obviously going to pick up some good things.”

With Darian Durant out for at least the remainder of the regular season with an elbow injury, the second-year Rider, and Pittsburgh Panther alum, will take the reins in Hamilton this week.

Craig Butler: “The biggest thing I took from it is he’s got a gun. I’ve watched him throw 60, 70-yard balls like it was nothing, so I know he’s got that ability. Their game plan isn’t going to change too much. They’re gonna’ want to run the ball and let him throw it when they have the opportunity.”

Ticats Head Coach Kent Austin admits that, even without Durant, the Riders are formidable opponents: “Bottom line, they’re very aggressive up front. They control the line of scrimmage, and we have to stop the run and get them in passing situations.”

Meanwhile, at Ticat practice today, the Cats welcomed back C.J. Gable to the field. He has missed the last three games with a foot injury, and even though he didn’t take any reps on his first day back, Austin isn’t ruling him out for Sunday afternoon’s game: “Dunno. Honestly, I don’t want to prognosticate. I would say it’s probably 50/50 at this point.”