The Canadian Press
Brandon Bridge was the clear winner in a tie.
Throughout the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ training camp, Bridge and Bryan Bennett have been locked in a battle to see who will be the primary backup to Kevin Glenn on the quarterbacking depth chart.
Bennett had been ahead of Bridge entering Saturday’s CFL pre-season game against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Mosaic Stadium. But Bridge outplayed Bennett in the 25-25 tie — and may have moved up to No. 2.
“That’s up to (the coaches) to decide,” Bridge said. “I’m just trying to show that I can be the guy, that I know the offence, that I understand where to go with the football and that I’m an accurate quarterback.
“I know a lot of teams were saying I’m not accurate. The eye in the sky does not lie.”
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Glenn dressed for Saturday’s game but didn’t play, while former NFLer Vince Young — who seems to be behind both Bennett and Bridge on the depth chart — didn’t suit up due to a hamstring injury.
That left Bridge and Bennett to take most of the snaps in hopes of claiming the backup job.
Bridge played six series, including the first three. He was on target throughout, completing 20 of 26 pass attempts for 201 yards with one touchdown (a seven-yarder to Duron Carter) and rushing once for 19 yards.
He led Saskatchewan to 16 points on his drives — Carter’s touchdown, two Quinn van Gylswyk field goals, a Tyler Crapigna field goal and a Crapigna convert.
“I think it was all right,” Bridge said of his showing. “I don’t think exactly great; I know that we have to finish drives. We had six field goals and you can’t be a great team like that — the great teams like Calgary — unless you get seven (points).
“For us to be mentioned with those teams, we have to get the ball across the goal line.”
Bennett led the offence on five drives. After looking impressive during the Roughriders’ mini-camp in Florida and during training camp in Saskatoon, the CFL rookie struggled Saturday.
He was 7-for-15 passing for 82 yards and rushed once for four yards. His possessions produced six points (one field goal each by Crapigna and van Gylswyk), but he was sacked three times and lost two of his three fumbles.
Asked to assess his performance, Bennett replied: “Not good enough, that’s for sure.”
“Sometimes you’re just not clicking on every cylinder,” he added. “I missed a couple of throws. I had a ball slip out of my hand throwing a quick bubble. That’s just how it goes sometimes …
“Obviously, it’s not what I was looking to do, but it’s how you bounce back. It’s done, it’s over, learn from the film and we’re back to work.”
Head coach-GM Chris Jones expects nothing less as the Roughriders prepare for Friday’s pre-season game in Vancouver against the BC Lions.
“Bryan has had a great camp, but (Saturday) I felt like he was little bit shaky at times and his body language wasn’t great,” Jones said. “But he’s a strong kid, he’s a competitor and I’m sure he’s going to come back next week and play well.”
Bridge is all smiles as he plays a contest in 2016 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
But the star of Saturday’s show was Bridge and Jones confirmed that, saying the second-year Roughrider played “really, really well.”
And it’s not the first time, either.
In his longest stint during a game with Saskatchewan last season, Bridge went 10-for-11 passing for 120 yards and rushed once for 16 yards and a TD in a 41-18 loss to the Lions on Nov. 5.
Bridge took the reins of the offence in the fourth quarter with the Roughriders trailing 41-4 and led them to majors on two of his three possessions.
That performance was on Jones’ mind when he was asked if Saturday’s game might affect the depth chart.
“You evaluate what you see at practice, but when the lights come on, that’s when the true evaluations are made,” Jones said. “That’s two times where Brandon Bridge has had an opportunity to play in a real football game with our offence.
“Last year at BC, he played very well for a quarter. I can assure you that BC was trying to shut us out and Brandon did a very good job and scored touchdowns against them. Here’s another opportunity on a big stage, opening a new stadium, where he played very well. We’re going to continue to monitor exactly how he plays in games.”
That’s all Bridge can ask for.
He spent the off-season studying the playbook and now feels comfortable with his reads. He also has decided to change his weekly approach — and that may have paid off Saturday.
“I remember texting (quarterbacks coach Jarious Jackson) all off-season and he was telling me that the main thing they want to see is a guy who they can trust throughout the week of practice to be in the game,” Bridge said. “I know that last year I wasn’t the best practice player. I’ll be honest, I didn’t really want to go to practice — but I love the game days. I love when people show up (and) you have cameras in your face.
“You don’t want to be on SportsCentre’s Not Top 10, so that was the biggest fear. I really tried to make practice like a game and I think it’s starting to show.”
