The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today that they have signed import quarterbacks Colt Brennan (pictured) and Drew Willy to contracts. Financial details of the signings were not released.
Brennan (6'3 – 207 lbs) was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2007 during his senior season at Hawaii. In his three years at the school, Brennan broke a number of records including the NCAA Division I record for most touchdowns in a single season with 58 and NCAA record for highest pass completion percentage (70.4%). He holds a total of 31 NCAA Division I records. His other honours included being named the WAC Offensive Player of the Year twice and was named to the First-team All-WAC in two consecutive seasons.
After his time with Hawaii, the 28-year old was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL Draft making him the tenth quarterback to be selected in the draft. Brennan went on to lead NFL rookies in touchdown passes in the 2008 pre-season where he completed 36 of 53 pass attempts for 411 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. The following season he was placed on the injured reserve due to a season ending hamstring and hip injury. In 2010 he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens but was later released.
Willy (6'3 – 215 lbs) played at the University of Buffalo and went on to become the most prolific passer in Buffalo football history. As a four-year starter, he set school records for completions (849), attempts (1,322), passing yards (8,748), touchdowns (52), total offense (8,639), and completion percentage (64.2). During the final 20 games of his college career, Willy threw 36 touchdown passes and only six interceptions.
After going as undrafted free agent in 2009, the 25-year-old initially signed with the Baltimore Ravens. After being released in August he was signed by the Indianapolis Colts and added to the active roster and then added to the team's practice squad. After being released in 2010, Willy spent time with the UFL's Las Vegas Locomotives before being signed by the New York Jets in January, 2011. He was released in September but immediately signed to the San Diego Chargers practice roster the following day.
Rider Assistant GM Jeremy O'Day offered these comments on the signings:
ON BRENNAN
Colt Brennan, obviously he's a guy who basically was an NCAA superstar who set a lot of passing records at Hawaii. He's been on and off CFL neg lists for quite awhile. We looked at him towards the end of last season in terms of acquiring him. A lot of this is timing and we were lucky that Colt was ready to come up to the CFL right now. Fortunately for us we had him on our neg list and were able to sign him.
We've done our homework on him. Obviously when he was coming out he was drafted by the Redskins and played real well in the preseason. Then he had some injuries and was also in a car accident in 2010 which he's fully recovered from. We've done our homework and he's the type of quarterback, the offense he ran in college was like the CFL, and he had a ton of success. He was a great college QB and he's a competitor who loves to compete. He's really excited about the opportunity to continue his career. He wasn't sure where his career would go after the car accident.
ON DREW WILLY
He played at the University of Buffalo under Danny Barrett. With our connection to Danny it was easy to get some information on him. Drew used Danny to get info on us too. Drew came out of Buffalo and set all the records there and then he's been on some practice rosters the past two years. He was on the Chargers PR at the end of last season. We felt fortunate we were able to get him that quickly after coming off an NFL roster.
ON EXPECTATIONS OF THE QBS
That they'll come in and compete for the #2 and #3 spots. When we released Ryan Dinwiddie, we wanted to create a good competition behind Darian. The biggest thing for us is we have to feel comfortable that if something happens to Darian, we need a guy who can come in, compete, and get us some wins. It's no secret the CFL is a quarterback-driven league and it's an area we wanted to strengthen and I think with these two signings we did that and we'll continue to do that with more signings.
18 comments:
Colt Brennan, played in the run and shoot offense at UH, so stats are over inflated, may have trouble reading defences like another UH QB Timmy Chang.
It seems that the Riders saved up all the new signings and Bell's re-signing until Rod returned from Mexico.
Brennan has been out of football since September 2010 - pretty much two seasons. He seems to march to his own tune because Wikpedia states at Hawaii he grew dreadlocks to better identify with his receivers and learned enough Samoan to be able to call plays at the line of scrimmage. He could be an interviewers dream!
Excellent signings by Mr. Taman. Hardly wait until training camp.
Actually Gored, the reason he has been out of football is because he was involved in a serious car crash that just about took his life.
Just once I'd like to read all positive comments about positive news. I personally think 2013 is going to be the Riders year, but 2012 is going to be exciting, feel it in my bones
Cole is going to get some competition at training camp. Just what the team needs. I get the feeling this new coaching staff will do a better job of evaluating the talent, let alone give them more of a chance to show what they've got. I highly doubt either one of these guys is good enough to unseat DD but it sure would be a good thing if one of them could really push him hard, it would make for a better DD.
Brennan=Darian's replacement. Watch and see.
Yeah, that was it Ted. Without Rod, the sports world stops spinning. Puh-leeze!
Where is Ryder? He was looking for some new quarterbacks a few weeks ago so just curious what he thinks of these guys.
It is good they are going young instead of bringing in has beens like Jarious Jackson.
Good stuff!
Darian isn't going to have to worry about a replacement for a good 5-plus years. People who think of him as a problem area are completely clueless and couldn't identify intangibles in a QB if they had a clear and concise road map to show them.
Okay, it's really good that Taman is looking for new blood instead of signing any retread vets. Sounds like Colt Brennan can play if he can keep focused on football. He is not the first Heisman Trophy QB to come to the Riders. Heisman trophy winner Pat Sullivan came and went in 71 so it's no guarantee and don't forget Andre Ware in Toronto. As far as Willy goes he might be a sleeper. However it's doubtful neither will replace DD in the next four or five years and will probably get tired of waiting for their chance. Will the Riders ever learn to play the back-up?
Brennan is a great signing!! bring in someone with a lot of potential and give him an opportunity is a lot better then using recycled QB's. I think Brennan has as much upside as Graham Harrel did and if he doesnt work out were out nothing. Durant is still the guy but in he CFL you need to constantly be bringing in new players cause there is always someone in the states thats better then what you have, you just have to find them.
RLG
this is a pair of great signings. also when are the riders going to announce the signing of the receiver from the baltimore ravens that tsn reported a week agossits
Our other Heisman QB- Sullivan- left here for various reasons after checking out the city in the 70's. Hopefully this is a good fit. Sounds like none have much reqular season game experience. These guys and Berquist should have been looking at the #3 spot as they had Dinwiddie who was hired solely to backup DD and he did his job. Same situation now with Joseph, Glenn,and Jackson hired as backups only. If DD goes down, it will be interesting. I wonder if any of them are will be patient enough to wait 3-4 years behind DD.
I saw one of Colt Brennan's games when he was with Hawaii on TV (I think they were playing Washington) and I thought then, man ,this guy is perfect for the CFL. But, he has to make the team first. Its good QB competition anyway.
Well I suppose we could have tried to bring in an older guy similar to Joseph, Glenn, etc. (although don't seem to be any around)...and if Darian goes down then I guess you would have a "veteran" to go in to try to win a game.
But at what point do you say it it is better to bring in a youngster and let him learn rather than an older guy that is closer to the end than the beginning. Plus there must be reasons why the older guys are no longer starters or were let go by their teams. You also run into the risk of having both your starter and the back up being around the same age and therefore retiring at the same time....then suddenly you have to start your third stringer.....we don't want it to be like when Ronnie retired with no one in the wings.
Dinwhiddie was not the answer. In his few appearances he just did not "have it"....he is 31 now and he is likely out of football since no one else has scooped him up.
I think this is the perfect situation to bring in someone younger (although Brennan is 28 I guess)....they can learn from Darian for a few years and then perhaps take over.
The fact is that if DD goes down we are screwed regardless....I would not expect Jarious Jackson to lead us to a Cup if Darian went down....so we will have to "suffer" with a young guy who would get some valued experience.
In the history of the Riders we have only brought in and developed exactly two quarterbacks - Kent Austin and Darian Durant - the rest were through trades, free agency or were cast offs from other teams. When Kent arrived in 1987 he threw more INT's than TDs but by 1988 he was showing signs of brilliance.
So I totally agree with bringing in young guys and agree that we need to get them some playing time in mop up situations.
Well Woz-I hear you. I will even go one further,I don't think the Riders ever scouted and developed a QB of their own right out of college-They all had some NFL or CFL experience. When Ronnie was here we had a handful of QB's who rarely got to play except in the emergency case of Gary Lane in a 70's playoff game. As you said, let them play. The only problem I have with some of these bigger name guys is that Regina along with a lack of playing time can be a shock to their system. How long did Harrel stay? Dinwiddie and DD could easily have worked to develop one of these young guys. Dinwiddie was hired as a backup only and knew his role when he signed,he apparently though he is a coach in the making. Count how many dropped balls and sure TD's the guy had in limited action. Today, even Taman said they would have been FINE with him? Go figure. As it is now; as DD goes, so goes the Riders.
Post a Comment