Jonathan Jennings Thread
Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 12:46 pm
http://www.cfl.ca/article/morris-eskimo ... r-jennings
Morris: Eskimos present ultimate test for Jennings
Posted: September 24, 2015 03:30 PM
Jim Morris
BC Lions quarterback Jonathon Jennings knows there are many questions swirling around his first CFL start.
Trying to find an answer for Patrick Watkins and the Edmonton Eskimo defence is one of the challenges facing the 23-year-old rookie.
Jennings, BC’s third-string quarterback, will be at the helm Saturday afternoon when the Lions (4-7) take on the Eskimos (8-4) at Commonwealth Stadium. Jennings has been forced into action following injuries to former CFL MVP Travis Lulay and NFL journeyman John Beck.
An upset of the Eskimos would help restore some confidence to a Lions team staggered after losing four of its last five games. A loss would add another bruise to an already battered morale.
“It’s a really big game,” Jennings said after practice this week. “Everyone wants to win. We need to win.
“We are coming out here and trying to keep the playoff hope alive. We just need to come out, get a W and play the game.”
If Jennings is looking for an education, Watkins and the Eskimo defence is happy to school him.
“You’ve got to lick your lips,” said Watkins, the veteran cornerback who is tied for the Eskimo lead in tackles with 50. “I don’t want to take anything away from the young man because I’m pretty sure he’s talented enough to get the job done.
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“Not to brag, but our defence is pretty good. It’s more someone adjusting to our defence than our defence adjusting to someone else. We have a job to do. As long as we are in the right place we are going to make our plays.”
Jennings gave a preview of his capabilities in the Lions’ 35-23 loss to Calgary last weekend, taking over when Beck suffered a pectoral tendon strain after taking a hit from Fred Bishop late in the second quarter.
Jennings completed 15 of 27 passes for 252 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown and was intercepted three times.
“I thought he did a really nice job of when he escaped and used his legs, he kept his eyes down field,” said Lions head coach Jeff Tedford. “There was a couple of forced balls in the end zone. Maybe he tried to make too much happen.
“I thought for the most part he went in there and played with poise and confidence. That’s what we look for.”
A week of working with the first-team should give Jennings a better feel for the offence. He blamed himself for trying to force some balls into double coverage against Calgary.
“That was just stupid on my part,” Jennings said. “I should take the down, run or just throw it away.
“Some of those things I have really learned and that’s going to be a big help coming into this week.”
The Eskimos present a difficult test.
Edmonton leads the league in least points allowed (19.9 average a game); net offence allowed (288.6 yards a game); rushing yards allowed (72.3 a game) and passing (236.8 a game).
Watkins, fellow corner John Ojo, and defensive halfback Aaron Grymes, have four interceptions each. All have returned a pick for a touchdown.
“We are extremely talented in the secondary,” said Watkins. “We are versatile.
“We have a lot of great tacklers as well as great defenders in the passing game. Our talent is on display and we try and go out there and show our talent week in and week out.”
The Eskimos and Lions are teams heading in different directions. While B.C. has struggled, the Eskimos have collected back-to-back victories over division-leaders Calgary and Hamilton.
“I feel like its attention to detail,” said Watkins. “At the beginning of the year we knew we were good but our attention to detail wasn’t as keen as it is now.
“Everybody wants to win and it’s contagious. You have people who are willing to stay after practice and go over film.”
Jennings, a native of Columbus, Ohio, played four years at Saginaw Valley State where he threw for 10,710 yards and 96 touchdowns on 799 career completions. Undrafted by the NFL, he had workouts with the Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
After spending time in the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ camp he was signed by the Lions in March.
At six-foot and 195 pounds Jennings has size and speed. He has shown his arm strength and can run with the ball, but is still learning to be patient.
“Escaping defenders is something I have always been decent at,” he said. “I think sometimes I might leave the pocket a little too early.
“There is some type of feeling in me that just make me take off. I just need to trust in my reads and trust in my pocket sometimes a little more than I do.”
One advantage Jennings brings into the game against Edmonton is an element of the unknown. The Eskimos will have limited film to watch him at work.
“At this point in time we don’t know his strengths and weaknesses yet,” said Watkins. “It is going to be a new challenge for us as a defence, but I’m pretty sure we are going to find some things to key on.
“We are going to do the best job we can to disguise our schemes and give him a harder look. We don’t want him to be able to identify our defence at first glance. We are going to disguise it the best way we can and try to confuse him and have him throw into areas that are covered.”
The Eskimos may feel confident heading into the game but can’t afford to look past the Lions. In their first meeting of the season at BC Place Stadium, Edmonton built a 23-10 half-time lead only to lose 26-23.
“We know they are capable,” said Watkins. “We’re not talking these guys lightly at all.”
Jennings understands for the Lions to win he most eliminate his mistakes. He also knows sometimes he’s going to have to take a chance.
“You try to make your reads the best you can but sometimes things collapse and you have go out and make a play,” he said.
“Sometimes when you do something that is not the right read, and you make a play, you’re not wrong. You just have to make sure you make that play.”