Brawn and brains: Dinos centre McEwen has it all
For the better part of two years, Brett Jones and Sean McEwen snapped footballs and directed traffic at McMahon Stadium.
But their first face- to- face meeting happened earlier this spring at East Rutherford, N. J., home base of the New York Giants rookie mini camp.
McEwen, the current anchor on the University of Calgary’s offensive line and third overall pick at this spring’s Canadian Football League draft, was invited to the event shortly after the National Football League’s draft.
Meanwhile, Jones, the former Calgary Stampeders centre and the CFL’s reigning most outstanding offensive lineman, signed with the Giants this off- season.
“I met him down there,” McEwan said Monday following the morning session of Dinos training camp. “A great guy. I wish him all the best at the camp that’s going on right now.”
Despite never having met prior to this spring, the two share many similarities.
Heading into the CFL draft, both were highly touted coming from their respective universities — McEwen from the U of C, Jones from the University of Regina. Both excel academically. McEwen is studying mathematical sciences. Jones, at one time, was pursuing his engineering degree.
Both have a lot of long- term potential.
At the draft, Toronto Argonauts general manager Jim Barker said McEwen was the best player on the board and would play professionally “for 12 or 14 years.”
Prior to winning the 2014 Grey Cup with Jones at centre, offensive line coach Pat DelMonaco called him “mature beyond his years.”
And both are highly intelligent players at centre.
“You look at the mould,” said Dinos offensive line coach and former Stampeders trenchman Dimitri Tsoumpas.
“Look at Brett Jones. He’s a guy you can throw a playbook on his desk and he’s gets everything. He’s now in the NFL ... definitely at centre, that’s something you look for — intelligence. It’s a coveted asset to have that.”
McEwen, of course, picked up a thing or two from Jones this spring.
“The thing I learned most from Brett in the short time I spent with him was his communication skills and mental aspects to the game,” he said. “He seems to really excel at that and it takes him where he needs to go.”
Which, in theory, could be the same direction McEwen is headed. Just not this year.
The six- foot- three, 297- pound product of Notre Dame High School opted to finish his degree at U of C instead of trying his hand at the professional game.
It was something the Argos understood when they selected the coveted offensive lineman earlier this year.
And something that, obviously, works for the Dinos.
“I had always debated coming back for my fifth year,” McEwen said. “Wherever I go to camp next year — I’m assuming it’s going to be in Toronto — I want to go in and earn my spot. Whether that’s this year or next year, I don’t think that matters. I’m hoping I have a good relationship with all those guys going forward in Toronto.
“I’m very much looking forward to playing there, eventually.”
Thinking about the player’s future, Tsoumpas understands the choice McEwen faced.
“He’s definitely pro- ready,” Tsoumpas said. “But ... I fully support ( his decision to finish school). I think all the players in the NCAA do that. It’s a quality of his personality to finish what he started rather than to start a new venture and do it halfway.
“He’s going to close this chapter in this book and move on and be fully dedicated to his professional career, which I think speaks to his character and mindset and dedication to what he’s doing.”
On the field, McEwen’s dedication is directed to an offensive line that includes fellow returnees Jordan Filippelli, Darius Ciraco, Braden Schram, Ryan Preuter and Ryan Sceviour.
A key loss for the Dinos, who are playing under new offensive coordinator Ryan Sheahan, is Sukh Chungh, who is with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Which means McEwen is going to be a go- to guy in 2015.
“It’s going to be my final season so I’m 100 per cent committed to the goal of getting to the Vanier Cup this year,” he said. "It takes a lot of players to do that and we have to get better each day in order to get there.
“I’m hoping I can bring some of that ( NFL rookie camp) experience here and get these guys going a little faster.”