Playing hard in Montreal
Young QBs can learn plenty from head coach Jones
There are plenty of people around the CFL cheering for Khari Jones, including commissioner Randy Ambrosie.
After Jones lost his first game as a head coach last week in Edmonton, Ambrosie made his way to the Alouettes’ dressing room to deliver words of encouragement, which was both thoughtful and appropriate, since the league is paying Montreal’s bills these days.
Given enough time to prepare himself and the team for the next 17 games, Jones will likely repay his interim owners, management and fans with a few victories.
But in Week 1, following the ridiculously timed firing of former head coach Mike Sherman, Jones had less than a week to gear up for the season opener in the dual roles of offensive co-ordinator and head coach.
Despite that, the Als were competitive, and credit should go to Jones and his young pivots, particularly Vernon Adams Jr., for handling the adversity.
“He’s one of those guys that just can light up the field when he gets it going,” Jones said of Adams, who came off the bench after starter Antonio Pipkin suffered an ankle injury.
Pipkin is just 23, while Adams Jr. and third-stringer Matt Shiltz are 26. They can and will learn a thing or two from Jones, a 48-year-old former quarterback from Indiana who spent a decade in the CFL playing for Winnipeg, Calgary, Hamilton and B.C.
“I think the biggest thing I want to teach them is when to take the chances, when not to take the chances; just overall kind of field awareness and generalship,” Jones said. “They’re all just young guys and still working toward something, but they have something, and I knew that coming out of (camp). I’m really excited to work with these guys and I told them, ‘We’re going to win some games.’”
They certainly signalled that ability at times against Edmonton, roaring back from a 17-point deficit on the strength of Adams Jr.’s arm to tie it 25-25 late. Too late, it turned out.
The Als went straight into a bye week following that game, and chances are they will all be better for the time away from the off-field circus that has been the Alouettes’ ownership and management situation.
Ambrosie was in Edmonton to spend time with Peter and Jeffrey Lenkov, a couple of Montreal natives exploring the idea of buying the Alouettes. They seemed to be having a good time at Commonwealth Stadium.
The best thing Jones can do is keep his young quarterbacks focused on the job at hand. His charges are willing and eager to play. Adams Jr. is in his fourth CFL season but has played in just 10 games.
“My first few years, the little time I’ve played, I haven’t done the greatest, you know what I’m saying?” said Adams Jr. “But I’m going into Year 4 now and I’m feeling a lot more comfortable as a quarterback, as a backup quarterback.
“You’ve just got to sit and wait your turn, no matter how long that takes. Kevin Glenn said he sat for his first three (years). Most of the older guys have all told me they sat for the first few years. When that time comes, you’ve got to make sure you’re ready and know all your reads and just never look back.
“I came into camp No. 4 on the depth chart and that’s the first time it’s ever happened to me. It just put a different fire in me.”
Pipkin, who played his eighth CFL game last week, started his career on Montreal’s practice squad in 2017, got cut in 2018, and began 2019 as the starter.
“Some guys pay their dues longer than that,” he said. “Some guys get the blessing to be able to go in right away. Whatever route you take, those are the dues you pay. … My route was different than anybody else’s route, but I paid my dues for my path.”
I’m really excited to work with these guys and I told them, ‘We’re going to win some games.’