National Post (National Edition)
JENNINGS PRODDED TO STRUT HIS STUFF
LIONS QB MAY HAVE HIS SWAGGER BACK AFTER WEEK 1
Somewhere between the cockiness B.C. receiver Manny Arceneaux recommends for his quarterback and the humility that has taken root in Jonathon Jennings, there is an appropriate, useful amount of swagger.
After an off-season spent rebuilding his confidence and a solid Week 1 performance that will help in the standings and between the ears, it’s a good bet Jennings will find that balance this season, which is just his fourth in the Canadian Football League.
“It was a humbling year last year, so that was different,” the 25-year-old said earlier this month in Kamloops, B.C., where the Lions held training camp. “When I’m playing my best, I’m playing a little cocky. I’m not a cocky guy — I think I was at one point in my life — and I learned a lot of lessons. I’ve been humbled a lot.
“But sometimes, especially at the quarterback position, you’ve got to be kind of arrogant and let everybody know you’re here to compete.”
That’s the point Arceneaux was making in camp.
“I joke with him all the time. I say, ‘Hey, you’re the man. Ain’t nothing wrong with being a little arrogant and a little cocky because that’s what comes with the position.’ Like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, guys who just know I’m the guy, this is what I expect.”
Jennings took the first decisive steps Saturday in a 22-10 home win over Montreal. He was good on 20 of 24 pass attempts for only 183 yards, but had two touchdowns and no interceptions. His 83 per cent completion rate and 131.1 passing efficiency rating topped the league.
He also ran with purpose, piling up a team-high 57 yards on nine carries.
A solid outing against Montreal, expected to be the league doormat, won’t change the narrative yet. Jennings still has to prove 2017 was the aberration, not 2016. He dipped to just 3,639 yards passing, 16 touchdowns and 19 interceptions last year.
Those were particularly pedestrian when compared to the 5,226 yards and 27 touchdowns he piled up along with 15 interceptions in his breakout 2016 campaign.
But there were complications. He suffered a shoulder injury in Week 4 last year, came back in Week 8 and didn’t look ready. His offensive line didn’t do the job either and the Leos yielded a league-high 49 sacks.
“It was us as a whole not executing,” said Arceneaux. “Because when he was out there tearing it up, everything was peaches and cream, ‘This guy can throw for 5,000 yards or something.’ When we’re not out there executing, the linemen miss a block, the receiver runs the wrong way, now you’ve got injuries occurring and everything starts going bad and a lot falls on the quarterback.”
GM Ed Hervey did his part, shoring up the offensive line with the acquisitions of Joel Figueroa and Jovan Olafioye. The Lions gave up two sacks Saturday.
Hervey also brought in a new offensive co-ordinator, former Lions quarterback Jarious Jackson, who had an immediate impact.
“I love Jarious. He’s really demanding, really set in his structure,” said Jennings. “He has set rules. Even if we throw a ball for a completion 10 yards down the field, if we didn’t go through our right reads, Jarious is on us. It’s going to be really good for me, somebody who makes us focus on the details.”
The big picture last year wasn’t pretty, but Jennings has had help narrowing his focus. He worked with a sport psychologist and read NFL quarterback Drew Brees’ autobiography.
“It’s kind of crazy because in his third year he had a similar situation where he didn’t play very well, ended up getting hurt, getting benched a couple times,” said Jennings.
“Look at him now. He’s a Super Bowl champion, he’s been to the Pro Bowl nine times or so. It’s all about responding.”
I JOKE WITH HIM ALL THE TIME. I SAY, ‘HEY, YOU’RE THE MAN. AIN’T NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING A LITTLE ARROGANT.’