JACKSON’S BACK IN B.C.
Lions name new OC, QB coach
Jarious Jackson is coming home.
The B.C. Lions announced Thursday the team’s former QB has been named offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Jackson spent seven years with the club as a player from 2004-11 and the 2013 season as the team’s quarterbacks coach. He most recently worked for the Saskatchewan Roughriders as their passing game co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2016 and 2017.
“Ed and I are very pleased to welcome Jarious back to the Lions,” head coach Wally Buono said in a release.
“My thoughts on Jarious’s ability as a coach are well documented and he has gained some valuable experience over the past number of years. He’s enjoyed a significant amount of success since being here in 2013 and we’re fortunate to have him returning to our organization.”
Jackson, who played with the Toronto Argonauts for a single season before signing a one-day contract with B.C. so he could retire a Lion in 2013, was also part of the Edmonton Eskimos coaching staff in 2014 and 2015, helping them to a Grey Cup title in 2015.
He played seven of his eight CFL seasons with the Lions and has career totals of 126 games, 7,878 yards and 55 touchdowns. He played with the Denver Broncos and the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe before coming to B.C.
“I’m excited to return to where my career in the CFL began in 2005,” said Jackson, who started on the team’s practice squad in 2004.
“I believe the team that Ed and Wally are putting together is going to be very competitive and I’m excited to be part of the organization once again.”
SCHEDULE RELEASED EARLY
Jackson won’t have as much time as in the past to prepare for the season as it kicks off a week earlier than usual because of the addition of a third bye week to the CFL schedule. The Lions open the season June 16, when they host the Montreal Alouettes.
Out of the nine home games, six will be 7 p.m. starts on Saturday nights, two Fridays and a rare Thursday nighter against the Eskimos Aug. 9.
The early part of the schedule should cast some light on who will be the best in the west as five of the Lions’ next six games after Montreal and a Week 2 bye come against West Division opponents. The Lions head to Edmonton to face the Eskimos in Week 3 before a home-and-home series with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The latter part is just as crucial with four games against West foes — at Calgary, home to Edmonton, at Saskatchewan and home to the Stamps — to close out the regular season.
The final game against the Stamps is expected to be Buono’s final regular-season game with the Lions.