Regina Leader-Post

LINEBACKER GEARS UP TO FACE FORMER TEAM

Greg Jones hopes to be in the middle of things against Argonauts

- IAN HAMILTON ihamilton@postmedia.com twitter.com/IanHamilto­nLP

Greg Jones isn’t expecting the Chad Owens treatment.

Owens was on everyone’s mind before the Toronto Argonauts faced the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to open the 2016 CFL regular season on June 23. Media outlets did countless stories on Owens, who left the Argos after six seasons to sign as a free agent with Hamilton in February.

Jones also left Toronto in the off-season as a free agent, but the Saskatchew­an Roughrider­s’ new middle linebacker isn’t likely to generate the same kind of buzz before his first game against Toronto.

Whereas Argos players were featured in videos jokingly warning Owens to watch his back during the Hamilton-Toronto game, it’s doubtful they’ll do the same before facing Jones and the Roughrider­s on Thursday at Mosaic Stadium.

“I was only there for two years, so I think Chad has a stronger fan base there and a stronger connection to the community and the organizati­on than I do," Jones said with a smile. "I’m not really concerned about that and I don’t think (the Argos) are, either.”

Jones stressed that he won’t change his preparatio­n for the Roughrider­s’ regular-season opener, even though it’s against his former employer. His whole focus is on contributi­ng to his team.

He certainly has done that before. Jones was a two-time all-American at Michigan State University before being picked by the New York Giants in the sixth round (185th overall) of the 2011 NFL draft. He won a Super Bowl title with the Giants as a rookie, but was released in August of 2012.

The 6-foot-0, 242-pounder subsequent­ly had stints with the United Football League’s Las Vegas Locomotive­s and the NFL’s Jacksonvil­le Jaguars and Tennessee Titans before signing with the Argos in March of 2014.

Jones had 42 defensive tackles, 16 special-teams stops and one sack in 12 games as a CFL rookie in 2014. Last season, he had 98 defensive tackles (fifth-most in the CFL) and 17 special-teams tackles (tied for seventh in the league) en route to being named an East Division all-star.

Shortly after becoming a free agent in February, Jones signed with the Roughrider­s — a move that gave him the opportunit­y to work with head coach/defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones.

“I admire his background, his mentality and the way he plays defence," said Greg Jones, who was the Argos’ nominee for the award as the CFL’s outstandin­g defensive player in 2015. "He’s a great guy.

"I feel like I’m starting to learn about him and get to know him each and every week and build a stronger bond with him.”

Chris Jones is equally impressed with his new middle linebacker.

“He’s as good a run-stopper as there is in the league," Chris Jones said. "He reminds me of Rennie Curran, who we had a few years ago in Edmonton.

"He’s also one of the top five special-teamers in the league. (He has) tremendous character and (is) a great leader.”

Now Greg Jones is charged with plugging a gap in the Roughrider­s’ defence.

Saskatchew­an has been searching for a run-stopping middle linebacker since Rey Williams roamed the field. Shea Emry was expected to fill that role in 2015, but a concussion suffered in the first game of the regular season ended his stint with the Roughrider­s.

Jones isn’t feeling the pressure of those expectatio­ns, though. He feels Saskatchew­an has given him a fresh start and he simply plans to build on what he has done in the past.

“My mindset has never changed," Jones said. "I didn’t wake up the day I signed and say, ‘OK, now I’m a run-stopper.’ I’ve been doing that my whole career, from the time I got drafted in the NFL up until now. I’m not going to change who I am, my character or the way I play football.”

He’s as good a run-stopper as there is in the league. He reminds me of Rennie Curran, who we had a few years ago in Edmonton.

 ?? MICHAEL BELL ?? Linebacker Greg Jones, centre, is the new man in the middle on the Saskatchew­an Roughrider­s’ defence.
MICHAEL BELL Linebacker Greg Jones, centre, is the new man in the middle on the Saskatchew­an Roughrider­s’ defence.

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