Next Game
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ARGONAUTS.CA STAFF
MISSISSAUGA – For the first time in a long time, Jarious Jackson isn’t looking for a competition at the #1 quarterback spot. Neither are the Argos. It’s been six long years, but the Boatmen will finally enter training camp with an undisputed starter behind centre. Ricky Ray’s arrival last December ended a string of training camps that had not seen a clear cut signal-caller since Damon Allen lead the Double Blue.
For Jackson, who has shared QB battles with the likes of Dickenson, Printers, Pierce and Lulay, he seems totally content with where he fits in the Argos bigger picture.
“My objective right now is to learn”, he said after a Toronto wrapped up their Veteran Mini-Camp. “I was in one offence for about 8 years. My role here is to be prepared. If something were to happen where I would have to go into the game due to injury or whatever the case may be, then I need to be prepared.”
Jackson looked impressive alongside Ray at the club’s only off-season workout, spending time with new Quarterbacks Coach Jason Maas and his new receivers as he tries to acclimate himself with the new offence.
It is his demeanor and work ethic off the field however, that has his new club most excited for his arrival.
“I thought Jarious did a great job and he is going to be a great leader in our locker room as well”, said rookie Head Coach Scott Milanovich. “We have some veteran guys that are leading this position, that have won Grey Cups and been there, done that and that’s only going to help our locker room”.
Jackson completed 499 of 919 passes for 7,032 yards and 51 touchdowns over a seven-year span with the B.C. Lions and added over 1,000 yards on the ground. He is fundamentally a different quarterback than Ray, but both are in similar situations working with a new offence and a new position coach in Maas.
“So far so good”, Jackson said of Maas. “He is doing everything it takes to have us prepared and he’s very detailed. Right from the start we have been working on the minor things from the drops, to the hitches, to where the ball should be going”.
Jackson, Ray and the rest of the Argonauts now turn their attention to the opening of 2012 Training Camp, beginning in early June.