DON LANDRY -Argonauts.ca Columnist
TORONTO – Watching the Argos practice this week, a little something stuck out. Not only were the defensive players running to the ball with intent and velocity, so were some of the coaches.
Something to see, assistant coaches Jason Shivers and Craig Davoren charging toward the play and yelling ‘run to the ball, run to the ball!’ as Chad Kackert negotiated a lane.
“They need to get their exercise, you know? Break a sweat,” said a smirking Chris Jones, the defensive coordinator who cherishes abandon from his players, as long as it is the controlled kind with a point. Likes it from coaches too, less any bone-rattling contact, of course.
“If we move around and bring some energy, then we’re not asking our players to do something that we’re not willing to do,” explains Jones.
Last season’s group certainly flew around. Then some chose to fly the coop or were set free. One remaining starter from the defensive line (Kevin Huntley). One remaining starter in the secondary as it stands right now.
That’s Jalil Carter, who started four games in 2012 before being added to the practice roster and then returning as an injury-replacement starter in the Eastern Final and Grey Cup. With all-star Pat Watkins still a no show for ‘personal reasons,’ the double blue secondary is decidedly green.
While there are many new faces on the Argos defence for 2013, the philosophy has not changed. Play big.
Which means, once again, Jones and his assistants have to teach a boatload of newcomers how to properly swing from the mainsail mast with one hand, a sword in the other.
Concern? If so, Jones doesn’t show it. Nor does head coach Scott Milanovich. Nor does general manager Jim Barker.
“He’s handled it very well,” said Milanovich of Jones and all those personnel changes. Milanovich claims he’s not lying awake at night, worrying about the assembly of the Argos defence.
“Chris is not a guy to fret over what’s going on,” continued the head coach. “But I think Chris also does understand the benefit of having veteran guys in a system. He would not necessarily be relishing this but once it’s happened, he’s just gonna move on and go from there.”
“Not concerned about it,” was Barker’s quick response to a question about inexperience.
“Why not?” I asked.
“I have history with Chris Jones,” he replied. “And I’ve seen it happen before. I see the talent.”
Talent that the Argos brass feels is so deep, they could release defensive back Pacino Horne, a solid, experienced defender who had a big moment with an interception for a touchdown in last year’s Grey Cup Game.
“We certainly appreciate the contributions that he had,” said Jones of Horne. “We’re going to look forward to what we have in the future and what we’re working with right now.”
Onward ho.
I asked Jones whether he’d have preferred to have more vets back this year. Or is it that he actually really enjoys the challenge of change? He shrugged a little.
“Whatever hand that you’re dealt, you gotta make it work. That’s what I’ve always done throughout every situation I’ve been in.”
It’s also true that Jones has designed aggressive defences wherever he’s been in the CFL. There will be no retreating from that philosophy this season, no restraint on the schemes. Caution will once again scatter in the wind, despite the changes.
“We’ve got plenty of athleticism,” enthused Jones. “Now it’s just a matter of learning how to play in this league. How to work in this league. How to play man to man, how to play zone in this league. We’re gonna give great effort, you know that. And we’re gonna cause some havoc. That’s our plan.”
It’s a plan that Barker endorses, having seen the job Jones did when the two were in Calgary and last year as well, when a plethora of new faces – some rookie and some experienced – were blended into a unit that really reached its zenith on the final Sunday night of last November.
“Are they gonna make mistakes?” Barker asked rhetorically. “Absolutely. But they’re gonna make mistakes going five hundred miles an hour and when you do that, you have a chance to do some good things.”
With cohesion along the defensive line and in the secondary likely to be a something that takes a little time to develop, both Jones and Barker seem to agree that Argos linebacking will be a key ingredient in the early going. Asked to name a few leaders on defence, Jones rattled off the names of his three starters from 2012. Barker pointed to them as well.
“We have as good a linebacking corps in Brandon Isaac, Robert McCune and Marcus Ball as there is around. They will hold the back end and the front end together,” Barker said confidently.
Together, Ball, Isaac and McCune combined for 202 tackles, 7 sacks, 2 interceptions and 3 fumble recoveries (all Isaac’s) during the 2012 regular season, another 38 tackles, a sack and three interceptions (all Ball’s) during the playoffs and Grey Cup. The Argos would like more of the same as defensive linemen and defensive backs get used to each other’s company.
In the meantime, Jones – who might well send a blitz even if his own mother were playing quarterback – puts his nose to the grindstone, working at familiarizing his new charges with the kind of football for which he’s become so well known.
“That’s where we’re placing the emphasis. Running and getting to the football and creating turnovers and then scooping the ball. That’s kind of our M.O.,” he said.
Attitude means a lot. Not just for the players, but coaches too. That’s why assistants run toward the ball in practice. It’s also why Jones attempts to convey all manner of confidence no matter the roster, according to Milanovich.
“He’s about the most positive guy I’ve been around as far as how successful he feels like we’ll be on defence,” the head coach stated. “No matter who’s out there he believes we’re gonna get it done and that they’ll get in spots to get it done.”
As he walked off the practice field, Jones paused to trade fist bumps with defensive lineman Kevin Huntley, the only returning member of that unit from last season. Along with the veteran linebackers, Huntley was mentioned by Jones as a leader to be relied on. The fifth year veteran is philosophical about all the changes around him.
“That’s just the business and nature of football. They love you today but you could be gone tomorrow.”
“We have a lot of new guys that bring a lot to the table. They’re great guys, they work hard, they don’t cause any problems. Makes your job as a veteran real easy.”
“I’m happy the organization brought me back and they’ve given me another year to play football,” said the 31 year old native of Washington, D.C., who says his goal is to play until the age of 35.