DANIELE FRANCESCHI – ARGOS ADMIRAL INSIDER
TORONTO – He has played virtually every position on the football field, but it wasn’t until he made the transition to centre that Jeff Keeping discovered his true comfort zone in the Canadian Football League.
After playing guard, tight end, fullback, and even defensive tackle throughout the first seven years of his CFL career, the Uxbridge, Ontario native finally received the opportunity to line up at centre during training camp in 2012.
Simply put, he hasn’t looked back since.
The six-foot-six, 302-pound University of Western Ontario product started in all 18 regular season games for the Double Blue a year ago and has been a consistent performer on an offensive line that has undergone considerable change over the past few years.
Keeping attests to the fact that it has been a long and tiresome journey to reach his present position as the Boatmen’s starting centre. However, the Argos’ 2005, second-round (18th overall) draft selection affirms that it was well worth the wait and adds that his previous experience playing various positions on both sides of the football put him in the best possible position to succeed when his long-awaited opportunity finally came knocking.
“As a football player, it definitely helped me. Anytime you’re faced with adversity and overcome it, I think it builds character and you can develop strength through that,” stated Keeping. “It has also given me a lot of perspective on the game as a whole because I’ve studied it, I’ve broken down film on defence, and I’ve done the same on offence. Anytime you can do that you learn new nuances and pick up on the small details, especially now playing centre, my time on defence was very valuable.”
As a rookie, Keeping earned a spot on the Argonauts’ 46-man roster as a backup centre to former first overall CFL Draft selection and two-time Grey Cup champion, Chad Folk. However, Keeping’s initial stint on the offensive side of the football was a brief one as he elected to make the transition to defensive tackle in an attempt to earn more playing time during his sophomore season.
“I had the opportunity to start my second year on defence,” explained Keeping. “The type of guy that I am, I took the first opportunity presented to me in order to play.”
Keeping takes great pride in the time that he spent on the defensive side of the football. Looking back on the early portion of his nine-year CFL career, the 31-year-old acknowledges just how fortunate he was to have the opportunity to develop his skills while playing alongside CFL legends such as Kevin Eiben and current Argonauts special teams coordinator, Mike O’Shea.
“I enjoyed my time on defence. I had the opportunity to play with Mike O’Shea and Kevin Eiben. Those are a couple of legendary players that a lot of guys don’t get the opportunity to play with,” said Keeping. “At the end of my career, I’m going to be able to say that I played with those guys and that’s something I take a lot of pride in.”
As far as his development on the offensive side of the football, Keeping credits much of his success to former Argonauts offensive linemen Jude St. John and the aforementioned, Chad Folk.
“When I came into the league in 2005 and I was drafted as a potential centre/offensive guard, Jude St. John and Chad Folk really took me under their wing. I basically had a clean slate,” commented Keeping, recalling his years as a backup offensive lineman. “I credit them for a lot (of my success). They taught me a lot and they really showed me what it takes to be a professional.”
Keeping’s professionalism, however, was put to the test on numerous occasions throughout the early stages of his CFL career. In the span of four seasons, Keeping suffered three separate knee injuries and also sustained a season-ending shoulder injury in 2009. Keeping admits that there were definitely some “dark days” as he attempted to work his way back onto the Argonauts’ 46-man roster. However, “Keeps” firmly believes that his previous injury woes have ultimately made him the individual that he is today and assisted in his development as a football player.
“I never doubted myself,” stated Keeping. “Injuries are probably the worst thing that can happen to an athlete. We always want to play and when you don’t have the opportunity because of an injury, it’s really tough. It’s just one of those things again, once you overcome that adversity, I feel that I’m a better player now because of it. It makes you tougher. I really respect guys I know that were previously injured and have made many sacrifices in order to remain in (professional) football.”
For Keeping, things have truly come “full circle.” He continues to hone his craft and refine his skills, but it is with a much greater level of confidence than it was nine years ago when he first entered the CFL as an inexperienced 22-year-old rookie.
“I think I’m continually improving. I’m getting more comfortable at the position every single game, more experience every time you play a team with a different style of defence,” stated Keeping. “I’m still learning and growing as a player. I put in a lot of extra time watching film and preparing as much as possible with the plays that I know we will be running. Every team always throws in a wrinkle, something that you necessarily have not seen before. It’s about preparing yourself at home and spending the extra time here watching film so that when it does happen, you can adjust and get the guys in a position to be successful.”
Keeping also happens to be one of the very few centres in professional football that can actually say they have scored a touchdown. In 2007, playing as a backup offensive lineman and fullback, Keeping registered his first career reception, a two-yard touchdown toss from former starting quarterback Michael Bishop.
“It’s different but it’s definitely fun to have done that,” said Keeping with a grin spanning from ear-to-ear.
Despite the various obstacles placed in his path, Keeping has maintained an optimistic approach to life. Although, his path to success was not easy, truthfully, the former OUA All-Star says that he would not have had it any other way.
“I am where I think I should be,” said Keeping. “I was the centre for the 100th Grey Cup champion Toronto Argonauts. Therefore, looking back I would not change a single thing.”
The Insider Extra – Team Bonding
The Argonauts had a little extra pep in their step during practice this week as they prepare for a divisional showdown with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday night at Rogers Centre. After all, the team is back in Toronto for the first time in nearly two weeks. The Boatmen spent 10 days in Alberta as they completed their four-game road trip with games against the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos. While the team is definitely glad to be back home, Keeping states that the lengthy road trip has brought the group closer together and has cultivated a stronger bond within the confines of the locker room.
“When you’re on the road, you’re eating together and you spend a lot more time together than when you’re at home. That, along with winning, forms a bond,” explained Keeping. “We already had a great locker room. However, that type of environment brings you closer together. That’s when you start to find out details about teammates, their families, and their home life. It just brings the guys closer together. It makes the team stronger.”