Don Landry | Argonauts.ca Insider
The Argonauts’ offence has two quarterbacks, really.
There’s the actual quarterback, Trevor Harris. There is also the one up front, the man who snaps the ball but who does so much more than that; so much more than just physically get the play underway with a flick of the forearm and wrist.
Jeff Keeping is the Argos’ starting centre and the man responsible for the flick that sends the football back to Harris. Watch him – or any other football centre – closely and you see a lot of pointing and yelling before he settles down to start the play. Centres need to help the offence coordinate protection and blocking schemes and Keeping will do that when the Argos meet the Ticats in Hamilton on Monday.
It’s a particular challenge, the Ticats’ defence, Keeping says, one that is matched by perhaps just one other CFL team at the present time.
“Steiny does a great job in terms of mixing up fronts,” he says, referring to former Argo defensive back and assistant defensive coach Orlondo Steinauer, now the defensive coordinator in Hamilton. “Probably more than any team – them and maybe Edmonton – do the most in terms of different looks and exotic fronts.”
When the Argos’ offence is approaching the line of scrimmage against Steinauer’s crew, it will be up to all the players to recognize what the ‘Cats defence is likely up to, but perhaps most important that Keeping (and, of course, Harris) do it best.
That’s because Steinauer likes to blitz. Check that. He loves to blitz. Last week against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, it was mostly the Ticat linebackers that were sent on that mission, seemingly on every play. It’s possible they’ll do that again, and Keeping needs to ensure that the proper extra protection schemes are in place.
“They’re puttin’ a lot of guys in the box to stop the run, but they do a good job pressuring the pass from there too,” says Keeping, asked to size up Hamilton’s linebackers. “When they’re gonna put that many guys in the box and force you to pass more, they obviously have to be really steady and disciplined in their coverage and they’ve done a good job with that as well.”
Keeping, the 33-year-old veteran, is experienced and savvy enough to know that what happened in Saskatchewan may just stay in Saskatchewan. “You don’t know if its by what they saw in the team they were playing,” he says of Hamilton’s onslaught of linebacker blitzes against the ‘Riders.
That means the film work he and the Argos’ offence are doing this week will focus on more than just one game. If Steinauer opts for something different, Keeping and crew want to be ready for it. He’ll want to be able to get a read on what’s about to happen every time he approaches the football and scans the defence.
“A lot of times it starts with their original set and our original blocking assignment,” the tenth-year Argo says, generally speaking about reading any defence he faces. “Then from there, identifying keys and, off of our protection, what adjustments we care to make.”
“Each team, Hamilton included, will do certain things that can give you keys to what they’re trying to get to,” Keeping says. “It’s one of those things, team by team. Obviously, you keep those cards close to your chest, when you identify certain things or certain keys where maybe a certain guy on the defence gives out what they like to do out of that look.”
There’s a fine line in there, he says. Defences are sneaky and of course they’re going to try to keep the opponent from correctly assessing what’s coming. That’s part of the beauty of football. The treachery of it all. Because of that, Keeping says you’d better be careful not to go all-in a split second too early.
“Once you get on the field and the live bullets are flying, you can take those keys but you have to be disciplined enough that you don’t overthink something until you actually see it happening in front of you.”
On that front, Keeping, who returned from a calf injury for last week’s win in Vancouver, is especially thrilled to have a running back like Brandon Whitaker in the backfield this season. Whitaker’s reputation as an excellent blitz-buster is well earned. “He’s so sound and I think young guys can learn so much from him just because he is a very good pass protector. He sees the field well.”
“It was fun in there playing with him,” Keeping says of the game against the Lions.
Of the Argos’ early season successes, Keeping is asked if he’s at all surprised by the 3 and 1 record of a team with so many new faces at receiver and in the defensive secondary. A team with offensive line injuries, his own included, a long road trip to begin the year and a first time starter at quarterback, in Harris.
“I wouldn’t say surprised, but I’m excited by it,” is his reply.
“It’s exciting to get that this early,” he says of the quick to gel team chemistry. “Knowing we have lots of room to grow and improve down the stretch.”
In Harris, Keeping sees a quarterback who’s been ready for some time and does not count himself among those who have been blindsided by the pivot’s poised performances.
“I wasn’t surprised by his play at all,” he says. “We understood how hard he prepares and how diligent he is in the meeting rooms. It was really just one of those things that an opportunity needed to come his way and when it did come, he’s risen to the occasion.”
As have the new offensive linemen who’ve joined the team in 2015, for whom Keeping has high praise.
“Guys like Greg Van Roten and Bruce Campbell played well in camp, earned their way onto the roster and further from that they played really well in games. We have a lot of depth. We’re fortunate in the guys that we have.”
The Argos’ other quarterback is feeling good about his team’s prospects as the long road trip to begin the season is about to end, just down the road, on the corner of Lake Ontario. As for their immediate prospects for the game in Hamilton, Keeping’s wisdom when it comes to preparation illustrates one of the great challenges the game of football can present. That for all you know, you never know.
“You go into the week preparing with what you’ve seen on film but also knowing that they could do something completely different based on what you do,” he says.