Containing Jennings key

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This article was published 07/10/2016 (3291 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Jonathon Jennings knows the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are going to bring the heat against him this afternoon.

“They do a lot of different things and mix it up a lot,” the B.C. Lions starting pivot said Friday as the CFL team arrived in Winnipeg. “I’m sure they’re going to try and get pressure on me a little bit.”

Shutting down, or rather containing, Jennings would be a wise addition to the Bombers’ game plan.

According to the CFL stats gurus, Jennings ranks second in the league since 2015 in producing touchdown drives, at a 20 per cent clip.

The Columbus, Ohio, product’s ability to move in and out of the pocket presents an ever-present threat for the Bombers’ front seven.

“He moves around a lot,” said Bombers defensive tackle Keith Shologan, adding the defence will have to play fundamental football. “Coral him in the pocket and not give him those open lanes because when you watch them, they do a lot of draws with him. The D-line can’t get too far up the field.”

Jennings’ mobility, according to defensive end Jamaal Westerman, allows B.C.’s high-powered offence to create big plays. So, to limit it? Well…

“You got to stop the run,” Westerman said.

The Lions are the top rushing team in the league and are tied for tops with 17 rushing touchdowns.

“If we’re playing well up front in the run game, it allows our linebackers to be a little looser,” Westerman said.

“They don’t have to worry about coming up and helping out as much. You want to try and rattle (Jennings) and it starts by shutting down his run option.”

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Matt Nichols apologized pre-emptively Friday for the view into his mind fans will get today.

Nichols, along with head coach Mike O’Shea and defensive end Trent Corney, will wear live microphones up for fans’ enjoyment on TSN’s telecast during the Bombers tilt with the Lions at IGF.

“I’m a little crazy on game day on the field,” Nichols said. “I’m not going to say that I’m going to tone it back. Hopefully they’re quick on the trigger if I do say something that shouldn’t be heard.”

Will it be distracting?

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“I don’t know. It will be my first time mic’d up,” he said. “I’m approaching it as if I’m not mic’d up… hopefully, (I’ll) forget it is even on.”

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The potential for challenging weather conditions come kickoff time wasn’t on the top of Lions head coach Wally Buono’s list of worries Friday.

“That’s not the challenge,” he said, “The challenge is the football players and the crowd. We practise in this kind of weather all week.”

— Scott Billick

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

Every piece of reporting Scott produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.