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May 19, 2018

Positional Breakdown | Quarterbacks

B.C. Lions quarterback Jonathon Jennings calls a play during first half CFL action against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, in Regina on Sunday, August 13, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor

With training camp officially underway Sunday morning in Kamloops, bclions.com concludes its positional previews with a look at a ‘pivotal’ area. The club is bringing five quarterbacks to Hillside Stadium, with a couple of intriguing newcomers battling for a roster spot behind Jonathon Jennings and Travis Lulay.

One play in Hamilton kick-started what would be a roller coaster ride at the quarterback position in 2017. On the Lions’ opening play from scrimmage on July 15th, Jonathon Jennings went down with an injured shoulder, pressing the ageless Travis Lulay into action.

The 2011 Grey Cup Most Outstanding Player seemingly stepped into a time machine and finished with a career-high 436 yards to lead them to a convincing 41-26 victory and then won two of his next three starts before Jennings was cleared to return. What followed was the squad’s first three-game losing streak since September of 2015 and the appointment of Lulay as the starter for a critical September 8th home clash with Montreal. When Lulay went down with his season-ending knee injury on the opening drive of that contest, the keys were once again handed to Jennings.

Although you can’t pin the second half collapse and first playoff miss in over two decades solely on the quarterback, the number one question heading into 2018 remains: Which Jennings will we see?

Jarious Jackson knows all about the ups and downs of playing the position at a high level. The former Lions’ pivot and first-year offensive coordinator/QB coach looks forward to helping resurrect number 10 as an elite player.

“I’m very confident. Jonathon is doing all the things he needs to do this offseason to get himself mentally and physically focused,” Jackson said.

“I’m expecting a lot out of him and I’m sure he’s expecting a lot out of himself, but it’s not going to be an easy job. This is a new offence that he’s having to learn. Based on things he’s done in the past, whether it’s high school, college or his first few years here,  I think it’s going to be a different style of offence for him. He’s definitely going to have to put in the time and get ready to come in and compete. This is not a ‘hand me down’ job so to speak. Just because you’re slotted number one doesn’t mean you’re always going to stay number one. You’re definitely going to have to come in and compete your butt off to keep your job.”

Jackson of all people should know that the idea of being ‘number one’ can not always be set in stone.

And with Lulay inching towards 100 percent health, he told inquiring minds on May 11th he is in the third and final phase of rehab, Jackson should have one of the CFL’s better quarterback duos to begin his first season back on the Lions’ sidelines.

“Anytime you can have a guy that has the experience that Travis has, it’s hands down a great thing,” Jackson explained.

” (I’m) definitely looking forward to Travis coming in and pushing Jonathon and pushing the other guys as well. I look at Travis as an elite quarterback in this league. He’s won Grey Cups, he’s been to the big show so to speak so he knows what it takes and what to expect. I’m hoping he can be 100 percent healthy by the time the season rolls around and get in there and do his thing.”

Free agency brought the addition of former Toronto Argonauts backup Cody Fajardo. The club also added Minnesota State product Ricky Lloyd from their US free agent camps in Los Angeles in San Jose. Those moves resulted in the release of Alex Ross who was quickly snapped up by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Like Jackson eluded to, the camp competition could bring about surprises. A prime example was last year where Ross beat out veteran and 2016 backup Keith Price for a roster spot. Mark June 1st on your calendar: the first pre-season action in Calgary could determine some things with the newcomers.

THE QUARTERBACKS

* listed alphabetically by last name… newcomers in bold

Cody Fajardo– the University of Nevada product broke into the pros at Oakland Raiders training camp in 2015 before suiting up in 26 games for the Toronto Argonauts from 2016-17. He recorded four touchdown passes and added eight on the ground in short yardage situations, as well as the eventual winning score against Saskatchewan in last year’s Eastern Final.

Brett Hunchak- the Canadian ‘non-counter’ from York University will attend camp as part of the Canadian quarterback internship program. He passed for 1,795 yards and nine touchdowns in eight games for the York Lions last season. This program allows Canadian quarterbacks not yet draft eligible to gain camp experience. Hunchak attended Calgary Stampeders camp under the same program in 2016.

Jonathon Jennings

Ricky Lloyd– got his first taste of the CFL at our April mini-camp in Surrey. Demonstrated good arm strength that could be tailor-made for the bigger field up north. Lloyd led Minnesota State to the 2014 NCAA Division II championship game and recorded 3,379 passing yards and 36 touchdowns in his 33 appearances there.

Travis Lulay

B.C. Lions’ quarterback Jonathon Jennings, left, and Stephen Adekolu celebrate Jennings touchdown that proved to be the game winning score against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during second half western semifinal CFL football action in Vancouver, B.C., on Sunday November 13, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

KEY NUMBERS

16/19- Jennings’ TD to interception ratio last season, compared to 27/15 in his sensational breakout campaign of 2016.

QUOTABLE

“You use it as motivation. There was one other time in my football career when I was on a sub .500 team and that next year we came out with a bang because we felt we had to turn it around. I’m doing everything in my power to flip that around and I’m sure most of my teammates are doing the same. It’s not fun to lose and we obviously don’t want that. It’s about getting back to the football we know we can play: winning football.”- Jennings on operating with a clean slate in 2018.

That concludes our training camp positional breakdowns. You can read the rest of them below! Click HERE for the 2018 training camp schedule from Hillside Stadium in Kamloops.

READ: Breaking Down The Special Teams

READ: Breaking Down the Offensive Line

READ: Breaking Down the Running Backs

READ: Breaking Down the Defensive Line

READ: Breaking Down the Linebackers 

Friday, May 18th– Defensive Backs 

Matt Baker: mbaker@bclions.com