Ticats.ca
Justin Dunk
After spending two seasons as the Ticats quarterbacks coach and helping Kevin Glenn achieve one of the best seasons of his career in 2010, Khari Jones is ready to oversee the entire offence in his new role and first year as an offensive coordinator.
“I feel like it’s a natural progression. I’m happy to be with this team and have an opportunity to keep it going,” Jones said from his office a week before camp. “I think there will be some differences. I like what we did last year… I was a fan of it, I was a part of it and we did some good things, but I do feel like we have the opportunity to be better on offence.”
Ticats fans can expect to see the scoreboard get quite the workout if Jones has the offence working like he has planned.
“One thing I’ll do is make sure that we’re an aggressive offence and we are going to score points,” Jones said. “I want to let the players know that it is our first job to put points on the board and to make it tough on opposing teams and let them know that when you’re playing us, if you want to have an opportunity to win, you better score against us.”
As a former CFL Most Outstanding Player Award winner in 2001, Jones certainly knows how important it is for players to feel comfortable within the offence.
“Allowing the guys to play loose and play up to their capabilities is key,” Jones said. “Trying to tap into each individual and what gets them going.”
The relationship between Jones and the man who will call the signals for the Ticats this year is a special one.
“Kevin and I have a very good relationship. I have a good relationship with all the quarterbacks, but Kevin is a little different because we played together, so that brings a different dynamic,” Jones said.
“He’s playing great football and that’s the thing that I’m most excited about, he’s at a really good place physically, he’s at a good place mentally. We definitely need him playing well for us to go where we need to go. So I’ll be pushing him hard to give us more then he has, which is a lot so far.”
Playcalling is one of the new duties heaped on Jones’ plate as an offensive coordinator. This added responsibility doesn’t phase Jones, as he has experience doing so during his quarterbacking days with the Winnipeg Bluebombers.
“Calling plays will be a little different, I’ve called them for myself so it’ll be different to call them for someone else, but I feel confident with that side of things,” Jones said.
At the team’s mini-camp in April, Jones had the chance to get out on the field as the offensive boss for the first time and he learned some of the differences in going from a position coach to overseeing the entire offence.
“You’re busy, very busy. It’s not just the quarterbacks, now it’s with everybody on offence and that’s the one thing I will have to get used to is making sure that you cover everything, and you know what everybody is doing at all times,” Jones said.
“I feel pretty comfortable with that, but it’s a little different. Your view has to expand.”
As a former CFL quarterback, Jones knows how important the pivot position is in order to be successful in the Canadian game.
“Everybody knows in this league you’re not going to win without your quarterback playing well and it’s going to be up to whoever’s in the game to give us the effort that we need to win,” Jones said. “I think Kevin knows that we’re not where we want to be as a team, not yet anyway, and even if it means that his stats aren’t as good, but we’re a better team then that’s fine too.”
Jones is coaching with one goal in mind every time out on the football field and he would like to instill the same mindset into his players.
“I’m all in, I’m in it to win and win now and I’m going to give the players whatever they need from my end to win.”
As Jones heads into his first training camp as an offensive coordinator he has a very clear vision of the offence he wants to employ for when the regular season rolls around.
“Dynamic, attacking, and consistent. That would be what I hope to see from our offence,” Jones said. “Once training camp evolves and we come out and see what we have as a team, we will better know how we get to that, how we get to be dynamic, how we get to be aggressive and who we use in certain situations.”
Some may view Jones as a person who is relaxed and easy going, but make no mistake, his passion for the game should be unquestioned.
“I’m just what my personality is. I think people would think I’m a little on the laid back side, but I’ve got a big fire underneath me,” Jones said “I want these guys to enjoy themselves, but I also want them to work hard and to play hard at all times and as long as I get that, it will be a good year.”
