Jones tries to fill void left by star linebacker Sherritt as Eskimos host Alouettes

With Sherritt gone for the season, the Eskimos are counting on Jones to fill the role of the mentor he followed closely during his previous stint in Edmonton and through training camp and the first week of this season. It’s doubly important that Jones succeed with Adam Konar, who started his first CFL game last Saturday. Konar is filling in another linebacker spot after Cory Greenwood was lost for the year after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in training camp.

It’s a lot of expectations for two players scheduled to be backups, but it’s a challenge all pro athletes look forward to meeting.

“We’re conditioned for it, as football players,” Jones said as the Eskimos prepared for their home opener Friday against the Montreal Alouettes. “You’re expected to do the job, you’re responsible to do the job. That’s why you prepare like a pro.”

It’s why Jones said he closely watched everything Sherritt does, on and off the field, in and out of the locker-room.

“JC is a great leader and an unbelievable role model. That’s why I kind of stayed in his hip pocket throughout the week, and in 2015 I did the same thing because he’s a player you learn from. It forces you to prepare like a pro and sets you up for situations like this.”

Jones played two games for B.C. in 2014, 18 games for the Eskimos in 2015 and 13 with Saskatchewan last season, accumulating 43 tackles. He had six after taking over for Sherritt in the second quarter of their game in Vancouver.

Jones said of all the things he learned from Sherritt, probably the most important was how to prepare for game day.

“He’s taught me a lot about the preparation aspect, not just relying on athletic ability and going out there and reacting, but playing the game before the game is played, playing the game Monday through Friday (in practice) and then going out there on Saturday and playing.

“It’s confidence in your preparation, being ready on the mental side of things, getting a picture of what to expect, knowing your opponent.”

John Korobanik, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Jones tries to fill void left by star linebacker Sherritt as Eskimos host Alouettes

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