I'm not worried about Jennings at this stage of the season.
Jennings, in his first six starts, in his rookie season, in 2015, completed 66% of his passes and had a quarterback efficiency of 99.8%. That was obviously a good start to his career here in B.C.
But what gives me confidence is that Jennings started all 18 games in 2016. He completed 67% of his passes, threw for over 5,000 yds (5226 yds.), threw 27 touchdown passes, and had a quarterback efficiency of 102.1.
Two injuries in 2017, combined with playing quarterback in an offence that gave up the most sacks and pressures in the CFL affected his play and his lowered performance affected his confidence.
That confidence may take time to come back but I believe that it will.
No question that Jennings has all the physical tools and he has them in abundance.
KAMLOOPS — Jarious Jackson has been playing and studying the quarterback position for over 20 years and, like anyone who watches Jonathon Jennings for more than five minutes, he’s excited about the things he can see.
There’s the NFL-calibre arm, which throws the prettiest deep ball in the Canadian game. There’s the elite athleticism, which buys Jennings time and space in the passing game and makes him a threat in the run game. And there’s the calm demeanour and studious approach to the gridiron’s most demanding position.
Yes, there is much to like about the B.C. Lions quarterback. (Ed Willes, the Province)
The key is to get Jennings confidence back. That is the approach that both Ed Hervey and Jarious Jackson are taking.
I look at Travis Lulay's 2015 season. Lulay had a passing completion percentage of 62.8 and had an 84.4 quarterback efficiency. Those numbers are very close to Jennings numbers of 2017, when Jennings completed 65.7% of his passes and had a quarterback efficiency of 83.8.
Lulay was not a confident quarterback in 2015 nor was Jennings last season. But Lulay turned things around in 2017, playing outstanding football in his four starts before getting injured. Jennings is very capable of getting back to his 2016 form.
We also need to hope that happens. If Jennings cannot be the future, then our Leos will need to find another quarterback, longer term. Travis Lulay signed as a backup quarterback in B.C. because no other CFL team was willing to take a chance on him as a potential starter, based upon his injury record.
Lulay may need to step into the starters position this season, should Jennings falter. But if Jennings does not get his game back to his 2016 level, then our Leos will be searching for the 'next' one in 2019.
But right now, the future of the franchise at the quarterback position revolves around Jonathan Jennings.
New GM Ed Hervey undertook an ambitious renovation of the Lions’ lineup this offseason to address many of the team’s needs. But, at its core, it was intended to bring Jennings back to his 2016 form.
Part of the quarterback’s problems last year involved a leaky offensive line which had Jennings playing under duress far too often. This year, it’s been improved substantially with the addition of giant tackles Joel Figueroa and Jovan Olafioye.
Jackson, who established himself as one of the CFL’s best offensive minds after leaving the Lions in 2013, was brought back to help rehabilitate Jennings. There were multiple offseason meetings with Hervey, Buono and sports psychologist Dr. Frank Lodato.(The Province)
"When I went to Catholic high school in Philadelphia, we just had one coach for football and basketball. He took all of us who turned out and had us run through a forest. The ones who ran into the trees were on the football team". (George Raveling)
It will not be a good sign if Cauchy starts the season (and that is no knock on Cauchy).
