Some Well Deserved Recognition For Greg Jones

[jerrym]

Greg Jones has been a strong force in the Argo defence, which is reflected in the fact he is third in the league in tackles with 74.

The one constant at linebacker for the Toronto Argonauts has been Greg Jones, a Super Bowl champion now eyeing a Grey Cup title to add to his professional resume.
Jones, it seems, is always around the football, whether he is asked to tackle ball carriers in the box or line up on special teams.
In Ottawa Tuesday night, Jones led the Argos with eight tackles and he also added a team-high three special teams tackles.
A true pro who dedicated his first interception to his young son, Jones has fully embraced life in the CFL and all the many challenges the league provides with limited roster sizes and players asked to sacrifice a lot.

http://www.torontosun.com/2015/10/10...t-all-and-well

[AngeloV]

Jones has been excellent. I have no complaints about him.

[Will]

Did he end up returning to the game?

[ArgoRavi]

Did he end up returning to the game?

Yes, he did.

[1argoholic]

Love what Jones is doing and I'm liking Miles. What a crushing hit on Cato. He just ran him over like a truck over a smart car.

[AngeloV]

I'm liking Miles.

I think Miles has actually played better than Greenwood did prior to getting hurt. What a great 4th round draft pick!!

[Argo57]

I think Miles has actually played better than Greenwood did prior to getting hurt. What a great 4th round draft pick!!

I agree Angelo, Greenwood played well but Miles has been a surprising upgrade at that position, sometime those later round picks are the ones that make the difference.

[OV Argo]

I agree Angelo, Greenwood played well but Miles has been a surprising upgrade at that position, sometime those later round picks are the ones that make the difference.

Not sure I agree Miles has been better than Greenwood, but agreed he has been very strong and he has stepped in and done the job at OLB with no weakening of the Argo D - surprising he beat out vet Yurichuck for the playing time, and maybe surprising that a little fanfare 4th round pick could play so well and get a chance this soon for a NI; might also demonstrate the strength and depth of the Canadian talent pool out there - sometimes these guys just need a chance, and it depends on what team & situation they end up in (Miles on a team this season that has to play more than one or 2 NIs on defence, because they are playing mostly imports on offence).

Miles ends up playing very well on a CFL D when lots of other top notch CIS D stars either just play special teams or sit on a CFL bench or don`t even make rosters (linebackers like Max Caron or Byron Archambault for example were arguably quite a bit better D players in college ball yet are on CFL teams where they are not going to get to play any defence - a case of place & timing for the players, or somebody can point out again how being a proven college ball star means little for playing in the pros - for CIS guys anyways)

[AngeloV]

Not sure I agree Miles has been better than Greenwood, but agreed he has been very strong and he has stepped in and done the job at OLB with no weakening of the Argo D - surprising he beat out vet Yurichuck for the playing time, and maybe surprising that a little fanfare 4th round pick could play so well and get a chance this soon for a NI; might also demonstrate the strength and depth of the Canadian talent pool out there - sometimes these guys just need a chance, and it depends on what team & situation they end up in (Miles on a team this season that has to play more than one or 2 NIs on defence, because they are playing mostly imports on offence).

Miles ends up playing very well on a CFL D when lots of other top notch CIS D stars either just play special teams or sit on a CFL bench or don`t even make rosters (linebackers like Max Caron or Byron Archambault for example were arguably quite a bit better D players in college ball yet are on CFL teams where they are not going to get to play any defence - a case of place & timing for the players, or somebody can point out again how being a proven college ball star means little for playing in the pros - for CIS guys anyways)

Miles is playing because he is good enough, plain and simple. He's shown not only ability, but also that he understands what he is supposed to do...He gets it. Many other CIS stars are not good enough, be it physically or perhaps mentally. But I know I'll never convince you of that.

By the analogy that you use re: Caron and Archambault...many players have better NCAA careers than some NFL starters, but never get a look. College resume doesn't guarantee success at the next level...on either side of the border.

[OV Argo]

Miles is playing because he is good enough, plain and simple. He's shown not only ability, but also that he understands what he is supposed to do...He gets it. Many other CIS stars are not good enough, be it physically or perhaps mentally. But I know I'll never convince you of that.

By the analogy that you use re: Caron and Archambault...many players have better NCAA careers than some NFL starters, but never get a look. College resume doesn't guarantee success at the next level...on either side of the border.

Agreed, mostly; however - I am stuck with continuing to go by seeing actual playing time on the field; Miles got his shot and has responded with great play; guys like Caron or Archambault may well be "not good enough" for the pros, but they have seen basically zero CFL playing time on D to go by; IF they did get to play and did little or struggled, I'd be one to point it out; my suspiscion is - IF they did get to play they would respond as good or better than Miles because they were way better play-making linebackers in college ball; they happen to play on CFL teams/defences where they are either behind established starters or on teams that have little use for NIs on defence - and if an injury situation did occur (like what saw Miles get a shot) they would still not get to play because their teams would find whatever import to plug in at imports only positions.

The difference here might be, that I have way more respect for top notch talent out of CIS ball and their ability to succeed in the CFL - given the playing time opportunity - than you do.

[Argo57]

Not sure I agree Miles has been better than Greenwood, but agreed he has been very strong and he has stepped in and done the job at OLB with no weakening of the Argo D - surprising he beat out vet Yurichuck for the playing time, and maybe surprising that a little fanfare 4th round pick could play so well and get a chance this soon for a NI; might also demonstrate the strength and depth of the Canadian talent pool out there - sometimes these guys just need a chance, and it depends on what team & situation they end up in (Miles on a team this season that has to play more than one or 2 NIs on defence, because they are playing mostly imports on offence).

Miles ends up playing very well on a CFL D when lots of other top notch CIS D stars either just play special teams or sit on a CFL bench or don`t even make rosters (linebackers like Max Caron or Byron Archambault for example were arguably quite a bit better D players in college ball yet are on CFL teams where they are not going to get to play any defence - a case of place & timing for the players, or somebody can point out again how being a proven college ball star means little for playing in the pros - for CIS guys anyways)

I'm not surprised he beat out Yurichuk, who I didn't think distinguish himself when in at linebacker.

[ArgoRavi]

Agreed, mostly; however - I am stuck with continuing to go by seeing actual playing time on the field; Miles got his shot and has responded with great play; guys like Caron or Archambault may well be "not good enough" for the pros, but they have seen basically zero CFL playing time on D to go by; IF they did get to play and did little or struggled, I'd be one to point it out; my suspiscion is - IF they did get to play they would respond as good or better than Miles because they were way better play-making linebackers in college ball; they happen to play on CFL teams/defences where they are either behind established starters or on teams that have little use for NIs on defence - and if an injury situation did occur (like what saw Miles get a shot) they would still not get to play because their teams would find whatever import to plug in at imports only positions.

The difference here might be, that I have way more respect for top notch talent out of CIS ball and their ability to succeed in the CFL - given the playing time opportunity - than you do.

By this logic, I could claim that I would be an all-star middle linebacker if some team just gave me a chance to play.

[Will]

By this logic, I could claim that I would be an all-star middle linebacker if some team just gave me a chance to play.

Ravi for Argos MLB 2016

[jerrym]

I agree Angelo, Greenwood played well but Miles has been a surprising upgrade at that position, sometime those later round picks are the ones that make the difference.

Barker has impressed me once again with his ability to come up with top new talent despite continually suffering significant losses to free agency repeatedly.

Next year, we should be very well set with Greg Jones at LB, along with two very good Canadians in Miles and Greenwood.

[ArgoRavi]

Barker has impressed me once again with his ability to come up with top new talent despite continually suffering significant losses to free agency repeatedly.

Next year, we should be very well set with Greg Jones at LB, along with two very good Canadians in Miles and Greenwood.

Will Greenwood play again though? With a couple of concussions this year, he would have to be considered "iffy" at best. BTW, I hear that former Argos linebacker Shea Emry will be retiring because of repeated concussions.

[OV Argo]

By this logic, I could claim that I would be an all-star middle linebacker if some team just gave me a chance to play.

Ravi - how did your college ball resume go at linebacker ? ;o) - make any all-star teams, lead any conferences in tackles or win defensive player of the year, did you ?

[Wobbler]

Greenwood should retire, I think. The Argos aren't paying him enough to offset the significant risk of long term brain damage.