KITWANA AT DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Riders defensive lineman Kitwana Jones at practice Wednesday. Coaches have moved him from end to tackle.
Photograph by: Roy Antal, Leader-Post

REGINA — Kitwana Jones can’t shake labels when it comes to his size.
“I’ve always been known as an undersized defensive end,’’ the defensive lineman said after the Saskatchewan Roughriders completed Wednesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “Now I’m the smallest defensive tackle in professional football.’’

Jones, who is 6-foot-0 and is generously listed at 227 pounds, has been moved to defensive tackle by Riders defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry. Etcheverry feels that Jones’s speed gives the Riders an advantage over the larger interior offensive linemen.

“We’re trying to create an athletic mismatch,’’ said Etcheverry, whose Riders are to play host to the B.C. Lions on Saturday. “Offensive linemen like guys who are going to line up in a place and basically operate that way. They don’t like little athletic guys who move around a lot. We’ve experienced at times where it’s impossible for them to do their jobs because of the disparity of athleticism.’’

There is also a disparity in size. Jones gives up more than 80 pounds to most CFL offensive linemen.

“It’s tough because you’re going against some real quality men in the middle,’’ Jones said. “It’s hard to face 600 pounds of men but it’s just something that I have to do. The coaches asked me if I could get the job done and I believe that I can.’’

That belief has helped Jones remain in the CFL for four-plus seasons and share in the Riders’ 2007 Grey Cup victory. He started his CFL career with the Riders in 2005 as a lightning-quick but small defensive end. He had 18 sacks with the Riders before being traded to the Edmonton Eskimos on May 14 for backup quarterback Juan Joseph, who was released after training camp.
Jones didn’t fit into Edmonton’s defensive plans and was released Sept. 8. The Riders re-signed Jones on Sept. 9 with an eye towards improving their special teams.

He has accomplished that with eight special-teams tackles but has also contributed as part of a rotation at defensive tackle with Marcus Adams and Keith Shologan. Adams and Shologan each weigh 275 pounds.

“I’ve always felt that size was overrated in football,’’ said Etcheverry. “You look at what (Indianapolis Colts’ 268-pound) defensive end Dwight Freeney does and some of the best pass-rushers in CFL history were undersized.’’

Riders guard Marc Parenteau has squared off against Jones during practice. Parenteau, who is 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, said blocking a smaller player presents challenges that can also be overcome.

“It’s more like blocking a linebacker,’’ said Parenteau. “They are a little bit shiftier but they also don’t weigh as much, so they are easier to move around. The speed is nullified a bit too because there isn’t anywhere for them to run around.’’

Jones knows about the size disadvantage and what he has to do to be effective.
“I can’t let those big boys touch me,’’ said Jones, who has four defensive tackles. “That’s one of the main things that I have to work on as a player of my stature. I’m aggressive but I know if I let them grab me, it’s going to be a long day.’’

Etcheverry has been impressed with the ability of Jones to engage the larger offensive linemen. He feels that Jones has an advantage in the battles which are part of play along the interior line.
“He’s magical in close-quarter play,’’ said Etcheverry. “What he gives away, he gets back in terms of speed and sheer athleticism. He’s far more vital in close play because of that and because he’s very instinctive.’’

The Riders appreciated Jones’s instincts before trading him to Edmonton. The Roughriders also had John Chick, Stevie Baggs and Luc Mullinder, whom they felt were better suited to playing defensive end than Jones. The move to defensive tackle allows the Riders to find another way to utilize the talents of Jones.

“(General manager) Eric Tillman and (head coach) Ken Miller knew how difficult it was for us to trade Kitwana because I knew there were elements of our defensive package that we were going to employ where he would be magical,’’ said Etcheverry. “I also know that we can’t have 200 defensive players and that we had to make the trade. Now in the last two weeks he has really flourished and I can see that role continuing to expand.’’

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com