The buddy system

Tommy Jones owes his girlfriend's dad some credit for helping the rookie quarterback earn the starting role with the Calgary Stampeders.

They toss the football around in the off-season -- not unlike any other young man sharing time with his possible future father-in-law -- but this isn't your typical toss-and-catch in the backyard.

The difference is Jones is a rookie starting pivot and his girlfriend's dad happens to be Buddy Geis, a former quarterbacks coach with the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts who's worked with two of the best passers in NFL history.

"I met (Jeni Geis) at college, so in summers and stuff he'd be there, we'd work out and do drills on footwork and the throwing motion," said the 25-year-old Indiana product, in his first season of pro ball.

Now an assistant coach with Georgia Tech, Buddy Geis has worked with Cowboys legend Troy Aikman and helped in the development of former Colts pivot Jim Harbaugh.

Jones' unusual throwing motion -- an occasional sidearm action caused by an old shoulder injury -- hasn't been a concern to Geis.

The two focus on footwork and throwing accuracy so Jones can concentrate on completing passes during football season.

"Fundamentals are the first thing you're taught when you're a little kid. Working on that in the off-season allows you to not think about it when you're playing," Jones said.

"Footwork, fundamentals, throwing -- it's something you don't want to think about. You want to be comfortable doing it so when you get to the season, it's one less thing to worry about."

Tomorrow's game in Regina (8 p.m., TSN) will be Jones' third start this season, replacing veteran Marcus Crandell.

Jones entered a Week 5 loss to the Roughriders completing seven of 10 passes for 122 yards and one touchdown while mopping up for Crandell, essentially winning the starting job.

"Their defence wasn't doing what they were doing the whole game but it's good to get in there again against a team I've already played well against. It gives you a little bit of confidence going in this week," said Jones.

The Roughies lead the league with

26 quarterback sacks and will provide a much more stern test from the opening snap tomorrow.

"They like to bring a rush but they mix it up quite a bit," Jones said.

"They've got the big guys up front already so maybe they don't feel they have to rush as many guys ... We can watch film to see what they've done against us."

Making Jones' job easier will be the return of wide receiver Albert Connell, the Stamps' leading receiver with 544 yards, back after missing last week's win over Winnipeg with assorted minor wounds.

"That's nice because it adds a new element," Jones said of planning for Saskatchewan.

"It can cause some havoc for them to cover him a little more and open some other guys up or maybe they'll try to one-on-one him and we can take advantage of that so we'll have to see."

"He's young and he's got a ways to go still but he makes good decisions and that's what you have to do to win," said Connell, a second-year Stamp and former 1,000-yard man in the NFL.

"The o-line has stepped up its play and given him more time to make reads and make plays so he's doing well and he'll keep getting better."

Not only would a win help the 2-5 Stampeders tie Saskatchewan in the standings, it would clinch the season series between the teams, the determining factor for a playoff spot.

"It's a four-point swing for us, so it's a big game and another reason to motivate ourselves," Jones said.

"We've been motivated all week in practice now it's just a matter of going in there and playing."