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But the very next week, the Als bounced back and beat the Tiger-Cats 36-29 in Montreal and are now 6-3 since that lousy start. Along the way, they have beaten the Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders, both teams likely destined for the playoffs in the tough West Division.

“From the strife that they faced at the beginning of the year, a lot of negative commentary coming from there, (Jones) has managed to have them stay focused and win a lot of football games,” O’Shea said.

“It’s been very cool to watch and I’m very happy for him.”

KHARI’S INFLUENCE

Jones also has had a wonderful influence on quarterback Vernon Adams, Jr.

In his fourth CFL season, Adams has emerged as a bona fide starter, throwing for 2,465 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games.

Once thought of as a bust after a brilliant college career at Eastern Washington and Oregon, Adams is a dual threat who has also scored 10 touchdowns.

“How could it not?” O’Shea said, when asked if Adams was benefitting from having Jones as a coach. “Vernon Adams is a great athlete and a very good quarterback. Now he’s being coached by a good quarterback and I think that’s gonna take hold for sure.”

REMPEL RETURNS

Until this month, the last time long-snapper Chad Rempel was forced to sit out a CFL game because of an injury was in 2009 when he was a member of the Toronto Argonauts.

He had played every game in five seasons with the Bombers and was proud of the accomplishment.

His streak ended on Sept. 7 when he missed the Banjo Bowl against the Saskatchewan Roughriders while dealing with a concussion. He hit his head hard on the turf after getting pushed backward by Riders defensive lineman Lavar Edwards during the Labour Day Classic on Sept. 1.