LOCKER-ROOM BLOG
Bryant: Just another opponent
July 29, 2010
After the Toronto game, I was happy to come back and to play well no matter what, never mind to be the CFL player of the week. After losing in Toronto, we came back and won and we won big against somebody in our division, so that was good, period.
You can ask Arjei or anybody else, I was hard on myself after the Toronto game after having the two drops. But I just came back the next week and I was doing some catching drills and went back to the basics.
O'Neill: Holding ourselves accountable
July 28, 2010
After Saturday’s game against Saskatchewan, our offensive captain Henry Burris gave the game ball to the offensive line. It was pretty nice for all of us to get recognized like that after a big win. We had a good week of practice, so it was a good feeling.
We’re definitely accountable to one another and everyone makes sure we’re all working hard and that we’ve got our assignments straight. When we hold each other accountable, I think that’s all we need.
Lewis: Looking for consistency
July 26, 2010
Our defence played great against the Riders on Saturday. When we step on the field and see our defence play like that, we know we have to capitalize.
Early in the second half, Hank went up top to Romby and Romby, with great speed, caught a post route for a touchdown and that seemed like it changed the whole momentum of the game. We kind of knew right there that, “Hey, this is our game.”
Simpson: A good confidence-builder
July 25, 2010
Tonight was good. It’s a starting point.
It’s still a long season and so far we’re 3-1. We were really hoping to be 4-0 at this point, but this is a starting point. I think we did some great things out there but there are still some things we need to capitalize on. I haven’t watched the film yet but there were some plays to be made out there and we definitely need to capitalize on that in the future.
Reynolds: A big win
July 25, 2010
Offensively, we started out a little bit slow tonight. We had a couple of turnovers early in the game, but we knew that we just needed to stick together. We had success driving the ball, but just weren’t finishing the drives. We came out after the half and didn’t get much going, but then late in the third and early in the fourth we really came alive and were able to put the ball in the end-zone. Romby (Bryant) made some great plays and the offensive line took over. Jon Cornish came in was able to get us some good field position, so overall it was a good effort.
Anderson: Rivalry games are always fun
July 24, 2010
I’d probably say the Calgary-Saskatchewan rivalry is the best I’ve ever been involved in.
Even in St. Louis, when I was with the Rams, there were some big ones with the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle, but not as big as this one. This one really goes overboard and you can see it with the fans and with all the action that goes on outside the stadium.
Burris: This will be be an intense game
July 23, 2010
Saturday’s game against the Roughriders is going to be very intense because they’re coming in 3-0 and we’re coming in 2-1.
I think both teams are very comparable in many different ways. They have a very good team we’re trying to get where they are. They are the defending Western champions and they are the hunted now. We’re a team that’s trying to get where they are. We’re trying to achieve some of things they achieved last year.
Dales: Headed in the right direction
July 22, 2010
We’re three weeks into the season and I feel pretty good about where we are as a team. I think everybody’s got a pretty good understanding of where we need to be and where we need to go if we want to be successful this year.
Right now, we’re still trying to find that chemistry that’s needed to give us that push down the road.
Burris: Honoured to support the Food Bank
July 21, 2010
The July 31 game against Winnipeg is the Be a Fan Bring a Can/Tackle Hunger game, so we’re asking fans to bring non-perishable food items for donation at the gates.
I’ve been involved with the Calgary Food Bank ever since I returned to the city, so it’s been five years now. I love being involved because of the cause and the need that the organization fulfills. When the recession hit, a lot of people lost jobs and they joined the people who were already looking for that next meal and to be able to feed their families.
Isaac: It's a lot of fun here
July 20, 2010
It’s been an interesting experience so far with all the little funky things the CFL has to offer, like the single points and being able to catch the ball and punt. I found that to be a little different. But it’s also real fun here and it’s relaxing and it’s comfortable. I’m enjoying myself.
I had a few guys on the team who I worked out with who gave me a heads-up on some things but for the most part, I’ve been learning as I go.
Smith: Back to the drawing board
July 19, 2010
It was nice to get back in town after that road trip. It was a long trip. We went out there and we’re kind of upset with the outcome to come back 1-1, but it’s just something we’ve got to work on. We’ve got to keep building and keep getting better as a unit and as a team.
Some people say that the early season is like the continuation of training camp but once the season starts, we want to be hitting on all cylinders.
Fraser: Trying to make plays
July 16, 2010
It’s nice to be able to make plays when you’re asked to play special teams. You want to be able to establish your value here. You can’t just be a defensive player, you have to be able to play defence and special teams.
On the play Wednesday night where I was able to make a play on special teams, you just keep going and try to make the tackle.
Simpson: This was a tough one
July 14, 2010
It was a tough game. We wanted to come back home from this extended road trip with a 3-0 record and we had high hopes we could do it. Guys worked hard tonight but it just didn’t happen.
I can’t say if playing two games in five days was a factor in what happened tonight, especially late in the game. All that can be said is we knew a long time ago that this was what the schedule was going to be and we aren’t going to make any excuses about it.
Sam: Not caught up with return to T.O.
July 13, 2010
I know some people are making a big deal of the fact that I’m facing my former team tomorrow night but like I was telling some of the guys earlier, I’m not too caught up in that.
It’s not “P.K. is returning!” like I was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I played 15 games for Toronto and then I got traded to a great team. It’s more of a case is I’m here to do my job with the offence and looking to come out with the victory. I think everyone else is boosting it up more than I am.
Chevrier: Got to work twice as hard
July 12, 2010
Obviously, we didn’t start off the special teams battle the way we wanted to Saturday in Hamilton.
Last week against Toronto, we gave up a punt-return touchdown and we’re trying to make it our goal to be the best punt unit in the league and when you give up one touchdown, you’re already behind that goal. Then we gave up another one on the first punt of the game against Hamilton, so we’re quite far behind our own expectations.
Johnson: A great win
July 10, 2010
This was a great win. We had a couple busts in the middle of the game and one or two in the beginning, but I think the defence really came together. We had a couple of stands, that goal line stand and a couple of other big plays. The unit is gelling and we’ve got a good start on the season.
This team, it’s a family. When a mistake happens we’re good. If a mistake happens, hey it’s one play. We have to rally up and move on to the next play and I think that’s what we did. We just tried to be consistent.
Maver: It's a great feeling
July 10, 2010
It’s always fun to kick a game-winning field goal and I’m happy I was able to get it done today.
There’s no better feeling for a kicker. It’s been a long time since I’ve kicked a game-winner — it hasn’t happened since high school because I never had one in college — so getting one makes you feel awesome.
Smith: Overcoming obstacles
July 9, 2010
I think that after last week, there are still some things to work on. We need to be able to handle success. Last week, we came together, it was our first game, but now we need to build on that. We’re not satisfied with one week; we know we need to produce each and every week. We’re one of the three units that drive the team. If the defence does well, the offence does well and the same with special teams and now I think we just need to build on what we established last week and continue to play fast and hard.
Anderson: Going back to Hamilton
July 9, 2010
Hamilton, where we’re playing tomorrow, is the first place I ever visited in Canada. That happened in 2007 when the Ticats invited to play in the CFL. Hamilton broke me into the game and I’ll always be thankful for that but now I’m s Stamp so I don’t worry about that anymore.
I’ll always remember going back to Hamilton as a visiting player with the Stamps in 2008. I remember entering the stadium and meeting with some of the trainers and other guys who were with the team the year before. It’s always a good time when you back to a place that’s familiar, but it’s always when you win, too, which we did that night.
Archibald: Not your average road trip
July 8, 2010
This upcoming two-game road trip, with two games in five days, is an unusual situation. The whole week is a little bit different but everything is planned out.
We know what we’re going to be doing each day. It’s a big challenge for us but I think we’ll be able to be ready to play each game.
Lysack: Reediscover campaign is here
July 7, 2010
The Reebok campaign is back again this year and I’m encouraging all fans to get on board and help support myself and Jon Cornish, which ultimately also helps out our team. By supporting the Stampeders players, it shows that we’ve got a good fan base and we can compete against those teams that have a million Internet-based fans, like the other prairie teams.
I’m excited about this year. I think we’ve got a really cool campaign that they came up with. It’s called “Reediscover” going to allow fans to get to know players a little bit better.
Simpson: Just keep getting better
July 5, 2010
I think things went pretty good during the first game. About as good as can be done for the first game.
There’s still a lot of stuff that still needs to get better but for the first game and not knowing what Toronto was going to do, I think I help up pretty good and the whole team held up pretty good. Now we have to try and get better this week.
Myddelton: Playing a game was awesome
July 3, 2010
I was pretty excited on Thursday. I had a lot of nerves before the game, but as soon as I got to the stadium, everything kind of slowed down for me and I just did my routine.
I didn’t worry about the nerves too much. I made sure I got some breakfast and lunch in me because the game was so late. When I got to the stadium, I just started taping up and everything kind of settled down on its own.
Bryant: Always nice to start with a win
July 2, 2010
It was good tonight. It’s always good to start with a win.
We feel good about putting the yards up tonight and moving the ball, put we’ve got to put points — touchdowns — on the board. But we came out with the win, and that’s what counts most.
We did move the ball and we accomplished everything we wanted to accomplish in that way except putting the ball in the end-zone more often.
Jackson: We took another step
July 2, 2010
I thought it went pretty well tonight. We won and that’s always the main thing. I felt like we were good at most things. We have a couple of things to work on, but that goes with the territory for the first game.
I felt like we took another step from the last pre-season game. Everyone was playing pretty well and we got the job done. We got good pressure on the quarterback out there tonight. Everyone was running to the ball and we played well on our assignments and played solid defensively overall.
