LOCKER-ROOM BLOG
Forzani: I'm excited
November 12, 2011
I’m super-excited. You know, I’ve never played in a playoff game before and I’m just so excited to be a part of something like that.
We’re a confident group right now. We’ve won three in a row and the offence is clicking pretty well. I’m just all-around really excited to play and we’re ready to roll.
Phillips: Looking for redemption
November 9, 2011
We’ve lost some tight games this year that, in past years, we’ve been winning. So it was kind of uncharted territory when we started losing those games.
In the past three weeks, we’ve been able to finish in the fourth quarter and I think we grew as a team a little bit. We learned how to win games again.
Rambo: Good to be back out there
November 5, 2011
It was great just coming back out there and playing ball with the guys and having fun. That’s what I missed, having fun out there on the field.
That’s what I enjoy about football. Having fun with the guys and getting wins. That’s what it’s all about.
Simpson: We got the job done
November 5, 2011
It was a crazy game with Winnipeg tryng to come back the way they did but the Bombers didn’t get in that situation by luck. That’s a hard-working team, a resilient team, they work hard, their defence is good.
We knew it was going to be a four-quarter game. I was kind of surprised that we jumped off to the early start. But they fought back.
Claybrooks: A 15-round fight
October 30, 2011
It was a tough game, and we came through. Like Huff said, this was like a 15-round fight. We were able to survive and now we’ve got a little bit of momentum.
Just look at that play by Johnnie Dixon at the end to seal the deal. We’ve been through some growing pains with the young guys.
Paredes: Great to play in my hometown
October 27, 2011
I’ve been waiting for this game in my hometown of Montreal ever since it was announced I was the starter at mid-season because until then, I wasn’t sure if I was going to on the team or not.
I had a chance to play there in the pre-season when I was at Winnipeg’s camp but I didn’t dress for the game in Montreal, so that was a little upsetting.
McCoy: Expecting more from myself
October 24, 2011
I’ve been asked whether I’m surprised to be playing when I arrived so recently but honestly, I expect a lot more out of myself and that’s the reason why I go out there and I continue to get better.
So as long as I keep working, the sky is the limit.
Coach Jones, the defensive coordinator, he keeps the game plan simple.
Talley: Win felt really good
October 22, 2011
That was a long time to wait man. That win felt really good.
Not just that, I’m glad to be out of the cold now. Actually, it wasn’t that bad. It was pretty good on the field, especially when you started running around a bit. It was a great win. We just have to keep this momentum going.
Bulcke: Confidence is the key
October 20, 2011
The start of my professional career has been great.
So much in football is about playing with confidence and I think we’ve done a really good job on defence to keep building that confidence.
Joining a new team and settling into a new city, it only takes a week or two to get comfortable. It’s a great city and a great squad of guys.
Deane: On the road to recovery
October 17, 2011
I just wanted to let everyone know that I’m back home again after undergoing the surgery.
I’m just glad the injury is not as bad as it looked on TV. Everybody was saying, “Oh my gosh, that was terrible,” but I just kept reassuring them that it wasn’t that painful at the time. Again, it looked a whole lot worse than it actually was.
Tate: A matter of making plays
October 14, 2011
The difference for us in the second half tonight is that we made plays. That’s all there was to it.
Just take a look at the great play by Johnny Forzani in the end-zone went he up and got the ball to give us a touchdown. That’s what I mean by making plays.
Raymond: The race to the finish
October 13, 2011
It’s amazing that with four weeks to play in the season, there’s a three-way tie between ourselves, BC and Edmonton for first place in the division.
I think that shows the excitement of the CFL and how good this league has become as well as how much talent and parity there is. I’m excited about it and I’ll bet the other teams are, too.
Chevrier: Proud about PinkPower
October 12, 2011
Friday, Oct. 21 is the date for our fourth annual PinkPower game to raise money and awareness of the Canadian Cancer Society and the battle against women’s cancers.
You can learn more about how you can help by visiting the PinkPower site at http://www.fightforlife.ca/pinkpower/
Fraser: This game is special
October 6, 2011
For me, as a guy from Burnaby, I think this game is a little more special. When I was growing, we had season tickets for BC Place for a long time and I played a couple of championship games on the field there.
Growing up, it was always my dream to play in BC Place and to be a professional football player. To be on the field on Saturday and to know there’s a kid out there like I was once watching me . . . it’s like the roles are reversed. It’s going to be a good time.
Hughes: This is high octane
October 1, 2011
I got the defensive game ball today, but I don’t really want it for myself because this is the most excitement I’ve received from my teammates.
We knew without a question that we were going to win this game and it’s the most excitement and fun we’ve had playing football and I just want us to keep this same intensity all season.
Cornish: Introducing Corndog and the Coke
October 1, 2011
We had more rushing yards than passing yards today. And, you know, it’s funny. Dave Dickenson, our offensive coordinator, is a quarterback— he loves to pass. It’s always nice when you can get the ball moving enough so they want to continue with the run.
I came out of the gate pretty charged up and the whole team was hyped up. The O-line was making their blocks. I got the ball and saw some openings so it worked out. We came out and played the way we should have played.
Morley: Taking it personally
October 1, 2011
We need a win today. It’s a must, especially at home for our fans and also for ourselves and the team.
We just have to come out here and work hard. Last week, I don’t think all the guys had their heads in it but this week we’re focused and we’re going to come out and play like we’re supposed to.
Tate: Sharing the warmth
September 30, 2011
Even if I’m from Texas, I know the importance of having a jacket. It wasn’t cold for very long — maybe just for a few weeks — and it wasn’t too bad, but it was still cold enough that you needed to put a jacket on.
Then I went to Iowa to play college football and I had to get a bunch of coats. It was cold there. It was a big-time adjustment for me because it snows there all the time and there was a fall season.
Franklin: Ready to do whatever it takes
September 29, 2011
It’s so hard when you get placed on the nine-game injury list. That’s half the season and all those plans that you had for the season and all the work that you put in during the off-season . . . everything just changes in an instant.
The truth is, the team has to move on in that situation. So now when you come back, it’s like you’re new to the team again. You’ve got to adapt to a new role. It’s tough but I look forward to getting back on the field and to working as hard as I can no matter what I’m called on to do.
Coker: Need to work the kinks out
September 25, 2011
We had the good start today but then the Tiger-Cats just started it pouring it on. Before we knew it, we were in a serious dogfight and I think fatigue got the best of us.
They just kept pouring it on and pouring it on. We made a couple of mental errors and we just have to go back to the drawing board, work those kinks out and get ready for next week.
Conn: Touchdown Atlantic a big deal
September 21, 2011
Being from New Brunswick, I know that Touchdown Atlantic is a big deal because they’ve been pushing to have a team out there for a while.
The big debate is whether it should be Halifax or Moncton. Halifax has the larger population but a lot of people say it should be Moncton because it’s a central spot and people from Fredericton, Truro and Halifax could all come up.
Simpson: A lack of execution
September 17, 2011
I don't think our struggles at home have become a psychological obstacle for us. It’s just been the way the ball has bounced this year. Unfortunately, we’ve lost the games at home. We don’t set out to lose these ones. We prepare the same each week.
It can’t really bother us. There’s a lot of football to be played.
Turner: We need to be disciplined
September 17, 2011
I expect a physical game today against BC and I expect a close game. We know it’s going to take four quarters of effort and it’s going to take discipline on our side. We have to put the penalties aside and come out focused on our game.
It was good to get to the quarterback in our last game against Edmonton because as defensive linemen, that’s what you want.
Claybrooks: 34 and blessed
September 15, 2011
To all the fans wishing me a happy birthday on Twitter and Facebook, thanks for the support. Without the fans, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
It’s true that 34 is old for football and as far as my career goes, it’s like . . . Tick, tick, tick. But it’s a blessing. It’s funny because all the young guys call me the old man, but everyone of them would kill to play until they’re 34.
Harrison: Winning is all that matters
September 14, 2011
In my first game of the season on Friday, my conditioning held up OK. I think I’ve got to get much better, but obviously it was good enough to get a win and in the end, winning is all that matters.
It feels great that we were able to run the ball for 182 yards during Friday’s game. I have to tip my hat to those other guys who have been on that offensive line and who have been working all year long and they deserve a lot of the credit.
