Isaac Owusu
Ticats.ca
Tiger-Cats head coach Kent Austin, quarterback Dan LeFevour and linebacker Simoni Lawrence met with the media after Tuesday’s practice. Here are some of their key quotes:
Kent Austin on Dan LeFevour’s confidence level during his first start:
“Dan is a very confident player and his confidence comes from the fact that he prepares hard. He really prepares well, he’s very detailed in his preparation, and he asks a lot of questions to make sure that he’s executing the way that we want him to.
Anybody that prepares at that level should have the confidence that they can at least execute schematically what we’re trying to do, and when you’re physically talented you kind of let the game just come to you.”
Austin on having Simoni Lawrence and Rico Murray back in the lineup:
“It’s great to have them back; it’s also great that the other guys who were playing got great experience, and good experience to carry us forward. We need a lot of guys to play through a tough schedule and the 18 game season, we go through a lot of guys typically, especially here. That experience is important but it’s good to have those two guys back.”
Austin on his confidence level in Craig Butler’s replacement at safety, Neil King:
“I have a lot of confidence in Neil, he played for us last year some and he’s another complete football player that cares. He really knows the defence; he’ll get all the calls. He has intuition in the game. He’s similar to Craig in the sense that he has a real intuition in the game and a feel for the game, and he’s just young.”
Austin on C.J. Gable excelling in the three phases of his position (blocking, running and receiving):
“The good news is that he can do all three so if we need to emphasize a different aspect of his game, let’s say we’re struggling up for protection we can keep him in, whether he is blocking inside out or outside in, we can keep him in knowing that he can help keep the integrity of the pocket.”
“In the last game we needed to use him a little bit more as a receiver and we felt it was a good matchup for us, and he
produces whenever we ask him to. He really is a complete football player.”
Dan LeFevour on earning the CFL’s Offensive Player of the Week.
“We were clicking as an offence as a whole. Without the offensive line doing their job I didn’t have a chance, so I’ve said it before that it’s kind of a thankless job that they have, but because of that were put in the position to make plays. So we have 12 guys clicking on a lot of plays and that’s why the thing is going the way it is right now.”
LeFevour on one aspect of Saturday’s game that he was particularly proud of:
“I would say the way that I bounced back after the first quarter. Being a little bit nervous, pulling the ball down too soon, and then being able to come back and make some plays. Overcoming a little bit of adversity in that quarter.”
LeFevour on how Gable helps him as a quarterback:
“Tremendously. He’s more than just a running back. He’s the best blocking back in the league, he can catch the ball, and he’s got great hands. He’s really got a lot of tools in his tool kit that he can use. He’s one of the best backs that I’ve seen.”
Simoni Lawrence on being more energetic than ever.
“When you’re out for a little bit, you know you love playing football, and when your finally back and healthy and able to help your team accomplish their goals it’s really exciting.”
Lawrence on if he has to tone down his energy when injured:
“Hell no. I’m just myself all the time and that’s what I take pride in, being myself. I can’t show any bad emotions because a lot of guys look up to me. So I have to keep everybody else that’s playing energized and ready to go.”
Lawrence on how he feels going into Thursday’s game:
“I feel really good. We’ve had two really good practices on defense and I’ve been watching offence, they’re doing awesome. I just really feel good about the team going into the short week.”
Lawrence on Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Drew Willy:
“Drew is a good quarterback. I was watching games of him from last year and he just looks like a more confident quarterback. He trusts himself and he’s a competitor. I’ve watched all his games already; he’s a good player.”
