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This past week I received a gift that presented me an opportunity to interview Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive back Chris Randle. I asked Randle about his past experiences before becoming a Blue Bomber, the different elements of playing defence, his veteran presence on the club, and ended with a few rapid fire questions.

Blue And Gold CFL: I’ll go way back to start off. What made you start to play football, and when did you begin to play?

Randle: I started playing football when I was fourteen years old in high school. The only reason I started was because all of my friends were playing it, and I was like alright I’ll go play with you guys. Basketball was my favourite sport growing up though.

Blue And Gold CFL: You started your CFL career with the Calgary Stampeders. What was your first welcome to the CFL moment where you realized that this game was different from the American style of football?

Randle: I think honestly playing in my first game, just the energy of the crowd. I didn’t know what to expect from being in college and playing in some pre-season games in the NFL. I think being in Calgary and the excitement from the energy and how things are ran was my welcoming.

Blue And Gold CFL: I read online that you were a quarterback as well as a defensive back in high school. Did Utah State or any other colleges show any interest in your quarterback skills or were you just recruited as a defensive back?

Randle: In the beginning they told me “we’ll see.” I was recruited as an athlete. When it came down to it, I took no quarterback reps, but I did do punt returns and stuff like that. At the end of the day it was mainly defensive back.

Blue And Gold CFL: I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that Bobby Wagner of the Seattle Seahawks is the best or most famous teammate you’ve ever had?

Randle: Teammate? Yeah for sure, hands down.

Blue And Gold CFL: What was it like being Bobby’s teammate?

Randle: You could tell by his presence that he was going to be great. The way he carried himself, the way he worked. His work ethic was very high, his intelligence was very high and he could make plays. He was very skillful. He could move like a DB and hit like a d-lineman or linebacker. You acknowledge that and when you see it, his style of play makes everyone around him better.

Blue And Gold CFL: Do you still stay in touch with Bobby?

Randle: Yeah I do, he’s a good friend of mine.

Blue And Gold CFL: Moving to a more recent topic, last Friday’s win versus Ottawa featured some nasty playing conditions. Are you accustomed to the cold weather come fall time in Canada, and how does your style of play change when the temperature drops?

Randle: This being my sixth year I’m kind of accustomed to it, but it’s still shocking, you still got to get waken up to it. The style of play changes because coordinators change their plays based on the terrain or the weather. So when it’s wetter [as a player] you can expect more power runs, short passes, screens, and when it snows you can expect the same conditions. Just for me I know to be more flat-footed because I know that deep balls are less likely to happen.

Blue And Gold CFL: In the opening week of the 2014-2015 NFL season it was a big story when Aaron Rodgers opted not to target Richard Sherman once during the Packers-Seahawks game. As a defensive back would you rather get targeted zero times or be getting tested constantly, which could result in yourself giving up a lot of passes.

Randle: At the end of the day you take both, but if the quarterback doesn’t want to throw my way and I’m doing my job every single play, hey what more can you say? That’s honour and respect, and you got to take that when it comes because it doesn’t come all the time. If I can get a game or two where they’re not throwing at my man because I have excellent coverage, I’ll take that.

Blue And Gold CFL: With yourself being a six-year veteran in the CFL, what is it like being the only starting defensive back on Winnipeg with more than two years of CFL experience and has that forced you to take on a leadership role?

Randle: Yeah I think just being here for so long kind of molded me into a leadership role and definitely with younger guys you do more teaching because for them to get past that curve of learning it’s good for me to give them that kind of knowledge. I’ve been doing that role for the past three or four years and I’ve been getting better at it. Constant communication is a key and that’s what we try to focus on.

Blue And Gold CFL: With Jamaal Westerman out for at least the regular season, how does his absence change the look of the defence and the team as a whole?

Randle: As a team, schematically he’s a Canadian so that changes the ratio and we have to figure out where to put a couple of guys. As far as him and his presence not being there right now, he’s a leader. His style of play is contagious as well. He has a high motor and you see him making plays and it makes everyone else go [harder] too. He’s an intense guy as well, so we’re going to miss a lot of that. But we got some guys that got to step up and fill those shoes.

Blue And Gold CFL: Winnipeg has the second-best record in the CFL right now and many people are thinking that this team has what it takes to get past the empire that is the Calgary Stampeders. Do you feel like come November you guys have what it takes to ultimately take that next step and get past Calgary?

Randle: Yeah you got to believe that. As a competitor and as a team that wants to win the Grey Cup, you got to believe. You got to do whatever it takes to win games, but our focus is to beat Edmonton this week.

Blue And Gold CFL: You’ve been asked to play SAM (strong-side) linebacker in the past with Winnipeg. What position are you most comfortable in and what was it like presumably stepping out of your comfort zone to play a linebacker position, albeit one that frequently acts as an extra DB (defensive back).

Randle: I pride myself on being versatile. I think a lot of defensive backs in our league and our secondary pride ourselves in that, so when my number was called to play SAM I did as best I could given the chance. But I feel the most comfortable playing that boundary corner spot just because I got the most experience doing it, but whatever the defence asks me to do, I’ll be more than willing.

Blue And Gold CFL: Having a trusted halfback in T.J. Heath who started to make plays and get interceptions right when he came to the CFL, and just knowing you have another solid guy beside you, does that help yourself?

Randle: Most definitely. Me and that guy have been playing for about two years now; our communication is steady and our style of play balances off each other and just knowing that he’s making plays and I’m making plays on that side is a good sign.

Blue And Gold CFL: You’ve used #AchieveDreams on multiple social media posts. Would you consider that a motto for yourself?

Randle: 100%. That’s been installed in me since I was young, I actually have it tattooed on me, it’s something I firmly believe in. It’s about setting dreams so big that you can’t see yourself actually doing it but it’s about installing habits, skill sets and surrounding yourself with the right people and right things so you can achieve those dreams. I hashtag that all the time because it’s always my mindset with everything I do

Blue And Gold CFL: What are some football-related dreams that you still want to achieve?

Randle: I would love to lead the league in interceptions (individually) and my main dream, and the dream of all, is to win a Grey Cup.

Blue And Gold CFL: Who was your favourite football player growing up?

Randle: Darrelle Revis, or if you want to go older, Deion Sanders.

Blue And Gold CFL: To stay on the topic of Darrelle Revis, Revis Island was a popular nickname during Revis’ tenure in the NFL. I’ve seen on social media talks of ‘Randle Island.’ Are you humbled to get that recognition?

Randle: 100 per cent. I don’t think you can name your own island, I don’t think it works that way. So if people are saying it, I guess that’s pretty cool.

Blue And Gold CFL: Rapid fire. Who is the most underrated defensive back in the CFL?

Randle: Uhhh I’m trying to think big picture, I’m not going to say myself… I’ll say Taylor Loffler.

Blue And Gold CFL: Who is the most underrated wide receiver in the CFL?

Randle: Darvin Adams easily.

Blue And Gold CFL: Hardest receiver to cover (not on Winnipeg)?

Randle: I’d have to say Derel Walker, or even Naaman Roosevelt.

Blue And Gold CFL: Which was louder: the Labour Day Classic or the Banjo Bowl? I went to both games and I certainly have my answer, I hope I know yours.

Randle: Yeah Banjo Bowl easily, it was hyped up.

Blue And Gold CFL: Last question is a hypothetical that the public needs to know. Would you rather fight 50 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?

Randle: One horse-sized duck (laughs).