Spiller quotes from Bills training camp

by TigerNet Staff - Tue Aug 02 15:16:27 GMT-04:00 2011

RB C.J. SpillerC.J. Spiller

Running Back

#28 5-11, 195

Lake Butler, FL

AM Walk-Thru – August 1, 2011

On his improvement this year over last year:

I feel more comfortable in the offense this year than last year. Missing a couple days of camp didn’t help but its nice getting back to football again.

On making a big step this year:

I’m starting to put my foot in the ground and feeling better but it’s something I have to continue to get more and more confidence every day and try to continue to learn. I definitely feel more comfortable then I did last year.

On if his confidence was hurt last year:

When you’re not making those types of plays for your team to try and help them win you kind of lose a little bit of your confidence. This year I believe I became much more mentally strong through the whole offseason, so we will see if it pays off.

On how he feels with his patience and cutting ability:

The first couple of days have been pretty good but it is definitely about hitting the right spots where I need to hit them. I need to continue to build on that every day and hopefully I do that.

On the expectations of being the ninth overall pick:

There are always expectations for me and our team every year, it doesn’t matter what pick you were. Being a top 10 pick you are going to have higher expectations, you can kind of sense it. Fortunately I have high expectations for myself and the season didn’t go how I planned but this is a new year and hopefully it is a better year for me.

On his role with the team this year:

It’s too early right now to determine that. We have a lot of weapons on offense with the additions we had in free agency and the guys we have coming back. My main role is to try and help this team win.

On the number change from 21 to 28:

I always wanted to get back to 28; it was just a matter of when it came available. I knew I was going to switch back to it sooner or later. Me and Leodis (McKelvin) talked about it as we got towards the end of the season and it became reality. This is a number that I have had since my 10th grade. Last year being 21 just felt different. Now I’m back to my original number. It may help me play better, it may not but I still have to go out there and get my job done. I’m glad it was able to work out for the both of us.

On what he took from last year the most:

I was able to go back and watch all my runs from last year. I wasn’t as patient as I normally am and sometimes I over ran the hole. I wasn’t using my ability to my advantage when I got in the open field so that was something I really tried working on in the offseason. Putting my foot in the ground, going north to south and when you get that one on one make the defender guess. I definitely see an improvement already through these first couple of days but after we get these pads on time will tell.

On his disappointment from last year:

It was definitely frustrating. We went 4-12 and didn’t make the playoffs and any time you don’t make the playoffs that is a disappointment because that is what you’re playing for, to win and be the last team to hold the trophy. We know what it takes to get there; we just need to take one step at a time.

On if he thinks he can be an every down back in the NFL:

Of course I can. It’s good to have other guys like Fred Jackson and the guys we brought in because it’s a long NFL season and your body takes a pounding. You need fresh legs out there to use to your advantage and help your offense. Guys in a one back system are probably more banged up then guys in a two back system. I’m definitely happy to have a guy like Fred because we take a whole lot of pounding off each other.

On if he senses he can blow it up this year:

Hopefully. It’s still too early to tell, but my goal is to help my team win.

Head Coach Chan Gailey

PM Practice – August 1, 2011

On how RB C.J. Spiller can improve to contribute:

Two things, he needs to make sure he takes care of the football and he has to be a better blocker. The things we have to do are we have to create more situations where he gets the ball in space. That’s where his forte is; having the ball in some area where he can work. That is the one thing we are trying to work on this year.

On if Spiller had to learn to run differently last year:

No, I don’t think that is it. I don’t think he learned how to run differently. I think he did realize he can use more patience in his running and he has shown that a lot better in the three days we had thus far. Hopefully all of what I just said about C.J .(Spiller) will make him more productive as a player.