A lot of things that have been going on with me lately have had to do with personal strength. That’s been my main thing.

Coming off the injury and having to sit back and watch the guys play before I could get back out there again, you get a different perspective about the game of football.

My perspective now is that I realize it’s not forever and you don’t want to take it for granted but you do want to enjoy every moment and every play that you’re out here.

That’s what I wanted to do our last game — I wanted to enjoy every moment and every play because I was one of the guys watching from the sidelines before that and it didn’t feel good.

I wanted to do as many things as I could and I told the guys before the game, “I’m going to give you guys my all on every single play and I expect your all on every play, too.” I think that showed in how we fought throughout the game.

It was tough at first to finally miss a game after so long. I really thought I was invincible and I just thought I was going to play every game because I had never missed one.

Then, when you do miss one, it makes you appreciate the small things — the small mercies, the small blessings. Having to come out and go through walkthrough, paying attention at meetings, studying film of the guys you’re going up against for the next week.

When I was out, I learned to enjoy it just a little bit more.

Our key for this game and trying to put two good games in a row together is our preparation. Making sure we do the little things — discipline, first of all. Taking care of the football and being disciplined.

Coach Huff has been preaching that all week. He’s been preaching that all season. I think that if we can do that . . . We have a good offence. We’ve showed that we have a good defence.

But to be a disciplined football team? We haven’t shown that much. If we can do that and limit those mental errors in a game, I think we’ll be able to put two wins in a row together. Maybe even three. That’s the key.

Keon Raymond, #25
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