Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel took part in a teleconference with local and national media on Thursday morning. Here are excerpts from the Q&A period.

On the Stamps’ 2014 draft class

“I was pleased with our selections. I thought that we helped our depth on our football team, especially at some positions that we’ve tried to add more depth, defensive line being one of those positions. As far as acquiring the No. 1 pick (in a trade with Ottawa) it was a very difficult decision. I thought it was a fair trade for both football teams. I traded away a good football player. Jon Gott understands how I feel about him. It was a decision of acquiring Pierre Lavertu, who has an excellent future in the Canadian Football League. (We know) he can play the centre position. We already have a pretty good centre but I believe Pierre can also compete at the guard position. He’ll have a great opportunity when he gets here.”

On selecting Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in the third round

“We had the luxury of having three picks in the third round. I did go out to Laurent’s pro day and had an opportunity to talk with the young man. He’s a very committed football player. He wants to play and he expressed to me that if things didn’t work out in the NFL, he’ll be very interested in playing for whoever drafted him. I’m ambivalent about it. In one way, for the young man, I hope I never see him. But if he does come up, he’ll be welcome.”

On how he plans to keep Jon Cornish motivated after all the success the two-time CFL rushing champion and reigning Most Outstanding Player has enjoyed in recent seasons

“First of all, Jon’s a very committed football player. He’s a self-motivator. His contract is structured so that the more production he has, the more stuff he can put in the bank. I really don’t have a concern at this time about Jon’s play and his motivation for this year. Most players do need some added motivation throughout the season, especially during training camp. I’ll make sure that every player on our football team is motivated to become the best football player they can be each and every day.”

On the need to keep improving

“We do our thorough investigation in the off-season of evaluating what we were good at and what we weren’t good at. Obviously, we didn’t finish the job. We need to get better as a football team. We need to make sure that we do the fundamental things correctly in order to win football games. I outlay that each and every training camp — the important aspects of the game that we have to be very, very good at to give ourselves a chance to win games. I repeat it each and every year.”

“You always try to improve. If you don’t, you’re going to be in trouble because every other team in the CFL has improved during the off-season. We’ll be an improved football team this year.”

On the changes made to the offensive line

“Each and every year we have problems with our offensive line due to injuries. We do have, in my mind, a lot of depth at the offensive line position. Our No. 1 draft pick from last year, Brander Craighead. Brad Erdos, who I drafted from Simon Fraser two years ago. Those two along with Pierre give us three young people who are all very good football players. Spencer Wilson, who is from the junior program here with the Calgary Colts, will have a great opportunity to play and try to win one of those guard positions. He played both guard and tackle for us last year. He’s a very versatile player, so I’m confident that we have people. Now we just have to go out in training camp and find out who the best five are and where they should be playing.”

New turf/injury prevention

“The turf looks really good. I know it will be a softer surface. We did have one problem last year during training camp — a lot of players were suffering arch-sprains or arch-contusions. As far as other injuries, I’m hoping our string of bad luck is over and that we’ll be fairly healthy throughout the 2014 season.”

Drew Tate, Nik Lewis rehab process

“Drew is fine. He may have some soreness throughout training camp but guess what? Every quarterback that goes through training camp and has to throw twice a day will get a sore arm. All the reports I have on Nik Lewis’ leg are that he’s fine. He should be good to go. I can’t wait to see Nik, to see how (he has responded to the rehab).”

On the situation at safety following the loss of starter Eric Fraser in the expansion draft

“Right now, we have it slotted as a non-import position. We have four candidates at this time, (Keenan) MacDougall obviously being a big part of it. Also, Adam Berger who was a first-year player last year from Simon Fraser, Jeff Hecht, who is a veteran, and the young man (Adam Thibault) who we drafted. They’re all athletic people and I believe will have great competition.”

On the role to be played by running back and kick returners Jock Sanders and Martell Mallett, who were added as free agents during the off-season

“One of the reasons I did sign Jock Sanders was not that I was disappointed with Larry Taylor’s return ability, it’s just Jock’s a better running back than Larry was. With Jock in the lineup, or Martell, if Jon Cornish did get nicked early in a game, Matt Walter and whether it was Sanders or Mallett, I believe we’d be able to survive. I’m confident that if we have to play a game or two without Jon that those players would be able to get the job done without us having to change our ratio.”