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He began the night engaged in a stare-down with Montreal's Kyries Hebert during the coin toss at centre field.
He ended it just as wired, sitting almost alone in the Blue Bomber locker-room, his right leg bouncing up and down like a jackhammer.
Long after the rest of the media horde and the TV cameras had disappeared, I sat down with running back Chad Simpson at his locker, and the man who might be the most important to the Bomber offence this season, next to quarterback Buck Pierce, was still stoked with nervous energy.
It looked like he could start another game, right then and there.
One of the questions I've heard most since the 38-33 loss: why didn't the Bombers run the ball more?
Winnipeg's nominee for the Most Outstanding Player Award last season, Simpson ran just nine times for 35 yards, and caught three passes for 18 more.
That's maybe half the number of times I'd want him getting the ball every game.
Yes, the Alouettes ganged up on the run, daring the Bombers to beat them with the pass, a strategy that took Simpson by surprise.
"Yeah, it did. Because I didn't think I was respected like that as a running back," he said. "I know I'm respected as a runner, but as far as game-planning, because we don't run the ball much."
Head coach Tim Burke said the offence has to get more creative, find ways to get the running game going by adding extra blockers.
I don't know how you could look into Simpson's eyes before that game and not feed him the ball.
He's as driven and as intense a running back as I've seen.
The kind who should get the ball right after he fumbles, as Simpson did midway through the second quarter.
Instead, their next 11 plays from scrimmage were passes.
To be fair, Pierce heated up in that third quarter. And the running game was going nowhere.
Simpson just blamed himself for not producing.
"I don't feel real good at all," he said. "Playmakers make plays, and I didn't make plays. It's not about how people block. It's not about how many touches you get. It's about what you do with what you get. And I didn't do much with what I got."
A native of Miami, Simpson, 27, did more than become an East Division all-star in his CFL debut last year. How quickly he became a locker-room leader was almost as impressive as his 1,039 yards and gaudy 6.0-yard average.
When he spoke, people listened.
On this night, I was.
"No ones like to lose, but I saw a lot of positives out there," he said, that right leg nodding over and over again in approval. "Anyone that watched that game, you know we're not the same team. We're a very talented bunch. Whenever you have three, four turnovers, you're just not going to win the game.
"So we just have to get better with that. We do, we win that game, easy."
Simpson reminded me the Bombers beat the Als twice late last season, and nobody should be surprised they almost pulled it off, again.
He looks at the defence that knocked quarterback Anthony Calvillo around and shakes his head, he believes they're that good.
"Man, I wouldn't be surprised if they're the No. 1 defence this year. We can be the No. 1 offence, too. It's just the little things with us, not the big things. We got playmakers all over the field.
"We shouldn't be stopped. We beat ourselves. I'm not taking nothing from Montreal, because they're a worthy opponent. But I know we're the better team."
Based on Week 1, Simpson might be right.
The Bombers turned the ball over five times to Montreal's one -- and lost by just five points.
"We're going to be real good this year," Simpson said.
There does seem to be something different about this year's Bombers. As if last year's turmoil has welded a group of individuals into a steeled team.
Season-opening jitters and new stadium hoopla aside, we should go a long way toward finding that out in Montreal, Thursday.
"A better team," was Simpson's simple prediction. "I can promise you that."
A busier Simpson wouldn't be a bad place to start.
His legs are virtually screaming for it.
paul.friesen@sunmedia.ca
Twitter: @friesensunmedia
Source: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2013/06/29/bombers-simpson-stoked-with-nervous-energy
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