Randle a driven man

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This article was published 21/05/2018 (2690 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Chris Randle arrived for training camp this week, he did so a changed man.

To the relief of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Randle is still the same determined player he has been his whole career and remains the undisputed leader on defence. In fact, entering the 2018 Canadian Football League season, he’s never been more motivated.

That’s because Randle says he pays a greater cost now when he has to leave his wife Kylie at home. With the birth of their first son, Winston Isaiah Randle, in December, building on his football career is no longer just about the two of them anymore. The work and time required to succeed at the professional level, Randle said, comes at a premium now that he has a child.

“It’s hard not being with him but I’m not wasting no time being away from him,” Randle said, following Day 2 of training camp at Investors Group Field Monday. “Being away from him my time is valued even more now – I’m only here for one reason. If I’m away from my son and my wife, we here to get something done.”

If Randle’s perspective on life has altered slightly, his confidence hasn’t wavered one bit. While being a good dad and husband has been atop his list of priorities, a close third is a commitment to improving on a stellar 2017 campaign.

Randle is coming off a career-year, where he dominated opposing receivers as one of the league’s top boundary corners. His efforts earned him a nod for CFL all-star for the first time in his six-year career and he was voted the Bombers’ most outstanding defensive player. He finished the season with 64 total tackles, five interceptions and one sack, while scoring two touchdowns – one he returned on an interception and the other after recovering a loose ball.

“Daddy first, husband second and, honestly, I’ve been crafting every single day making sure my technique is strong,” said Randle, who will turn 30 in August. “I want to improve on what I did last year, understanding the longevity of a season, building strength and then sticking with it throughout the year.”

He also organized two different football camps – one near his hometown of Merced, Calif., and the other in Utah, where he attended college and currently lives in the off-season – which attracted more than 350 kids.

“It’s important that I give back to the communities and I love doing it,” he said, adding he and his wife also took some time to travel, including a two-week jaunt to the Azores Islands in Portugal.

Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea recalled Monday the first time he got to meet Randle as one of his players. The two arrived in Winnipeg at the same time, for the 2014 season, and O’Shea said the positive impression he made on him was immediate.

“From the day we got him he was by himself doing extra work and eventually guys would gravitate towards him and get in extra work,” O’Shea said. “He’s always looking for ways to improve and that covers all facets of his life – How does he improve his offseason? How does he improve his future? How does he improve as a father or as a husband?

He added: “He’s a great guy to be around because he really does challenge you when you have conversations with him because he is always looking to get better at everything he does.”

O’Shea will lean on Randle once again to help guide a Bombers secondary that struggled for much of 2017. Winnipeg’s pass defence ranked among the worst in the CFL last year, giving up far too many plays for far too many yards.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton