Buffalo Bills: B/R Exclusive Interview With Rookie RB C.J. Spiller

Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller was gracious enough to grant me a face-to-face interview during a boisterous event in Buffalo on Tuesday. 

He was promoting the release of his very own Pepsi Max can and was urging fans to go here to vote for the best rookies in the NFL.

We talked about all things football, his take on the city and Bills' fans in general...

Trapasso: Let's talk about what you're doing here with Pepsi Max.

Spiller - We came out today to launch a new can that I'm officially on. As you know, Pepsi Max has zero calories and it always has a good taste. I wanted to come out here and enjoy this with the fans... share this moment with them. It's a humbling experience to be partners with Pepsi. We're encouraging fans to go online and vote for Rookie of the Year and hopefully they'll be voting for me, and hopefully I'll be able to win, but we'll see.

Trapasso: How does it feel to get your first win in the NFL?

Spiller - It felt great. Anytime you get over that hump it's always a good thing. But that's only one win. We've got seven more games to go and we're going to try to win as many as we can. We enjoyed it, but now it's time to move on to the next one.

Trapasso: Hows the hamstring?

Spiller - I feel perfectly fine. Just a little tweak. Nothing I haven't experienced before. I'm just taking it daily. My trainers are doing a great job of getting me ready to go.

Trapasso: The transition from college to the NFL is always difficult, even for a running back. What has been the toughest part for you?

Spiller - You've just got to be more of a patient runner, that's the main thing. The speed of the game, of course, picks up. It's all about me letting my blockers do what they do and when I see the hole I just hit it. That's been the biggest difference.

Trapasso: From that, how has your game changed from Week One against the Miami Dolphins until now. What have you learned?

Spiller - I learned that you've got to be more patient...once I evaluated everything. I think I was pressing too much...in a hurry. But now, I've learned to be more patient, let things develop and then once I see it, just get north and south.

Trapasso: You came into the draft as one of the most prolific running backs in recent memory. What is it like playing alongside Fred Jackson who is a former Division III player. What has he taught you about being a successful pro?

Spiller - He's taught me a whole lot about the game. How to study and how to play throughout the game with intensity. You see it every week when he goes out there and plays. He gives it everything he's got. He tells you how to handle things that aren't football related too, you know, the business side. (laughs) So, he's definitely been a great teammate to me since I've been in Buffalo.

Trapasso: Some say you're better at running to the outside, and some say the best part of your game is returning kicks. What do you feel is your greatest strength and what areas can you improve upon?

Spiller - I'm a running back, that's the most important thing. I'm just able to do returns and I love doing it as a punt and kick returner.  I know I can run inside, outside...I've done it my whole college career and I'll do it here in Buffalo.

Trapasso: Who's the most underrated player on the team today?

Spiller - I'll probably say Fred. I don't think he gets the credit he deserves. Not just running the ball, but if you ever watch him throughout the game...how he blocks. I want to say he went five weeks getting a knockdown chipping the D end. He's proven people wrong every time, so he's going to continue to be a be a great asset to our team.

Trapasso: You haven't received the amount of touches many people thought you would this year. Do you foresee an expanded role for yourself in the last seven games?

Spiller - I'm not sure. I don't really get caught up in the numbers. Whenever your number is called you've got to be ready to go. You've got to know the offense in and out. I think I've got a good feel of what we're trying to do offensive-wise and I've got a good feel of what we're trying to do on special teams. You've got to know what you're doing before you get out there on the field.

Trapasso: Despite some criticism there are experts out there who say the Bills have two good and promising interior offensive lineman in Andy Levitre and Eric Wood. How good can these players be?

Spiller - They can be great players. They're young guys. The main thing people don't understand is that it's a whole new offensive scheme from what they did last year. Everybody's learning along the way. Once everybody knows it, I think our offense will be very explosive. It might take these last seven games or it might take the beginning of next year. We'll just play it by ear. I like the direction we're going with our team.

Trapasso: What can you say to critics who think you can't be an every-down running back in the NFL?  After James Davis left Clemson you took on that role very well.

Spiller - They're entitled to voice their own opinion. That's their job to critique me. I must be doing something right for them to be talking about me. (laughs) I'll continue to let them talk.

Trapasso: What do the Bills have to do to regain their dominance of the early 90's. Is it adding players through free agency? A solid draft?

Spiller - Hard work. It's going to take everybody doing their job...from the business side to the players. And then you've got to go out there on Sunday and play the game. That's what it takes...find a way and find a will to win the game.

Trapasso: When you were drafted by Buffalo, you probably had your initial thoughts about the city. How do they differ now that you've been here since the summer?

Spiller - Very different. It's very similar to where I grew up. It's a small-town, and it kind of fits my personality. I'm a very laid-back guy. The fans here are great and when you're out in public they don't bother you or rush you. They tell you to keep going and they're behind you...they've been very supportive. That's all you can ask for as a player.

C.J. Spiller is a real class act. He's got the right mindset, he's determined and certainly has the god-given ability to make IT all happen.

(I've got to give a special thanks to the staff here at BleacherReport for making this sit-down interview possible.)