Each week a Blue Bombers player will answer questions from fans. This week, linebacker Ike Charlton steps up to answer your questions.

Hey Ike, where are you right now?

I am in the cold, cold Ohio

What have you been up to since the season ended?

I have relaxing being daddy and taking care some business opportunities...

Ike, overall, just talk about the defence last season. Is that the most you’ve ever had to play in a season?

The defense last year was fun to play on actually but yeah it was also very difficult sometimes to go out there and put a a stellar performance because yeah we were on the field a lot but some of that was us too not being able to get off the field and make the plays needed...but when we did make those plays it was a thing of beauty and we were a thing of beauty all year long...but yeah being on the field to much will hurt you!!!

Hey Ike, my son is a linebacker for the Rods here in Winnipeg and I always hear about you and Barrin since he idolizes you guys. First off, I just want to say thank you for making my sons day when he got to meet you and Barrin at practice last year. How difficult do you think the defense is going to find it this season without Barrin Simpson around?

One time for the RODS...Its a no brainer for me to talk to the little ones because I was once in there shoes and know what kind of effect that can have on you...not having BS5 around will be different for me because he was with me since i got here and we fed off each other intensity on the field...and those prayers before the game will be missed but we as a defense will miss what he brought to the team because BS5 knows how to play the game ill miss him cause i used to bother him everyday ...

Ike, another loss defensively for next season is halfback Jonathan Hefney. How will the defense do with the loss of Jonathan Hefney?

The loss of young Hef will be big but we will be ok...He played with big time intensity and no fear and that alone will be missed because the plays he made was some big time plays in big time moments of the game...he was still raw to the CFL game but he picked it up pretty fast and it showed...but we have a lot of returning guys on D so we will be fine...

What was your first impression of the CFL and of Winnipeg when you first got here back in ‘05?

My first Impression of the CFL and Winnipeg was...really are you serious...lol! Look at this field and this is where my ex-teammate played (D.Flutie)...do I really see this many guys moving in motion and what 12 guys on the field...wow! My first impression of Winnipeg was mannnn its cold up here and this reminds my of a big college town simple as that...

Ike, let’s move ahead to 2010, are you excited about this season and the opportunity it brings?

Oh yeah I'm excited about '10 because we have a lot of people in place to make a run at the CUP its either CUP or bad season, period! Now i will be honest we need to still put some people in the right places and there will be no stopping us.

Ike, you played in the NFL, can you talk a bit about the differences both good and bad from the two leagues.

The CFL and the NFL are two very different leagues ...The rules are different very different I still don't understand the CFL rules because they are just crazy to me...you get a point for missing a field goal, now that is crazy but hey it is what it is...In the NFL there is a lot more detail put into knowing your opponent and the teaching of knowing what needs to be done in the classroom than the CFL...but I could go on and on about this subject so ill stop there by saying two very different games....Ok one more thing the CFL is more fun to play tho!

Ike, why the number 0?

Why the number 0...to be different I wore #23 when i first came to the Peg as that was my number in the NFL...I just wanted to have fun change the game a Lil bit...I was the first to rock it now guys are trying to still my SWAGG..lol

What is a regular road trip like for you? What do you do on the road?

What I do on the road well it depends on which city im in...but I don't do much but go out to eat maybe shop but i spend time watching film...and sleeping all day!

What is your favourite city to play a road game in and why?

I must admit I like to play in Green Country...the fans are crazy and the stadium gets crazy....ahhh that pressure is what I strive for...

Ike, was the defence you played last season as a whole a different scheme than past years?

Gnaw the Defense we played last year was the same defense we have been playing since '06 with coach Marshall...same calls same schemes everything just we had some guys that played a little bit more like they didn't care if they got beat and more plays were made in the back end...I hear a lot of people say our D was different but it wasnt...

Ike, the CFL schedule should be coming out in the next month or so, do you look at it right when it is released or is that something you don’t really pay attention to until you get to camp?

Gnaw I really don't pay it any attention because there are only 8 teams so its not like we are going to play somebody different...I get into that stuff closer towards the season..

Are you coming to Winnipeg during the offseason? Do you travel during the offseason?

Gnaw I dont come to the Peg in the off-season unless I may have an appearance to go to then ill be there no problem! Yes I travel I go home to Florida gotta love the Sunshine State baby....

With you having played in the NFL, what are your thoughts on the NFL window that is being exercised quite frequently this offseason by CFL players?

To be honest CFL fans have to realize that these guys grow up dreaming of playing in the NFL so I would not want to take that away from them thats the game we grow up knowing also you have to keep in mind there are only two leagues in Pro football...trust me a lot of the Canadian born players would want to play down there too and would jump at the chance to do it too ,money is a huge factor along side dreams...but this is something we will discuss im sure of in our CFLPA meeetings

What are you most looking forward to for next season?

What im most looking forward to, hmm just getting back to business and getting the CUP back to the Peg...

Send your questions for the next Q and A with Bombers linebacker Siddeeq Shabazz bbombers@bluebombers.com Subject: Question for Siddeeq.