Newcomers Bolster Avengers
Steven Herbert
Saturday March 22, 2003
Two players signed by the Avengers this week, wide receiver/linebacker Curtis Marsh and fullback/linebacker Jermaine Benoit, could both be making contributions following Sunday’s game against Grand Rapids at Staples Center.
“We think we’ve got two very good players that can help us in the future,” Los Angeles coach Ed Hodgkiss said.
“[Marsh is] one of the best players we’ve come across physically in my time in the arena league,” Hodgkiss said.
Marsh, 32, played with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars from 1995-96 and Pittsburgh Steelers in 1997, catching nine passes for 141 yards and returning 15 kickoffs for 323 yards.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Marsh had his best professional football success in 2000 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, leading the Canadian Football League with 102 receptions and 1,560 yards in 17 games.
Marsh last played in 2001, when his season with the Roughriders was cut short by a strained left hamstring tendon and turf toe in his left foot. Marsh was placed on the injured reserve list and returned home to Southern California.
“I just decided I needed a break and wanted to try and see if I could gather together some things for life after football because you never know when its going to be over and you have to have some kind of a plan,” Marsh said.
Marsh’s plan began with coaching last fall at Moorpark (Calif.) College, where he received junior college honorable mention All-American honors in 1991 after catching 47 passes for 1,011 yards and 14 touchdowns.
However, Marsh realized his playing days were not over.
“I figured out that I still had a lot of juice left,” Marsh said.
To get back into football shape, Marsh worked out three days a week for five to six weeks, mainly running but also playing basketball to help simulate football’s contact and need for jumping and agility.
Marsh’s presence on the Avengers partially stems from his friendship with Los Angeles wide receiver/defensive back Jahine Arnold, a teammate with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Roughriders.
“He encouraged me to come back out here and keep playing,” Marsh said. “He said he’d be able to get me out here for a two-day workout.”
Marsh “really impressed us” during that two-day workout two weeks ago, Hodgkiss said.
“He continues to impress us in practice,” Hodgkiss said. “We’re going to get him ready as quickly as possible and see if we can’t find a spot for him.”
Marsh “is probably at least a week or longer away mentally, understanding the offense and those types of things,” Hodgkiss said.
Marsh acknowledged he needs more time before being ready to make his Arena Football League debut.
“I’m a couple weeks from really understanding the angles, the timing, [and] the thought process behind what we’re trying to accomplish,” Marsh said. “As far as knowing the plays, the formations, [and] all the routes, I think I’m a lot further behind in that matter.”
Although listed as a linebacker defensively, Marsh is also getting practice time as a defensive back.
“You’d love to have a guy with his size play DB,” Hodgkiss said.
Marsh said his CFL experience would prove beneficial in one way as he seeks to make the transition to the AFL.
“They have the running start in Canada also, so that factor I was familiar with,” Marsh said.
When asked what he could contribute to the Avengers, Marsh replied: “Hard work.
“I work hard every day. I have a love for the game. I have a high expectation level of myself and I know given the opportunity I can bring some offense.”
The Avengers were also fortunate “to come across” Benoit, Hodgkiss said.
“He just has great explosion--great rush guy.”
Benoit “could play now defensively,” but is “a little further away offensively,” Hodgkiss said.
“With an injury, we wouldn’t be afraid to put him in” March 30 at Orlando, Hodgkiss said.
Benoit was a defensive end and linebacker at Central Florida, where he was a teammate of Los Angeles wide receiver/defensive back Siaha Burley.
The 6-foot-3, 255-pound Benoit’s only AFL experience came last season he when was signed by the Tampa Bay Storm August 1 and was on its roster for a season-ending playoff loss two days later to the eventual ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats, but did not play.
Benoit played with NFL Europe’s Scottish Claymores in 1999 and 2000, and participated in training camps with the Detroit Lions in 1999 and St. Louis Rams in 2000.
Marsh and Benoit filled roster spots created when defensive specialist Wasswa Serwanga (strained right hamstring) and wide receiver/defensive back Russell Shaw (sprained left ankle) were placed on injured reserve.
Under AFL rules, both Serwanga and Shaw will have to miss at least two games before they are eligible to be reactivated.
Steven Herbert began covering Arena Football in 1988, the league’s second season. He has covered the sport for The Associated Press, Arizona Republic, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Providence Journal-Bulletin, Palm Beach Post, Daily Oklahoman and other publications. Herbert has also written on college and NFL football for The Washington Post and spent five years as a Los Angeles Times staff writer.
