Returning Players Key to Storm Success
Joe Kauffman
Monday March 7, 2005
For the Storm, the injury situation got worse as OS Freddie Solomon, FB/LB David White and lineman Kelvin Kinney all ended up on IR from various injuries suffered in the first few weeks of the season.
Well, they are all back, much to the chagrin of Grand Rapids Rampage, who fell to the Storm 70-50 in front of 16,384 at the St. Pete Times Forum.
"Four out of the 20 guys are back this time and you can see those are the guys making plays, said Storm coach Tim Marcum, referring to the projected gameday roster during training camp. "Freddie Solomon’s running around getting open. T.T. Toliver, the same thing on kick returns. David White was solid at fullback blocking, and Kelvin Kinney had pressure."
It didn’t take long to test Toliver’s knee, as he was under the nets to receive the game’s opening kickoff. "In the scrimmage I got hurt on a kickoff return, so I said [to coach Marcum], ‘Let me try a kickoff return so I can get the jitters out.’ Coach said it was okay, so I just tried it. It worked pretty well," said Toliver.
"I watched him throughout two weeks of practice and I knew that he was pretty good," said Marcum. "He’s solid. He had to make sure that he knew he was well. I knew he was well, but it was important that he knew he was well."
Toliver returned the opening kickoff for 18 yards. Five plays later, he was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from QB Shane Stafford.
"You don’t really hold anybody back," said Marcum. "You let them go, see what they can do. With injuries like T.T. Toliver’s, he’s going to try that knee. He’s got to run, he’s got to get hit on it and he’s got to know that it’s solid."
Later in the third quarter, he returned another kickoff for 27 yards, setting up Freddie Solomon’s third touchdown reception of the game.
Solomon was also coming back from a leg injury, one that he re-aggravated in a Week 3 game against the Orlando Predators Predators, which forced him onto IR for two weeks. "I think I came back a little too early [against the Predators]," said Solomon. . "It was a big game and I’m a competitor. I felt like I could go, but once the game started, it just was no good for me."
Playing in a full game for the first time in over a month, Solomon was glad to be back. "I felt good. Everyone’s in their normal positions so I just felt comfortable being out there today just trying to make some plays."
Make plays he did. Solomon led all receivers with nine catches for 148 yards and four touchdowns.
"[Solomon]’s got the speed to expand the field and when they drop back to cover him or give help to cover him then we land it down to the other guys, said Marcum. "Certainly no knock on the guys that played [at OS while he was hurt], but Freddie Solomon is something special."
And while Solomon was recognized by his teammates and coaches as having a huge impact on the game, it was Toliver who was recognized as the Ironman of the Game for his efforts. In addition to the kickoff returns and four receptions for 29 yards including a touchdown catch, he also practically sealed the game with 5:19 remaining in the fourth quarter.
After Rampage kicker Peter Martinez missed a 61 yard field goal well short of the net, Toliver took the return 53 yards for the touchdown, putting the Storm up by 18 late.
"I looked up, and all I saw was daylight," said Toliver about the return. "I made one cut and from there it was the end zone. It wasn’t anything big. The guys did their jobs, we all did our assignments."
"It was just me coming out here and playing hard," Toliver continued. "I knew I could cut. It was just getting the right position. The missed field goal was a good opportunity and I went to the house on it."
With the win, the Storm only sit one and-a-half games out of first place in the Southern Division. It’s a slight hole they have dug for themselves at 3-2, but it’s not so terrible that they can’t pull themselves out. But now that all the key players are back from injury, this team has the confidence to get it done.
"Freddie [Solomon] did a hell of a good job. K2 [Kelvin Kinney] did a hell of a good job. Everyone who was on injured reserve came out and played well and helped our team win," said Toliver.
"Execution is our number one thing and we can execute. Whether it’s the first team or the second team, we can get the job done. Being a veteran, we know that execution comes first. That’s what me, Freddie, David Saunders, and Lawrence [Samuels] bring to the table."
Joe Kauffman is President and Editor in Chief of Arenafan Online, having joined the staff in 2000. He graduated from Florida State University in 1998 with a degree in communications andbuilds ecommerce sites for a day job. Joe has enjoyed Arena Football since 1991 and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1995. Prior to Joining Arenafan, he was a co-founder and Technical Editor of the Storm Shelter, which covered the Tampa Bay Storm from 1996-99. Joe and his wife Erika live in Hackettstown, New Jersey with their two daughters.
