Rampage’s Anderson making transition to arena football
Chip Burch
Friday April 13, 2007
The Arena Football League rookie from Grambling State was three years removed from playing with the NFL’s Detroit Lions when he decided to sign a contract with the Rampage.
Anderson spent three years with the Lions, amassing 54 receptions for 858 yards and four touchdowns. He was released on Aug. 24, 2004 after sustaining an ankle injury.
He’s back in football, and having to make adjustments to the indoor game.
“It’s been going along great,” Anderson said. “I had to make adjustments to how quick the indoor game is played. I was a little bit nervous my first couple of weeks, but the more time I spent with it the more I got adjusted to it.”
The biggest adjustment Anderson has had to make is everything being so small compared to the NFL.
“I think the field is small and everything is happening so fast because the field is not as long,” Anderson said. “It’s a different speed of play. The NFL is fast but you have a little more ground to move. Here you have a route and the field runs out and you’re limited. But I’m loving it so far.”
Anderson has been able to master most of the nuances of the AFL. Going into Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Brigade Anderson has 15 receptions for 189 yards and four touchdowns.
“Most of the adjustments are angles and the different way of running routes,” he said. “The ball gets out (of a quarterback’s hands) a little faster. This is a little quicker pace but I’m coming along with it.”
Anderson noted getting the plays down helps out in adjusting to arena football.
“That’s it, just getting adjusted,” he said. “It’s still football.”
Compared to the NFL, Anderson likes the AFL.
“It’s an exciting atmosphere because the crowd is so close,” he said. “It’s like basketball because the crowd is closer, but I’m loving the excitement of the game also.”
The ankle injury Anderson suffered in 2003 was thought to end his career. While it may have ended his NFL career, he’s still playing football.
“I just love to play football,” he said. “I’ve played in Canada and the NFL, now I’m in arena football. If something happened I’ll move on, but I’m just loving to play.”
Anderson is one of four receivers left on the Rampage after another former NFL star, Troy Edwards, was released by the Rampage Monday. Edwards had 27 catches for 220 yards and two touchdowns in four weeks with Grand Rapids -- second on the team behind Timon Marshall -- but was inactive with a hamstring injury in the Rampage’s 66-53 win over the New York Dragons April 7.
Chip Burch has been covering the Rampage since 2005. He is a sports reporter for WSCG AM-FM in Greenville Michigan, where he currently resides.
