Hill, Sippio Out as Preds Begin Training Camp

Jason Lucas
Saturday February 26, 2011

The Orlando Predators kicked off training camp on Saturday at Thunder Field with 13 returning players from their 2010 roster that nearly reached the ArenaBowl after getting off to a slow start.

Head coach Pat O’Hara was dealt some bad news when quarterback Nick Hill had to have an emergency appendectomy late Wednesday evening. Due to the surgery, Hill will be sidelined anywhere from one to six weeks as he recovers.

Coach O’Hara noted that there have been players such as Olin Kreutz of the Chicago Bears who managed to go through that surgery without missing time at all. Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger also suffered from appendicitis and missed a game after having the surgery.

Hill being out opens the door for his back-up Collin Drafts who is no stranger to this situation. Last year as a back-up for the Dallas Vigilantes, Drafts filled in admirably for starter Shane Stafford who went out with injury in the second game throwing for 60 touchdowns against 15 interceptions.

Drafts also spent time in af2 with the Tri Cities Fever where O’Hara was the head coach in 2009. O’Hara refuses to look at the glass half empty and looks at this as a learning experience for Drafts and third stringer Cameron Sexton.

“Being able to have Collin in af2 has turned out to be a good thing for us,” O’Hara said. “We were able to go 2-2 with him there in a tough situation and he got a lot of reps with Dallas last year so that helped him as well. With it being an 18 game season I think it’s important to have more than one experienced quarterback. Collin will have to get back used to what I like to do, but it’s good to have another veteran quarterback.”

I am not sure whether or not to call this a concern or an ace in the hole. Only time will tell, but wide receiver Bobby Sippio is suspended for training camp as well as the first game of the season. So while it may disturb his timing with Drafts, hopefully it will be Hill back under center by the time he returns for the second game.

The more I think about it the more I am forced to think that with a veteran receiver like Sippio, he will come back with fresh legs and cure any struggles the Predators offense may suffer through in his absence.

“We have a competitive situation going on with our receivers right now,” said O’Hara. “We have T.T. Toliver and Josh Bush back this year along with a lot of other exciting guys at the position.”

Coach pointed to Thursday night’s preseason game against the Tampa Bay Storm as a big test for the new receivers to step up. Rookie receiver Micah Rucker (6’5, 220 Eastern Illinois) made a one-handed grab in the end zone during team period to provide the highlight of the day for the receivers. Along with other newcomers Sergio Joachim (6’5, 205 UCF) and Doug Gabriel (6’3, 215 UCF), Rucker is vying to be on the Preds final roster in just his first arena experience.

Joachim spent time on the Preds last season, but never suited up for a game. Gabriel is an NFL veteran from his time with the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders. This friendly competition will be something to keep an eye on as camp progresses.

In his first practice since announcing this will be his last season, defensive specialist Kenny “The Glove” McEntyre turned in a stellar effort with no fewer than five pass break-ups on the day. McEntyre was in great spirits as he made play after play suggesting one of the Preds QB’s stop throwing the football his way before he gets cut.

All joking aside, McEntyre is entering his 13th season at the young age of 40 and showing no signs of slowing down. He is still the unquestioned leader of the Preds squad and probably soon will have most of these guys calling him, “Mr. McEntyre” if he plays anymore seasons. 

“Kenny is timeless, his energy and veteran presence is huge for us,” O’Hara said. “He’s like having another coach on the field in the secondary.”

As for the entire day itself, the Preds had the usual first day dropped snaps in the QB/center exchange. There were of course plenty of timing issues between QB’s and receivers. But all and all it was what is expected on the first day. I expect to see a much improved squad when I follow the team to Tampa Bay later this week.

The Preds will make that all too familiar trip down I-4 West on Thursday to face the Storm inside St. Pete Times Forum at 7:30pm. The event is free for all to attend as we will get our first peeks of what this Predators team could look like when the season starts.