New Def. Coord. Frazier Cites Line As Key
Jim Parcels
Wednesday March 20, 2002
“Whether it’s college, high school or pro, the difference between being a winner and a loser is how well your line plays on both sides of the ball,” said Frazier, who just arrived in Toronto over the weekend.
The Toronto Phantoms new defensive coordinator, formerly head coach of the now-defunct Milwaukee Mustangs, believes that the theory also applies to the pass-happy Arena Football League.
When you look at the past champions of the AFL like Orlando, Tampa Bay and Detroit, all clubs had outstanding line personnel. “Its proven in this league that when you protect your quarterback and create pressure on their QB, you will be successful,” said Frazier.
Last season the young Phantoms’ line progressed over the course of the season. As the line play improved, so did the club.
“From watching the film of the club I really like what I see from the returning guys,” said Frazier just after arriving in town from Milwaukee. “Summerday, Spain, Konopka, Moore and Walters are all guys that I know were outstanding in protecting (quarterback Chad) Salisbury down the stretch last year.”
In their last five regular season games, Toronto’s offensive line yielded only one sack - that came late in a 61-26 drubbing of the Buffalo Destroyers. On the defensive side of the ball, during those five games, the pass rush generated nine sacks and eight tackles for losses!
Toronto’s record over those five contests? 5-0.
One of the Phantoms’ key acquisitions in the off-season was selecting C/NT Doug Lytle in the dispersal draft in November. The 6-4, 285 lbs. former Milwaukee Mustang was signed and developed by Frazier.
“He’s a warrior,” said Frazier. “Doug works as hard as anyone I’ve seen in this game. He’s tough and he’s a leader. What else can you expect from a guy who ropes cattle in Montana?” Lytle, who was signed by Milwaukee out of little-known Chadron State University in Nebraska in 2000, started all 14 games for the Mustangs last year.
The Phantoms recently announced the signing of former Philadelphia Eagle Bob Landsee as their new line coach. Landsee worked under Frazier in Milwaukee last season.
“Bob is one of the most intense coaches I’ve seen in my years,” said Frazier. “He gets so involved working with the players in practice that he has to ice down his shoulders afterwards. He’s a throwback and I know the guys are gonna’ love him.”
Landsee will have a good returning nucleus that will be enhanced with some interesting newcomers.
Returning to the Phantoms offensive line are starters C/NT John Summerday, G/DE Connell Spain and TE/DE Steve Konopka. Subs Jason Walters, Chris Bell and Frank Moore also return.
Summerday, a former Temple University grad, won an AFL Championshop as a member of the Albany Firebirds in 1999. He is entering his fourth AFL campaign.
Spain, who tested the free agent market over the off-season, returns for his fifth AFL campaign. The 6-2, 295 lbs G/DE is a former Florida State Seminole who has recorded 55 tackles in 4 seasons to go along with 4.5 sacks. Spain was also a member of the 1998 AFL Champion Orlando Predators.
Konopka had a solid rookie campaign with the Phantoms last year, picking up four sacks and 22 total tackles from his TE/DE position. The 25-year old was in the New York Giants’ camp in 1999.
One of the biggest steals off the AFL Waiver Wire last season was the acquisition of former Syracuse Orange OL/DL Walters. The 6-4, 280 lbs end was salvaged from the New Jersey Gladiators train wreck last June. His three years in New Jersey saw him also utilized as a tight-end.
The Phantoms gained an experienced veteran, and a valuable asset, with the off-season signing of former Predator and Rattler Kelvin Ingram. Ingram brings over five years of AFL play to the table, including trips to the ArenaBowl with both Orlando and Arizona. The 6-4, 285 lbs G/DE is a graduate of Oklahoma State. His stints with the Preds’ and Ratts’ saw him tally 61 total tackles and 9.5 sacks.
The top newcomer to the Phantoms line is Thomas Washington, a member of the 2001 NFL Europe Champion Berlin Thunder. Washington put up some staggering defensive numbers while at Winston-Salem State in North Carolina and drew the attention of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs for two years. The hulking 6-4, 325-pounder was a starting defensive tackle for the Berlin club last season. He registered 21 total tackles and batted down three passes across the pond.
Another NFL Europe standout looking for a job is Marvin Coley, a former New Orleans Saint project, who had a solid season with the NFLE Frankfurt Galaxy. Coley picked up 21 total tackles and 1.5 sacks as a starting DE in Germany last year.
Newcomers also looking for playing time include Sherwin Lacewell (East Carolina), Donald Dinkins (Syracuse) and Nelson Smith (Eastern New Mexico).
Tales from the Crypt:
A rumor is circulating that standout OS Damien Harrell is tweaking the interest of some NFL clubs. The three-year veteran caught a team-high 98 passes last year for 1340 yard and 20 TD’s – losing Harrell would be a major blow to the offense. If that is the case, expect to see former AF2 standout James Dickerson step into the OS role or a shift of Charlie Davidson from the WR/DB spot… Ben Chapdelaine, the CIAU’s all-time leading passer, caught the eye of the Phantoms staff last Friday at their Free Agent camp in Woodbridge. The former McMaster signal-caller flashed some of his skills among 30 hopefuls during a three-hour workout. The 24-year old is vying to become only the third Canadian to suit up for an AFL game. The other two were OL/DL Phil Poirier (Cleveland-Albany 1992-1995) and QB Mike Carubba (Connecticut 1995). Poirier hailed from Sarnia and Carubba from Hamilton… Expect the club to announce a regional TV deal with Rogers SportsNet Ontario to carry seven Phantoms home games. Jamie Campbell (Play-by-Play) and former CFL star Leif Pettersen (Colour) were the on-air talent last year… Q107 and Mojo 640 are returning as the official radio broadcasters of Phantoms games. Bruce Barker and Jim Lang were in the booth last year… Last week the Phantoms signed FB/LB Phil Glover, a former 7th round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 1999. Glover, a native of Las Vegas, played his college ball at Utah… Former Toronto Argonaut QB Rickey Foggie has signed on with the Detroit Fury. Foggie, a veteran of seven AFL campaigns, led the Argos to the Grey Cup title in 1990. He’s expected to be in Toronto with the Fury on April 25th for the home opener.
Jim Parcels was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2002 season.
