Storm kickoff 2008 training camp
Tuesday February 12, 2008
Team to Scrimmage Orlando Thursday, February 21
TAMPA – Training Camp started off with a bang as the first drill in the morning session was a good dose of Oklahoma’s. Each player took a turn facing off against another as the ball carrier tried to run over a defender in a tight gauntlet. While the big hits came the players escaped unscathed.
The coaches hope that this will set the tone for training camp as they implored the defenders to tackle soundly and the ball carries to stay low. “We want to start off with a good pace, get some momentum going and keep it,” said head coach and general manager Tim Marcum.
Highlights of today’s practice include defensive back Khalid Naziruddin taking an interception back for a touchdown and swift moves by Hank Edwards in the open field. Local high school product Ricky Williams (Boca Ciega HS, St. Petersburg, FL) joined the team today for a tryout and will return tomorrow.
With wide receiver Lawrence Samuels at an engagement for Big Brother/Big Sisters and Sedrick Robinson nursing an injury the receivers pulled double duty in the afternoon session. The extra repetitions are helping the young receivers, Hank Edwards and Tyrone Timmons, to learn the offense quicker and teaching them the importance of focus at the end of the day.
Media Day – Tuesday, February 12
Members of the media will have the opportunity to meet and interview the Tampa Bay Storm coaching staff and players at approximately 12:00 p.m. immediately after the first practice session. The session will last until 1:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided and credentials available for pickup.
Where: Shots at Channelside – St. Pete Times Forum
401 Channelside Drive
Training Camp – First Week
Monday, Feb. 11 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Practice 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Practice
Tuesday, Feb. 12 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Practice 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Practice
Wednesday, Feb. 13 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Practice 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Practice
Thursday, Feb. 14 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Practice 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Practice
Friday, Feb. 15 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Practice 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.: Practice
Saturday, Feb. 16 Inter-squad Scrimmage
Sunday, Feb. 17 Off-Day – No Practice
Monday, Feb. 18 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Practice 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Practice
Practices sessions for the first week of training camp will take place at Skyway Park located just off of Independence Parkway in Tampa. Please call 813.276.7300 or 727.481.7817 to confirm the time and location of practice.
Training Camp concludes on Sunday, February 24, as the team must submit its 24-man regular season roster to the AFL League Office on Monday, February 25.
Pre Season Preview
The AFL’s most storied franchise looks to build off of a spectacular run at the end of the 2007 season and march into the playoffs for the 21st time in 22 years. With new ownership, many key veterans returning, and an infusion of talent and experience the Storm hope to jump out to an early start and provide a fast, fun and exciting season for the fans.
Departures: (2007 Information)
Defense: DB Ronald “Bo” Rodgers (6 games/1 start, 21.5 Tks., 2 Pbu) and DB Alex Wallace (2/2, 15 Tks., 3 Pbu).
Offense: FB Rodney Filer (4/4, 27 Att., 96 Yds., 9 TD), QB John Kaleo (8/6, 133 Cmp., 199 Att., 1,464 Yds., 18 TD, 6 Int), OL Lincoln Kennedy (10/10, 1 sack allowed), OL Dwayne Morgan (5/5, 1sack allowed), QB BJ Symons (0/0), WR Karl Williams (14/1, 10 Rec., 140 Yds., 3 TD, 46 Ret., 810 Yds., 1 TD) and OL/DL Rod Williams (6/4, 2 sacks allowed).
Acquisitions: (2007 information or last team)
Defense: Veteran – DB Daryon Brutley (Last in AFL in 2004 with Carolina Cobras); Rookies – DB Kevin House (NFL, Denver Broncos), DB Gerard Ross (NFL, Seattle Seahawks), LB Terrance Royal (AIFA, Lakeland Thunderbolts), DL Kenyon Scott (af2, Lubbock Renegades), DL Kenny Smith (NFL, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and DB Bryant Tisdale (UTEP, Storm practice squad final two weeks of 2007).
Offense: Veterans – FB Kevin Clemens (Utah Blaze, 11/11, 25 Att., 32 Yds., 10 TD), WR Sedrick Robinson (Austin Wranglers, 12/4, 16 Rec., 254 Yds., 3 TD, 17 Att., 69 Yds., 6 TD, 64 Ret., 1,300 Yds., 4 TD) and WR David Saunders (Columbus Destroyers, 11/11, 69 Rec., 555 Yds., 18 TD, 11 Tks., 2 FumR.); Rookies – OL Emmanual Akah (NFL Europa, Frankfurt Galaxy), OL Randy Hand (NFL, Buffalo Bills practice squad), OL Kenyatta Jones (Washington Redskins 2004), FB Jason Schule (af2, Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings), QB Mitch Tanney (af2, Alabama Steeldogs) and WR Tyrone Timmons (Storm practice squad final four weeks).
AFL Hall-of-Fame Head Coach and General Manager Tim Marcum focused on quality this off-season collecting a mixture of veteran experience and youthful invigoration. He brought in veteran experience with Clemens, Robinson and Saunders and youth with House, Ross, Timmons and Tisdale.
At the wide receiver position Tampa Bay has one of the deepest collections of talent in Arena Football. While at the defensive line and defensive back positions the players will have to earn their keep to get a stripe on the helmet as the competition at these positions will be fierce. Other AFL teams will wait in the wings to come in and scoop up whoever does not make the 24-man roster.
With the 2008 rule change to the Jack linebacker position the team went out and acquired Saunders and re-signed Nyle Wiren to join All-Arena performer Lawrence Samuels. With the old rule the Jack had to stay in a box until the quarterback released the ball. Now the Jack may roam sideline-to-sideline at the snap of the ball. This could present some challenges to the wide receivers particularly if defensive backs shade the receivers outside shoulder forcing them inside towards the Jack linebacker.
Quarterbacks
2007 AFL Co-Rookie of the Year, Brett Dietz, returns for his first full season at the helm. He joined the Storm in Week 8 in 2007. After injuries to both John Kaleo and Stoney Case he inherited the starting job. Dietz went on to set an AFL rookie record and franchise record with a 65.9 completion percentage and recorded the second highest quarterback rating (119.3) by an AFL rookie quarterback. His quarterback rating was also the highest in franchise history. Stoney Case returns strong from offseason shoulder surgery and will look to provide experience and depth at the quarterback position. While rookie Mitch Tanney hope to make the active roster and gain experience.
Wide Receivers
This may be most talented position on the team. Returning from 2007 is All-Arena performer Lawrence Samuels (16/16, 122 Rec., 1,143 Yds., 15 TD, 38 Tks., 3 Int., 1 FFum.), 2006 Storm receiving yardage and touchdown leader Terrill Shaw (16/14, 101 Rec., 1,411 Yds., 24 TD) and young Hank Edwards (4/3, 21 Rec., 244 Yds., 7 TD). Joining them are veterans Sedrick Robinson, David Saunders and rookie Tyrone Timmons. Edwards, Samuels, Saunders and Timmons are all big receivers and whose size can cause problems for opposing defensive backs. Robinson has tremendous speed while Shaw runs great routes and always finds a way to get open. The trio of Samuels, Saunders and Shaw has combined to catch 1,873 passes for 22,607 yards and 418 touchdowns. Robinson should help to improve a special team unit the ranked 14th in the AFL in 2007, an improvement over 2006. Robinson is the AFL all-time leader kickoff returns for a touchdown with 28 and has amassed 8,854 return yards in seven seasons. Edwards and Timmons are each young talents that must fight their way onto the active roster.
Fullback/Linebackers
Torrance Marshall (15/14, 55 Att., 107 Yds., 17 TD, 17.5 Tks., 1 Sk., 4 Pbu) and Marvin Brown (4/2, 9 Att., 43 Yds., 1 TD) return form 2007 at this position. Last season Marshall set a franchise record with 17 touchdowns on the ground while Brown demonstrated an ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. They are joined by eight-year veteran Kevin Clemens, rookies Terrance Royal and Jason Schule. Hoping to keep Marshall at his natural linebacker position Brown, Clemens and Schule will battle to get the full back position while Royal will look to get time backing up Marshall. Schule led the af2 in rushing with 351 yards while Royal led the AIFA wit 19.5 sacks.
Offensive and Defensive Lines
Even with the free substitution rule change in 2007 the guys in the trenches will have to demonstrate an ability to play both ways. Returning from last season are 2007 Storm sack leaders Tom Briggs and Tim McGill. They are joined by Ernest Certain, Geir Gudmundsen, Tom Kaleita, Clint Mitchell, Marcus Owen and Mark Word. With one season together under their belts these units should jell early in the season. Look for Certain and Owen to see action on both of the offensive and defensive line as each player has demonstrated versatility to play each way. New additions include University of South Florida product Kenyatta Jones, youngsters Randy Hand and Kenyon Scott, London native Emmanual Akah and former Saint Kenny Smith. Competition for a spot on the defensive line will be furious
Defensive Backs
With eight defensive backs in camp the competition for a roster spot will be fierce. Returning from 2007 are Jeroid Johnson (16/16, 96 Tks, 12 Int., 22 Pbu, 3 TD), Byron Jones (2/2, 9 Tks.), Traco Rachal (11/10, 68 Tks., 2 Int., 7 Pbu) and Storm Rookie of the Year Khalid Naziruddin (13/9, 70 Tks., 3 Int., 6 Pbu.). Familiarity and experience gives these four an inside track. Coming in to compete with them are Daryon Brutely, Kevin House, Gerard Ross and Bryant Tisdale. Brutley brings with him an array of experience including time with the Philadelphia Eagles. House is a physical defender that likes to jam receivers. Ross may be the hardest hitter of the group; he received the hardest hit award in the Seahawks 2007 training camp. Meanwhile local product Bryant Tisdale is picking up the defense quick and may be the sleeper pick of the group.
Coaches
The Tampa Bay Storm staff is led by AFL Hall-of-Famer Tim Marcum as he enters his 20th season in the AFL and 14th with the Storm. His entire staff from the 2007 season, Dave Ewart, Pat O'Hara and Eddie Vowell, returns intact. Coach Marcum heads an experienced staff, 46 combined years in the AFL, as he not only seeks to take the team to the playoffs but to reach his 200th career win.
Ewart returns for his sixth season with the Storm. His primary responsibilities include bringing in free agents as the director of player personnel and working with the offensive and defensive lineman. He will look to build a cohesive unit to protect Brett Dietz.
O'Hara returns for his third season as offensive coordinator. His primary responsibility is the continued development of quarterback Brett Dietz as he enters his first full season as a starting quarterback. Coach O'Hara will work to ensure the 2007 Co-Rookie of the Year, Brett Dietz, continues to learn and develop.
Vowell returns for his fifth overall season with the Storm. He has the task of improving the Storm special teams unit along with coaching the fullbacks and linebackers. The special teams unit looks to continue to improve from what where it left off in 2007. He will also game plan new schemes for the Jack Linebacker to try to exploit the rule change that takes effect this season.
Tickets
The 2008 Storm Season, presented by Champs Sports, Where Sport Lives, will open March 7 against the defending Southern Division Champion Georgia Force on Bill Currie Ford Field at the St. Pete Times Forum. For tickets call 813.301.6780 or visit www.tampabaystorm.com.
