Post by 50yardfan on Jul 15, 2011 13:29:27 GMT -5
Former Lancer QB Sheehan stands out for indoor football’s Commandos
cincinnati.com/blogs/presspreps/2011/07/14/former-lancer-qb-sheehan-stands-out-for-indoor-footballs-commandos/
Former La Salle High School quarterback Tyler Sheehan took the Continental Indoor Football League by storm in 2011, earning MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Honors.
Sheehan, a resident of North College Hill, accounted for 37 passing and seven rushing touchdowns during the 2011 campaign with the Cincinnati Commandos. He was also named the CIFL Championship Game MVP.
The Community Press recently caught up with Sheehan, and asked him about his stellar season, his tryout with the Houston Texans, his immediate future, as well as his thoughts on the 2011 Lancers.
On transitioning to the indoor game
At first, Sheehan found the indoor game difficult. With the size of the field essentially cut in half, Sheehan said quarterbacks in the league must be quicker with reads and get rid of the ball earlier.
After his first game of the year, Sheehan said he got a sense of what it would take to be successful for the Commandos. By the third game, he realized he had what it took to put up MVP-type numbers.
While happy to get the exposure that comes with the accolades, Sheehan remains humble and credits those around him for helping him have an MVP year.
“I couldn’t have done it without everybody else around me. By far, we had the best receiving corps. in the league…and a bunch of veteran lineman. I felt like I had the most time (in the pocket) in the league,” he said. “I could sit back there and pick defenses apart…Being the MVP was definitely a whole team effort.”
On the championship game
Sheehan played a part in four touchdowns for the Commandos in the squad’s 44-29 win over the Marion Blue Racers in the title game.
With a championship and undefeated record on the line, Sheehan, who played collegiately at Bowling Green State University, was able to keep his cool.
“You’ve got to be confident and walk the line of confident and cocky (when playing quarterback). At the same time, you’ve got to be composed,” he said.
Sheehan said the Commandos racked up penalties at the start of the championship game, and as the quarterback, he did his best to keep his team focused on the game.
“It’s all about staying consistent and rubbing off on other guys and keeping them confident and poised throughout the game,” he said.
On trying out for the Houston Texans
Sheehan signed with the Houston Texans last summer as an undrafted free agent. He relished the opportunity to play along some of the top football players in the world.
“You dream about getting that chance, and that’s all I said, I wanted that chance,” he said.
The opportunity kept him optimistic even after he was cut during training camp.
“I knew I had got the chance to do something a lot of people don’t get the chance to do,” he said.
Sheehan added that he made the most of his opportunity, and is looking forward to future opportunities in the NFL, pending the league’s ongoing labor woes.
“I’m hoping to get back there,” he said. “My goal is still to move up to the top.”
Arena League
Sheehan was recently contacted by the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. The squad expressed interest in signing Sheehan as a backup during the team’s run through the playoffs, which is set to begin July 29.
He expects to make his decision in the next couple days.
“I’m considering it right now, and I’ll see what happens,” he said. “It’s looking like I’m going to do it, I’m just trying to get stuff worked out at work.”
On the NFL labor dispute affecting free agents
They way Sheehan sees things, the current labor dispute is affecting all levels off football, from indoor leagues, to the Canadian Football League, to the United Football League.
All athletes looking to catch on with an NFL team are waiting to see what will happen in the coming weeks.
“People are really waiting on this lockout to play out and to see what’s going on,” he said. “Guys are free agents, waiting…and they want to hold off on (signing with) UFL and CFL teams…because they want to go to the NFL. There’s definitely a trickle-down effect.”
On La Salle’s chances in 2011
Doubters of the 2011 football squad will say the team lost all of its top seniors from last year.
Sheehan, who helped out with quarterbacks last season and has been hired onto the staff by head coach Tom Grippa, believes the squad’s younger players are ready to step up and help La Salle continue its winning ways.
“(Younger guys) weren’t ready to play, but they got to learn from (older) guys and that helps out a ton,” he said. “We had a successful season and they learned how to handle success. I think they have a good chance to be as good as we were last year.”
cincinnati.com/blogs/presspreps/2011/07/14/former-lancer-qb-sheehan-stands-out-for-indoor-footballs-commandos/
Former La Salle High School quarterback Tyler Sheehan took the Continental Indoor Football League by storm in 2011, earning MVP and Offensive Player of the Year Honors.
Sheehan, a resident of North College Hill, accounted for 37 passing and seven rushing touchdowns during the 2011 campaign with the Cincinnati Commandos. He was also named the CIFL Championship Game MVP.
The Community Press recently caught up with Sheehan, and asked him about his stellar season, his tryout with the Houston Texans, his immediate future, as well as his thoughts on the 2011 Lancers.
On transitioning to the indoor game
At first, Sheehan found the indoor game difficult. With the size of the field essentially cut in half, Sheehan said quarterbacks in the league must be quicker with reads and get rid of the ball earlier.
After his first game of the year, Sheehan said he got a sense of what it would take to be successful for the Commandos. By the third game, he realized he had what it took to put up MVP-type numbers.
While happy to get the exposure that comes with the accolades, Sheehan remains humble and credits those around him for helping him have an MVP year.
“I couldn’t have done it without everybody else around me. By far, we had the best receiving corps. in the league…and a bunch of veteran lineman. I felt like I had the most time (in the pocket) in the league,” he said. “I could sit back there and pick defenses apart…Being the MVP was definitely a whole team effort.”
On the championship game
Sheehan played a part in four touchdowns for the Commandos in the squad’s 44-29 win over the Marion Blue Racers in the title game.
With a championship and undefeated record on the line, Sheehan, who played collegiately at Bowling Green State University, was able to keep his cool.
“You’ve got to be confident and walk the line of confident and cocky (when playing quarterback). At the same time, you’ve got to be composed,” he said.
Sheehan said the Commandos racked up penalties at the start of the championship game, and as the quarterback, he did his best to keep his team focused on the game.
“It’s all about staying consistent and rubbing off on other guys and keeping them confident and poised throughout the game,” he said.
On trying out for the Houston Texans
Sheehan signed with the Houston Texans last summer as an undrafted free agent. He relished the opportunity to play along some of the top football players in the world.
“You dream about getting that chance, and that’s all I said, I wanted that chance,” he said.
The opportunity kept him optimistic even after he was cut during training camp.
“I knew I had got the chance to do something a lot of people don’t get the chance to do,” he said.
Sheehan added that he made the most of his opportunity, and is looking forward to future opportunities in the NFL, pending the league’s ongoing labor woes.
“I’m hoping to get back there,” he said. “My goal is still to move up to the top.”
Arena League
Sheehan was recently contacted by the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. The squad expressed interest in signing Sheehan as a backup during the team’s run through the playoffs, which is set to begin July 29.
He expects to make his decision in the next couple days.
“I’m considering it right now, and I’ll see what happens,” he said. “It’s looking like I’m going to do it, I’m just trying to get stuff worked out at work.”
On the NFL labor dispute affecting free agents
They way Sheehan sees things, the current labor dispute is affecting all levels off football, from indoor leagues, to the Canadian Football League, to the United Football League.
All athletes looking to catch on with an NFL team are waiting to see what will happen in the coming weeks.
“People are really waiting on this lockout to play out and to see what’s going on,” he said. “Guys are free agents, waiting…and they want to hold off on (signing with) UFL and CFL teams…because they want to go to the NFL. There’s definitely a trickle-down effect.”
On La Salle’s chances in 2011
Doubters of the 2011 football squad will say the team lost all of its top seniors from last year.
Sheehan, who helped out with quarterbacks last season and has been hired onto the staff by head coach Tom Grippa, believes the squad’s younger players are ready to step up and help La Salle continue its winning ways.
“(Younger guys) weren’t ready to play, but they got to learn from (older) guys and that helps out a ton,” he said. “We had a successful season and they learned how to handle success. I think they have a good chance to be as good as we were last year.”