Post by 50yardfan on Feb 24, 2012 22:48:55 GMT -5
www.theindependent.com/sports/danger-to-make-cuts-after-scrimmage-at-hec/article_5e5947b8-5ddf-11e1-b7ef-0019bb2963f4.html
Sometime soon Nebraska Danger coach Mike Davis and his staff will make some cuts.
The Danger has signed 40 players for their preseason practices, but must cut down to 25 by March 2, that's 48 hours before its first game against Tri-City on March 4 at the Heartland Events Center.
But Davis said he's not going to wait that long to make cuts. The Danger will scrimmage against the Nebraska Lawdawgs - a semipro team based in Norfolk - at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at the events center. Admission is $10 and a bar of soap.
"We're going to cut down after the first scrimmage, just so those guys for those last seven or eight days can jell together offensively and defensively," Davis said.
That cut definitely won't be easy. Danger running back Erick Jackson said he's glad he doesn't have to make those decisions.
"That's always tough," Jackson said. "I love ice cream, and it's almost like choosing your favorite ice cream. Hey, that's what the coaches get paid for and we just roll with it."
Receiver Mike Jones has played for a number of teams since he graduated from Midland University in 2006. The Sutton native played with the Chicago Rush of the Arena League 1, the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the Arena league 2 and the Colorado Ice of the Indoor Football League before spending last season with the Omaha Beef.
"I've been around long enough, I know that's how it works," Jones said of the cut down process. "It's part of the game. Everybody coming into camp knows that is part of the game as well. That's why you have to get your work in, you have to learn the game fast, you have to try and play mistake-free, but you have to learn on the run as well."
No final decisions have been made, but it appears Jones has a good chance to stick with the Danger. He's a player Danger general manager Mike McCoy has been watching for the past few years.
"He's a class kid. He's a class act," McCoy said. "I've known him for what seems like forever. We've always played against each other at different places. He's always been such a great competitor and made some great catches.
"You just make little mental notes about if he ever did become available that we would sure love to have him, and he did become available this year and we scooped him right up. He's been on my target list, if there is such a thing, for a long time."
Jones said he's been impressed with the Danger organization from top to bottom.
"Organization-wise it's the top of the crop in this league," Jones said. "Football-wise, we have a lot of good players, but now we have to put it all together and get it all going. We have to be on the same page.
"The indoor game is definitely a lot different than the outdoor game. With the young guys we have, there is a lot of talent and athletic ability. We have to adjust their mentality to the indoor game and kind of get the ball rolling there."
That transition isn't easy. Jones knows because he's been through it.
"It's a very hard transition," Jones said. "It's a different game, a different mentality. It's a different beast. You really have to slow your mentality down and use your athletic skills, but you really have the mental down before you use start using your athletic skills. You really have to break it down."
Jones can help the younger players with that process, and that's another reason the Danger staff likes him.
"I've been called the grandpa on a team before," Jones said. "I'll do a lot helping and coaching and assisting. They're good athletically. They're good physically. They're good football players. Now we just have to bring their mind to the indoor game and then just let them go and let them fly."
The ones who adjust the quickest will have a good chance to stay with the Danger. The ones who don't may find themselves looking for another place to play football.
"We'll find out who's in shape, who's not in shape, who's ready for the season," Jones said. "Some people cut themselves, and some people just get cut. That's just part of the game of football."
Sometime soon Nebraska Danger coach Mike Davis and his staff will make some cuts.
The Danger has signed 40 players for their preseason practices, but must cut down to 25 by March 2, that's 48 hours before its first game against Tri-City on March 4 at the Heartland Events Center.
But Davis said he's not going to wait that long to make cuts. The Danger will scrimmage against the Nebraska Lawdawgs - a semipro team based in Norfolk - at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at the events center. Admission is $10 and a bar of soap.
"We're going to cut down after the first scrimmage, just so those guys for those last seven or eight days can jell together offensively and defensively," Davis said.
That cut definitely won't be easy. Danger running back Erick Jackson said he's glad he doesn't have to make those decisions.
"That's always tough," Jackson said. "I love ice cream, and it's almost like choosing your favorite ice cream. Hey, that's what the coaches get paid for and we just roll with it."
Receiver Mike Jones has played for a number of teams since he graduated from Midland University in 2006. The Sutton native played with the Chicago Rush of the Arena League 1, the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the Arena league 2 and the Colorado Ice of the Indoor Football League before spending last season with the Omaha Beef.
"I've been around long enough, I know that's how it works," Jones said of the cut down process. "It's part of the game. Everybody coming into camp knows that is part of the game as well. That's why you have to get your work in, you have to learn the game fast, you have to try and play mistake-free, but you have to learn on the run as well."
No final decisions have been made, but it appears Jones has a good chance to stick with the Danger. He's a player Danger general manager Mike McCoy has been watching for the past few years.
"He's a class kid. He's a class act," McCoy said. "I've known him for what seems like forever. We've always played against each other at different places. He's always been such a great competitor and made some great catches.
"You just make little mental notes about if he ever did become available that we would sure love to have him, and he did become available this year and we scooped him right up. He's been on my target list, if there is such a thing, for a long time."
Jones said he's been impressed with the Danger organization from top to bottom.
"Organization-wise it's the top of the crop in this league," Jones said. "Football-wise, we have a lot of good players, but now we have to put it all together and get it all going. We have to be on the same page.
"The indoor game is definitely a lot different than the outdoor game. With the young guys we have, there is a lot of talent and athletic ability. We have to adjust their mentality to the indoor game and kind of get the ball rolling there."
That transition isn't easy. Jones knows because he's been through it.
"It's a very hard transition," Jones said. "It's a different game, a different mentality. It's a different beast. You really have to slow your mentality down and use your athletic skills, but you really have the mental down before you use start using your athletic skills. You really have to break it down."
Jones can help the younger players with that process, and that's another reason the Danger staff likes him.
"I've been called the grandpa on a team before," Jones said. "I'll do a lot helping and coaching and assisting. They're good athletically. They're good physically. They're good football players. Now we just have to bring their mind to the indoor game and then just let them go and let them fly."
The ones who adjust the quickest will have a good chance to stay with the Danger. The ones who don't may find themselves looking for another place to play football.
"We'll find out who's in shape, who's not in shape, who's ready for the season," Jones said. "Some people cut themselves, and some people just get cut. That's just part of the game of football."