Post by fwp on Mar 13, 2010 9:54:01 GMT -5
www.standard.net/topics/sports/2010/03/12/knights-falter-exhibition
OGDEN -- Don't look at the score of the Ogden Knights' first and only exhibition contest this year as any indication how the 2010 campaign will go for the American Indoor Football Association team.
Better yet, don't bother, says new coach Doug Coleman.
The 48-16 exhibition loss to the San Jose Wolves last weekend was just that, an exhibition. The homestanding Wolves, desperate to generate any kind of buzz in their new market, decided a lopsided victory may result in an extra season ticket sale or two and kept their starters in for the better part of three quarters.
Meanwhile, Coleman shuffled his players in and out constantly and his playbook featured just five plays, including some he "was making up along the way."
"San Jose comes to our place for the second game (March 27) and I didn't want to show them everything," Coleman said. "Same for Wyoming (Ogden's opening night opponent on March 22 at the Golden Spike Events Center).
For Coleman, it was simply 60 minutes worth of evaluation and full-speed game experience.
"I found out some guys who are ready to work and some aren't," Coleman said. "I want players who want to go the next level and don't want to stay here for long."
Coleman got that and registered his first move-up to the next level. Wide receiver Eddie Thompson traveled to San Jose as a Knight and left a signee of the Spokane Shock of the newly reformed Arena Football League.
"That was a plus," Coleman said.
With a week remaining before the opener, Coleman's preseason roster is a mixture of new talent and returnees from the inaugural 4-10 team under Michael Mink that went 4-1 against a 1-13 next Mexico team and a combined 0-9 to Wyoming and Utah Valley, now an AFL team playing under the old Blaze name.
Back are kicker Bryce Kennington, wide receiver Adrian Conway and running back/linebacker Justin Oswald.
Coleman brought his own talent from the southeast, including wide receivers Clevan White and Gerald Landry from his 2009 team, the Houma Conquerors of the Southern Indoor Football League. Landry was an all-league performer with 57 catches for 644 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games.
"Gerald's trying to get back to the next level," Coleman said.
The quarterback position is "up for grabs" as of now according to Coleman, who now have Bruce Jones (Fergus Falls) and Jeremy Glover (Morgan State) on the roster.
"I need to fill the pieces of the puzzle," Coleman said. "I'm also looking for defensive ends and players with the attitude they will move up."
Ogden and Wyoming are the two returning teams from the AIFA West, which now has expansion teams in Yakima (Wash.), San Jose and Alaska.
OGDEN -- Don't look at the score of the Ogden Knights' first and only exhibition contest this year as any indication how the 2010 campaign will go for the American Indoor Football Association team.
Better yet, don't bother, says new coach Doug Coleman.
The 48-16 exhibition loss to the San Jose Wolves last weekend was just that, an exhibition. The homestanding Wolves, desperate to generate any kind of buzz in their new market, decided a lopsided victory may result in an extra season ticket sale or two and kept their starters in for the better part of three quarters.
Meanwhile, Coleman shuffled his players in and out constantly and his playbook featured just five plays, including some he "was making up along the way."
"San Jose comes to our place for the second game (March 27) and I didn't want to show them everything," Coleman said. "Same for Wyoming (Ogden's opening night opponent on March 22 at the Golden Spike Events Center).
For Coleman, it was simply 60 minutes worth of evaluation and full-speed game experience.
"I found out some guys who are ready to work and some aren't," Coleman said. "I want players who want to go the next level and don't want to stay here for long."
Coleman got that and registered his first move-up to the next level. Wide receiver Eddie Thompson traveled to San Jose as a Knight and left a signee of the Spokane Shock of the newly reformed Arena Football League.
"That was a plus," Coleman said.
With a week remaining before the opener, Coleman's preseason roster is a mixture of new talent and returnees from the inaugural 4-10 team under Michael Mink that went 4-1 against a 1-13 next Mexico team and a combined 0-9 to Wyoming and Utah Valley, now an AFL team playing under the old Blaze name.
Back are kicker Bryce Kennington, wide receiver Adrian Conway and running back/linebacker Justin Oswald.
Coleman brought his own talent from the southeast, including wide receivers Clevan White and Gerald Landry from his 2009 team, the Houma Conquerors of the Southern Indoor Football League. Landry was an all-league performer with 57 catches for 644 yards and nine touchdowns in 11 games.
"Gerald's trying to get back to the next level," Coleman said.
The quarterback position is "up for grabs" as of now according to Coleman, who now have Bruce Jones (Fergus Falls) and Jeremy Glover (Morgan State) on the roster.
"I need to fill the pieces of the puzzle," Coleman said. "I'm also looking for defensive ends and players with the attitude they will move up."
Ogden and Wyoming are the two returning teams from the AIFA West, which now has expansion teams in Yakima (Wash.), San Jose and Alaska.