Post by fwp on Mar 20, 2010 7:25:04 GMT -5
sportsyakima.com/2010/03/warriors-ready-for-first-test/
YAKIMA — Slowly, steadily over the past three weeks, the Yakima Valley Warriors believe they have assembled the talent necessary to successfully compete in their inaugural American Indoor Football Association season.
What remains to be seen is just how quickly those individual skills will come together as a team in order for the Warriors to put victories up on the scoreboard.
The first measuring stick in that process comes tonight when Yakima Valley opens its season at the Wenatchee Valley Venom in a 7 p.m. kickoff.
“I think this is the best team we could’ve assembled, given the situation,” co-owner Michael Mink said, adding that it usually takes a few weeks for things to come into focus for teams.
Mink is hopeful that learning curve can be accelerated based on some of the players the team has added in recent weeks, including several veterans of indoor football.
“Three weeks ago, I was really concerned,” Mink said. “But in the last couple of weeks, we’ve made some great strides. The team has really evolved in the last 10 days.”
In particular, Mink likes what he sees up front, on both sides of the ball.
“We’re really pleased with the offensive and defensive lines. They’re young and athletic,” he said, adding that line play is crucial in indoor football’s 8-on-8 alignment.
“If you can’t get to the quarterback or can’t protect the quarterback, you’re in trouble.”
To that end, the Warriors believe they have a solid core of linemen that can get both of those jobs done.
Anchoring the defensive front is Wilson Afoa, 6-foot-3, 295 pounder from the University of Washington.
“He was an unbelievable find,” Mink said. “He’s a big guy who can move.”
On the other side, Highland High graduate Jason Bolin (6-4, 290) and Dale Bratz (6-6, 325), from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, lead a strong group.
“Jason is a lineman with great hands … and Dale is a typical midwestern lineman — big and solid,” Mink said.
They’ll be blocking for, right now, quarterback Jason Williams, who will be the opening-night starter, and running back Don Chapman.
Chapman, from Tennessee-Martin, topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark in all four seasons with the Skyhawks.
The receiving core features big targets in 6-3 Gabe Hatchett and 6-6 Drew Copeland, and the speedy Reggie Ellis.
Defense is where the Warriors appear to have the most experience, led by captain Marcus Mitchell, a middle linebacker that Mink called a “high-energy, high-intensity” player.
The secondary features three players with indoor experience — LeRoy Kelly II, son of the Hall of Fame running back, along with Ryan Stanton and Rokiem Rowland.
Because of that experience, the Warriors will lean on its defense early as the offense takes shape.
“The key is to hold teams to 35 points or less,” Mink said. “If you can do that consistently, you’ll have a chance to win 10 games.”
With the first step in that quest coming tonight.
YAKIMA — Slowly, steadily over the past three weeks, the Yakima Valley Warriors believe they have assembled the talent necessary to successfully compete in their inaugural American Indoor Football Association season.
What remains to be seen is just how quickly those individual skills will come together as a team in order for the Warriors to put victories up on the scoreboard.
The first measuring stick in that process comes tonight when Yakima Valley opens its season at the Wenatchee Valley Venom in a 7 p.m. kickoff.
“I think this is the best team we could’ve assembled, given the situation,” co-owner Michael Mink said, adding that it usually takes a few weeks for things to come into focus for teams.
Mink is hopeful that learning curve can be accelerated based on some of the players the team has added in recent weeks, including several veterans of indoor football.
“Three weeks ago, I was really concerned,” Mink said. “But in the last couple of weeks, we’ve made some great strides. The team has really evolved in the last 10 days.”
In particular, Mink likes what he sees up front, on both sides of the ball.
“We’re really pleased with the offensive and defensive lines. They’re young and athletic,” he said, adding that line play is crucial in indoor football’s 8-on-8 alignment.
“If you can’t get to the quarterback or can’t protect the quarterback, you’re in trouble.”
To that end, the Warriors believe they have a solid core of linemen that can get both of those jobs done.
Anchoring the defensive front is Wilson Afoa, 6-foot-3, 295 pounder from the University of Washington.
“He was an unbelievable find,” Mink said. “He’s a big guy who can move.”
On the other side, Highland High graduate Jason Bolin (6-4, 290) and Dale Bratz (6-6, 325), from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, lead a strong group.
“Jason is a lineman with great hands … and Dale is a typical midwestern lineman — big and solid,” Mink said.
They’ll be blocking for, right now, quarterback Jason Williams, who will be the opening-night starter, and running back Don Chapman.
Chapman, from Tennessee-Martin, topped the 1,000-yard rushing mark in all four seasons with the Skyhawks.
The receiving core features big targets in 6-3 Gabe Hatchett and 6-6 Drew Copeland, and the speedy Reggie Ellis.
Defense is where the Warriors appear to have the most experience, led by captain Marcus Mitchell, a middle linebacker that Mink called a “high-energy, high-intensity” player.
The secondary features three players with indoor experience — LeRoy Kelly II, son of the Hall of Fame running back, along with Ryan Stanton and Rokiem Rowland.
Because of that experience, the Warriors will lean on its defense early as the offense takes shape.
“The key is to hold teams to 35 points or less,” Mink said. “If you can do that consistently, you’ll have a chance to win 10 games.”
With the first step in that quest coming tonight.