Post by fwp on Apr 11, 2010 7:49:01 GMT -5
www.lacrossetribune.com/sports/article_45f7d304-451a-11df-a645-001cc4c03286.html
Despite the fact that the La Crosse Spartans have scored an Indoor Football League-low 72 points in their first four games, coach Gilbert Brown is optimistic about his offense's potential.
No. 83 is a big reason why.
Indoor veteran Antonio Overstreet is emerging as the expansion Spartans' first star. He's sixth in the IFL with 428 all-purpose yards, averaging 17.8 yards per touch as a receiver and kick returner.
La Crosse (0-4) hosts Green Bay (4-1) at 3 p.m. today at the La Crosse Center.
Overstreet, 27, who also played for the River City Rage and Rock River Raptors indoor teams following college at Southern University, would love to lead the Spartans to their first victory.
"What I want to bring to the team is, I just want to work hard," Overstreet said. "Hopefully the young guys can follow a guy who's trying to be a leader. We've started out slow but it's picking up. Those losses are in the past and we can only get better."
Brown was impressed by Overstreet right away. His ability was obvious, and his willingness to work with players new to the indoor game made him even more valuable.
"Antonio, he's the type of guy I really like because he comes to work every day with a smile on his face and he does things that are asked of him and more," Brown said. "His work ethic out there on the field shows. He's a guy that runs his routes well, takes time in what he's doing and wants to be a guy that makes it to the next level."
Plus, Overstreet is fast. He said he was timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash in preseason workouts, and clocked a world-class 4.37 in college.
Overstreet knows how to use his speed, and has already returned one kickoff for a touchdown, plus two receiving touchdowns, for the Spartans.
"I've always been a quick guy that likes to do a lot of moves," Overstreet said. "That comes easy to me. When I see a hole, I hit it quick. In this league, everything is real fast. You've got to do everything quick and up-tempo."
Overstreet converted two good seasons at Southern - he finished with 56 receptions for 730 yards and eight touchdowns - into an indoor career.
But in the 2007 offseason, Overstreet was at home in Baton Rouge, La., playing flag football to stay in shape, and he suffered a broken right leg.
"It was a freak accident," Overstreet said. "You don't expect that kind of stuff to happen. At first, I thought (his career) was over. But I knew I could get back strong. My heart is in the game and I wasn't going to let anything stop me from playing."
It took three years before Overstreet was ready to return to football and an opportunity presented itself in the form of the Spartans.
Neither side had to agonize too much about the decision. The Spartans got an experienced and talented offensive threat and Overstreet got another chance to play.
"It's good, it's a blessing and an honor to play for Gilbert Brown," Overstreet said. "I'm just happy that I'm on a team and trying to get better and pursue my goals and go to the next level."
MENTAL GAME: Brown said he saw a lot of good things in the Spartans' 37-27 loss to Omaha last week.
"We were in it all the way," Brown said. "The thing that kills us is mental mistakes. A breakdown here, a breakdown there, a guy isn't in position."
Brown believes that once the players get fully acclimated to the indoor game, there will be big improvements.
"I can't be mad at these guys," Brown said. "We're playing good; it's just the maturity and learning how to play the game is taking us longer than the other teams because we are an expansion team and some of these guys have not played indoor football at all. Everything's coming along, I'm not discouraged."
SANGSTER RETURNS: Quarterback Jimmy Sangster, who suffered a knee injury in the team's opener Feb. 26, returned to practice this week but Brown isn't sure how much he'll play.
Kewan Dewberry is expected to make his third straight start.
"I'd be very surprised if (Sangster) plays this week," Brown said. "I'm not closing the door for him to play. I want to make sure that knee is right."
Despite the fact that the La Crosse Spartans have scored an Indoor Football League-low 72 points in their first four games, coach Gilbert Brown is optimistic about his offense's potential.
No. 83 is a big reason why.
Indoor veteran Antonio Overstreet is emerging as the expansion Spartans' first star. He's sixth in the IFL with 428 all-purpose yards, averaging 17.8 yards per touch as a receiver and kick returner.
La Crosse (0-4) hosts Green Bay (4-1) at 3 p.m. today at the La Crosse Center.
Overstreet, 27, who also played for the River City Rage and Rock River Raptors indoor teams following college at Southern University, would love to lead the Spartans to their first victory.
"What I want to bring to the team is, I just want to work hard," Overstreet said. "Hopefully the young guys can follow a guy who's trying to be a leader. We've started out slow but it's picking up. Those losses are in the past and we can only get better."
Brown was impressed by Overstreet right away. His ability was obvious, and his willingness to work with players new to the indoor game made him even more valuable.
"Antonio, he's the type of guy I really like because he comes to work every day with a smile on his face and he does things that are asked of him and more," Brown said. "His work ethic out there on the field shows. He's a guy that runs his routes well, takes time in what he's doing and wants to be a guy that makes it to the next level."
Plus, Overstreet is fast. He said he was timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash in preseason workouts, and clocked a world-class 4.37 in college.
Overstreet knows how to use his speed, and has already returned one kickoff for a touchdown, plus two receiving touchdowns, for the Spartans.
"I've always been a quick guy that likes to do a lot of moves," Overstreet said. "That comes easy to me. When I see a hole, I hit it quick. In this league, everything is real fast. You've got to do everything quick and up-tempo."
Overstreet converted two good seasons at Southern - he finished with 56 receptions for 730 yards and eight touchdowns - into an indoor career.
But in the 2007 offseason, Overstreet was at home in Baton Rouge, La., playing flag football to stay in shape, and he suffered a broken right leg.
"It was a freak accident," Overstreet said. "You don't expect that kind of stuff to happen. At first, I thought (his career) was over. But I knew I could get back strong. My heart is in the game and I wasn't going to let anything stop me from playing."
It took three years before Overstreet was ready to return to football and an opportunity presented itself in the form of the Spartans.
Neither side had to agonize too much about the decision. The Spartans got an experienced and talented offensive threat and Overstreet got another chance to play.
"It's good, it's a blessing and an honor to play for Gilbert Brown," Overstreet said. "I'm just happy that I'm on a team and trying to get better and pursue my goals and go to the next level."
MENTAL GAME: Brown said he saw a lot of good things in the Spartans' 37-27 loss to Omaha last week.
"We were in it all the way," Brown said. "The thing that kills us is mental mistakes. A breakdown here, a breakdown there, a guy isn't in position."
Brown believes that once the players get fully acclimated to the indoor game, there will be big improvements.
"I can't be mad at these guys," Brown said. "We're playing good; it's just the maturity and learning how to play the game is taking us longer than the other teams because we are an expansion team and some of these guys have not played indoor football at all. Everything's coming along, I'm not discouraged."
SANGSTER RETURNS: Quarterback Jimmy Sangster, who suffered a knee injury in the team's opener Feb. 26, returned to practice this week but Brown isn't sure how much he'll play.
Kewan Dewberry is expected to make his third straight start.
"I'd be very surprised if (Sangster) plays this week," Brown said. "I'm not closing the door for him to play. I want to make sure that knee is right."