Post by fwp on Apr 16, 2010 8:57:36 GMT -5
www.pantagraph.com/sports/football/professional/arena/extreme/article_ecc4752a-48e9-11df-8233-001cc4c002e0.html
BLOOMINGTON — After losing its Indoor Football League season opener, the Bloomington Extreme notched consecutive wins on the strength of its defense.
But a unit that held division rivals Green Bay and Chicago both under 30 points in the first two meetings has surrendered 85 over the last two games as the Extreme lost rematches.
“We just can’t make all the mistakes and expect to be competitive in ballgames,” said linebacker Joe Bevis, who totaled 16.5 tackles and a sack in last week’s 50-43 loss to the Slaughter. “We shot ourselves in the foot way too many times.”
Bloomington (2-3) gets a chance to reverse its current trend Saturday when it hosts the Maryland Maniacs (0-4) in a 7:05 p.m. game at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
“The physical things are there: we’re not missing a lot of tackles and we’re not outmatched man to man,” said Bevis. “But we do need to clean up the mental mistakes.”
While four Rocky Hinds touchdown passes helped the Extreme offense generate its highest point total, bad snaps and penalties thwarted multiple drives. Defensive miscues included a blown coverage on fourth-and-12 that resulted in a Chicago touchdown.
“You’re going to have games like that, but that was probably the most embarrassing game I’ve been associated with,” said Extreme coach Kenton Carr, who noted Tuesday’s practice was the best of the season. “You need to play in games the same way you practice, and I hope the way we’ve practiced this week carries on into Saturday’s game.”
Roster moves: The Extreme will have a new starter on the defensive line in Neal Wood, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound pass rusher out of Penn State.
“One of the D-ends we’re anxious to see is Neal Wood. He’s got a tremendous attitude and he’s going 100 mph all the time,” said Carr. “We’re really looking for some big things from him and hopefully he’ll get a lot of pressure on the quarterback.”
Wood will take the roster spot of veteran Quince Holman, who was released Wednesday along with former Illinois State offensive lineman Joe Niklasch. Holman had knee surgery on March 31 and missed the last two games.
“We’re counting on him at the end to be back to make our run,” assistant coach Ted Schmitz said after Thursday’s practice. “There’s no use leaving him on the 30-man (roster), so you might as well give the spot to somebody else.”
Niklasch will be replaced in the lineup by Will Keglar, who has been with the team but kept inactive. Former Extreme running back Andre Raymond, an Eastern Illinois product, was signed to fill the roster opening. Raymond earned MVP honors in the 2008 UIF All-Star game as an Extreme representative.
Maniac misfortunes: Maryland, one of four winless teams left in the IFL, lost starting quarterback Bryson Spinner to a season-ending knee injury during last week’s 52-36 loss to Rochester. Spinner was replaced by Duane Smith, who completed eight passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s hard to replace a guy like Spinner, but this kid will step up,” said Bevis. “I’m expecting his A-plus game.”
BLOOMINGTON — After losing its Indoor Football League season opener, the Bloomington Extreme notched consecutive wins on the strength of its defense.
But a unit that held division rivals Green Bay and Chicago both under 30 points in the first two meetings has surrendered 85 over the last two games as the Extreme lost rematches.
“We just can’t make all the mistakes and expect to be competitive in ballgames,” said linebacker Joe Bevis, who totaled 16.5 tackles and a sack in last week’s 50-43 loss to the Slaughter. “We shot ourselves in the foot way too many times.”
Bloomington (2-3) gets a chance to reverse its current trend Saturday when it hosts the Maryland Maniacs (0-4) in a 7:05 p.m. game at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
“The physical things are there: we’re not missing a lot of tackles and we’re not outmatched man to man,” said Bevis. “But we do need to clean up the mental mistakes.”
While four Rocky Hinds touchdown passes helped the Extreme offense generate its highest point total, bad snaps and penalties thwarted multiple drives. Defensive miscues included a blown coverage on fourth-and-12 that resulted in a Chicago touchdown.
“You’re going to have games like that, but that was probably the most embarrassing game I’ve been associated with,” said Extreme coach Kenton Carr, who noted Tuesday’s practice was the best of the season. “You need to play in games the same way you practice, and I hope the way we’ve practiced this week carries on into Saturday’s game.”
Roster moves: The Extreme will have a new starter on the defensive line in Neal Wood, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound pass rusher out of Penn State.
“One of the D-ends we’re anxious to see is Neal Wood. He’s got a tremendous attitude and he’s going 100 mph all the time,” said Carr. “We’re really looking for some big things from him and hopefully he’ll get a lot of pressure on the quarterback.”
Wood will take the roster spot of veteran Quince Holman, who was released Wednesday along with former Illinois State offensive lineman Joe Niklasch. Holman had knee surgery on March 31 and missed the last two games.
“We’re counting on him at the end to be back to make our run,” assistant coach Ted Schmitz said after Thursday’s practice. “There’s no use leaving him on the 30-man (roster), so you might as well give the spot to somebody else.”
Niklasch will be replaced in the lineup by Will Keglar, who has been with the team but kept inactive. Former Extreme running back Andre Raymond, an Eastern Illinois product, was signed to fill the roster opening. Raymond earned MVP honors in the 2008 UIF All-Star game as an Extreme representative.
Maniac misfortunes: Maryland, one of four winless teams left in the IFL, lost starting quarterback Bryson Spinner to a season-ending knee injury during last week’s 52-36 loss to Rochester. Spinner was replaced by Duane Smith, who completed eight passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.
“It’s hard to replace a guy like Spinner, but this kid will step up,” said Bevis. “I’m expecting his A-plus game.”