Post by fwp on Apr 17, 2010 7:19:02 GMT -5
www.pantagraph.com/sports/football/professional/arena/extreme/article_447d6676-49b9-11df-9e4b-001cc4c002e0.html
BLOOMINGTON -- Bloomington Extreme players brought a heightened level of intensity to this week's practices, displaying a sense of urgency after consecutive disappointing losses.
"We've taken a whole new approach and kicked it up a whole other notch," running back Bernard Payton said ahead of Saturday's 7:05 p.m. game against the winless Maryland Maniacs at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. "We've got guys out there going hard as if it's camp all over again. We know we have to do a whole lot better for the rest of the season and we don't plan on taking any more losses."
Last week's error-filled 50-43 loss to Chicago dropped the Extreme to 2-3, 2½ games behind Green Bay in the Indoor Football League's Central North Division. With road games at Rochester and Omaha to follow, Bloomington is eager to get back in the win column before a home crowd.
"We were more disappointed about how we lost last week and not how they beat us because really we beat ourselves," said Payton, who scored his fourth rushing touchdown last week. "We know what we have to do: we just have to clean up the small stuff and play ball."
In his Extreme debut, quarterback Rocky Hinds threw four touchdown passes against Chicago. Hinds will make a second straight start Saturday with opening week starter Luke Drone serving as backup after missing the last two games.
While Hinds engineered a bit of an offensive resurgence, the Extreme defense regressed and allowed a season-high point total.
"We got put in some bad situations early and obviously there were some mental breakdowns as well," said linebacker Joe Bevis. "We can't be blowing coverages at all. In this game, the field is too short and if you blow a coverage it's a touchdown."
Despite facing an 0-4 Maryland team that lost starting quarterback Bryson Spinner to injury last week, the Extreme knows it can't take anything for granted. Yet the improved practices have the coaching staff optimistic.
"I've been doing this for 40 years and this is the first week I've felt comfortable this year," said Extreme assistant Ted Schmitz, who will lead a collaborative coaching effort as Kenton Carr serves a one-game suspension. "I can see it in our players, I can see that we're together finally. It takes time to mold a group but I think we're finally together and I think it will show this week."
Sense of urgency
Maniacs at Extreme
Time: 7:05 p.m. Saturday
Broadcast: wjbc.com
BLOOMINGTON -- Bloomington Extreme players brought a heightened level of intensity to this week's practices, displaying a sense of urgency after consecutive disappointing losses.
"We've taken a whole new approach and kicked it up a whole other notch," running back Bernard Payton said ahead of Saturday's 7:05 p.m. game against the winless Maryland Maniacs at U.S. Cellular Coliseum. "We've got guys out there going hard as if it's camp all over again. We know we have to do a whole lot better for the rest of the season and we don't plan on taking any more losses."
Last week's error-filled 50-43 loss to Chicago dropped the Extreme to 2-3, 2½ games behind Green Bay in the Indoor Football League's Central North Division. With road games at Rochester and Omaha to follow, Bloomington is eager to get back in the win column before a home crowd.
"We were more disappointed about how we lost last week and not how they beat us because really we beat ourselves," said Payton, who scored his fourth rushing touchdown last week. "We know what we have to do: we just have to clean up the small stuff and play ball."
In his Extreme debut, quarterback Rocky Hinds threw four touchdown passes against Chicago. Hinds will make a second straight start Saturday with opening week starter Luke Drone serving as backup after missing the last two games.
While Hinds engineered a bit of an offensive resurgence, the Extreme defense regressed and allowed a season-high point total.
"We got put in some bad situations early and obviously there were some mental breakdowns as well," said linebacker Joe Bevis. "We can't be blowing coverages at all. In this game, the field is too short and if you blow a coverage it's a touchdown."
Despite facing an 0-4 Maryland team that lost starting quarterback Bryson Spinner to injury last week, the Extreme knows it can't take anything for granted. Yet the improved practices have the coaching staff optimistic.
"I've been doing this for 40 years and this is the first week I've felt comfortable this year," said Extreme assistant Ted Schmitz, who will lead a collaborative coaching effort as Kenton Carr serves a one-game suspension. "I can see it in our players, I can see that we're together finally. It takes time to mold a group but I think we're finally together and I think it will show this week."
Sense of urgency
Maniacs at Extreme
Time: 7:05 p.m. Saturday
Broadcast: wjbc.com