Post by 50yardfan on Feb 15, 2011 23:46:29 GMT -5
Amarillo, TX 2/15/11 - With 2010 starting Quarterback Julian Reese not in camp, the battle to be the 2011 starting quarterback is wide open for Blake Joseph and X'Zavier Bloodsaw, two rookies to the indoor game.
Joseph played college ball at the University of Houston, where he played in a total of 22 games. He finished his career at Houston with 1,581 passing yards and 10 passing touchdowns. His most productive season was his sophomore year when he played in eleven games and started five. That season he completed 64.5 percent of his passes and threw for 1,324 yards and nine touchdowns.
Joseph said one of the biggest differences in the arena game and the collegiate game is the size of the field and the amount of space that the corners are forced to cover. A college football field is 100 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide compared to an arena football field that is 50 yards long by 28 yards wide. Joseph said the speed of the game is also a little quicker, but training camp has been a great learning experience.
"It's been a good experience," said Joseph. "We are three days in and things are already starting to slow down."
Joseph is competing with X'Zavier Bloodsaw for the starting roll. Bloodsaw played his collegiate ball at Texas College in Tyler, Texas, where he received All-Conference honors his junior and senior seasons and broke every Quarterback record at Texas College except for yards in a game. Bloodsaw said the speed of the game between college football and arena football wasn't much different.
"The speed of the game isn't too much different," said Bloodsaw. "Football is football, regardless. It's just understanding the concept. The concept is a little different."
Bloodsaw said he is enjoying camp and the competition between he and Joseph is making him a better player,
"We are both competing and that's what the game is all about," said Bloodsaw. "You can't go into anything and expect to get better without competition. Whoever get's the job will be the best fit, but believe me I'm fighting for the job."
Rodney Blackshear, Head Coach of the Amarillo Venom, said he is pleased with the progress his two quarterbacks are making. He said he has seen a lot of improvement since the first day of camp.
"Both of these guys are learning," said Coach Blackshear. "They're improving everyday and that's the key. Everything I'm telling them they're starting to understand. The game is starting to slow down for them and they're starting to understand this offense and this game."
Fans will have a chance to see both Bloodsaw and Joseph in action at the team's exhibition game against the Allen Wranglers. Tickets for the February 20th exhibition game are on sale through the Amarillo Venom front office, located at 901 S. Buchanan in downtown Amarillo, and single game tickets for the regular season go on sale February 18th. Tickets can also be purchased at www.panhandletickets.com or any United Supermarket location.
Fans with a V.I.P pass will have the opportunity to meet two former Dallas Cowboys, Everson Walls and Drew Pearson prior to the game. For more information on how to obtain your V.I.P. pass call the Venom offices at (806) 350-7277.
Joseph played college ball at the University of Houston, where he played in a total of 22 games. He finished his career at Houston with 1,581 passing yards and 10 passing touchdowns. His most productive season was his sophomore year when he played in eleven games and started five. That season he completed 64.5 percent of his passes and threw for 1,324 yards and nine touchdowns.
Joseph said one of the biggest differences in the arena game and the collegiate game is the size of the field and the amount of space that the corners are forced to cover. A college football field is 100 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide compared to an arena football field that is 50 yards long by 28 yards wide. Joseph said the speed of the game is also a little quicker, but training camp has been a great learning experience.
"It's been a good experience," said Joseph. "We are three days in and things are already starting to slow down."
Joseph is competing with X'Zavier Bloodsaw for the starting roll. Bloodsaw played his collegiate ball at Texas College in Tyler, Texas, where he received All-Conference honors his junior and senior seasons and broke every Quarterback record at Texas College except for yards in a game. Bloodsaw said the speed of the game between college football and arena football wasn't much different.
"The speed of the game isn't too much different," said Bloodsaw. "Football is football, regardless. It's just understanding the concept. The concept is a little different."
Bloodsaw said he is enjoying camp and the competition between he and Joseph is making him a better player,
"We are both competing and that's what the game is all about," said Bloodsaw. "You can't go into anything and expect to get better without competition. Whoever get's the job will be the best fit, but believe me I'm fighting for the job."
Rodney Blackshear, Head Coach of the Amarillo Venom, said he is pleased with the progress his two quarterbacks are making. He said he has seen a lot of improvement since the first day of camp.
"Both of these guys are learning," said Coach Blackshear. "They're improving everyday and that's the key. Everything I'm telling them they're starting to understand. The game is starting to slow down for them and they're starting to understand this offense and this game."
Fans will have a chance to see both Bloodsaw and Joseph in action at the team's exhibition game against the Allen Wranglers. Tickets for the February 20th exhibition game are on sale through the Amarillo Venom front office, located at 901 S. Buchanan in downtown Amarillo, and single game tickets for the regular season go on sale February 18th. Tickets can also be purchased at www.panhandletickets.com or any United Supermarket location.
Fans with a V.I.P pass will have the opportunity to meet two former Dallas Cowboys, Everson Walls and Drew Pearson prior to the game. For more information on how to obtain your V.I.P. pass call the Venom offices at (806) 350-7277.