Post by fwp on May 6, 2010 13:16:08 GMT -5
sportsyakima.com/2010/05/warriors-go-on-the-defensive/
YAKIMA, Wash. — After watching his defense get shredded for the second straight game, Michael Mink knew he needed to do something — and quickly — if his Yakima Valley Warriors were going to remain a playoff contender.
The team’s co-owner did indeed move fast — perhaps because he didn’t have to look too far for help.
Thirty some miles to the north, to be more precise, as Yakima Valley signed two highly decorated standouts from Central Washington University’s 2009 team — linebacker Prince Hall and defensive back-kick returner Jerome Williams.
“Any time you can add two character guys like this, it’s a positive,” Mink said at a Wednesday news conference at the SunDome. “The last two weeks, we got exposed (defensively) and needed to make improvements there.
“Both of these guys are winners.”
Both, according to Mink, will also be starters Saturday against undefeated Wyoming as the Warriors try to repair a defense that has allowed 148 points in its last two games — both home losses.
Each seemed ready for the challenge, even though neither has yet t play arena football.
“I’ve come here to win and I hope we can help do that as soon as possible,” said Hall, a 6-foot, 260-pound inside linebacker. “I think we’ll make the defense better.”
“I just want to win,” said the 6-0, 205-pound Williams, who had three interceptions last season. “I never lost a GNAC game. I bring a winning mentality … and we’ll compete.”
Hall and Williams were extremely competitive with the Wildcats, and were rewarded handsomely for those efforts last season, as they earned first team all-GNAC honors. Hall, who led the team in tackles with 104, was also named the GNAC newcomer of the year, and to the D2Football.com All-American second team.
“At Central Washington, Prince had a huge impact and we’re looking for that same kind of impact here,” Mink said. “Jerome is quite an athlete. A pure athlete.”
Mink hopes both will get up to speed quickly as the Warriors (3-3) face a 6-0 Wyoming team that leads the American Indoor Football Association in scoring at 65.5 points per game.
“The defense carried us the first couple of games,” Mink said of a unit that was the league’s top scoring defense after the first two weeks but has since fallen to ninth (47.2) out of 13 teams. “We just want to show the community that the Warriors are continuing to move forward and trying to improve.”
YAKIMA, Wash. — After watching his defense get shredded for the second straight game, Michael Mink knew he needed to do something — and quickly — if his Yakima Valley Warriors were going to remain a playoff contender.
The team’s co-owner did indeed move fast — perhaps because he didn’t have to look too far for help.
Thirty some miles to the north, to be more precise, as Yakima Valley signed two highly decorated standouts from Central Washington University’s 2009 team — linebacker Prince Hall and defensive back-kick returner Jerome Williams.
“Any time you can add two character guys like this, it’s a positive,” Mink said at a Wednesday news conference at the SunDome. “The last two weeks, we got exposed (defensively) and needed to make improvements there.
“Both of these guys are winners.”
Both, according to Mink, will also be starters Saturday against undefeated Wyoming as the Warriors try to repair a defense that has allowed 148 points in its last two games — both home losses.
Each seemed ready for the challenge, even though neither has yet t play arena football.
“I’ve come here to win and I hope we can help do that as soon as possible,” said Hall, a 6-foot, 260-pound inside linebacker. “I think we’ll make the defense better.”
“I just want to win,” said the 6-0, 205-pound Williams, who had three interceptions last season. “I never lost a GNAC game. I bring a winning mentality … and we’ll compete.”
Hall and Williams were extremely competitive with the Wildcats, and were rewarded handsomely for those efforts last season, as they earned first team all-GNAC honors. Hall, who led the team in tackles with 104, was also named the GNAC newcomer of the year, and to the D2Football.com All-American second team.
“At Central Washington, Prince had a huge impact and we’re looking for that same kind of impact here,” Mink said. “Jerome is quite an athlete. A pure athlete.”
Mink hopes both will get up to speed quickly as the Warriors (3-3) face a 6-0 Wyoming team that leads the American Indoor Football Association in scoring at 65.5 points per game.
“The defense carried us the first couple of games,” Mink said of a unit that was the league’s top scoring defense after the first two weeks but has since fallen to ninth (47.2) out of 13 teams. “We just want to show the community that the Warriors are continuing to move forward and trying to improve.”