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Ahmad Carroll Joins Preds

February 12, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release


After taking Sunday off, the Orlando Predators hit the field Monday morning a refreshed group of players ready for action. The session started off with the standard individual one-on-one drills before moving onto the team session.

However, there was some big news out of camp today with the arrival of defensive back Ahmad Carroll. The former Arkansas Razorback joins the Predators from the National Football League where he played with the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2004, Carroll was drafted 25th in the first round of the NFL draft by the Packers and started 28 of 34 career games. In Monday's one-on-one drills Carroll showed he was not afraid to challenge the receivers in press coverage.

He even brought his A-game to the sideline when linebacker A.J. Nicholson made a big hit on tight end Theodric Watson who was not expecting such a big collision. Carroll reacted by saying, "We are not shooting blanks out here, if we were at paintball right now you would be shot." In case you missed it, Carroll brings a lot of flare to the Preds and should definitely compete for a spot in the defensive backfield.

"He's a special guy, special athlete, a competitor," said head coach Jay Gruden. "He has a long way to go to learn this game, but so far so good we are excited about him."

On the other side of the ball, wide receiver Roosevelt Kiser continues to impress the coaching staff. At the moment, he is the favorite to be the fourth member of the receiving corps. Kiser is a very smart player at just 22 years old; he runs very good routes and makes great catches coming out of his breaks.

"Roosevelt is doing a great job; he's one of the smartest receivers I've had here as far as knowing angles and knowing how to run routes," Gruden said. "I think he will be even better once we get on the turf, as far as being faster and quicker."

The surprise of the day did not come from a player on Monday; it actually was a surprise coach Gruden had for the players and even the staff. After the players ran their wind sprints, which usually signal the end of the day, they were immediately put back on the field for an extra team session. Everyone was caught by surprise; there was no football for the drill because the equipment had already been put away. Team equipment manager Casey Turley hustled across the field to grab a ball for the extra session. The team played two extra drives before the session was ended by defensive end B.J. Cohen's sack of back-up quarterback Jake Eaton.

"Sometimes they [the players] get into a routine and they think they know when practice is going to end, so they kind of taper off a little bit," Gruden said. "We just have to make sure they know there are four quarters of football and a lot of things can change over time and we had to work a little harder today, check their mental toughness."

Working on the team's mental toughness certainly could not hurt the Preds as they prepare to open the season with back-to-back road games at Philadelphia (3/1) and New Orleans (3/9). Later this week the Predators will head up to Atlanta, Georgia for scrimmages with the Force on Friday and Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Preds continue training camp at 9 a.m. Tuesday at Thunder Field which is open to the public.

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