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Blaze gets defensive in secondary

December 30, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - Building a team from scratch is a difficult task, especially in an offensive league like the Arena Football League. Just ask Utah Blaze defensive coordinator, LEE LESLIE.

"Teams can score 60-70 points a game in this league," Lee said. "You have to be humble on the defensive side - and have a short memory."

The Blaze tout an explosive and promising offense led by 2005 AFLWA Offensive Player of the Year SIAHA BURLEY (46 total touchdowns in 2005) and QB JOE GERMAINE (40 touchdown passes in six starts) - but what about the Blaze defense?

"Our defense is a bit of an unknown," Lee said. "Because of the fact that we have three rookies in the defensive backfield, we will rely on some of our veterans to carry the load and hope that the rookies can catch on."

Veterans DS KELVIN HUNTER, WR/LB TOM PACE and WR/DB ORSHAWANTE BRYANT will be the leaders that Coach Leslie leans on early. With rookies KEVIN MOFFETT, THAL WOODS and SULLIVAN BEARD hoping to speed up the learning curve.

"Those veterans are smart and coachable guys," Lee said of the veteran trio. "The thing that stood out during mini-camp was their veteran leadership and ability to help the younger players. The coaching staff didn't have to say a word - it was instinctive for those guys to jump in and helped coach these guys up."

Hunter, who is entering his sixth season, will be the anchor in the secondary. The former Arizona Wildcat had 39.0 total tackles and a career-high four interceptions last season for the Austin Wranglers.

Pace and Bryant combined for 58.5 total tackles in 2005 and have played in three ArenaBowls while with the Arizona Rattlers the last four seasons.

For Lee and the Blaze defense, it will be focusing on the basics and execution.

"Defense starts with basics," Lee said. "Tackling, cutting down the angles and finishing every play are simple elements of football. If we get these elements down and focus on execution, we will be in good shape."

The Western Division will be a tough test for the Blaze in 2006. In 2005, the San Jose SaberCats (59.1 points per game, No. 1 in the AFL), Los Angeles Avengers (53.8 PPG, No. 5), Arizona Rattlers (51.0 PPG, No. 10) and Las Vegas Gladiators (49.4 PPG, No. 12) were the leading offensive division in the AFL by combining for an average of 53.3 points per game.

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