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Blaze Wrap Up Week Two Of Training Camp

February 15, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Utah Blaze News Release


SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah Blaze will finish up their second week of training camp tomorrow with a 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. practice at the Spence Eccles Field House on the campus of the University of Utah. This week's practices proved to be exciting and energizing for coaches and players alike.

"The intensity during offensive and defensive line drills was unbelievable this week," said OL/DL coach RON JAMES. "These guys were calling each other out, encouraging one another, and laying everything out on the line. Coaches love seeing that, and fellow teammates take notice."

At one point during Wednesday's practice, DL CHRIS JANEK (6-1, 314, Wisconsin), in a state of enthusiasm, picked up a quarterback dummy and threw it to the ground. The dummy was estimated to weigh around 125 lbs.

"Did you see that?" said a fellow teammate. "It took both me and Coach Hassel to drag that thing over here. Janek threw it around like a rag doll."

The offensive and defensive lines weren't the only positions that were looking sharp this week.

"The pass rush is looking really good," James said. "We've seen a lot of productive work this week and the secondary is really starting to gel. Our tall receivers are beginning to create matchup problems for the secondary, which is something we anticipated."

The Blaze will travel to Denver, CO on Monday afternoon for a joint practice with the Colorado Crush. They will return to Salt Lake City on Wednesday, February 20.

ROSTER MOVES THIS WEEK

DB JACOBY SHEPHERD (6-2, 221, Oklahoma State) was placed on injured reserve due to a strained hip flexor muscle.

The Blaze signed former University of Utah player LB COREY DODDS (6-2, 245, Utah) to a three-year contract. Terms of the contract were not disclosed due to team policy.

Dodds spent the 2007 season with the Boise Burn (af2) where he started in all 16 games. He recorded 42.5 total tackles, one sack, one interception, and recovered six fumbles (returning three for touchdowns).

During his senior year at Utah, Dodds recorded 27.0 total tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception. He started in the 2004 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and was elected to the 2004 Utah Football Leadership Committee.

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