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Camp Notes Day Seven - Robinson Acquired

March 22, 2010 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA BAY - With just four days before their exhibition game against the Orlando Predators, the Tampa Bay Storm was back on the practice field at Skyway Park in Tampa, FL. after a much-needed day of rest. With the current roster comprised of 14 veterans and 21 rookies, the off day was certainly seized.

"Being older now, rest is the most important thing," veteran nose tackle Tim McGill said. "Some of us are to the point now where it's all mental. We know the game so we don't need to beat ourselves up physically. That's all it is."

McGill, 31 years-of-age, is entering his third season with the Tampa Bay Storm and is a vital part to the Storm's defensive line. Arguably one of the best fronts in the league, the Storm's line consists of all seasoned veterans aside from newcomer Alfred Peterson.

"This is going to be one of the most feared defensive lines," McGill said, "It's the defensive line that nobody wants to play. They couldn't possibly want to play us especially with the addition of Jermaine [Smith]. I feel sorry for those guys; I really do because it's going to be nasty in there, really nasty."

When Head Coach and General Manager Tim Marcum began putting together his roster in the offseason, he keyed in on players that gave his offense problems in 2008. Smith, a long time member of the Georgia Force, was one of those players. In six years with the Force, Smith recorded 28 sacks, placing him first in team history.

"I used to hate playing down here because the crowd was so loud and it was such a hard game down here because it is hard to beat the Storm in Tampa. If you want to come somewhere, that's where you want to come. You want to come where you had the harder problems. Just like [Marcum] said, he had the problem with me, I had a problem with Tampa when we played," Smith said.

The veteran defensive line is crucial in helping the 21 rookies on the roster with adjusting to arena football. During the team's break between practice sessions, veteran Kelvin Kinney pulled rookie fullback Chad Cook aside to do some extra coaching while the rest of the team rested.

"I just told him to keep his head up. Cook is a good-sized fullback but ducks his head on contact. It's the little things like that that makes those guys that much better. When you are fresh out of school and haven't seen this game played or haven't been involved in the [arena] game at all, it's all new to you. It's a whole new position when you are two yards from the ball and need to step up in the gap to fit. Once you know how to fit and keep your head up, that's all he has to do," Kinney said.

During practice, the experience of the defensive line gives both the first a second team offense an invaluable look. Aside from guards Emmanuel Akah and Thomas Kaleita, the offensive line is filled with youth.

"We have a good defensive line," Kinney said. "The thing is about arena football though is that you are only as strong as your weakest link. Those young guys that we are beating up on and giving them all we can handle, sooner or later they are going to have to play and step up. I want them to play well, whether they are offense or defense. Defensive or offensive unit, we are one team. Like I said you are only as strong as your weakest link. Even though we are pretty solid, we have to get them up on our level."

"To be quite honest with you, I don't think [our offensive line] will face a defensive line as good as us. With the two young linebackers, I think we have one of the best, if not the best front fours in the league. They are getting better everyday just with us going out but they still need to get better. We have to come out and give them a good look when they are on offense. I'm not too worried about this team when you have a veteran coach like Tim Marcum. He knows when to back off and when to really get after it. The coaching is here with Dave Ewart being around as long as he has. We have the coaches and we have the players. It's just going out and doing it everyday and staying healthy. "

The Storm will resume practice on Tuesday beginning at 8:30am at Skyway Park in Tampa, FL. Practice is opened to the public.

Roster Moves

The Storm acquired *Sedrick Robinson* (5-9, 180, Kentucky Wesleyan) one of the AFL's greatest return men. He ranks first all-time in the AFL with 10,069 career kickoff return yards and 28 kickoff returns for a touchdown. He has 29 games with more than 100 kickoff return yards, second all-time. Robinson earned All-Ironman and All-Rookie honors in 2001. Robinson enters his ninth season in the AFL and second with the Storm. The team released offensive linemen Cornealius Fuamatu and Carnell Stewart as well as wide receiver Paul Raymond.

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