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Destroyers hit the field at Nationwide Arena

January 12, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - For the first time in the 2006 season, the Columbus Destroyers took to Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena during Day 6 of Training Camp. The practice schedule did not change much, but kicker Miro Kesic was able to get a lot of work in.

Workouts at the Columbus FieldHouse, the official practice facility of the Destroyers, allows Kesic the use of a 35-yard field and nets with yellow tape outlining the uprights. Kesic utilizes Field 3 to work on shorter field goals and extra points. At Nationwide Arena, however, Kesic had free reign over every aspect of his kicking game.

"I got to work on kickoffs, onside kicks and all the important aspects of the game," Kesic said. "You are able to get game situations here during practice, and you can visually see what you are going to be kicking at during games."

It only was the second time Kesic has kicked indoors on the Arena Football style uprights. Kesic's first Arena Football kicks came in late November during the team's open kicking tryout, which Kesic won.

"It felt good to get back and get the feel of the game," Kesic said. "I got some good work in."

Kesic makes good use of the FieldHouse, but at Nationwide seeing the uprights and the rebound nets made a difference.

"To visually see the uprights and get used to the surface felt real nice to get a couple of kicks in," he said. "The surface is different (at the FieldHouse) and the ball bounces differently against this hard Astroturf instead of the Field Turf at the FieldHouse."

PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS

Defensive specialist and AFL record holder for most pass breakups Cecil Doggette had an interception return for a touchdown in team drills Wide receiver/defensive back Jeremy Unertl had a solid day defensively, breaking up numerous passes and just missing an interception that would have been returned for a touchdown To start the morning session, coaches put the team to the test, giving the offense less than a minute to drive the length of the field to score

Offensive Assistant/Special Teams Coordinator Chris MacKeown's comments on the day...

On being in Nationwide Arena with the players for the first time...

"It was nice to have the true width and the depth of the end zones and the hash marks in the right places...that's really key for Arena Football because your space is limited. You build things off the hash marks and having the proper width really helped the offense today. They looked a little sharper and were a little better today."

On being able to work on the special teams with a full field...

"Having the full field and letting our kicker be able to kick deep and let our guys run the proper lanes and get the proper spacing was great."

Wide Receiver/Linebacker David Saunders' comments on the day...

On what he is trying to improve on the most during camp...

"I am just trying to focus more on the game and to keep learning. Everyone is learning. I am still learning. You can learn new things everyday. I also want to get better on my routes and stay healthy. That's my big thing, to stay healthy."

On being with the Destroyers...

"I am very thankful that the Destroyers came after me and brought me to Columbus. I am going to do my best. Everything about this organization is top of the line, and I am happy about that."

Training Camp Schedule

The Destroyers continue with Day 7 of Training Camp Friday at the Columbus FieldHouse. The team will be practicing with the Chicago Rush, who are in town for a Saturday morning scrimmage, from 8 a.m.-11:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. The two teams will then hold a closed scrimmage 9 a.m. Saturday on Huntington Field at Nationwide Arena. The remainder of Training Camp schedule for the week is below.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 12, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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