Dragons Kickoff: Dragons Open in Georgia
February 7, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release
Eight months have past since the last time the New York Dragons put on the pads for game action. Eight months to think about a tough loss to the Orlando Predators in the quarterfinals of the 2003 AFL playoffs. Eight months of impatient waiting have now come and gone. The defending 2003 Eastern Division Champions are set to kickoff the highly anticipated 2004 season.
The Dragons are excited to be returning a majority of their core players from last season. They include OL/DL Jermaine Miles, DS Donvetis Franklin, and All-Arena QB Aaron Garcia just to name a few. With only two key wide receivers back from 2003 in WR/DB Will Holder and WR/LB Chris Anthony, the WR position has many new faces. However, All-Arena QB Aaron Garcia is not concerned.
"We have two experienced players in Will Holder and Chris Anthony," said Garcia. "Obviously those are two important players in our offense. But we have a lot of talented players to support them... There's going to be an adjustment period for some of the players that are new to the Arena football game, but I don't think that will be a problem for us."
One of the players Garcia said would need to make the adjustment is OS Vinny Sutherland. After spending two-years with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, Sutherland will be thrown right into the fire when he starts at the offensive specialist position this week. Even though he's new to the game, Garcia expects that'll he'll standup to the challenge.
"Vinny is a great athlete," noted Garcia. "He has NFL experience and it's just a matter of time before he gets acclimated to the Arena game. I see him fitting right in with our offense."
On the other side of the ball, the defense is once again expected to deliver as it did in the second half of the 2003 season. Head coach Todd Shell prides himself on his defense and doesn't expect anything but the best from his squad.
"Hopefully we'll go and pick up right from were we left off last year," said the 2003 AFL Coach of the Year. "I'm looking forward to see how we play and how we battle."
The AFL's leading tackler DS Donvetis Franklin can't wait for Sunday. "I think the defense looks good, especially on the offensive/defensive line. In the backfield, we are where we should be. We had a good camp and we're ready to go."
The book on the Georgia Force says they're a strong defensive team having one of the best in the AFL last season. On average, they only gave up 238.4 yards per game and only allowed 43.8 points per game, which was the third best in the League. In a Week 11 match-up between these two squads last year, the Force held the Dragons' to only 34 points. Although the Dragons won the game 34-27, they held New York to 20 points lower then their season average. The Force have made two key additions to their roster in the off-season with WR/LB's Andy McCullough and OS Dialleo Burks. With returning veterans in WR/DB Dameon Porter and DS Kevin Gaines, Georgia is once again expected to have one of the top defenses in the game.
Dragons' fans can catch the AFL on NBC (WNBC4) with Bob Papa on the play-by-play and Ray Bentley with the color commentary. The game can be heard on New York radio on WNYG 1440 AM. Peter Schwartz will deliver the play-by-play commentary.
Next Week:
The Dragons open their home season with a playoff rematch against the Chicago Rush. The Dragons defeated the Rush 48-45 in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs in 2003.
Got a question about the Dragons or AFL?
Dragons' play-by-play commentator Peter Schwartz will answer questions from you, the fans on radio during each game. You can e-mail him DRAGONSRADIO@AOL.COM. This week's game will be on 1440 AM WNYG.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 7, 2004
- VooDoo sign Hamilton, waive Holloway - New Orleans VooDoo
- Destroyers' comeback bests Firebirds - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- First Arena Football League game in Philadelphia Soul'd out - Philadelphia Soul
- Gladiators fall to Crush in season opener - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Dragons Kickoff: Dragons Open in Georgia - New York Dragons
- Gruden signs contract extension - Orlando Predators
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