Kats Mini-Camp Preview
December 5, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
A few of the storylines going into mini-camp:
QB BATTLE BEGINS - Four quarterbacks are currently on the team's roster, and all four will be battling for roster spots in mini-camp and training camp. Incumbent starter Leon Murray threw for 2,851 yards, 48 TD's and 10 INT's last year, completing 60.1 percent of his throws. He will be pushed for the starting job by Clint Stoerner, last year's All-Rookie selection at QB, who was picked up in an offseason trade from Dallas. Stoerner passed for 3,918 yards, 77 TD's and 16 INT's. He completed 63.6 percent of his passes. What makes that competition even more interesting is the likelihood that the loser of that battle will not be a Kat when the regular season begins. The reality of the salary cap makes it unlikely that both Murray and Stoerner will be able to stay on the roster throughout the season. Scott Rislov, who took over the backup spot in midseason last year, and Juston Wood, who was an All-af2 quarterback for Central Valley last season, are also in the mix. They will be fighting for the other QB spot on the team's active roster.
FLEMING RETURNS TO GEC - This weekend's mini-camp will mark the first time All-Arena WR/LB Cory Fleming will be back on the field at the Gaylord Entertainment Center since the original Kats left Nashville in 2001. Fleming, who returned to the organization in an offseason trade with Orlando, has caught 66 TD passes over the last two seasons. Fleming played five years with the Kats from 1997-2001 and helped lead Nashville to two ArenaBowls.
CROWD OF RECEIVERS - Fleming is one of 11 receivers taking part in the mini-camp, and that does not include 15-year veteran Darryl Hammond, who is excused from this weekend's practices. Almost all receivers will see work on both sides of the ball in mini-camp in order for coaches to get a feel for which of the three spots (offensive specialist, wide receiver/defensive back, wide receiver/linebacker) players will primarily fit into. T.T. Toliver, who was outstanding after being picked up in a midseason trade last season, is the favorite to claim the starting OS spot. Jermaine Lewis and rookies Detronn Harris and Kerry Wright could also figure into that equation. At WR/LB, Fleming and Lewis will get most of the work. The WR/DB spot, meanwhile, will be hotly contested as returnees Jarrick Hillery, Reggie Stephens and Toliver will see time with free agent signee Cornelius Bonner and Wright. Khalil Carter, Rober' Freeman and Monty Montgomery, who are in the mix at defensive specialist will also see some work at the WR/DB spot this weekend as well.
CARTER BACK FROM CANADA - Khalil Carter, who was a second-team All-Arena selection at defensive specialist for the Kats last season, is back on the team's active roster after playing the last two months with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts. He signed with the Argos on Oct. 5 and played in one game (making three tackles).
GETTING DEFENSIVE - Carter will be in the thick of one of mini-camp's most competitive battles at the DS spot. He will join returnees Rober' Freeman and Reggie Stephens and free agent addition Monty Montgomery in a battle for the two starting spots at that position. While one or more of these four players is likely to see significant time at the WR/DB position, all four are very much in the hunt to be starters at defensive specialist. Carter had seven interceptions last year, and Stephens was an underrated force on defense while playing both ways in 2005. Montgomery, who has spent six years in the NFL, developed into one of the best cover men in the AFL while with New Orleans, and Freeman is one of the fastest players on the entire roster. Newcomers Chris Angel, Billy Alford and Eric Joyce will also be in the mix at this position.
HAPPY CAMPERS - The Kats will have seven players in town for mini-camp who are not currently on the team's active roster. They are taking part in practices after signing a two-day waiver with the club. These players will try to grab the attention of coaches in order to earn an invitation to training camp. Among these seven players are defensive specialists Scott Cunningham and Greg Golden, receivers Kevin Beard, Terrell Shaw and Alonzo Nix, and kickers Brian Hazelwood and Jonathan Ruffin.
GETTING THEIR KICKS - The Kats are looking for more stability this year at the kicking position, after struggling to make field goals and extra points through much of last year. Hazelwood and Ruffin, who was a Lou Groza Award winner at Cincinnati, will be competing for a spot on the 37-man roster and a chance to compete for the placekicker spot in training camp.
FIRST LOOK - Along with Fleming and Stoerner, several other Kats newcomers who joined the team as free agents in the offseason will make their first appearance in a Kats uniform at the mini-camp. FB/LB Frank Carter, who signed with the Kats after an All-Arena season with Las Vegas, will be participating in camp. Carter's Vegas teammate, Cornelius Bonner, who has 12 interceptions over the past two years, will also take the field with the Kats for the first time. Monty Montgomery, a standout defensive specialist with New Orleans the past two seasons, and Chris Angel, a defensive specialist who was with the New York Dragons last year, will also be on hand for their first action with the squad.
LOCAL TIES - Several Kats newcomers who will be on hand for mini-camp have local connections. DS Billy Alford played at Vanderbilt, while Eric Joyce and Scott Cunningham, who are also defensive specialists, played at TSU. Kerry Wright played his college ball at MTSU. Receivers Alonzo Nix, who played at UT Chattanooga, and Detronn Harris were both in camp with the Tennessee Titans in previous seasons.
OLD ADVERSARY - In what is clearly the most ironic development of mini-camp, Terrell Shaw, who was the ArenaBowl XV MVP for Grand Rapids when they beat the Kats, will be participating in the camp on a two-day waiver. The veteran OS caught 12 passes and scored an ArenaBowl record five TD's against Nashville in the 2001 title game.
OPEN HOUSE - Saturday's afternoon practice will coincide with an open house for Kats fans and potential season ticket holders. The Kats will open the GEC to the public between 1 and 4 p.m., letting fans pick their seats for the upcoming season, and giving them the opportunity to watch practice and get autographs from players, coaches and cheerleaders.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from December 5, 2005
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