Kats Training Camp Update
Published on January 9, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
DODSON WINS KICKING JOB... FOR NOW: Tony Dodson has fought off a challenge from rookie Jonathan Ruffin to retain the Kats kicking job, but it likely won't be the last battle the third-year player out of Arkansas will face during training camp.
Dodson kicked in the season's last six games for the team in 2005, making 5-of-12 field goal attempts and bringing stability to a spot that had been shaky for Nashville all season. His strong leg on kickoffs also helped him gain a foothold as the Kats kicker after the team had previously released Gary Kral and Matt Hutto.
Ruffin, who was the 2000 Lou Groza Award winner out of the University of Cincinnati, demonstrated good accuracy during a three-day kicking competition between he and Dodson inside the Gaylord Entertainment Center. In the end, though, it was Dodson's stronger leg and ability to reach the net on kickoffs that gave the veteran the edge.
After announcing that Ruffin had been released this afternoon, Kats head coach Pat Sperduto said that he expects to bring in other kickers for workouts in the coming days, and that the competition for the team's regular kicker is still wide open.
HARRIS, WRIGHT WAIVED: Injuries have forced the Kats to release two rookie receivers. Offensive specialists Detronn Harris and Kerry Wright have been waived-injured after both suffered injuries in training camp workouts last week. Harris dislocated a shoulder, while Wright pulled a hamstring. By waiving them as injured, the Kats will rehabilitate both players until they are cleared by the team's medical staff. At that point, they can either be re-signed by the Kats or picked up by another club. Harris played in af2 last season and was in camp with the Tennessee Titans in 2004, while Wright played at Middle Tennessee State and was in camp with the Indianapolis Colts.
LAWRENCE SIGNED: After recent transactions lowered the team's roster number below the 37-player limit, the Kats signed rookie fullback/linebacker Jeremy Lawrence, who played collegiately at LSU. Lawrence (6-2, 275) was a three-year starter in college and has also played in the CFL.
GOING SOUTH: The Kats leave for Atlanta in the morning, where they will participate in two days of joint practice sessions with the Georgia Force. Georgia won the AFL's National Conference last season and played in the ArenaBowl. The Kats will return on Wednesday evening, and will have a three-day joint practice session with the expansion Utah Blaze in Nashville next week.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 9, 2006
- Force training camp report - Georgia Force
- Rattlers camp starts with high hopes - Arizona Rattlers
- Brigade WIns First-Ever Scrimmage 30-28 - Kansas City Brigade
- Kats Training Camp Update - Nashville Kats
- Team morale grows as Destroyers continue with camp - Columbus Destroyers
- Wranglers single-game tickets on sale tomorrow - Austin Wranglers
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