Lions Training Camp Report Part Two: Offensive Explosion
March 4, 2013 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Columbus Lions News Release
COLUMBUS, GA (March 4, 2013) - The wait is almost over as the Columbus Lions of the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL) begin their second and final week of training camp with the season opener taking place in "The Jungle" on Sunday March 10th vs. the Knoxville Nighthawks.
For the past six seasons, Head Coach Jason Gibson has been the mastermind of a Columbus Lions offensive squad that consistently ranks around the top in majority of their league's offensive categories. Last season was no different as the Lions lead the PIFL in pass offense (269 yards/game) and total offense (280 yards/game).
Other than Gibson, there really has only been two other constants in the Lions offensive success that being WR Gerald "G-G" Gales and OL Dion Small. "G-G" returns for his sixth season while Small is back protecting Columbus quarterbacks for his fourth season. Gales re-joins the Lions as the team's all-time leader in receptions (326), yards (4,205), and touchdowns (87).
Also returning is the PIFL's 2012 Offensive MVP in WR Maurice Dupree. Dupree lead the league in scoring (242), touchdown receptions (40), and receiving yards (1278) and will once again be a pivotal asset in the Lions passing offense.
One other recurrent trend has been the consistent revolving door at the quarterback position. Last season Randy Hippeard took over the starting duties after out-dueling the incumbent Chris McCoy during training camp. Hippeard enjoyed a successful 2012 campaign finishing on the PIFL's All 2nd Team by leading the league in passing touchdowns (72), passing yards (3,280), and completion percentage (64.5%).
When Columbus opens the season on Sunday March 10th they will do so with a new signal-caller under center for the fifth consecutive year as Hippeard elected to sign with the PIFL's Knoxville Nighthawks in the off-season in hopes of continuing his education closer to home.
Battling it out during training camp for the top QB spot has been Marcus Jones (6'4 225, Duke) and Garrett Sutphen (6'4 220, UNC-Pembroke). Jones joined the Lions late last year seeing limited action with just nine pass attempts in one game. Last season, while with the AIF's Cape Fear Heroes Sutphen split time under-center guiding them to an undefeated championship season.
Whomever the coaching staff elects to start under-center will certainly have two of the league's guards blocking for them. In addition to Small, also returning is Brandon Thomas (6'5 310, Tulsa) who left mid-way through last season after earning a spot with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
No off-season is met without a bevy of fresh faces and departures.
In addition to Hippeard, gone is the ultra-talented WR London Crawford whom after earning the PIFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2012 signed with the AFL's Jacksonville Sharks. There is still an out-side chance Crawford could re-join the Lions but with a Lions coaching staff that praises themselves on sending players to the next level they believe he will stick with the Sharks.
Looking to replace him will be local home-bred WR Jarmon Fortson (6'3 225, North Alabama). As a senior, he led the Carver Tigers to a state championship while later on signing his letter of intent to play at Florida State. In two seasons with the Noles, Fortson hauled in 53 receptions and five touchdowns before transferring to North Alabama where he closed out his collegiate career in 2010 by grabbing 32 receptions along with five touchdowns.
On special teams the club will replace kicker Trey Crum with Chandler Brooks (6'1 175, Auburn). Over the past three seasons combined Crum has managed to score 331 points in addition to punching through 52 Uno's. Brooks will provide the team with some familiarity having seen action in three games last season scoring 35 points along with four Uno's. Chandler made a splash in his indoor debut when back on Saturday May 12th he made a game-winning 40-yard field goal as time expired giving the Lions a three-point win over Knoxville.
The Lions coaching staff will have just two more days to judge and evaluate the talent on the field before they make their final roster cut-down to 27 on March 6th. With AFL cut-downs around the corner don't expect the opening game roster to look the same a couple of weeks down the road.
"I have already made a number of cuts in hopes of leaving some spots open for those who fall by the wayside during AFL cut-down period," said Columbus Lions Head Coach Jason Gibson. "Competition is the greatest equalizer and despite our recent success on offense as long as I am Head Coach we will never become complacent."
The Columbus Lions 2013 season will kick-off on Sunday March 10th when they host the Knoxville Nighthawks for "Military Appreciation Night." To find about how you can obtain special "Drop-Zone Tickets" for the entire season, contact the Lions front office at 706-322-3336 or for other ticket details log on to www.columbuslions.net.
Professional Indoor Football League Stories from March 4, 2013
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- Lions Training Camp Report Part Two: Offensive Explosion - Columbus Lions
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