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Only two days of camp remain for Destroyers

January 18, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Columbus Destroyers News Release


COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Columbus Destroyers continued with Day 12 of Training Camp at the Columbus FieldHouse Wednesday with another productive day of practice. With the final days of camp approaching, quarterbacks and receivers have been working a lot on timing as the players adjust to one another.

"It's important to get that timing down before you go into the first game," quarterback John Kaleo said. "You don't want to go out there and not have the timing down and miss a touchdown or a big play because of it."

The timing of the throw is vital with this group of players as it is the first time that Kaleo and quarterback Billy Dicken have worked with most of the receivers. Kaleo and wide receiver/linebacker David Saunders played together in Tampa Bay during the 2002 and 2003 seasons, but have spent the past two seasons apart.

"They all have big play capabilities," Kaleo said. "I am just anxious to see how it all comes together on the 29th. I am optimistic that there will be some good things that come out of this group."

Kaleo also added that working with each receiver is different. Players like offensive specialist Thabiti Davis stands 6-foot-3, while wide receiver/defensive back Lincoln Dupree is 5-foot-11.

"With Thabiti I can just throw the ball out there and a little higher and just let him go get it," Kaleo said. "With Lincoln, he is more of a fast guy, so I have to put it more on him. But he is a fast guy, so I can just throw the ball as far as I can, and he can just run and go get it."

But as the final days of camp wind down, Kaleo feels that the group is coming together and starting to click on all cylinders.

"We're starting to get the timing down," he said. "It's kind of integral for the next week and a half to get that down with all the receivers who are going to be suiting up on the 29th."

Offensive Coordinator Ken Matous' comments on the day...

On what he sees from the players as the conclusion of Training Camp approaches...

"Some guys are starting to separate themselves from other people. There's still some guys competing for positions, and there are still a couple of days of competition left here. There are certain guys with leadership out here who are taking charge in some of the drills, which is giving this team a good characteristic."

On the difficulty for the coaching staff going into this weekend...

"Well I hope it will be difficult because that means we have the right guys in here, and the guys that we brought in are competing. There may be a few guys that it's not difficult on because they have been sitting back thinking that they have it made, but that's pretty typical. Hopefully the decisions that we have to make this weekend will be difficult."

Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Ira Gooch's comments on the day...

On how the final days of camp are going...

"It's rough. Guys are still plugging away. We still have a couple of days left. We have to keep working, and hopefully things work out this weekend."

On what the most important thing for him to do over the next few days...

"We just have to enjoy ourselves. We have a lot of good guys in here. Some of us will be here, some of us won't. You just have to enjoy it until the wheels fall off, and whatever happens, happens. "



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 18, 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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