Q&A with James Landers
May 26, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz News Release
James Landers is having one of the best seasons of his af2 career. The af2 veteran is terrorizing opposing offenses as he leads the entire league in sacks (6.5) and forced fumbles (3). The former Arkansas Twister faces his former mates this weekend in Oklahoma City for the first time since his departure. As a Twister ('00-'03), Landers was nominated for Lineman of the Year in 2002 and was ranked in the af2's Top 2 OL/DL in 2002 and 2003. Now with the Dawgz, he anchors a defensive line that is atop the af2 with 28 sacks on the season and are on pace to challenge the all-time single season team sack record of 52 by the 2001 Carolina Rhinos. The incredibly outgoing lineman sat down to answer some questions for okcyarddawgz.com.
Q: How do you feel about facing your former teammates the Twisters this week?
JL: I am going to be very pumped for this game. It is basically the same group of guys from when I was there. They still give me a call once or twice a week and give me a hard time, because here I am at the head of the league in sacks and they ask me Where did you learn to play defense?'
Q: What is the difference between this season and the past three years with the Twisters?
JL: This team (Yard Dawgz) makes me want to play hard. I have never been so close to my receivers and my quarterbacks and my defensive backs. We are real close. They make me want to play hard and I make them want to play hard.
Q: The Yard Dawgz are 4-0 at home, what is the difference of playing in Oklahoma City rather than on the road?
JL: It is always the crowd. The crowd gets me pumped and it is a great feeling coming out of that tunnel and hearing the crowd and knowing they will back you up.
Q: What is your goal I life?
JL: Do the best that I can in everything I do and never stop trying to get better.
Q: Who is your hero or mentor?
JL: My dad is my hero. I don't know anyone who has a relationship like my dad and me. He has raised me by himself since I was nine months old and he is my best friend. When I play football, he never misses a home game. It doesn't matter whether I'm in Louisiana playing in college or in Oklahoma playing for the Dawgz, he never misses a home game.
Q: What is in the future for James Landers?
JL: My goal is the AFL. I don't see me playing in af2 anymore. I am going to be 29 years old, it's time for me to move up or move on.
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