Rampage Conclude First Week of Training Camp

Published on February 8, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


KENTWOOD - After hiring new head coach and director of football operations Steve Thonn over six months ago, the Grand Rapids Rampage are finally back in action with a brand new roster for the upcoming 2008 Arena Football League season. Over 40 different players spent time practicing here at MVP Sports Spot this week, as Thonn and his staff began early evaluation of the team's talent pool.

"The effort from everyone has been great," said Thonn. "Over the first week, mistakes are going to happen. But you want to be going 100 percent. From the football standpoint, both the defense and the offense are doing a good job of picking everything up."

Showing significant signs of improvement was the Rampage defense, which last season surrendered a league-record 1,014 points. This year's secondary has been bolstered by the additions of 2007 All-AFL First Team defensive back Ahmad Hawkins (Hampton, Va.) and William Haith (Washington, D.C.), the New Orleans VooDoo's leading tackler last season. Meanwhile, the defensive line appears invigorated thanks to the addition of several AFL newcomers such as former Canadian Football League star and second round NFL draft selection Rahim Abdullah (Jacksonville, Fla.).

"So far, so good," said Rampage defensive coordinator and director of player personnel Ron Selesky. "Overall, it seems like we're gelling. The guys are understanding the concept of playing team defense: communicate, execute and finish plays the right way."

Among the transactions completed by the Rampage this week were the signings of fullback Alan Krutulis (Stewartsville, N.J.), linebacker Leif Murphy (Spring Lake Park, Minn.) and offensive lineman Larry Turner, Jr. (Dayton, Ohio); the releasing of defensive lineman Anthony Herron (Bolingbrook, Ill.); and the placing of quarterback Ryan Hart (Coral Springs, Fla.) and offensive lineman Tyler McMeans (Shippenville, Pa.) on the team's "left squad" list.

The Rampage will line up against unfamiliar faces next week when the Cleveland Gladiators arrive in Grand Rapids for combined practices and a scrimmage. The scrimmage, which will take place Tuesday (Feb. 12) from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. EST at Van Andel Arena, will be free and open to the public.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 8, 2008


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