SaberCats Practice with Soul
Published on January 20, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Jan. 20, 2004) -- After 10 days of beating on each other at training camp, the SaberCats targeted another jersey color Tuesday as the expansion Philadelphia Soul dropped by for a joint practice at the team's facility in Sunnyvale.
The two squads separated for stretching and individual exercises before dividing into lineman and receivers to practice against each other in one-on-one drills. The two teams ended the joint session with a spirited round of eight-on-eight team drills. According to SaberCats' head coach, Darren Arbet, the practice benefited both teams.
"It's great that they can come in here and give us a look while we give them a look," Arbet said. "You need to go against somebody else because the practices start getting stale â you know a guy's moves, you know how to take away this guy because he only does this or that. It's a good deal."
The practice marked San Jose's OL/DL Joe Jacobs' first on-field action against another team since suffering an arm injury on the first play of the SaberCats' 2003 season-opener vs. Arizona. Jacobs felt no ill effects in Tuesday's practice.
"It felt real good," said the eight-year veteran. "I think good things will happen for the team, and for myself, if I can stay healthy. I think my arm's pretty healed. It could be stronger and it's a little swollen here and there, but I'll be fine this year."
SaberCats' QB Mark Grieb took part in team drills before turning the offense over to backup Nick Rolovich. He enjoyed his first look at the Soul.
"I felt pretty good," Grieb said. "It was fun to go against someone who was different and hadn't seen us everyday. It's good for us to work against that too because sometimes your guys get to know you so well that your moves won't work on them anymore. It was good. Philadelphia was competitive. They were good guys."
San Jose and Philadelphia get together again on Wednesday for a closed scrimmage at HP Pavilion.
The SaberCats kickoff their 10th AFL season at Detroit on Thursday, February 5th. The home opener is set for Saturday, February 28th against the Grand Rapids Rampage at HP Pavilion. Single game tickets for all home games can be purchased at all Northern California TicketMaster outlets, on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the HP Pavilion box office. For season or group ticket information call the SaberCats at (408) 573-5577 or visit the team's official website at www.sanjosesabercats.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 20, 2004
- Las Vegas Gladiators Sign and Release Three - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Destroyers Make Roster Moves - Columbus Destroyers
- SaberCats Practice with Soul - San Jose SaberCats
- AFL and U.S. Army Renew Partnership for 2004 Season - AFL I
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