SD Fleet Daily Update
January 6, 2019 - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
San Diego Fleet News Release
TODAY'S HEADLINES
- The Fleet had a single practice at 8:45 a.m. CT this morning with a trip to the weight room scheduled for this afternoon.
- The Fleet had 73 of the 75 players on the roster participate in practice today - with the exceptions being OT Gerrad Kough, who is awaiting medical clearance and WR Isaiah Burse (knee). WR Wayne Capers Jr. was a limited participant.
- The crop of five tight ends on the roster continue to impress in a tight competition: Marcus Baugh (Ohio State), Gavin Escobar (San Diego State), Ben Johnson (Kansas), Aaron Peck (Fresno State) and Darryl Richardson (San Diego State). See Antony Becht quotes below.
- The Fleet hold their practices at Heroes Stadium, a 10-year old, 11,000-capacity facility that serves the North East Independent School District in San Antonio. The $27.5 M stadium hosts seven area high schools and features a Fieldturf Duraspine playing surface.
HIGHLIGHTS
- RB Bishop Sankey (Washington) hit the holes hard in seven-on-seven drills and then continued to find gaps in 11-on-11 drills.
- FS Kameron Kelley (San Diego State) had an impressive lunging interception early in 11-on-11 drills that prompted in eruption from the defensive sidelines.
- DL Alex Barrett (San Diego State) and DE Meffy Koloamatangi (Hawaii) received rave reviews from Defensive Line Coach Vice Amey for their individual success in pass-rushing drills.
QUOTABLES
- Tight Ends Coach Anthony Becht on the Fleet tight ends: "I think we have five talented tight ends that are all beginning to learn the importance of understanding all the skill sets of what the tight end is supposed to be. A lot of them came in here as maybe a pass catcher in the league or in practice squad or wherever they may be. If they understand that they have to be a complete tight end, then that will give them the advantage of getting back to the NFL. That's what we are trying to teach them and they are all grasping that; they are all attentive to that; and they are all getting better at that every single day. The competition is good - and that's what we want at all the positions."
- Tight Ends Coach Anthony Becht on the tight end position in a Mike Martz offense: "The one thing they are going to have to do is block, as well, in order to stay on the field and be part of the passing game. You've got to be able to block on first or second down - whenever those runs are - so we can mix in those pass plays... They can all run routes; that's the easy part... I'm just trying to get them to understand that in order to be accomplished in this Martz system, you've got to be an every down tight end."
- Tight Ends Coach Anthony Becht on San Diego State product Gavin Escobar: "He's a very refined route-runner. He understands spacing. You know, the kid was learning from Jason Witten in Dallas. Jason Witten is not the fastest guy, but he understands the details of the route... For Gavin, it's more 'can you become the complete guy?' 'Will you stick your face in there and can you play the F or the Y and be multiple at your position?' And he's buying into that right now."
- CB Jade Adjei'Barimah (Bowling Green) on the first three practices: "I feel great. It's been really fun to get back out here and run around and get back into the structure of football - even with the meetings and the installations and everything. You just love the grind of camp. Today was a big day to come out here and kind of set the tone for what we want to be moving forward."
- CB Jade Adjei'Barimah (Bowling Green) on the Fleet's defensive philosophy: "I can speak to all the DBs (defensive backs) and get a feel for what they like or don't like. It seems a lot of guys like to get in your face and be aggressive and play a lot of aggressive defense and coverages. So I'm excited, because that's the same style I play. I think we'll be able to gel well together."
- LB Eric Pinkins (San Diego State) on returning to football: "I've been training year-round. I've been out for a whole year, so when I can out here, I was just ready; I felt ready to go."
- LB Eric Pinkins (San Diego State) on the Fleet's defensive philosophy: "Honestly, we're really aggressive. I just like the fact that we're running to the ball and emphasizing punching the ball out. At the end of the day, it changes the games. It's all about turnovers, and that's what we want to do - win a championship."
- LB Eric Pinkins (San Diego State) on the cohesiveness of the defensive unit: "It all starts off the field - just building chemistry with everybody, getting to know them personally. Because, if you get to know them off the field, on the field, everything is just going to connect."
- OG Damien Mama (San Diego State) on the offensive line: "I feel like all five positions are really gelling well. We communicate very well. I feel like the coaches are doing a really good job in feeding us the playbook - not a little, but not a lot; giving us the right amount to gel together as a unit. So I feel like we're gelling really well. It's going to be a good unit."
- OG Damien Mama (San Diego State) on playing in a Mike Martz offensive system: "I feel like if anything, it's going to get us better. That's the first thing he (Coach Martz) emphasized when he met with us as a team. We want to get our technique right. It's something that maybe everybody on this team needs a little work on - being technicians. I feel like it's what Coach Martz -- his offense - does really well for us."
GOOD HUMOR LINE OF THE DAY
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Kicker Cole Murphy (Syracuse) when raving about the helmets furnished by the AAF: "It is really comfortable! Most times, you put on the helmet for the first time and it gives you headaches. It's really tough. But these are great!"
HAPPY ENDINGS:
- Today's practice ended with the entire team huddled up for "WIN" on three.
TRANSACTIONS:
There were no transactions for the Fleet today.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - JADE ADJEI'BARIMAH, CORNERBACK:
CB Jade Adjei'Barimah (Bowling Green) has impressed early in training camp - perhaps not surprising considering the fact he has logged time in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2015-16). Adjei'Barimah (pronounced AH-zhay buh-REE-muh) was undrafted out of Bowling Green, despite a career-high 82 tackles as a senior and an interception in a 33-28 victory over University of South Alabama in the 2014 Camellia Bowl. He went on to appear in 23 games and made eight starts with the Buccaneers, recording 62 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble. Born in Pordenone, Italy, he played youth soccer before moving to Columbus, Ohio, at the age of nine. This summer, Adjei'Bariham was invited to work out for the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions.
COACH SPOTLIGHT - ANTHONY BECHT, TIGHT ENDS COACH:
Anthony Becht joins the San Diego Fleet as tight ends coach with an abundance of experience. The Drexel, Pa., native spent a 11 seasons with the NFL while suiting up for the New York Jets (2000-04), the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005-07), St. Louis Rams (2008), Arizona Cardinals (2009) and Kansas City Chiefs (2010). Becht was originally a first-round pick (27th overall) by the Jets in 2000 out of West Virginia University, where he was selected second-team All-Big East as both a junior (1998) and senior (1999) and was an honorable mention All-American his final year. He went on to record 188 receptions, 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns in the NFL. He enjoyed his best season as a Jet under Head Coach Herm Edwards in 2003, when he set career highs in in catches (58) and yards (356). In 2004, he notched a personal-best five touchdowns. Following his playing career, Becht has served as a college football analyst with ESPN as well as a co-host of the "Football Fan Shop" on the Home Shopping Network.
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Alliance of American Football Stories from January 6, 2019
- SD Fleet Daily Update - San Diego Fleet
- Orlando Apollos Daily Update - Orlando Apollos
- Arizona Hotshots Daily Update - Sunday, January 6, 2019 - Arizona Hotshots
- San Antonio Commanders Daily Training Camp Update for Sunday, January 6, 2019 - San Antonio Commanders
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