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AAF San Diego Fleet

SD Fleet Daily Update

January 7, 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. The team was originally expected to have an evening walk-through, but Head Coach Mike Martz surprised the team after positional meetings by announcing the cancellation.

- Pro Football Hall-of-Fame Executive and Alliance of American Football Co-Founder Bill Polian made an appearance at Fleet practice today. Aside from observing Fleet camp, Polian was accompanied by a camera crew that was filming his evaluations on the impressive nature of the league's inaugural training camp. The video session included a conversation between the Super Bowl XLI champ and Fleet General Manager Dave Boller.

- The appearance from Polian came the morning after a visit during dinner from AAF Head of Player Relations Troy Polamalu - on the eve of his selection into the College Football Hall of Fame. The eight-time Pro Bowler took a large number of "selfies" with players on the roster and talked Trojans football with his fellow USC products. The AAF had one other member voted into the College Football Hall of Fame today in longtime coach and current Salt Lake Stallions Head Coach Dennis Erickson.

- The Fleet had 72 of the 75 players on the roster participate in practice today - with the exceptions being OT Gerrad Kough, who still is awaiting medical clearance, WR Isaiah Burse (knee). WR Wayne Capers Jr. (leg).

- 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

- It was a great day for the Fleet defensive. In one-on-one drills, the unit came alive after back-to-back interceptions from LB Travis Feeney (Washington) and CB Jordan Martin (Syracuse). The plays had defensive backs coach Eric Allen (Arizona State) fired-up - and he remained that way most of the practice.

- In 11-on-11 drills, FS Kameron Kelly (San Diego State) stepped up over the middle intercepted a pass near midfield. He maneuvered his way to the sidelines and raced straight into the end zone.

- Fleet running backs of all sizes - from the five-foot-seven Ja'Quan Gardner (Humboldt State) to the five-foot-ten Bishop Sankey (Washington) to the six-foot-one Terrell Watson (Azusa Pacific) -- all flashed the ability to hit the holes hard slip the second level.

- In 7-on-7 drills, WR Kyle Lewis (Cal Poly) hauled in two deep balls over the top of the defense.

QUOTABLES

- Defensive Backs Coach Eric Allen on the contagious impact of the Fleet defensive backs Monday: "For me, it all starts with one-on-ones. One-on-ones seem to get the energy up, in particular, for the corners because they know it's about competition and they know the odds are kind of stacked against them; from the drill itself... So when we get into the team, it seems easy - because it's not just me against you, the whole team is involved. When they get their hands on the ball and get interceptions, I'm the one hooting and hollering to keep the energy level up. I'm just really happy the way they compete each and every day, particularly when it's one-on-ones."

- Defensive Backs Coach Eric Allen on the competition within the group: "They love the fact we have given them three teams. There's not a one, two and three unit for us. It's grey, black and gold... So they really feel that that's them; like 'Hey, the grey unit is going to represent! We get some turnovers, so now that puts the pressure on the black unit or the other units.' They've really bonded together with their unit and I think the defense, as a whole, has really benefitted by that."

- FS Kameron Kelly (San Diego State) on his interception in 11-on-11 drills: "I came down and two backs went the opposite way, so I ended up being the 'hole' player. I just read the quarterback's (Alex Ross') eyes. I saw him look right once. Usually with a quarterback, they do first look, second look and the ball is coming out. Once I saw him look back, once the play action came, I knew I had a drag coming across and something behind me. So I stayed in the middle and he threw it right to me."

- FS Kameron Kelly (San Diego State) on the improvement of the defense: "A lot of energy. Making a little sign mistakes here and there; but that is to be expected in the first couple of days. Every day you can see us getting better and less and less assignment mistakes - and now people can make more and more plays."

- FS Kameron Kelly (San Diego State) on if he is enjoying the development of the defense: "Oh, yeah! It's a lot of fun. You've got to stay focused, but then it turns into like backyard football. You know what I'm saying? Everyone is just trying to win; trying to get their hands on the ball. Is not as much like, 'Ahg, it's practice. It's two-a-days.' We have fun with it and just keep the energy up."

- QB Alex Ross (Coastal Carolina) on his comfort level within the offense: "I'm starting to settle in. I'm starting to get to the point where I feel comfortable with the plays. When I'm learning them, I can picture them in my head. That just comes with repetition. So I've got to constantly be calling out the plays in my head. Seeing it. Saying it to myself. Saying it to the guys and getting comfortable with it. Because once you understand the offense and it seems second nature, then you can really start playing football. You don't have to think as much - and that's when you can start to react."

- QB Alex Ross (Coastal Carolina) on the Fleet's stable of wide receivers and tight ends: "I love it.

We've got a lot of great guys to throw the football to. We've got great tight ends and great wide receivers -- guys who are sure-handed and do everything well. I'm very happy with what I saw the first three days."

NO DUKE, NO PROBLEM

- The official Wilson AAF football is slightly different than the Wilson official NFL exclusive "The Duke" football. When asked about the AAF football, QB Alex Ross (Coastal Carolina) said, "The new ball, the Alliance ball - I like it a lot. First, I grabbed it and it felt a little bit smaller than a regular NFL ball; but somebody told me it is actually a little bit bigger. When I started throwing it, it just really comes off.

It's got a nice feel to it. It looks pretty in the air. It's also got the red, white and blue on it."

GOOD HUMOR LINE OF THE DAY

- LB Al-Rasheed Benton (West Virginia), from the defensive sideline, after a pair of Fleet interceptions in seven-on-seven drills: "The defense had its Wheaties today! The defense definitely ate its Wheaties!"

HAPPY ENDINGS

- For the second-consecutive day, the practice ended with the entire team huddled up for "WIN" on three.

TRANSACTIONS

There were no transactions for the Fleet today.

COUNTDOWN

The Fleet will enter practice tomorrow with 33 days before the inaugural season kicks-off in San Antonio against the Commanders at the Alamodome on Feb. 9.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - KAMERON KELLY, FREE SAFETY

FS Kameron Kelly (San Diego State), just 22-years-old, is a versatile athlete. After starring as a multiple threat at Wylie High School in Murphy, Texas - where he played quarterback, receiver and defensive back - he chose to attend San Diego State University over nearly 20 other Division-I offers. He further displayed his versatility when he played right away as a true freshman in 2014; and again when he made the move to cornerback in 2017 after playing as a Warrior (safety) his first three seasons with the Aztecs. The result was Kelly earning 2017 First-Team All-Mountain West honors as well as SDSU Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year after recording 68 tackles, three interceptions and two sacks. He finished his collegiate career ranked in a tie for 10th in school history with 10 interceptions - registering two as a junior in a 34-10 thrashing of University of Houston in the 2016 Las Vegas Bowl. Many draft projections expected Kelly to be targeted in the fifth or sixth rounds. Although going undrafted, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys soon thereafter.

COACH SPOTLIGHT - ERIC ALLEN, DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

Eric Allen spent 14 years as one of the NFL's premier defensive backs after being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round (30th overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft. Allen appeared in 217 career games and registered 54 interceptions -- eight returned for touchdowns -- during his time with Philadelphia (1988-94), New Orleans Saints (1995-97) and Oakland Raiders (1998-2001). The San Diego native of collected numerous accolades throughout his career, including being named to the NFL's All-Rookie Team (1988), First-Team All- Pro (1989, 1992, 1993) and NFC Defensive Player of the Year (1993) as well as being selected to six Pro Bowls (1989, 1991-95). Allen was named to the Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary team in 2007 and he was inducted into the Arizona State Football Hall of Fame the following year. In 2009, Allen became a member of the San Diego Hall of Champions, Breitbard Hall of Fame, honoring San Diego athletes for their accomplishments on and off the playing field. In 2011, Allen was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame. Allen played collegiately at Arizona State, where he was a key member of the 1987 Rose Bowl Championship team.

He is a graduate of Point Loma High School in San Diego.

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