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AAF San Diego Fleet

SD Fleet Daily Update

January 10, 2019 - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
San Diego Fleet News Release


TODAY'S HEADLINES

- The Fleet held a single practice at 7:35 p.m. CT this evening - their first practice under the lights of the training camp - at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio, Texas.

- The Fleet had its largest wave of transactions today, as the team announced 11 roster moves. The Fleet signed former New York Giants third-rounder DE Damontre Moore (Texas A&M) and three wide receivers in Brian Brown (Richmond), Shay Fields (Colorado) and Francis Owusu (Stanford). Seven players were waived, a list consisting of WR Isaiah Burse (injured), WR Wayne Capers Jr. (injured), OL Matt Cohen, WR Jordan Gandy, WR De'Quan Hampton, OL Tylor King and WR Derreus Rogers. More information on the new Fleet additions appears later in today's update.

- Head Coach Mike Martz talked Fleet training camp with an interview recorded before practice that can be accessed here.

- The Fleet had 71 of the 72 players on the roster participate in practice today - with the exception being OT Gerrad Kough (illness), who still is awaiting medical clearance.

HIGHLIGHTS

- WR Kyle Lewis (Colorado) turned in the Play of the Day, displaying his ability to take the top off the defense for a second-consecutive day. This time, in 11-on-11 drills, he made lunging grab on a fly route for a touchdown on a 40-yard strike from QB Alex Ross. The team went crazy - even the defense - as DE Jose Duncan yelled out towards Lewis, "I ain't even mad."

- WR Kameron Kelly (San Diego State) was locked and loaded at his new 'X' position - making impressive grabs during seven-on-seven drills on a pair of out routes - one for approximately 15 yards and the other an outstretched grab with a toe-tap about 20 yards downfield.

- RB Paul James (Rutgers) showed explosiveness, hitting the hole hard on a draw and showing explosiveness on a screen pass.

- DT Andrew Stetler (Minnesota) made a really nice stop on a delay draw with the defense in prevent and a lot of real estate behind him.

- The Fleet defense may have dodged a bullet. DE Meffy Koloamatangi (ko-lo-ah-mah-TUNG-ee) went down with a knee injury on a pass rush during 11-on-11 drills - but early indications after practice are that the injury isn't believed to be serious.

BOATS QUOTES

- Head Coach Mike Martz on AAF training camp: "We've run our camp just as we would run in it in the NFL. The process is the same; the schedule. Everything is identical to the NFL. And we press them hard. We coach them hard. I think it's the only way to coach this thing. We're very professional about it. I think if you came to our practice, you would think it was an NFL practice; hopefully. I feel that way. I think we've got really good players."

- Head Coach Mike Martz on assessing his team's talent early in training camp: "I think the upper half of our roster - and oppositions' - is very good. In fact, there are about eight to 10 players right now I can't figure out why they're with us and why they are not on someone's (in the NFL) roster playing. Not just backing up, but playing for somebody. They're good players; really good players."

- Head Coach Mike Martz on if the importance of the AAF: "I think, obviously, the advantage of this league and the hole that's in the NFL is the lack of an offseason - where you can't develop players like you used to develop players; quarterbacks; offensive linemen; their footwork; their technique; defensive backs and back-pedaling; and keys; and all those things that you can spend one-on-one time in the offseason you don't get. And that's what this league will do - get them up to speed."

- Head Coach Mike Martz on if he is enjoying coaching the Fleet so far: "My greatest passion in life is teaching... I love everything about teaching -- preparing for it; just the ability to take something with these guys; identifying it; showing it; how it's going to make them better. And then getting them to go through it and climb the stairs, so to speak, and become better because of it. I think that's the thrill for me - wo be able to potentially take a young man and help him some place that maybe he didn't think he could get to. Because these guys, as good as they think they are, they can be better than what they think they are."

- WR Kyle Lewis (Colorado) his 40-yard touchdown grab in 11-on-11 drills: "That was a great throw by the quarterback (Alex Ross). Coach even told us; he was showing film from when he was with the Rams. He said, 'Look, men, you've got to play with each other. When you guys make a big play, you've got to go crazy. So, I feel like that was just the perfect moment to let it all out."

- WR Kyle Lewis (Colorado) on making big plays the last two practices: "I'm just enjoying the process. I'm getting in a lot of film sessions with coach; taking a lot of good notes. The group we have is a really amazing group. I feel like we're in college again. It's like a brotherhood. We all help each other out. Good notes; constant questions - it's really helping me stay on top of what I need to do."

- WR Kyle Lewis (Colorado) on his experience in training camp: "Coaches are hard on us; but it's good. I honestly appreciate our coaches so much. I feel like I'm learning so much more than if they weren't hard on us. It is exciting. We have a really special group out here in San Diego."

GOOD HUMOR LINE(S) OF THE DAY

- Head Coach Mike Martz frustrated at a quarterback for a check-down with a wide receiver open downfield: "God did not make a better play than (play name). That man was naked he was so wide open!"

- Cornerback Jude Adjei'Barimah (Bowling Green) on being told he owed a wide receiver money for allowing a pass completion: "You got any pictures of my interception?"

WELCOME ABOARD

- DE Damontre Moore (Texas A&M) was signed by the Fleet on Wednesday. A three-year standout for the Aggies, the 26-year-old was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round (81st pick) of 2013 after recording 85 tackles and 12.5 sacks as a junior - a year in which he was a consensus first-team All-American and a first-team All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selection. Moore left Texas A&M program ranked sixth in program history in sacks (26.5) despite only playing three seasons and starting in two. After spending parts of three seasons with the Giants, the Dallas native was released late in 2015 for violating team rules. He then finished out the season with the Miami Dolphins before later stints with the Seattle Seahawks (2016), Dallas Cowboys (2017) and Oakland Raiders (2018).

Over his six-year NFL career, Moore has recorded 77 tackles and 10.0 sacks in 55 games.

- WR Brian Brown (Richmond) was signed by the Fleet on Wednesday. The six-foot-one wide receiver played collegiately for four seasons in the Colonial Athletic Association with University of Richmond.

Over his last three seasons as a Spider, Brown averaged 79 catches per season and eclipsed 1,400 yards in each of his last two campaigns. He finished up with 247 catches, 4,203 receiving yards and 23 receiving touchdowns. Brown, 24, went undrafted in 2017 but quickly signed with the Dallas Cowboys and spent a season on their practice squad. Last season, the Richmond native was signed by the Detroit Lions and spent 2018 on their practice squad until being released on Monday.

- WR Shay Fields (Colorado) was signed by the Fleet on Wednesday. One of the most prolific receivers in Colorado University, the 22-year-old finished his collegiate career ranked second in Buffaloes history in receiving yards (2,552), third in receptions (190) and tied for third in receiving touchdowns (21). In fact, all three of those statistics ranked second among active leaders in the Pac-12 at the conclusion of his career. Undrafted in 2018, Fields signed with the Washington Redskins in May and stuck the entire preseason until being waived during the Redskins' final cuts. The native of Bellflower, Calif., and product of St. John Bosco High School resurfaced with the Denver Broncos in December and remained on their practice squad until the end of the season.

- WR Francis Owusu (Stanford), signed by the Fleet on Wednesday, give the corps good height with his six-foot-three frame. Though putting up modest career numbers at Stanford University - 34 catches, 482 receiving yards and three touchdowns, Owusu made one of the most memorable catches in NCAA history for a touchdown against UCLA on Oct. 15, 2015. His talent did not go unnoticed, as the Oxnard, Calif., native signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins in 2017 and has spent time on their practice squad during each of the past two seasons. Owuzu comes from a talented family, as his brother, Chris, also played at Stanford and is an NFL free agent; brother Brian played at Harvard University; younger brother Michael is committed to play at Vanderbilt; and older sister Crystal played basketball at Columbia University.

COUNTDOWNS

- The Fleet will enter morning practice tomorrow with 31 days before the inaugural season kicks-off in San Antonio against the Commanders at the Alamodome on Feb. 9.

- The Fleet will enter practice tomorrow with 18 days before its dress rehearsal game (i.e preseason game) against the Atlanta Legends at the Alamodome on Jan. 27.

- The Fleet will enter practice tomorrow with 8 days before its joint practice with the Atlanta Legends on Jan. 17.

COACHES SPOTLIGHT - LARRY MARMIE, DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Larry Marmie has dedicated better than half of a century to coaching football at the amateur and professional level. He most recently served a two-year stint as senior defensive assistant for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15). The native of Barnesville, Ohio, may be best remembered for a four-year, head-coaching stint at Arizona State University from 1988-91. During his tenure, the Sun Devils posted a 22-21-1 record. But even more impressive is his coaching tree of assistants that includes current Fleet Head Coach Mike Martz (St. Louis Rams), current Army Head Coach Jeff Monken, current University of Illinois Head Coach Lovie Smith (also Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and former VMI and West Virginia University Head Coach Bill Stewart. Marmie previously served under Martz as defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams from 2004-05. After his playing days at Eastern Kentucky University, the former quarterback spent two seasons as head coach at Berea (KY) High School from 1966-67. Marmie then launched his collegiate coaching career as defensive ends/linebackers coach at Morehead State University (1968-1971). He has also been an assistant at EKU (1972-76), Tulsa University (1977-78), University of Tennessee (1983-84; 1992-94) and ASU (1985-87). Marmie entered the pro ranks as defensive backs coach with the Arizona Cardinals from 1996-99 and advanced to defensive coordinator from 2000-03. After his two seasons with the Rams, he was the defensive backs coach with the Seattle Seahawks from 2006-08. Additionally, Marmie was the head coach of the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League from 2010-12, winning a UFL Championship in 2010 with a 23-20 victory over the Florida Tuskers.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - GELEN ROBINSON, DEFENSIVE TACKLE

DT Gelen Robinson (Purdue) is the son of Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson II, who averaged 20.7 points per game during his 11-year NBA career after being the first overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks out of Purdue University. Gelen's brother, Glenn Robinson III, entered the NBA in 2014-15 and is currently a member of the Detroit Pistons. Although not blessed with the family height, the six-foot-one Robinson was an extremely rare, three-sport athlete as a Boilermaker -- wrestling in the heavyweight division and competing in track and field as a thrower (shot put/discus) in additional to football. The native of Schererville, Ind., recorded 164 total tackles and 12.5 sacks during his collegiate football career - highlighted by an interception and 78-yard return as a junior in 2016. After his Big Ten days, he signed with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League in May 2018.

FLEET UPCOMING PRACTICE SCHEDULE (subject to change)

Practice schedule is intended for media planning purposes only, Please DO NOT PRINT OR RE-BROADCAST.

Information on schedule, such as practice times and players' day off, should not be made public unless released by team officials. All times are central.

THURSDAY, JAN. 10 ('A' DAY): 9:35 - 11:15 AM: PRACTICE AT HEROES STADIUM

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