AAF San Diego Fleet

SD Fleet Daily Update

January 13, 2019 - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
San Diego Fleet News Release


TODAY'S HEADLINES

The Fleet held a morning practice at 8:45 a.m. CT at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. There will be a team lift session later this afternoon.

The Fleet had 70 of the 71 players on the roster participate in today - with the exception of DE Meffy Koloamatangi (knee). FS Tyler Thornton (groin) returned for a full practice.

Friday, Fleet Strength Coach Dana LeDuc (luh-DUKE) was inducted into the University of Texas Track & Field Hall of Fame. During his time as a Longhorns, the shot putter won the 1976 National Championship as a senior with a throw of 65-5 1/2 feet. In addition, LeDuc amassed Southwest Conference championship titles in 1974, 1975 and 1976 and set the UT school shot put record at 67-0 1/4 feet. He later became the first strength coach in UT football history before being lured away to University of Miami by Dennis Erickson in 1992. The Tacoma, Wash., native transitioned to the NFL in 1995, when he became the head strength and conditioning coach for the Seattle Seahawks. He later held the same post for the St. Louis Rams starting in 1999 - a span that included a Super Bowl victory in 2000 -- until his retirement in 2008. With the permission of Head Coach Mark Martz, LeDuc was able to attend the induction ceremony in Austin, Texas, before returning for practice on Saturday.

HIGHLIGHTS

The field-goal unit was lauded by Special Teams Coach Larry MacDuff after K Cole Murphy (Syracuse) went eight-for-eight in attempts. Murphy connected from multiple angles and from varying distances with the longest being a 42-yarder (which easily cleared by more than 10 yards).

RB Bishop Sankey (Washington) ran with both patience and explosion in nine-on-seven drills and later scored on a run inside the 10-yard line during 11-on-11 drills.

QB Phillip Nelson (East Carolina) made several strong throws in nine-on-even drills - including a perfect strike hitting WR Nelson Spruce (Colorado) on the seam in stride -- for perhaps his best day yet in the competition with QB Alex Ross (Coastal Carolina) and QB Mike Bercovici (Arizona State).

DT Andrew Stelter (Minnesota) drew praise during pass rushing drills for getting into the backfield during several reps.

LB Eric Pinkins (San Diego State) was flying all over the field in 11-on-11 drills. During a span of three successive plays, he provided a big hit in the running game, had a pass break-up and then a de- cleating hit on RB Ja'Quan Gardner (Humboldt Stats) immediately after a short pass completion in the flat.

LB John Lotulelei (UNLV) recorded the most violent and loudest hit of the day when he dropped 244- pound RB Terrell Watson (Azusa Pacific) on a goal-line carry at the line of scrimmage in 11-on-11 drills.

BOATS QUOTES

DT Andrew Stelter (Minnesota) on Defensive Coordinator Larry Marmie and Defensive Line Coach Vince Amey: "They've got a real nice balance of dynamics between the two of them. Coach Marmie is a little more laid back; a little more old-school. Coach Amey is kind of in your face; high energy; getting after it. It's been great. We've got great coaching at every position that I've seen. Everyone's learning new stuff; new techniques; improving previous techniques. It's top-level stuff right here."

DT Andrew Stelter (Minnesota) on the AAF experience: "I was sitting around, waiting for the phone to ring from NFL teams; wasn't hearing much. But then my agent sent me a link for this (AAF). I was like, 'Hey, this could be something to propel me to that next level'. It's lived up to everything (expectations). It's the real deal. It's real football. It's real good players out here."

LB Eric Pinkins (San Diego State) on delivering several big hits on Sunday: "At the end of the day, I'm here for the team. We're all about being in sync with one another; collaborating and being cohesive with one another. Anything I can do to make a play for my team - that's what I'm here for."

LB Eric Pinkins (San Diego State) on the improving defense: "As you know, every defensive coordinator has a different scheme. So at the end of the day, you got to get used to play calls. You got to get used to the terminology. Once you get used to that - which means a lot of extra studying - you can play a lot faster. You don't have to think. You can just go to the ball and make a play on it."

LB A.J. Tarpley (Stanford) on returning to the game after retiring after his 2015 rookie season in Buffalo due to concussions: "It's been fun (after three years). It doesn't seem like that long. But, at the same time, it does take a little bit to knock off the rust. Things have felt so far so good. It's definitely been awhile since I put on the pads; but I'm feeling good out here. So that's all I ask for."

LB A.J. Tarpley (Stanford) on the decision to return to football after his retirement at 24-years-old: "It's not too complex. It's a game I love. I told myself when I quit a couple of years ago that if I still woke up every day and wanted to play a year or two from then, then I would do it. So that's what led to my decision back in June. I quit my job; started full-time training. I'm just blessed and grateful to have this opportunity... Just love for the game. I evaluated myself and my life, whether it be sports, family, faith, whatever it may be; trying to do that every day, every year as I grow and mature. But overall, just the love of the game."

DROPPING THE ANCHOR LINE (OF THE DAY)

LB Travis Feeney (Washington), about himself, after dropping a sure interception in nine-on-seven drills: "The boy ain't got no hands. Getting rid of these gloves. I need that Jugs gun all day."

LB Al-Rasheed Benton (West Virginia), responding to Feeney (above): "I've got some Allstates. You in good hands? I'm in good hands."

BIRTHDAY BOYS

DE Myles Nash (Rutgers) celebrated his 24th birthday today. Tomorrow, DT Derrick Dixon (Southern Miss) turns 24. On Saturday, C Khaliel Rodgers (USC) turned 25

COUNTDOWNS

The Fleet will enter practice tomorrow:

With 4 days before its joint practice with the Atlanta Legends on Jan. 17.

With 14 days before its dress rehearsal game (i.e preseason game) against the Atlanta Legends at the Alamodome on Jan. 27.

With 27 days before the inaugural season kicks-off in San Antonio against the Commanders at the Alamodome on Feb. 9.

With 35 days before its home opener at SDCCU Stadium against the Atlanta Legends on Feb. 17.

COACHES SPOTLIGHT - LARRY MACDUFF, SPECIAL TEAMS/LINEBACKERS COACH

Larry MacDuff, the Fleet's special teams/linebackers coach, has enjoyed a highly decorated career at both the collegiate and NFL level since finishing his playing days as a defensive end at Oklahoma University in 1969. Among his list of accomplishments, MacDuff participated in Super Bowl XXXV as the special teams coordinator for the 2000 NFC Champion New York Giants. During his four-year stint with Big Blue (1997- 2000), the native of Clinton, Iowa, helped guide the Giants to a pair of NFC East titles. He spent the other half of his eight-year NFL coaching career at the same post for the San Francisco 49ers (2003-06). MacDuff had a pair of stints as defensive coordinator at University of Arizona (1987-96; 2001-02). His highly successful time in Tucson was highlighted by being honored as National Assistant Coach of the Year by Athlon Magazine in 1995. Under MacDuff, Arizona's 'Desert Swarm' defense led the nation in scoring defense (1992), rushing defense (1993) and finished in the Top 10 in total defense for four consecutive years (1992-95). MacDuff began his coaching career as an assistant at Stanford University (1980-83) and University of Hawaii (1984- 86). His final collegiate stop was as co-defensive coordinator with University of Texas in 2007. In the professional ranks, MacDuff was the defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator for all four years of Las Vegas Locomotives history - winning the United Football League Championship in both 2009 and 2012.

The last three years of which were spent serving current Fleet defensive coordinator, Larry Marmie.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - ERIC PINKINS, LINEBACKER

LB Eric Pinkins (San Diego State) was a standout defensive player for the Aztecs during his career (2009-13) by way of Inderkum High School in Sacramento. During his time with SDSU, the 27-year-old started his final two seasons and finished his career with a total of 172 tackles, three sacks, two forced fumbles and 10 pass deflections - and was impressive enough to get drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the sixth round (208th overall) of 2014. He spent time on the Seahawks active roster in 2014-15 before a shoulder injury led to his release. He later latched on with the New York Giants in 2016 and was promoted to their active roster until an ankle injury derailed his time with Big Blue. After remaining a free agent for the entire 2017 season, Pinkins was signed by the Dallas Cowboys in May 2018 and went through training camp before being released prior to the start of this past season. He has three career tackles on his NFL record.



Alliance of American Football Stories from January 13, 2019


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