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AAF San Diego Fleet

SD Fleet Daily Update

January 16, 2019 - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
San Diego Fleet News Release


TODAY'S HEADLINES

The Fleet held a morning practice at 9:20 a.m. CT at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio, Texas. It was the first time in camp the Fleet had to contend with consistent precipitation, albeit mostly a drizzle.

Due to wet field conditions, practice was moved back from the grass fields at the complex to the field- turf at Heroes Stadium.

The Fleet had 70 of the 71 players on the roster participate in today - with the exception of DE Meffy Koloamatangi (knee), who missed his sixth-consecutive day with a minor knee injury.

Award-winning sports journalist and broadcaster Howard Balzer attended Fleet Training Camp today and conducted interviews with Head Coach Mike Martz, quarterback Alex Ross and tight end Gavin Escobar for an Alliance of American Football video project. Balzer had a previous relationship with Mike Martz when he was a beat reporter covering the St. Louis Rams.

The Fleet will have a normal practice on Thursday rather than the originally scheduled joint practice with the Atlanta Legends.

HIGHLIGHTS

QB Mike Bercovici (Arizona State) took the majority of reps during 11-of-11 drills on Wednesday. His day started off on a great note when he connected with WR Kameron Kelly (San Diego State) for a long competition. Bercovici, QB Alex Ross (Coastal Carolina) and QB Phillip Nelson (East Carolina) have been competing for the starting gig.

DE Myles Nash (Rutgers) drew applause when he knifed into the backfield for a stop during seven- on-seven running drills.

DL Alex Barrett (San Diego State) scooped up a fumble in the flat and returned it the distance into the endzone during 11-on-11 drills.

FS Tyler Thornton (Azusa Pacific) stepped in front of a receiver for an interception during 11-on-11 drills. Because several players stopped running following the pick, Head Coach Mike Martz made everybody on the field sprint as a group into the endzone and celebrate as a team. Both the offensive and defensive units joined for a spirited, albeit slightly humorous, celebration.

BOATS QUOTES

Head Coach Mike Martz on his return to coaching football: "Well, I knew I missed it a lot; I didn't realize how much I missed it (laugh). I'm having a lot of fun. I think the chance to have an impact on some of these young men, and getting some of these coaches going - some that were in retirement -- and get some young guys some experience in coaching so they can coach in the league - has been a great experience for me."

Head Coach Mike Martz on the development of the Fleet in training camp: "From where we were two weeks ago to where we are now - I'm not saying we're real good - but we've come light-years in two weeks. I'm just so proud of the job these guys are doing in practice and of these coaches and the teaching they're doing."

Head Coach Mike Martz on coaching the Fleet's young quarterbacks: "They (NFL teams) don't have time to get these guys caught up. Their transition to NFL from college is severe. So you've got about two weeks - and it's intense; it's boot camp. You know, these guys probably didn't think I liked them for about two weeks there. But their sense of learning, their learning curve and their sense or urgency about learning this was different. We don't have that luxury (time), so we've got to get them up to speed in a hurry. So we have to kick them in the rear a little bit. But they've done a good job with it."

QB Mike Bercovici (Arizona State) on receiving more reps in practice the last couple of days: "I definitely think there's a progression as you go along in camp. First week, they throw a lot at you as partially a test - both mentally and physically. At this point right now, it's great to get extra reps because the more you can get meshing with those guys - building that trust - that's what this system is all about."

QB Mike Bercovici (Arizona State) on the positive nature of quarterback competition: "The quarterback unit is extremely sacred in the game of football, especially in the professional leagues. Those guys are your best friends and support staff. Like Coach Kitna (offensive coordinator) talked about, those guys are on the sidelines - whoever it is - we're all working out the reads in our head. You want to be a machine at the quarterback unit. I mean, you never know. It's a 'next man up' mentality. Those guys have been awesome so far and we've really started to mesh."

QB Mike Bercovici (Arizona State) on going up against a very active Fleet defense: "They're a chirpy group, and that's the way you want it --that's what Coach (Martz) talked about. We don't have music out here; we have comradery. Getting that offense and defense getting after it at practice is what football is all about. That defensive line is unbelievable; back end, linebackers are all playing fast and physical. I think the thing with the defense is that they're all starting to play as one. You saw them celebrate together. Anytime they get a turnover, they run to the endzone. If we can get the defense rolling, it's going to be fun to play offense in this system."

LB Travis Feeney (Washington) on the cohesiveness of the roster resulting from AAF player allocation rules: "You've got a lot of guys who have played with each other -- Pac 12, Big Ten, whatever it is. So a lot of guys know each other. It's a big-time reunion; a lot of energy; a lot of passion in this group. So that makes practice easy; makes it fly fast; quick-flowing; doing good things. You still have that competitive aspect. Who wants to be the starter? Who wants all the reps? But guys are getting equal reps. Guys are always supporting guys. Everybody wants everybody to succeed; to ball out."

DROPPING THE ANCHOR LINE (OF THE DAY)

Head Coach Mike Martz to RB Terrell Watson (Azusa Pacific), when he was didn't initially report to the call for specialists during the special teams portion of practice: "That's you, Terrell. You do a little bit of everything for us -- run the football, catch the football, block. You even sell game programs!"

COUNTDOWNS

The Fleet will enter practice tomorrow with:

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

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

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

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - MIKE BERCOVICI, QUARTERBACK

QB Mike Bercovici (Arizona State), 25, was a star quarterback at Taft High School in Los Angeles and accepted a scholarship to Arizona State University after being ranked the seventh-best quarterback in the country by PrepStar College Recruiting. He didn't garner significant playing time until his redshirt junior season in 2014, when he preplaced injured starter Tyler Kelly. Soon thereafter, he provided one the highlights of the 2014 college football season -- when he completed a 46-yard Hail Mary with time expiring to beat USC in the Coliseum, 38-34, on Oct. 4. Bercovici turned in a record-setting performance in that thriller, throwing for 510 yards and five touchdowns - the most ever thrown by a Trojans opponent. He success continued into his senior year, when he was the team captain and starting quarterback. The 6-0, 211-pounder completed 318-of-531 (59.9%) pass attempts for 3,854 yards and 30 touchdowns, the latter of which tied a single- season program record. Bercovici was undrafted in 2016 but has logged time on the practice squads for the San Diego Chargers (2016-17) and Arizona Cardinals (2017). Accomplished both on and off the football field, he holds a Master's Degree in Sports Law and Business from ASU.

COACHES SPOTLIGHT - MATT KITNA, ASSISTANT OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

Matt Kitna offers a diverse background and vast experience in coaching and teaching high school athletes in the hotbeds of football. After coaching high school basketball for 11 years, Kitna pivoted to football when he became offensive line coach at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash., from 2011-14. Following his fourth season at Lincoln, he was hired as associate head coach/offensive line coach/run game coordinator at Waxahachie (TX) High School - where he also served as the school's assistant boys track coach. In 2018, Kitna became offensive coordinator and tight ends coach for Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Az.

Additionally, he was named assistant offensive line coach for the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, which is a post- season college football game that showcases NFL draft-eligible college players. At this post, he helps tutor college linemen under Hall of Fame offensive lineman Jackie Slater. Kitna's brother, Jon, serves as the Fleet's offensive coordinator.

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