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AAF San Diego Fleet

SD Fleet Daily Update

January 21, 2019 - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
San Diego Fleet News Release


TODAY'S HEADLINES

The Fleet had a morning practice at 9:20 a.m. CT at Heroes Stadium in San Antonio, Texas.

The Fleet made its first trade of training camp on Monday, as the team sent TE Darryl Richardson (San Diego State) to Memphis for RB/PR Jahad Thomas (Temple). More on Thomas appears later in today's notes. The active roster remains at 74 players.

The defense received a boost on Monday with the partial return of DE Meffy Koloamatangi, who missed nine-consecutive days with a minor knee injury.

The Fleet had 73 of 74 players on the roster participate in practice today - including newcomer RB/PR Jahad Thomas. OG Joe Gore (knee) was the only non-participant. CB Tyree Holder (ribs) and DE Meffy Koloamatangi practiced in a limited capacity.

For the first time in Training Camp, the Fleet spent a significant portion of practice - both seven-on- sevens and 11-on-11s - working two-minute-drills.

HIGHLIGHTS

DE Jonathan Petersen (San Diego State) made several nice moves to get through the offensive line during one-on-one pass rushing drills.

OT Brett Boyko (UNLV) came up big for the offensive line in a 'money' challenge on the final play of pass rushing drills - pancaking a defensive lineman to the delight of Offensive Line Coach Pat Morris and of the teammates in the corps.

LB Eric Pinkins (San Diego State) made a couple ferocious plays on Monday - with a decleating hit on a ball carrier at the line of scrimmage in 9-on-7 drills and later getting to the quarterback in the backfield after firing off the edge of the line.

DT Derrick Dixon (Southern Miss) turned in a pair of noteworthy plays during the final drive of the practice in 11-on-11 drills - knocking a pass down at the line of scrimmage one play then dropping a running back at the line of scrimmage on the final play.

QB Mike Bercovici (Arizona State) showed great touch on some deep passes in one-on-one drills, dropping a couple of throws into the hands of WR Francis Owusu (Stanford) in the end zone.

BOATS QUOTES

WR Dontez Ford (Pittsburgh) on his role in the offense: "I'm comfortable with my role right now. All the guys are getting together and making some good plays. We are coming together as a cohesive group. I think we're going to have some fun - scoring a lot of points this year."

WR Dontez Ford (Pittsburgh) on the up-tempo offense run in practice: "Yes (likes it). That means we are going to get the ball out more; give us more opportunities to make plays. So I'm excited for myself and this entire group of receivers, quarterbacks, tight ends - everyone who is working in the pass game. We've got a good opportunity to make some plays out here."

WR Dontez Ford (Pittsburgh) on the Fleet's deep corps of receivers: "The mentality we allow ourselves to have is that everyone is a starter. So we're all learning from each other, making each other better. We're just going to compete and go out there and, at the end of the day, we're going to keep each other up. We're all trying to make plays."

WR Dontez Ford (Pittsburgh) on playing for Mike Martz: "Once I heard he was the coach - they're talking about the 'Greatest Show on Turf' - I was excited to get here, pick his brain, learn. I'm learning a lot already - more than I've ever learned at any point. I'm just excited to go out there now."

K Cole Murphy (Syracuse) on the Fleet's specialists: "Ryan (Disalvo; long snapper) and Ryan (Winslow, punter) have done really, really well. We're coming together as a unit pretty fast. We've only had a couple of weeks, but I feel like we've been together for a long time. We're coming together really well."

K Cole Murphy (Syracuse) on having no competition as the lone kicker on the offense: "It's nice to not have to compete directly with somebody. But, of course, if you don't do your job, you're out. So you always have to be careful with that. But it has been kind of nice to be by yourself, do your own thing and not worry about what someone else is doing."

K Cole Murphy (Syracuse) on watching fellow kicker Greg Zuerlein on Sunday hit the game-winning field goal to propel the Los Angeles Rams into the Super Bowl: "It was awesome seeing 'Greg the Leg' up there. He's been solid ever single year that he's been with the Rams. Just to see at the highest level, he's able to accomplish everything he needs to get it done. It was fantastic."

DROPPING THE ANCHOR LINE (OF THE DAY)

Offensive Line Coach Pat Morris to one of his lineman after getting beat in pass rushing drills: "Use your hands! Use your hands! Don't be Venus de Milo!"

WELCOME ABOARD!

Newly acquired RB/PR Jahad Thomas (Temple) practiced in full in his first day after being acquired via trade from The Alliance's Memphis Express. The five-foot-10, 190-pounder was an explosive player during his four-year career at Temple University (2013-16). As a freshman, Thomas served solely on special teams - but his 19.8 kick-return average was good enough to earn a Phil Steele All-American Athletic Conference Third-Team selection. He became the Owls' starting running back late in 2014, and, as a junior in 2015, finished the season leading the offense in rushing yards (1,262), all-purpose yards (1,677) and points (114). By the time his collegiate career was over, the native of Elizabeth, N.J., ranked fourth on Temple's all-time total yards list (3,597). In 49 career games, Thomas rushed for 2,599 yards and 30 touchdowns while adding 69 receptions for 998 yards and eight touchdowns. He also accumulated another 1,035 yards and a touchdown on kickoff returns and 101 more yards on punt returns. Though undrafted, Thomas spent time both in Dallas Cowboys training camp and on the New York Jets practice squad in 2017 and was activated by the Jets for their final game. He spent part of 2018 in camp with the CFL's Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER SPOTLIGHT - KHALIEL RODGERS, CENTER

C Khaliel Rodgers (North Carolina) has been a mainstay on the offensive line in training camp. The six- three, 334-pounder started his collegiate career at USC (2013-16). After earning 11 starts over three seasons with the Trojans, he played in 2017 as a grad transfer at University of North Carolina. Rodgers appeared in all 11 games and made 10 starts for the Tar Heels - but it was a performance than almost never happened. The New Castle, Del., native briefly retired from football briefly in August to tend to family matters. When Rodgers realized how much he missed football, he was welcomed back to the team less than two weeks later. Following his final collegiate season, Rodgers was invited to mini-camp tryouts with Buffalo Bills in 2018.

SPECIAL TEAMS SPOTLIGHT - COLE MURPHY, KICKER

K Cole Murphy (Syracuse) was a four-year starter for Syracuse University and one of the top kickers in the Atlantic Coast Conference during his career (2014-17). The native of Castaic, Calif., played in all 48 games in his career -- including 45 in a row as the team's No. 1 placekicker - and left the college ranks as Syracuse's all-time leader in field goals made (59). During one stretch of his career, Murphy posted a streak of converting 60-consecutive extra-point attempts. The 6-3, 213-pounder also appears in SU's Top-10 career record lists for most field goals attempted (2nd ; 83), most points scored (3rd ; 295), most PATs made (3rd ; 118), most PATs attempted (3rd ; 123) and highest field-goal percentage (8th ; .711, 59-83). Among all the accolades, Murphy was a two-time semifinalist (2014, 2017) for the Lou Groza Award, presented to the nation's top kicker; a 2017 Third-Team All-ACC selection; and a 2017 Nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding FBS player who began his career as a walk-on.

COUNTDOWNS

The Fleet will enter its day off tomorrow with:

5 days before its dress rehearsal game (i.e preseason game) against the Orlando Apollos at the Alamodome on Jan. 27.

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

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

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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