Steel Aim To Move Closer To Playoffs, Host Rival Erie Thursday
May 23, 2011 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)
Trenton Steel News Release
TRENTON - As a first-year franchise in the Southern Indoor Football League, the Trenton Steel have already forged a rivalry.
Of all the Steel's opponents, the Erie Explosion (8-2) have emerged as the team that brings out extra intensity. The same can be said about Erie, which has won two of the three hotly contested games between the teams.
With the Steel (6-4) facing former Temple star quarterback Adam DiMichele and top SIFL receiver Kevin Concepcion, this matchup shapes up as the biggest game of the season for the Trenton aggregation.
"No doubt it's a crucial game for us,'' said Steel coach Rod Miller. "We have to be prepared. We have a lot of work to do, but we'll get there. Certainly it seems we have developed a rivalry with Erie.''
Both teams are coming off impressive wins, with the Steel hammering Harrisburg, 83-23, and the Explosion blasting a Fayetteville team in transition 139-0, setting what is believed to be an Indoor and Arena Football record for points.
The key for the Steel is executing a consistent pass rush against DiMichele, who threw 12 touchdown passes in a 90-79 Explosion win in Erie two weeks ago. The Steel offense has proven it can score against anyone. Miller is hoping for a defensive effort similar to that against Harrisburg, in which his charges harassed Stampede quarterback Brian Harris into seven interceptions.
"Once again, we have to have a pass rush,'' said Miller. "We'll have our full roster on the defensive line, and we know what we have to do. As far as the playoffs are concerned, we control our own destiny. We certainly want to win out.
"In the playoffs, everybody starts 0-0, and that's what we're aiming at.''
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HEAD COACH ROD MILLER
A native of Omaha who graduated from Drake University, Miller comes to the Steel from the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League, with which he served as defensive coordinator. He was responsible for the weekly defensive game plan and the recruitment of players.
Miller's Gladiators defense led the AFL in percentage of stopping opponents' fourth-down plays and was eighth in pass defense.
190504445He also served as head coach of the Omaha Beef of the Indoor Football League from 2006-07, and was an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the AFL from 2007-09. All the teams Miller was associated with qualified for the playoffs in their respective leagues.
Miller served six years from 2000-2006 in the af2, coaching three years with the Carolina Rhinos in Greensville, S.C. and three years with the Green Bay Blizzard in Green Bay, W.I. During that tenure, Miller served as head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, football operations manager and player personnel director.
Miller also served as wide receivers coach at Simpson (Iowa) College in 2006 and as Special Teams Coordinator and Receivers coach with the Arena Football League's Kansas City Brigade in 2005-06, directing a unit that did not allow a kickoff return or missed field-goal return for a touchdown.
He has additional prior coaching experience at Kentucky State and Tyler (Texas) Junior College.
ASSISTANT COACHES
Jermaine Lewis (Offensive Assistant/Special Teams) - An assistant coach at Central Methodist University, Lewis comes to the Steel with a wealth of indoor experience as well, having starred defensively with the Arena Football League's Nashville Kats, Dallas Desperados and Grand Rapids Rampage. A practice squad player with the San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, Lewis is the Steel's offensive assistant and work special teams. He also played in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals.
Rob Stanavitch (Offensive and Defensive Lines) - An assistant football coach at FDU-Florham, Stanavitch will direct the offensive and defensive lines. He brings a wealth of indoor experience to the Steel, having played from 1994-2002 in stints with the New Jersey Red Dogs, Arizona Rattlers, Los Angeles Avengers of the AFL and Albany Firebirds of af2. He also was part of the Frankfurt Galaxy's NFL Europe World Bowl championship team in 1995.
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Southern Indoor Football League Stories from May 23, 2011
- Steel Aim To Move Closer To Playoffs, Host Rival Erie Thursday - Trenton Steel
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