Storm Work on Special Teams

Published on March 8, 2013 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


TAMPA BAY - Day seven of practice kicked off with special teams drills. Special teams can be the most important aspect of an arena football game because if a ball comes off the net it is considered a live ball. This creates for a fun and exciting time as many games can experience a shift in momentum at the drop of a dime.

The Storm worked on aim and placement of the ball on kickoff. In order to improve scoring, and take advantage of the live ball off the net, the kicker needs to aim for the crossbar. If the ball takes an odd bounce, the kicking team has an opportunity to grab the ball and run it in for a touchdown. Storm kicker Juan Bongarra spent the offseason working on this part of his game.

"I came out here a lot during the offseason to work on this," said Bongarra. "You have to keep practicing in order to get better."

The Storm would continue to work on team drills, but the underlying theme of the day was going to the Florida Citrus Bowl to scrimmage South Division rival Orlando Predators. While there is a rivalry, the Storm view tomorrow's scrimmage as just another day in training camp.

"We just look at it as another time to get better," said first-year Storm receiver Chris C. Davis. "It's always good to go against another team. We just need to keep our heads and go to work."

Looking Ahead: The team departs early tomorrow morning to head over to Orlando for a scrimmage with the Orlando Predators at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Practice will begin at 10:00 AM. Fans and media are welcome to attend.

Sunday Schedule Change: Training camp has been cancelled for Sunday, March 10. Training camp will continue Monday, March 11 at 9:00 AM out at Skyway Park.

Coaches' Perspective: On the scrimmage with the Orlando Predators, Storm head coach Dave Ewart said, "Tomorrow is all about the scrimmage and where we match-up to the rest of the league."

Quote of the Day: On the rivalry with the Orlando Predators, Storm vice president of football operations Jeff Gooch said, "We can't buy into the rivalry. We just want our guys to go out there, have some fun, and get in some practice time against another team."

Player Spotlight: First-year Storm receiver Jason Chery is a player that likes to run. The former Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajun finished his collegiate career with 3,518 all-purpose yards, the third-most in school history. On kickoff returns, he averaged 20.1 yards per return at Lafayette, which should serve the Storm well as they look to improve on what already is a formidable return game. Prior to joining the Storm, Chery spent time with several National Football League teams, including the Green Bay Packers, where he returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown during a pre-season game. Today, Chery kept the defenders guessing, as he used his speed and agility to make his way around the field.

The Five-Time World Champion Tampa Bay Storm was awarded the 2012 AFL Support Staff of the Year. The 2013 season kicks off at home Saturday, March 23 at 7:30 PM versus South Division rival Jacksonville Sharks. Single game tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, by calling 800.745.3000 or by visiting the McDonalds© Ticket Office at the Tampa Bay Times Forum. Season tickets can be purchased by visiting TampaBayStorm.com or by calling 813.301.6600. Additionally fans and sponsors can follow the Storm on Facebook (Tampa Bay Storm) or Twitter (@tampabaystorm) for up to date news and exclusive content.

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Arena Football League Stories from March 8, 2013


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