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Thunder Training Camp Notebook: Days 1 - 4

March 9, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Portland Thunder News Release


PORTLAND - The Portland Thunder started their second ever training camp last Thursday, with a focus on dynamism, as they look to improve upon the foundation set in 2014.

"Our focus is to excel every day, and these guys are doing just that," Head Coach Mike Hohensee stated. "We let everyone know that we need to be dynamic, that we are not accepting average, and we are seeing that effort and intent out of our guys."

QB Kyle Rowley is embracing the focus set forth by the coaching staff, and believes that emphasis will help the team win. "This is a game of matchups," said Rowley. "If all of our players are dynamic individually, the team will be in a great position to win."

The first two days of practice were unpadded, and used to install the offensive and defensive formations, while the third and fourth days have been devoted to one-on-one position battles and special teams.

32 players currently under contract are in camp, with several others on 2 day trial agreements, including a handful who performed well during the two offseason open tryout events. Included in that group of successful trialists is OL Dwayne Morgan.

Morgan, 44, is a former NFL and CFL offensive tackle that spent the better part of eight seasons in those leagues, before injury nearly took him away from the game.

"I tore my quadriceps tendon while playing for the Washington Redskins and that knocked me out of football for a little bit", Morgan said.

Dwayne returned to football a year after his injury, to play for the Tampa Bay Storm in 2007, before taking an extended leave from the game. A leave that ended when his wife, an Army officer whose work led them to Portland from Griffin, Georgia just six months ago, noticed the tryout information online in November.

"I have a five year old, and my wife and I were busy with raising a child. I had to sit back and take a break for that. Then, after we arrived (in Portland), my wife saw that the Thunder were hosting a tryout, and she said, 'You should go try out!', so I did."

The Thunder will practice four more times with week before the first cut is due. The squad will be trimmed to 28 on Friday. Below is the tentative schedule for the rest of this week:

Tuesday - 3/10/15

Oregon Soccer Center

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Wednesday - 3/11/15

Oregon Soccer Center

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Thursday - 3/12/15

Oregon Soccer Center

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Friday - 3/13/15

OR. Soccer Center / 1st Cuts Due

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Saturday - 3/14/15

No Practice

Off Day For Players



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