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Thursday Scrimmage Will Have Major Impact On Judgment Day

August 31, 2010 - United Football League (UFL 1)
Florida Tuskers News Release


ORLANDO, FL - TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2010-Next Tuesday, Sept. 7 will be a huge day for the Florida Tuskers football team. Not only will it mark the official end of a long and tedious training camp, but it will also be Judgment Day - the day the coaches will decide what 52 players currently on the 70-man camp roster will make it to opening day.

And while the availability of players cut from NFL training camps in the next week will certainly affect a few of the roster positions, it's safe to say the majority of players who will make up the Tuskers opening day roster will come from the 70 players who have toiled under the hot August sun for the past three weeks.

Although head coach Jay Gruden has said he will use the entire body of work of training camp when he and his staff make final evaluations, he pointed to this Thursday's 40-play scrimmage as being critical for players on the bubble.

"With no pre-season games it's really difficult to evaluate some guys. They may look great in shorts or shells but until you see them full speed in game situations you never know," Gruden said. "We'll definitely be looking for some of our news guys to emerge on Thursday and show that they can make plays and contribute."

Some of those new players have already made a positive impression on Gruden, including safety JR Reed, linebacker Arnold Harrison, defensive tackle Bryan Save, and wide receivers Calvin Russell and Maurice Price. "Reed is a real pro and knows the game inside and out," Gruden said. "He brings a lot of knowledge and passion to his position and is a great role model for all of our defensive backs. Harrison has been impressive at 'sam' linebacker and Bryan Save just comes in and works hard every day and improves every day.

"We found Calvin Russell at our open tryout camp in Atlanta and he's a speedster who picked up our offense very quickly. Maurice Price and John Standeford have also done a great job at wide receiver. Overall I am very pleased with the performance of many of our skill people."

Certain positions have no question marks at starter. Brooks Bollinger is coming off an MVP season for the Tuskers and has had a "great training camp," according to Gruden. Likewise, Gruden said he has all but made the decision that Tuskers' opponents are going to get a healthy dose of all three of his running backs in Dominic Rhodes, Aveion Cason and Maurice Hicks. Gruden says he will most likely use a "running back by committee" approach.

"All three guys have extensive NFL experience and all three have had great training camps and all three have earned a chance to carry the ball," Gruden said. "Now if one of them rips off a 300-yard game we might have to re-think giving him more chances, but because each of these guys brings something different to the table, I would say they will all get their opportunities."

One area of concern is depth on the offensive line. "We are nicked up a little there and it's hard to evaluate what you have when you have four or five guys on the golf cart (injured) every day," Gruden said. "We don't want to get anyone else hurt, but we have to scrimmage and decide what we have and whether we need to bring in some more players to look at."

Gruden added that in addition to Thursday's scrimmage being important, he would rely heavily on the word of special teams coach Al Roberts when making final roster decisions.

"Coach Roberts is going have a huge say on who makes the final roster," Gruden added. "If you are not one of our 22 starters, your effort, willingness and performance on special teams is going to have a huge say on whether you make the final roster or not. Between kickoffs, punts, field goals and extra points in both the kicking and return game, special teams are full third of the game. A lot of football games are won or lost on special teams and that is why we emphasize them so much."

FLORIDA TUSKERS TUESDAY CAMP NOTES: LB Odell Thurman turned some heads during Tuesday practice with a sensational interception...covering a running back on a wheel route out of the backfield on a seven-on-seven drill, Thurman made up a five-yard deficit, leaped high in the air and tipped the ball out of the back's hands, recovered and picked it off in one motion much to the delight of his defensive teammates...QB Chris Greisen returned to practice today after missing several days with a sprained back...DT Patrick Chukwurah did not practice but did run with the team and appears close to returning...the team will do a walk-through in Wednesday's training camp before participating in Thursday's scrimmage, which is open to the public (8:30 a.m. Thunder Field)...in addition to Thursday's scrimmage, Gruden pointed to Sept. 4 as a key day for the Tuskers...that's when NFL teams will make their final cuts, freeing up additional to talent for UFL coaches to evaluate.



United Football League Stories from August 31, 2010


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