Training Camp Brings Fierce Competition On Defense
January 30, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
We are less than a week away from the start of training camp and it already looks like the Orlando Predators could have one of the most competitive camps in team history. At the moment, the team has no fewer than 14 players coming into camp who were all-conference performers in college.
There will be some familiar faces on the defensive side of the ball with the return of defensive backs Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre and Damon Mason. After spending his entire career in Orlando, McEntyre played one season with the Kansas City Brigade, in which he recorded nine interceptions to push his all-time record to 72. Since leaving Orlando in 2005, Mason has been with the Grand Rapids Rampage and the now defunct Austin Wranglers. Last season he recorded four interceptions in Austin to bring his career total to 42 thefts. Rayshun Reed is the only defensive back remaining from the 2007 roster. Reed led the Preds with five picks last season; he also recorded five forced fumbles and recovered four. Also fighting for roster spots in the defensive backfield will be Dion Byrum, Jason Perry, and Kevin Timothee.
At the linebacker positions the Predators could possibly have the best tandem in the AFL this season, with former Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson and AFL veteran Marlon Moye-Moore. Nicholson was an All-ACC performer at FSU before being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals. He will be the Preds "Mack" linebacker, responsible for putting pressure on the quarterback. It has been well documented that Moye-Moore revolutionized the "Jack" linebacker position in 2007 by making spectacular plays to force turnovers. Last season he recorded three interceptions and four fumble recoveries that he turned into two touchdowns. The success of the defense will rely heavily on the performance of these two players as the team tries to make up for the loss of Greg White.
Speaking of which, Chaz Murphy is the leading candidate at defensive end to pick up where White left off. Murphy was out for 10 games last season with a hamstring injury, but when healthy he recorded three sacks and an interception for a touchdown in just seven games. Charles Hill will return at the nose tackle position where he had 8.5 tackles last season. In 2007 he showed that he is a very capable tight end, scoring two touchdowns on three receptions. B.J. Cohen returns to the Preds for the 2008 season for the first time since 2002. He recorded five sacks last season for the Brigade and may also see time at the tight end position. Doug Miller returns as well after recording 6.5 tackles last season in limited duty.
The new faces fighting for positions on the defensive line are Matt McLothlin, Devon Parks, Jeremy Pittman, and Quinton Staton. McLothlin is a 300-pound player out of Tennessee who was most recently with the Kansas City Chiefs. Parks was a second-team all-af2 member last season recording 21 tackles for the Spokane Shock. Pittman spent time in the Tampa Bay Bucs training camp last summer. Staton is another player from af2; he played for the Rio Grande Valley Dorados in 2007 and posted 22.5 tackles-for-loss.
The Preds are coming into training camp after finishing 8-8 during the regular season in 2007 and losing in the first round of the playoffs. While the offense was as good as it has ever been statistically speaking, the defense didn't fair as well. There will most definitely be a lot of competition in this particular camp between the veterans and the rookies.
OrlandoPredators.com will be covering training camp and posting daily updates on the web site as well as more player features to keep our fans up to date.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from January 30, 2008
- Desperados Kick Off 2008 Training Camp On Monday, February 4 - Dallas Desperados
- Training Camp Brings Fierce Competition On Defense - Orlando Predators
- Blaze Re-Sign Joe Germaine To A Five-Year Contract - Utah Blaze
- Soul, Sports Radio 950 Extend Broadcast Agreement - Philadelphia Soul
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