Utah's Danny White needs "Good Men"
Published on September 19, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
Notwithstanding, a team's roots begin with "A Few Good Men." From those ancestry spiraled, intertwined beginnings, a new team in the Arena Football League has to have an early development that embodies the direction of the organization for years into the future.
When you think of Utah one usually associates this beautiful State with mountains and fresh air, the salt lake of a grand ole city and the center of a religious denomination that now spans the globe.
The connection to sport is almost as synonymous as its' splendor with the NBA Utah Jazz, the 2002 Winter Olympics and, not to be forgotten, college football. The University of Utah is in Salt Lake City and there is Brigham Young University and Utah State.
Nestled in a valley - around Salt Lake City - there exists nearly half of the State's 2.2 million residents. That 900,387 population gave basis - along with solid ownership - for the Arena Football League to make the Utah Blaze the organization's 18th franchise in the 20th year of existence.
WHITE'S FLASHBACK TO ARIZONA
For Danny White this is a flashback to 1992 when the former Dallas Cowboys' quarterback put together one of the most successful franchises in the history of the AFL. White guided the Arizona Rattlers to 12 consecutive seasons, following an inaugural 1992 campaign, which included two ArenaBowl championships and an overall record of 141-65 (.684).
In just a few days, head coach Danny White of the Utah Blaze will begin another new adventure to stock another new AFL franchise with players. Expansion drafts traditionally don't give new teams a lot of players, however, they do give an early indication of what other teams in the league are willing to give up for whatever reasons.
Fans should get excited about what direction coach White wants his Blaze to begin the 2006 Arena League season. They should be aware these drafts sometimes don't always provide the permanent seeds for inevitable future growth.
It's a beginning, however, and along with an open-ended, salary-cap billfold for free agents, White will no doubt put together a formidable first-year team. In fact, along with former veteran player - and future AFL Hall of Famer - Hunkie Cooper, White and staff have been contacting many of the available free agents about coming to Utah.
MIX OF PLAYERS AVAILABLE
What's available in the expansion draft isn't exactly enough for a core group of players. The other 17 AFL teams have thrown out some older players on the downside of their careers, some younger players with little or no experience, players who have been on âexempt lists' - those on NFL, CFL and NFLE rosters - and injured reserve players who are sometimes damaged goods.
No one blames an established team for placing what they don't want on an expansion list. Anyone would want to protect as many of its established players and ones with future potential for the extraordinarily, specialty skill of a two-way indoor player.
Looking back at other expansion drafts it literally has been a few good men who have been chosen. In the 2004 selection process, for the 2005 Nashville Kats, head coach Pat Sperduto and staff chose nine players, two of which were âexempt.' A year later, only two remain on the team's active list and two are on injured reserve. However, the big catch will come this year when lineman R-Kal Truluck, who starred in the AFL before going to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers from which he was recently released. Interestingly, Sperduto traded the first three picks to Chicago for all-star lineman James Baron.
PAST DRAFTS HAVE BEEN LEAN
Three teams participated in the 2003 expansion, including the Philadelphia Soul, the Austin Wranglers and New Orleans VooDoo. Only 10 total players were selected with Austin taking five, Philly three and the VooDoo two.
Where are they now or where did they go? Veteran Charlie Davidson is still with Austin, as is, New Orleans' lineman Abdul-Salam Noah, but none of the three Soul players are on the âCity of Brotherly Love' roster.
In 2002, the Colorado Crush selected 15 expansion players, collected three others through trades, and began an adventure which took the âMile High City' team to the 2005 ArenaBowl championship last July. Only one player (lineman Bryant Shaw, who was acquired through a trade) remains on the Crush roster today.
Now in the 2005 expansion - for the 2006 season - there are nearly 100 available players. Some 15 come from exempt, nearly 20 from injured reserve and others from ârefused to report,' inactive and active designations.
Only 15 to 20 are attractive enough to fall into the category of "A Few Good Men." What this means is: Don't expect Coach White to select many; he may elect to trade some choices for the proverbial "future considerations."
COLEMAN âJUMPS' OUT IN FRONT
Who jumps out on the list are two players offered up by the Nashville Kats. Veteran Fred Coleman, 30, who has been part of a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots and an ArenaBowl title with the San Jose SaberCats, led the Kats in receiving with 75 receptions, 848 yards and 12 touchdowns in 14 games.
The other player is quarterback Adrian McPherson, who the Kats acquired in the dispersal draft from the Indiana Firebirds. However, it appears McPherson, AFL 2004 rookie of the year, may stick with the New Orleans Saints and is listed third behind Aaron Brooks and Todd Bouman.
Here's a team-by-team look at the top player from each club who might fit into Coach White's scheme of things for the 2006 Utah Blaze.
AUSTIN WRANGLERS - DS KELVIN HUNTER (5-10, 185)...played in 10 games with Austin last season...led team in interceptions (4)...had 10 pass breakups... played for Coach White in Arizona (2002 to 2004).
CHICAGO RUSH - DS JERIOD JOHNSON (5-9, 185)...played 14 games with Rush in '05...13 pass break ups led team...3 fumble recoveries...6-year AFL veteran...four seasons with Las Vegas.
COLORADO CRUSH - WR/DB ROBERT REDD (5-10, 195)...in 2004 had 44 receptions for 474 yards and 5 TDs...25 years old...OL/DL DON KLEIN (6-1, 296)...two seasons with Crush...played in 14 games last season...only 24 out of Temple.
DALLAS DESPERADOS - WR/DB DEONTAY WILSON (5-9, 170)...at 25 had 20 receptions, 237 yards, two TDs in seven games in '05.
GEORGIA FORCE - WR/DB LUKE LEVERSON (5-11, 185)...5 years in AFL...9 games last season...15 solo tackles...27 catches, 4 TDs...veteran out of Minnesota...WR/LB NATHAN POOLE (6-2, 205)...just released by New Orleans Saints...impressive size out of the Thundering Herd from Marshall University.
LOS ANGELES AVENGERS - OL/DL FRED RAY, 29 (6-3, 285)...six year AFL and former all-league player...saw action in 10 games this past season...OL/DL CARLOS FOWLER, 33 (6-3, 275)...1997 AFL Lineman of the Year...NFL & CFL experience...could help right away.
NASHVILLE KATS - FB/LB DAN ALEXANDER, 27 (6-0, 255) balanced offensively in seven games...38 carries in 2005 for 105 yards, 5 TDs...caught 7 balls for 72 yards and two TDs.
NEW YORK DRAGONS - FB/LB KEVIN CLEMENS, 29 (6-0, 275)...in league since 1998...8 games last season...5.5 total tackles.
ORLANDO PREDATORS - WR/LB JUSTIN SKAGGS, 26 (6-2, 202)...excellent size...played in 14 Preds games in '05...14 of 18.5 total tackles unassisted...33 carries, 370 yards for 3 touchdowns.
SAN JOSE SABERCATS - OL/DL CHUCK REED (6-2, 305)...Comeback season in '05...played in 12 games...nine total tackles...at 33, in best shape of his life...could be end of career after this season...interested in seeing what Utah has to offer...WR/DB RYAN FERNANDEZ, 25 (5-11, 180 out of Stanford)...likeable young man who can be electrifying on the field...11 games in 2005...20 catches and 4 TDs...four pass breakups but a late season injury may keep him off the list.
TAMPA BAY STORM - WR/LB RONNEY DANIELS, 29 (6-2, 215)...Auburn player who had 8 TDs on 22 catches for 306 yards in nine games.
These additional 15 players are what some term âready made' for a transition to consistent full-time play. Coach White will want to be successful out of the gate. He will want to sell the Delta Center crowd (capacity more that 14,000 for Arena football) on Arena Football.
Veterans can do that for coach White. All it takes is: "A Few Good Men."
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from September 19, 2005
- Utah's Danny White needs "Good Men" - San Jose SaberCats
- Columbus Destroyers name assistant coaches - Columbus Destroyers
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