Week One Winds Down With Competition At Several Spots
February 8, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2008) - As the first week of training camp winds down several battles for roster spots continue. Wednesday's signing of offensive lineman Albert Toeaina, to go along with the signings of two other offensive linemen earlier in the week, indicate that is an area the team is looking at closely.
"Healthy competition tends to bring out the best in players," said SaberCats' offensive line coach Dave Witthun.
Toeaina (6-5, 350) was a JUCO All-American while at City College of San Francisco and a two-year starter at the University of Tennessee. He had NFL training camp stints with the Carolina Panthers and Oakland Raiders and played the 2007 NFL Europa season with the Rhein Fire.
An Antioch native and Pittsburg High School product, Toeaina is one of nine offensive linemen on the SaberCats training camp roster. He joins fellow newcomers Chris Pino, Nick Mihlhauser, Gene Frederic and Dwayne Morgan along with San Jose veterans Patrick Afif, Julius Gant, William Obeng and Dan Loney, who is currently on the team's physically unable to perform list.
SNAP, HOLD, KICK
A vital part of the AFL game is special teams, in particular the kicking game. Entering this season the SaberCats will be without two-thirds of that equation after losing short-snapper Matt Kinsinger to free agency and holder Craig Whelihan to retirement.
"The field goal unit is a team and just like our whole team you have to be good at every spot," said All-AFL and Rookie Team kicker A.J. Haglund. "When Matt wasn't in there last year we struggled a little bit."
Competition at these spots has been fierce with several different players auditioning their skills. "They always say to be as valuable as you can to a team and try to add what you can," said quarterback Scott Rislov, who has taken some reps as Haglund's holder. "If holding is what you're called to do than that's just another job that has to be filled."
"I think it takes practice and somebody will step up," added Haglund. "Right now it's just trying to find the guys."
WHAT'S IN A NUMBER?
Apparently quite a bit for defensive lineman Alan Harper, who changed his outlook and offseason regimen in preparation for the 2008 season.
"Definitely there's a reason," he said when asked about his uniform number change from 98 to 99. "I changed the number because I felt that 98 was good but he wasn't as good as he could be. I felt that I had to take it (my game) to the next level. I had some good years with it (#98) but I decided to change my diet, I lost about 10 pounds, and I felt putting the No. 99 on would bring a new Alan Harper out and that's what I want to bring out this year."
The new-look Harper, who posted 21.5 tackles and 3.0 sacks in 10 games last season, is as hungry as he's ever been. "One of the goals is to get another ArenaBowl championship," he said. "My goal personally is to be the best defensive player in the league. Those are my two main goals this year."
PRESEASON SCRIMMAGE
The Stockton Lightning of arenafootball2 will host the SaberCats and Kansas City Brigade in a preseason scrimmage on Tuesday, February 19, starting at 7:00 p.m. from Stockton Arena. This will be the second visit to Stockton for the defending and three-time ArenaBowl champion SaberCats. They battled the Grand Rapids Rampage in a similar event last February.
The Brigade enjoyed a breakout season last year posting a 10-6 record and advancing to the AFL playoffs for the first time in franchise history behind Coach of the Year Kevin Porter.
Tickets for the scrimmage contest are on sale and can be purchased for $5 (general admission seating) by calling the Stockton Arena ticket office at (209) 373-1700 or by visiting www.stocktontickets.com. Lightning season ticket holders will receive free admission to the game if 2008 season tickets are renewed or purchased by February 15.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 8, 2008
- Week One Winds Down With Competition At Several Spots - San Jose SaberCats
- Coaches Pleased With Players Performances - Utah Blaze
- Rampage Conclude First Week of Training Camp - Grand Rapids Rampage
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