Post by Banana Cat on Jul 14, 2011 1:58:43 GMT -5
www.lfl360.com/articles/meet-the-enforcer-crush-mlb-condric-channels-ray-lewis/
MEET “THE ENFORCER”: CRUSH MLB MARIJA CONDRIC CHANNELS RAY LEWIS TO LEAD FEARLESS DEFENSE
They say defense can become a team’s best offense. The defense of the Cleveland Crush might have to do just that if they want to win this season.
While most the rookies on the Crush have no LFL experience, they are opening eyes during practice with their intensity and willingness to learn schemes and become “ball-hawks”. From the first training camp practice to their latest, the defense has sped light-years ahead of the offense, which continues to hiccup.
With the offense taking time to learn the LFL system, they will have to lean on the defense for great field-position and points. This doesn’t bother defensive leader, Marija Condric, who is coming off of outstanding practices at middle linebacker.
“We are coming together as a team and as individuals really well. The defense has come together faster, but with any new football team that usually happens,” says Condric.
Condric is the glue that keeps this defense together and who the team will rely on Friday night’s against powerful offenses.
But Condric is humble. She won’t take all the credit for making this defensive squad a soon-to-be reckoned with force.
“It’s an honor to even be looked at as a leader, especially on a team that has so many leaders on it already,” Condric states. “But anything I can do to help the girls and give feedback I’m going to do to make this team better.”
When a player impresses LFL Chairman Mitchell Mortaza the way Condric has, one knows she is on the right track. And that is just what happened during Mortaza’s visit to Saturday’s practice in Cleveland. Stating the offense needs work, he was glowing about the defense.
“They have all the horses to compete with anybody. They can be a dominant defense here. I think they will hold opponents and this defense is going to keep this team in games. I would acquaint it to the Baltimore Ravens 2000 season. That offense struggled to post six, seven points but won most of their games.” Mortaza said.
Funny how Mortaza references the Ravens, as Condric says she wants to mold her game after Raven’s middle linebacker Ray Lewis.
“He’s just a great athlete and goes out and plays and performs. He dominates. He’s a dominator,” explains Condric.
While Condric will the lead the linebacker corps, the safeties are turning heads. Shannon Anderson and Theresa Petruziello look to be the best safety-duo in the league and Mortaza does not think that assumption is a stretch.
“Those two safeties are probably the best pairing outside [of] Liz Gorman and Bryn Renda in Tampa,” says Mortaza. Gorman and Renda combined for six interceptions last season for the Breeze and that serves as a measuring stick for Anderson and Petruziello.
“Theresa is phenomenal. She’s everywhere. She’s my ball-hawk. Wherever the ball is at, she’s there,” says Crush defensive coordinator Dontez Howard about Petruziello.
While offenses will be keyed on Condric, Anderson, and Petruziello, that will leave opportunities for the other outstanding athletes in the Crush defense to roam free and make plays.
Players like Sabrina Parr, Abbie Sullivan, Jamar Lee, Ashia Merideth, Mikkayla Flores and Amber Barrick will all be counted on in tough situations to come through and change games.
But that doesn’t bother Coach Howard, who has a message for all the other teams in the league. “We’re ready. We’re here to dominate. And we will dominate. Be ready.”
Fans in a working class city like Cleveland will learn to appreciate the blue-collar defensive effort that promises to turn heads league-wide come September.
They say defense can become a team’s best offense. The defense of the Cleveland Crush might have to do just that if they want to win this season.
While most the rookies on the Crush have no LFL experience, they are opening eyes during practice with their intensity and willingness to learn schemes and become “ball-hawks”. From the first training camp practice to their latest, the defense has sped light-years ahead of the offense, which continues to hiccup.
With the offense taking time to learn the LFL system, they will have to lean on the defense for great field-position and points. This doesn’t bother defensive leader, Marija Condric, who is coming off of outstanding practices at middle linebacker.
“We are coming together as a team and as individuals really well. The defense has come together faster, but with any new football team that usually happens,” says Condric.
Condric is the glue that keeps this defense together and who the team will rely on Friday night’s against powerful offenses.
But Condric is humble. She won’t take all the credit for making this defensive squad a soon-to-be reckoned with force.
“It’s an honor to even be looked at as a leader, especially on a team that has so many leaders on it already,” Condric states. “But anything I can do to help the girls and give feedback I’m going to do to make this team better.”
When a player impresses LFL Chairman Mitchell Mortaza the way Condric has, one knows she is on the right track. And that is just what happened during Mortaza’s visit to Saturday’s practice in Cleveland. Stating the offense needs work, he was glowing about the defense.
“They have all the horses to compete with anybody. They can be a dominant defense here. I think they will hold opponents and this defense is going to keep this team in games. I would acquaint it to the Baltimore Ravens 2000 season. That offense struggled to post six, seven points but won most of their games.” Mortaza said.
Funny how Mortaza references the Ravens, as Condric says she wants to mold her game after Raven’s middle linebacker Ray Lewis.
“He’s just a great athlete and goes out and plays and performs. He dominates. He’s a dominator,” explains Condric.
While Condric will the lead the linebacker corps, the safeties are turning heads. Shannon Anderson and Theresa Petruziello look to be the best safety-duo in the league and Mortaza does not think that assumption is a stretch.
“Those two safeties are probably the best pairing outside [of] Liz Gorman and Bryn Renda in Tampa,” says Mortaza. Gorman and Renda combined for six interceptions last season for the Breeze and that serves as a measuring stick for Anderson and Petruziello.
“Theresa is phenomenal. She’s everywhere. She’s my ball-hawk. Wherever the ball is at, she’s there,” says Crush defensive coordinator Dontez Howard about Petruziello.
While offenses will be keyed on Condric, Anderson, and Petruziello, that will leave opportunities for the other outstanding athletes in the Crush defense to roam free and make plays.
Players like Sabrina Parr, Abbie Sullivan, Jamar Lee, Ashia Merideth, Mikkayla Flores and Amber Barrick will all be counted on in tough situations to come through and change games.
But that doesn’t bother Coach Howard, who has a message for all the other teams in the league. “We’re ready. We’re here to dominate. And we will dominate. Be ready.”
Fans in a working class city like Cleveland will learn to appreciate the blue-collar defensive effort that promises to turn heads league-wide come September.