Post by ecw0126 on Feb 20, 2012 15:51:07 GMT -5
The Nebraska Danger held its first practice of the year Sunday at the Community Fieldhouse at Fonner Park.
There were a few players returning from last year at the practice including running back Erick Jackson, linebacker Walner Leandre, defensive back Darnell Terrell and center James Poynter.
But most of the 33 players on hand are new to the Danger as the team heads into its second season of play.
Jackson, who played college football at UNLV, said he saw a lot of good things from his teammates in the short period of time they have been together.
"I've been around football now for 20 years," Jackson said. "I've been playing since I was seven. You can just tell when people are hard workers and when people are talented and good football players."
Jackson is one of the players the Danger management really wanted back after last season. He showed what he could do early in the year, but then a concussion kept him out a couple of games and was followed by an ankle injury ended his season.
"We love Erick Jackson," Danger general manager Mike McCoy said. "When he got hurt, I don't think we won a game after that. He's just so quick and fast. When he did hurt his ankle last year that just killed us.
"And he's such a good guy too. He's a really well-spoken young man. He's probably one of the best backs in the league right now I think. He was one of the guys from last year's team that we wanted back bad."
Jackson is just as happy to be back.
"I'm looking forward to staying health, and this team is stacked full of talent," Jackson said. "I'm looking forward to winning."
Jackson said the team is optimistic after last year's squad opened the season 3-3 only to lose eight straight games to finish 3-11. That optimism comes from management like McCoy, owner Charlie Bosselman and head coach Mike Davis.
"It comes from the top down," Jackson said. "Mr. Bosselman, he's excited and optimistic. Mr. McCoy is excited, coach Davis, all our coaches. It's almost like we're already a team - which is exciting, but sad at the same time because some people are going to have to go.
"I may have to go if I don't do what I have to do. That's. just the nature of the beast."
Davis sounded a bit like Nebraska coach Bo Pelini after Sunday's practice.
"Not bad," Davis said. "I saw some good things. I saw some bad things. I saw some things we need to work on. Overall, it was a good first day, I'm happy with it.
"We have a great group of young men, great character guys. They definitely keep the mood light, that's for sure. It's hard to tell exactly what we have. We saw some really good things today, we saw some things we need to work on after the first day."
Over the off season, Davis worked on upgrading the Danger talent. He even conducted tryouts in Miami and signed seven players from those tryouts.
Miami to Grand Island may seem like a long way to come to play football, but Davis said the Danger organization has built a good name in a short period of time.
"Word got out about the good situation here with the Bosselmans and things here in Grand Island and the fan support," Davis said. "Kids just want to play. There's a great amount of talent down there and I was just trying to get a little bit of it."
The Danger lost a number of close games last season. Jackson doesn't think that will happen again this year.
"I think there was kind of that first-year feel," Jackson said. "You're trying to feel yourself as a team and feel as who you are.
"It's a different feeling now. I think once we get together and solidify this thing, we're going to finish things much better."
The Danger will hold a preseason soap scrimmage against the Nebraska Lawdawgs Thursday at the Heartland Events Center. They will open the regular season with three straight home games: March 4 vs. the Tri-City Fever, March 12 vs. the Omaha Beef and March 23 against the Wyoming Cavalry.
There were a few players returning from last year at the practice including running back Erick Jackson, linebacker Walner Leandre, defensive back Darnell Terrell and center James Poynter.
But most of the 33 players on hand are new to the Danger as the team heads into its second season of play.
Jackson, who played college football at UNLV, said he saw a lot of good things from his teammates in the short period of time they have been together.
"I've been around football now for 20 years," Jackson said. "I've been playing since I was seven. You can just tell when people are hard workers and when people are talented and good football players."
Jackson is one of the players the Danger management really wanted back after last season. He showed what he could do early in the year, but then a concussion kept him out a couple of games and was followed by an ankle injury ended his season.
"We love Erick Jackson," Danger general manager Mike McCoy said. "When he got hurt, I don't think we won a game after that. He's just so quick and fast. When he did hurt his ankle last year that just killed us.
"And he's such a good guy too. He's a really well-spoken young man. He's probably one of the best backs in the league right now I think. He was one of the guys from last year's team that we wanted back bad."
Jackson is just as happy to be back.
"I'm looking forward to staying health, and this team is stacked full of talent," Jackson said. "I'm looking forward to winning."
Jackson said the team is optimistic after last year's squad opened the season 3-3 only to lose eight straight games to finish 3-11. That optimism comes from management like McCoy, owner Charlie Bosselman and head coach Mike Davis.
"It comes from the top down," Jackson said. "Mr. Bosselman, he's excited and optimistic. Mr. McCoy is excited, coach Davis, all our coaches. It's almost like we're already a team - which is exciting, but sad at the same time because some people are going to have to go.
"I may have to go if I don't do what I have to do. That's. just the nature of the beast."
Davis sounded a bit like Nebraska coach Bo Pelini after Sunday's practice.
"Not bad," Davis said. "I saw some good things. I saw some bad things. I saw some things we need to work on. Overall, it was a good first day, I'm happy with it.
"We have a great group of young men, great character guys. They definitely keep the mood light, that's for sure. It's hard to tell exactly what we have. We saw some really good things today, we saw some things we need to work on after the first day."
Over the off season, Davis worked on upgrading the Danger talent. He even conducted tryouts in Miami and signed seven players from those tryouts.
Miami to Grand Island may seem like a long way to come to play football, but Davis said the Danger organization has built a good name in a short period of time.
"Word got out about the good situation here with the Bosselmans and things here in Grand Island and the fan support," Davis said. "Kids just want to play. There's a great amount of talent down there and I was just trying to get a little bit of it."
The Danger lost a number of close games last season. Jackson doesn't think that will happen again this year.
"I think there was kind of that first-year feel," Jackson said. "You're trying to feel yourself as a team and feel as who you are.
"It's a different feeling now. I think once we get together and solidify this thing, we're going to finish things much better."
The Danger will hold a preseason soap scrimmage against the Nebraska Lawdawgs Thursday at the Heartland Events Center. They will open the regular season with three straight home games: March 4 vs. the Tri-City Fever, March 12 vs. the Omaha Beef and March 23 against the Wyoming Cavalry.