Post by Banana Cat on Feb 26, 2012 14:41:50 GMT -5
www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/02/alabama_hammers_hammond_excite.html
Alabama Hammers: Hammond excited about second season
February 23, 2012
By Reggie Benson, The Huntsville Times
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Marty Hammond was in scramble mode this time last year.
Hammond, the coach of the Alabama Hammers, Huntsville's indoor football team, was in a mad dash to recruit players just to fill out a training camp roster. It didn't help that he got in late and had been out of football for a year as well.
With a team comprised of mostly rookies, the Hammers struggled mightily. They started 0-5, but went 3-3 over their last six games.
"A lot of them matured over the course of the season," Hammond said. "They were shocked when they first came in and now they understand a little bit more of what they need to do."
With a full year to recruit and a full training camp, Hammond believes the second season will be much better.
"I'm a lot more comfortable coming into camp," said Hammond, who will welcome his team to training camp starting Friday. "We had more time to recruit guys and take a look at guys. We're so much more organized coming in this year because we had an entire offseason."
The Hammers return 10 players from last year's team.
The list includes the likes of wide receivers Mico McSwain and Charles McClain, defensive back Al Donaldson, linebackers Darian Payne and Garry Pack offensive linemen Darius Turner and Derrick Zeigler and fullback/linebacker Kem Oti just to name a few.
McSwain caught 61 passes for 844 yards and 26 touchdowns, while McClain had 69 catches for 756 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Donaldson had a team-high 44.5 tackles and four interceptions, while Payne earned All-Southern Indoor Football League honors after finishing with 35 tackles and eight interceptions. Oti is arguably the Hammers' most versatile player. He can play fullback, linebacker and defensive line.
"We're expecting big things out of those guys," Hammond said.
The Hammers have also resigned former Tennessee Valley Vipers standout defensive lineman Eric Scott. Scott was a key performer on the Vipers' 2008 arenafootball2 championship team. He spent last season splitting time between New Orleans and Georgia in the Arena Football League.
"I'm glad to have Eric coming to camp," Hammond said. "He is definitely a strong presence on defense."
The biggest question mark entering camp appears to be at quarterback.
Five different players [ Bill Ashburn, Kevin Eakin, Stan Jones, Harrison Beck and Phellepe Hall [- all played quarterback at some point or another last season.
Former Texas Southern star Arvell Nelson, who led the Tigers to the 2010 Southwestern Athletic Conference, is one of three quarterbacks on the Hammers' training camp roster. The other two are Efi Eyo, who played at Benedictine University, and Chris Mayabb, who played at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa.
"We're coming in with rookies, but we're more prepared than we were last year," Hammond said. "It was a scramble at quarterback last year from the very beginning. We know they have the physical skills to play. The question is do they have the mental skills to play."
February 23, 2012
By Reggie Benson, The Huntsville Times
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Marty Hammond was in scramble mode this time last year.
Hammond, the coach of the Alabama Hammers, Huntsville's indoor football team, was in a mad dash to recruit players just to fill out a training camp roster. It didn't help that he got in late and had been out of football for a year as well.
With a team comprised of mostly rookies, the Hammers struggled mightily. They started 0-5, but went 3-3 over their last six games.
"A lot of them matured over the course of the season," Hammond said. "They were shocked when they first came in and now they understand a little bit more of what they need to do."
With a full year to recruit and a full training camp, Hammond believes the second season will be much better.
"I'm a lot more comfortable coming into camp," said Hammond, who will welcome his team to training camp starting Friday. "We had more time to recruit guys and take a look at guys. We're so much more organized coming in this year because we had an entire offseason."
The Hammers return 10 players from last year's team.
The list includes the likes of wide receivers Mico McSwain and Charles McClain, defensive back Al Donaldson, linebackers Darian Payne and Garry Pack offensive linemen Darius Turner and Derrick Zeigler and fullback/linebacker Kem Oti just to name a few.
McSwain caught 61 passes for 844 yards and 26 touchdowns, while McClain had 69 catches for 756 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Donaldson had a team-high 44.5 tackles and four interceptions, while Payne earned All-Southern Indoor Football League honors after finishing with 35 tackles and eight interceptions. Oti is arguably the Hammers' most versatile player. He can play fullback, linebacker and defensive line.
"We're expecting big things out of those guys," Hammond said.
The Hammers have also resigned former Tennessee Valley Vipers standout defensive lineman Eric Scott. Scott was a key performer on the Vipers' 2008 arenafootball2 championship team. He spent last season splitting time between New Orleans and Georgia in the Arena Football League.
"I'm glad to have Eric coming to camp," Hammond said. "He is definitely a strong presence on defense."
The biggest question mark entering camp appears to be at quarterback.
Five different players [ Bill Ashburn, Kevin Eakin, Stan Jones, Harrison Beck and Phellepe Hall [- all played quarterback at some point or another last season.
Former Texas Southern star Arvell Nelson, who led the Tigers to the 2010 Southwestern Athletic Conference, is one of three quarterbacks on the Hammers' training camp roster. The other two are Efi Eyo, who played at Benedictine University, and Chris Mayabb, who played at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa.
"We're coming in with rookies, but we're more prepared than we were last year," Hammond said. "It was a scramble at quarterback last year from the very beginning. We know they have the physical skills to play. The question is do they have the mental skills to play."