Post by Banana Cat on Apr 13, 2012 1:49:01 GMT -5
www.theindependent.com/sports/danger/libre-helps-get-danger-running-game-going/article_066aa90e-84ac-11e1-bdaf-001a4bcf887a.html
Libre helps get Danger running game going
April 12, 2012
By Bob Hamar bob.hamar@theindependent.com
Daniel Libre has been waiting for a chance, almost since his college career at Hawaii ended in the fall of 2008.
He played in France. He played for Edmonton of the CFL for seven games before an injury ended his season.
Libre tried to play for the Green Bay Blizzard of the IFL last year, but was injured in the preseason and missed the entire year.
Now he’s healthy, and when the Nebraska Danger’s Erick Jackson went out with a broken foot, Libre was ready.
The Danger fell last week on the road to the Everett Raptors, but Libre had an outstanding debut in the IFL.
“One bright spot was that kid right there, Daniel Libre,” Danger coach Mike Davis said before Tuesday’s practice as Libre walked past. “The kid got his chance and made the most of it.”
Libre had 12 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns against the Raptors. The touchdowns came on back-to-back carries in the third quarter, one for 20 yards and the next for 19.
The second helped pull the Danger to within 39-29 at the end of the quarter, but Everett went on to a 52-35 win.
“We had a real good week of practice and they changed some things in the blocking scheme,” Libre said. “Coach told me after my first couple carries to be a little more patient. I listened to him and let the offensive line take care of the rest. They made my job easy. I just had to make one or two cuts and it was wide open. All the kudos should go to the offensive line and the receivers blocking on the outside.”
Davis has said that the Danger‘s front three of Cedric Mack, Darren Marquez and James Poynter is as good as any in the league.
“We tweaked some things last week in practice, kind of went back to the drawing board,” Davis said. “Our offensive line is so good and so athletic that we should be able to run the ball at any time. Then it’s getting our running backs to be a little more patient and it came together like it should.
“That’s a positive moving forward. If we can continue to run the ball well, we’re not one dimensional any more. We have a two-headed monster and it should open up our passing game that much for us.”
Libre started the season as Jackson’s backup, but he was actually dropped from the team for a week when the Danger needed to sign a couple of defensive backs.
Libre just stayed in Grand Island, and the Danger picked him back up the next week just in time to take over for Jackson who suffered a broken bone in his foot.
Jackson is week to week. He won’t play Saturday when the Danger host the Wichita Wild at the Heartland Events Center, but Davis can’t say when he will return. It could be two weeks and it could be six weeks.
That makes Libre the guy for the Danger at the running back spot.
Although he’s new to the indoor game, he’s used to playing in a passing offense. The University of Hawaii has always been known for its passing game.
In two years with the Warriors, he had 122 carries for 633 yards and six touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 162 yards.
In 2007 -- coach June Jones’ last year at Hawaii before moving on to SMU -- the Warriors went 12-1, but slipped to 7-7 in 2008.
It was a good experience, but now Libre says maybe he would have been better off at another school.
“My dad always wanted me to play there,” Libre said. “It probably would have payed off if I had gone somewhere where they ran the ball more.”
Now Libre just wants to stay healthy and show what he can do. That staying healthy part is important, but it can be difficult when you’re 5-foot-8, 210 pounds playing a big-man’s game.
But now, Libre said he has a better understanding of how he needs to play.
“I’m far more wiser than I was before,” Libre said. “I was still going out there and playing like I was in high school thinking my body could take it. Now I know you have to warm up properly before you go out and start running around full speed.”
---------------------------
Danger lead IFL in attendance
The Danger continue to lead the IFL in attendance averaging 5,232 fans in its first three home games.
The Danger is followed by Allen (4,914), Cedar Rapids (4,182), Bloomington (4,102) and Tri-Cities (4,000).
The total IFL attendance last week was 19,338.
April 12, 2012
By Bob Hamar bob.hamar@theindependent.com
Daniel Libre has been waiting for a chance, almost since his college career at Hawaii ended in the fall of 2008.
He played in France. He played for Edmonton of the CFL for seven games before an injury ended his season.
Libre tried to play for the Green Bay Blizzard of the IFL last year, but was injured in the preseason and missed the entire year.
Now he’s healthy, and when the Nebraska Danger’s Erick Jackson went out with a broken foot, Libre was ready.
The Danger fell last week on the road to the Everett Raptors, but Libre had an outstanding debut in the IFL.
“One bright spot was that kid right there, Daniel Libre,” Danger coach Mike Davis said before Tuesday’s practice as Libre walked past. “The kid got his chance and made the most of it.”
Libre had 12 carries for 85 yards and two touchdowns against the Raptors. The touchdowns came on back-to-back carries in the third quarter, one for 20 yards and the next for 19.
The second helped pull the Danger to within 39-29 at the end of the quarter, but Everett went on to a 52-35 win.
“We had a real good week of practice and they changed some things in the blocking scheme,” Libre said. “Coach told me after my first couple carries to be a little more patient. I listened to him and let the offensive line take care of the rest. They made my job easy. I just had to make one or two cuts and it was wide open. All the kudos should go to the offensive line and the receivers blocking on the outside.”
Davis has said that the Danger‘s front three of Cedric Mack, Darren Marquez and James Poynter is as good as any in the league.
“We tweaked some things last week in practice, kind of went back to the drawing board,” Davis said. “Our offensive line is so good and so athletic that we should be able to run the ball at any time. Then it’s getting our running backs to be a little more patient and it came together like it should.
“That’s a positive moving forward. If we can continue to run the ball well, we’re not one dimensional any more. We have a two-headed monster and it should open up our passing game that much for us.”
Libre started the season as Jackson’s backup, but he was actually dropped from the team for a week when the Danger needed to sign a couple of defensive backs.
Libre just stayed in Grand Island, and the Danger picked him back up the next week just in time to take over for Jackson who suffered a broken bone in his foot.
Jackson is week to week. He won’t play Saturday when the Danger host the Wichita Wild at the Heartland Events Center, but Davis can’t say when he will return. It could be two weeks and it could be six weeks.
That makes Libre the guy for the Danger at the running back spot.
Although he’s new to the indoor game, he’s used to playing in a passing offense. The University of Hawaii has always been known for its passing game.
In two years with the Warriors, he had 122 carries for 633 yards and six touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 162 yards.
In 2007 -- coach June Jones’ last year at Hawaii before moving on to SMU -- the Warriors went 12-1, but slipped to 7-7 in 2008.
It was a good experience, but now Libre says maybe he would have been better off at another school.
“My dad always wanted me to play there,” Libre said. “It probably would have payed off if I had gone somewhere where they ran the ball more.”
Now Libre just wants to stay healthy and show what he can do. That staying healthy part is important, but it can be difficult when you’re 5-foot-8, 210 pounds playing a big-man’s game.
But now, Libre said he has a better understanding of how he needs to play.
“I’m far more wiser than I was before,” Libre said. “I was still going out there and playing like I was in high school thinking my body could take it. Now I know you have to warm up properly before you go out and start running around full speed.”
---------------------------
Danger lead IFL in attendance
The Danger continue to lead the IFL in attendance averaging 5,232 fans in its first three home games.
The Danger is followed by Allen (4,914), Cedar Rapids (4,182), Bloomington (4,102) and Tri-Cities (4,000).
The total IFL attendance last week was 19,338.