Post by Banana Cat on Mar 20, 2012 0:37:38 GMT -5
www.oaoa.com/sports/coach-83853-roughnecks-brents.html
Roughnecks starting camp with new coach, outlook
March 14, 2012
BY CARLOS SILVA JR.
While the rest of the country is embracing March Madness, first-year West Texas Roughnecks head coach Brian Brents said he is dealing with a different kind of craziness in his life.
Brents’ wife, Rachel, gave birth to their second child, Braven, on Friday.
The birth occurred eight days before Brents is scheduled to start two-a-day training camp. The first practice is set for 9 a.m. Saturday and the season begins March 24 with an exhibition game against the Abilene Ruff Riders at Ector County Coliseum.
The game is tabbed as “The Kickoff Classic” because it is the first game in the inaugural season of the Lone Star Football League, which the Roughnecks joined in October.
“The last few weeks have been very hectic, to say the least,” said Brents, a Crane native. “Most of the coaching staff got here in November and have spent many nights recruiting players on the phone and watching film up to this point.
“We’re just ready to get the season started.”
West Texas is coming off a 10-4 season that ended with a 61-49 playoff loss on June 20, 2011, to the Tri-Cities Fever. The loss marked the team’s the final game in the Indoor Football League, which it joined in 2009.
The Lone Star Football League membership includes the Abilene Rough Riders, Amarillo Venom, Corpus Christi Hammerheads, Houston Stallions, Laredo Rattlesnakes, Mesquite Bandits and Rio Grande Valley Magic. An eighth team, the San Angelo Stampede Express, will join in 2013.
LSFL commissioner Darlene Jones said each team will play 12 total games, half of which will be home contests. Extra games scheduled for the season will be considered exhibition games. The top four teams, record wise, will qualify for the playoffs, which start July 14.
“It’s going to be a competitive league,” Brents said.
Brents said many of the players from last year’s 10-4 team were not retained, citing a need to get younger and more athletic. He said the move will allow his team to play a faster, more physical, style.
Brents kept a few veterans because he said their knowledge of the indoor game and their ability to connect with the younger players will be a vital asset as the season progresses.
Brents said he applied the same philosophy as a head coach with the El Paso Generals in 2009 and the Mississippi Mudcats in 2007 and 2008. Brents earned the 2009 Coach of the Year award with the Generals, and compiled a 24-5 record with the Mudcats.
“We really started from scratch,” Brents said. “Our goal was to get a mix of veterans and young players so we have a balance of experience and guys that are hungry.”
Byron Ingram is one of those young players and also is projected to be the team’s starting quarterback. Ingram threw for 1,790 yards with 10 touchdowns in 2011 at Morehouse College, a Division II school in Atlanta.
Ingram replaces former signal caller Arkelon Hall, who threw for more than 1,700 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. Ingram said his ability to scramble is his biggest asset.
“My college coaches always described me as an athletic pocket passer,” Ingram said. “I’m able to extend the play with my legs, but the hardest thing I’ve had to adjust to is the speed of the game.”
“Receivers will make cuts closer to the line, and I’ll need to get rid of the ball quicker.”
Despite the rookie nerves, Ingram said he’s confident that he’ll be able to make the transition before the team’s first game.
“We know we’re going to have an offense that scores points,” Brents said. “This means our defensive line is going to have to get pressure and make the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket.”
That job will be tasked to first-year defensive coordinator Kirk Broussard, who also is the assistant general manager of the Roughnecks. Broussard said his defensive philosophy revolves around disrupting the quarterback’s rhythm with his receivers.
“It’s an offensive-minded league,” Broussard said. “The only way you’re going to get stops is by getting to the quarterback.
“If a team can’t get pressure up front, it’s going to give up a lot of points.”
Broussard said he will rely on the veteran voices of Larry Thompson and Jermaine Blakely to aid the younger players in learning defensive schemes and techniques. Blakely had 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and 36 total tackles last season.
Thompson said he is returning to the Roughnecks after taking the last two years off. He previously played with the team from 2004-2006.
“They’re going to be the captains of the defense,” Broussard said. “I feel like we have a fast defense and an overall balanced team that will contend for a championship.”
Brents agreed.
“We’re not rebuilding, we’re here to win a championship,” Brents said. “If we’re not holding up a trophy at the end of the year, we haven’t done our job.”
While the rest of the country is embracing March Madness, first-year West Texas Roughnecks head coach Brian Brents said he is dealing with a different kind of craziness in his life.
Brents’ wife, Rachel, gave birth to their second child, Braven, on Friday.
The birth occurred eight days before Brents is scheduled to start two-a-day training camp. The first practice is set for 9 a.m. Saturday and the season begins March 24 with an exhibition game against the Abilene Ruff Riders at Ector County Coliseum.
The game is tabbed as “The Kickoff Classic” because it is the first game in the inaugural season of the Lone Star Football League, which the Roughnecks joined in October.
“The last few weeks have been very hectic, to say the least,” said Brents, a Crane native. “Most of the coaching staff got here in November and have spent many nights recruiting players on the phone and watching film up to this point.
“We’re just ready to get the season started.”
West Texas is coming off a 10-4 season that ended with a 61-49 playoff loss on June 20, 2011, to the Tri-Cities Fever. The loss marked the team’s the final game in the Indoor Football League, which it joined in 2009.
The Lone Star Football League membership includes the Abilene Rough Riders, Amarillo Venom, Corpus Christi Hammerheads, Houston Stallions, Laredo Rattlesnakes, Mesquite Bandits and Rio Grande Valley Magic. An eighth team, the San Angelo Stampede Express, will join in 2013.
LSFL commissioner Darlene Jones said each team will play 12 total games, half of which will be home contests. Extra games scheduled for the season will be considered exhibition games. The top four teams, record wise, will qualify for the playoffs, which start July 14.
“It’s going to be a competitive league,” Brents said.
Brents said many of the players from last year’s 10-4 team were not retained, citing a need to get younger and more athletic. He said the move will allow his team to play a faster, more physical, style.
Brents kept a few veterans because he said their knowledge of the indoor game and their ability to connect with the younger players will be a vital asset as the season progresses.
Brents said he applied the same philosophy as a head coach with the El Paso Generals in 2009 and the Mississippi Mudcats in 2007 and 2008. Brents earned the 2009 Coach of the Year award with the Generals, and compiled a 24-5 record with the Mudcats.
“We really started from scratch,” Brents said. “Our goal was to get a mix of veterans and young players so we have a balance of experience and guys that are hungry.”
Byron Ingram is one of those young players and also is projected to be the team’s starting quarterback. Ingram threw for 1,790 yards with 10 touchdowns in 2011 at Morehouse College, a Division II school in Atlanta.
Ingram replaces former signal caller Arkelon Hall, who threw for more than 1,700 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. Ingram said his ability to scramble is his biggest asset.
“My college coaches always described me as an athletic pocket passer,” Ingram said. “I’m able to extend the play with my legs, but the hardest thing I’ve had to adjust to is the speed of the game.”
“Receivers will make cuts closer to the line, and I’ll need to get rid of the ball quicker.”
Despite the rookie nerves, Ingram said he’s confident that he’ll be able to make the transition before the team’s first game.
“We know we’re going to have an offense that scores points,” Brents said. “This means our defensive line is going to have to get pressure and make the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket.”
That job will be tasked to first-year defensive coordinator Kirk Broussard, who also is the assistant general manager of the Roughnecks. Broussard said his defensive philosophy revolves around disrupting the quarterback’s rhythm with his receivers.
“It’s an offensive-minded league,” Broussard said. “The only way you’re going to get stops is by getting to the quarterback.
“If a team can’t get pressure up front, it’s going to give up a lot of points.”
Broussard said he will rely on the veteran voices of Larry Thompson and Jermaine Blakely to aid the younger players in learning defensive schemes and techniques. Blakely had 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and 36 total tackles last season.
Thompson said he is returning to the Roughnecks after taking the last two years off. He previously played with the team from 2004-2006.
“They’re going to be the captains of the defense,” Broussard said. “I feel like we have a fast defense and an overall balanced team that will contend for a championship.”
Brents agreed.
“We’re not rebuilding, we’re here to win a championship,” Brents said. “If we’re not holding up a trophy at the end of the year, we haven’t done our job.”
March 14, 2012
BY CARLOS SILVA JR.
While the rest of the country is embracing March Madness, first-year West Texas Roughnecks head coach Brian Brents said he is dealing with a different kind of craziness in his life.
Brents’ wife, Rachel, gave birth to their second child, Braven, on Friday.
The birth occurred eight days before Brents is scheduled to start two-a-day training camp. The first practice is set for 9 a.m. Saturday and the season begins March 24 with an exhibition game against the Abilene Ruff Riders at Ector County Coliseum.
The game is tabbed as “The Kickoff Classic” because it is the first game in the inaugural season of the Lone Star Football League, which the Roughnecks joined in October.
“The last few weeks have been very hectic, to say the least,” said Brents, a Crane native. “Most of the coaching staff got here in November and have spent many nights recruiting players on the phone and watching film up to this point.
“We’re just ready to get the season started.”
West Texas is coming off a 10-4 season that ended with a 61-49 playoff loss on June 20, 2011, to the Tri-Cities Fever. The loss marked the team’s the final game in the Indoor Football League, which it joined in 2009.
The Lone Star Football League membership includes the Abilene Rough Riders, Amarillo Venom, Corpus Christi Hammerheads, Houston Stallions, Laredo Rattlesnakes, Mesquite Bandits and Rio Grande Valley Magic. An eighth team, the San Angelo Stampede Express, will join in 2013.
LSFL commissioner Darlene Jones said each team will play 12 total games, half of which will be home contests. Extra games scheduled for the season will be considered exhibition games. The top four teams, record wise, will qualify for the playoffs, which start July 14.
“It’s going to be a competitive league,” Brents said.
Brents said many of the players from last year’s 10-4 team were not retained, citing a need to get younger and more athletic. He said the move will allow his team to play a faster, more physical, style.
Brents kept a few veterans because he said their knowledge of the indoor game and their ability to connect with the younger players will be a vital asset as the season progresses.
Brents said he applied the same philosophy as a head coach with the El Paso Generals in 2009 and the Mississippi Mudcats in 2007 and 2008. Brents earned the 2009 Coach of the Year award with the Generals, and compiled a 24-5 record with the Mudcats.
“We really started from scratch,” Brents said. “Our goal was to get a mix of veterans and young players so we have a balance of experience and guys that are hungry.”
Byron Ingram is one of those young players and also is projected to be the team’s starting quarterback. Ingram threw for 1,790 yards with 10 touchdowns in 2011 at Morehouse College, a Division II school in Atlanta.
Ingram replaces former signal caller Arkelon Hall, who threw for more than 1,700 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. Ingram said his ability to scramble is his biggest asset.
“My college coaches always described me as an athletic pocket passer,” Ingram said. “I’m able to extend the play with my legs, but the hardest thing I’ve had to adjust to is the speed of the game.”
“Receivers will make cuts closer to the line, and I’ll need to get rid of the ball quicker.”
Despite the rookie nerves, Ingram said he’s confident that he’ll be able to make the transition before the team’s first game.
“We know we’re going to have an offense that scores points,” Brents said. “This means our defensive line is going to have to get pressure and make the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket.”
That job will be tasked to first-year defensive coordinator Kirk Broussard, who also is the assistant general manager of the Roughnecks. Broussard said his defensive philosophy revolves around disrupting the quarterback’s rhythm with his receivers.
“It’s an offensive-minded league,” Broussard said. “The only way you’re going to get stops is by getting to the quarterback.
“If a team can’t get pressure up front, it’s going to give up a lot of points.”
Broussard said he will rely on the veteran voices of Larry Thompson and Jermaine Blakely to aid the younger players in learning defensive schemes and techniques. Blakely had 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and 36 total tackles last season.
Thompson said he is returning to the Roughnecks after taking the last two years off. He previously played with the team from 2004-2006.
“They’re going to be the captains of the defense,” Broussard said. “I feel like we have a fast defense and an overall balanced team that will contend for a championship.”
Brents agreed.
“We’re not rebuilding, we’re here to win a championship,” Brents said. “If we’re not holding up a trophy at the end of the year, we haven’t done our job.”
While the rest of the country is embracing March Madness, first-year West Texas Roughnecks head coach Brian Brents said he is dealing with a different kind of craziness in his life.
Brents’ wife, Rachel, gave birth to their second child, Braven, on Friday.
The birth occurred eight days before Brents is scheduled to start two-a-day training camp. The first practice is set for 9 a.m. Saturday and the season begins March 24 with an exhibition game against the Abilene Ruff Riders at Ector County Coliseum.
The game is tabbed as “The Kickoff Classic” because it is the first game in the inaugural season of the Lone Star Football League, which the Roughnecks joined in October.
“The last few weeks have been very hectic, to say the least,” said Brents, a Crane native. “Most of the coaching staff got here in November and have spent many nights recruiting players on the phone and watching film up to this point.
“We’re just ready to get the season started.”
West Texas is coming off a 10-4 season that ended with a 61-49 playoff loss on June 20, 2011, to the Tri-Cities Fever. The loss marked the team’s the final game in the Indoor Football League, which it joined in 2009.
The Lone Star Football League membership includes the Abilene Rough Riders, Amarillo Venom, Corpus Christi Hammerheads, Houston Stallions, Laredo Rattlesnakes, Mesquite Bandits and Rio Grande Valley Magic. An eighth team, the San Angelo Stampede Express, will join in 2013.
LSFL commissioner Darlene Jones said each team will play 12 total games, half of which will be home contests. Extra games scheduled for the season will be considered exhibition games. The top four teams, record wise, will qualify for the playoffs, which start July 14.
“It’s going to be a competitive league,” Brents said.
Brents said many of the players from last year’s 10-4 team were not retained, citing a need to get younger and more athletic. He said the move will allow his team to play a faster, more physical, style.
Brents kept a few veterans because he said their knowledge of the indoor game and their ability to connect with the younger players will be a vital asset as the season progresses.
Brents said he applied the same philosophy as a head coach with the El Paso Generals in 2009 and the Mississippi Mudcats in 2007 and 2008. Brents earned the 2009 Coach of the Year award with the Generals, and compiled a 24-5 record with the Mudcats.
“We really started from scratch,” Brents said. “Our goal was to get a mix of veterans and young players so we have a balance of experience and guys that are hungry.”
Byron Ingram is one of those young players and also is projected to be the team’s starting quarterback. Ingram threw for 1,790 yards with 10 touchdowns in 2011 at Morehouse College, a Division II school in Atlanta.
Ingram replaces former signal caller Arkelon Hall, who threw for more than 1,700 yards and 31 touchdowns last season. Ingram said his ability to scramble is his biggest asset.
“My college coaches always described me as an athletic pocket passer,” Ingram said. “I’m able to extend the play with my legs, but the hardest thing I’ve had to adjust to is the speed of the game.”
“Receivers will make cuts closer to the line, and I’ll need to get rid of the ball quicker.”
Despite the rookie nerves, Ingram said he’s confident that he’ll be able to make the transition before the team’s first game.
“We know we’re going to have an offense that scores points,” Brents said. “This means our defensive line is going to have to get pressure and make the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket.”
That job will be tasked to first-year defensive coordinator Kirk Broussard, who also is the assistant general manager of the Roughnecks. Broussard said his defensive philosophy revolves around disrupting the quarterback’s rhythm with his receivers.
“It’s an offensive-minded league,” Broussard said. “The only way you’re going to get stops is by getting to the quarterback.
“If a team can’t get pressure up front, it’s going to give up a lot of points.”
Broussard said he will rely on the veteran voices of Larry Thompson and Jermaine Blakely to aid the younger players in learning defensive schemes and techniques. Blakely had 11 sacks, four forced fumbles and 36 total tackles last season.
Thompson said he is returning to the Roughnecks after taking the last two years off. He previously played with the team from 2004-2006.
“They’re going to be the captains of the defense,” Broussard said. “I feel like we have a fast defense and an overall balanced team that will contend for a championship.”
Brents agreed.
“We’re not rebuilding, we’re here to win a championship,” Brents said. “If we’re not holding up a trophy at the end of the year, we haven’t done our job.”