Post by lionsroar on Mar 22, 2008 7:27:00 GMT -5
The Lions' home-opener on Saturday night will serve as a new beginning for Columbus.
The Lions (1-0) won their season debut last week, 54-44 over Augusta. However, the Colts were with Columbus in the World Indoor Football League last year. The organization is still yet to face a team from the American Indoor Football Association -- the league Columbus moved to during the offseason.
That will change when the Erie River Rats (2-0) come calling Saturday night.
Lions coach Jason Gibson is excited for a new opponent.
"It will be fun to compare leagues and see what happens," Gibson said. "This will be the first crossover game in the new league. Since we started with Augusta, we don't really know how things are (in the AIFA)."
Erie enters the contest boasting a stout defense that has limited its first two opponents to 45 points.
More importantly, the River Rats have found ways to create turnovers and flip field position.
Gibson said protecting the football would be even more important than usual.
"They have a very, very good defense," Gibson said. "They have a lot of athletes and they make things happen. They're not putting any numbers up offensively, but finding ways not to get beat."
That means quarterback Joey Conrad must continue his solid play. Last week, Conrad completed 18-of-32 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns.
Still, Gibson said he missed two wide-open passes and had another one dropped.
Gibson expects Conrad to consistently improve as he grows more accustomed to his current receiver corps.
Conrad's importance is elevated further by the fact that Columbus will not carry a running back on the roster this week.
Last week's starter, Ryan Brick, was pulled at halftime when he struggled to pick up bigger blitzers. Brick, who also plays linebacker, is still on the roster but will be inactive this week.
Jason Harris, an offensive lineman, will again get the nod at the back position. Theron Dudley is healthy enough to play, but Gibson said he's more concerned about pass protection.
When asked if Gibson is abandoning the running game, he offered a simple statement.
"Right now we're concentrating on the passing game," he said.
Defensively, linebacker Justin Rivers will make his season debut after signing with the Lions early in the week.
Rivers started all last year for Columbus, but decided to play for the All American Football League's Tennessee team. The AAFL folded earlier this month without playing a single game.
Rivers, who replaces Brick on the roster, said last Friday that he is very eager to return to the Lions.
Brandon Marshall will remain the other starting linebacker.
In the secondary, Keon Newson will sit out this week after tweaking his hamstring in the season opener. Gibson said Newson is healthy enough to play -- at 75 or 80 percent of full strength -- but there is no reason to rush him back onto the field.
Travis Jackson will fill in as the fourth defensive back. Eddie Ravenell will get the start along with Cedric Ware and Damian Daniels.
Kicker Wes Wilson will get another start after kicking three field goals and a rouge (a kickoff that splits the goalposts) last week. Hunter Smith has pushed Wilson for the starting spot, and Smith will replace Wilson for the following two weeks when Wilson is unable to attend the games.
BY LUKE BRIETZKE
www.ledger-enquirer.com/293/story/277961.html
The Lions (1-0) won their season debut last week, 54-44 over Augusta. However, the Colts were with Columbus in the World Indoor Football League last year. The organization is still yet to face a team from the American Indoor Football Association -- the league Columbus moved to during the offseason.
That will change when the Erie River Rats (2-0) come calling Saturday night.
Lions coach Jason Gibson is excited for a new opponent.
"It will be fun to compare leagues and see what happens," Gibson said. "This will be the first crossover game in the new league. Since we started with Augusta, we don't really know how things are (in the AIFA)."
Erie enters the contest boasting a stout defense that has limited its first two opponents to 45 points.
More importantly, the River Rats have found ways to create turnovers and flip field position.
Gibson said protecting the football would be even more important than usual.
"They have a very, very good defense," Gibson said. "They have a lot of athletes and they make things happen. They're not putting any numbers up offensively, but finding ways not to get beat."
That means quarterback Joey Conrad must continue his solid play. Last week, Conrad completed 18-of-32 passes for 251 yards and four touchdowns.
Still, Gibson said he missed two wide-open passes and had another one dropped.
Gibson expects Conrad to consistently improve as he grows more accustomed to his current receiver corps.
Conrad's importance is elevated further by the fact that Columbus will not carry a running back on the roster this week.
Last week's starter, Ryan Brick, was pulled at halftime when he struggled to pick up bigger blitzers. Brick, who also plays linebacker, is still on the roster but will be inactive this week.
Jason Harris, an offensive lineman, will again get the nod at the back position. Theron Dudley is healthy enough to play, but Gibson said he's more concerned about pass protection.
When asked if Gibson is abandoning the running game, he offered a simple statement.
"Right now we're concentrating on the passing game," he said.
Defensively, linebacker Justin Rivers will make his season debut after signing with the Lions early in the week.
Rivers started all last year for Columbus, but decided to play for the All American Football League's Tennessee team. The AAFL folded earlier this month without playing a single game.
Rivers, who replaces Brick on the roster, said last Friday that he is very eager to return to the Lions.
Brandon Marshall will remain the other starting linebacker.
In the secondary, Keon Newson will sit out this week after tweaking his hamstring in the season opener. Gibson said Newson is healthy enough to play -- at 75 or 80 percent of full strength -- but there is no reason to rush him back onto the field.
Travis Jackson will fill in as the fourth defensive back. Eddie Ravenell will get the start along with Cedric Ware and Damian Daniels.
Kicker Wes Wilson will get another start after kicking three field goals and a rouge (a kickoff that splits the goalposts) last week. Hunter Smith has pushed Wilson for the starting spot, and Smith will replace Wilson for the following two weeks when Wilson is unable to attend the games.
BY LUKE BRIETZKE
www.ledger-enquirer.com/293/story/277961.html