Post by AZ Adrenaline Junkie on May 18, 2008 18:54:52 GMT -5
The Adrenaline's silent assassin
Special to the Courier - Friday, May 16, 2008
The Daily Courier/Matt Hinshaw
Fernandez Shaw, right, who played collegiately at Alabama A&M, ranks among the AIFA league leaders in sacks and tackles.
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Despite being undersized at a charitable 230, Adrenaline defensive end Fernandez Shaw is third in the AIFA in sacks and eighth in overall tackles.
Just don't ask him to elaborate.
The ultimate introvert on a team that has its share of free spirits, "The Silent Assassin" is quiet, unassuming, shy and modest in alternating bursts.
Then he starts playing football.
"With most guys once the season ends you have to turn the volume all the way down," says Adrenaline veteran offensive lineman Lucian Scott. "But with Shaw, the second a practice ends the power goes off. The second the game begins, the power goes back on. To tell you the truth, I've never seen a guy who can turn it off and on like he can. And that's from pee wee football to the John Madden video games."
That weekly power surge has become as dependable as the Prescott Valley wind, and has opponents talking, even if Shaw won't.
"That might be the hardest I've been hit all season," Wyoming quarterback Matt Strand said of Shaw's late-game sack against the Cavalry in Sunday's 72-56 Wyoming win. "He got there in a hurry."
With the explosiveness to break outside and a knack for pouncing on the quarterback once he gets there, Shaw is called "almost unblockable" by his teammate and roommate, Chris Whitaker. But despite being among the league's top defensive linemen, some feel that he's really a lineman in a linebacker's body.
"Actually, I played some strong safety in college," says Shaw, who played collegiately at Alabama A&M. "I really consider myself an outside linebacker. That's probably my most natural position. But I'm enjoying where I'm at right now."
Shaw, who grew up in Tacoma, Wash., and graduated college with a degree in animal science, doesn't mind referring to himself a "simple guy" who prefers hitting the weight room, fishing and horseback riding to some of the louder undertakings of your average 26-year-old single male.
"I just feel like I let my work do the talking," he said. "I look at the game of football as a business with the purpose of helping my team win games."
Ken Robinson, a regional football scout informed Shaw about the Adrenaline. He was living in Phoenix at the time, and remembered reading a newspaper account of a new team starting up north.
"I really wasn't interested at first," Shaw said. "But I thought it would be a great way to stay in football shape.
"My primary goal is to get back to outdoor (football), but Arena1 would be a step up as well and a good way to get back into outdoor. But I'm having a great time playing here and looking forward to helping our team win more games."
Adrenaline head coach Andrew Moore sees no reason why Shaw couldn't fit nicely into a defensive line package for any Arena1 team, even if that dreaded word "undersized" continues to follow him around.
"Size isn't everything, and I think Shaw is a perfect example of that," Moore said.
"I still remember the first day he practiced and Coach Mark (Obermeyer), our defensive line coach, saw his size and came up to me and said 'What are you giving me here?' Then the first play from scrimmage Shaw beat the guy and shot straight through for a sack. Coach came back to me, put his hand out and said, 'Thanks.' "
Linebacker Chris Whitaker, his roommate and also a staple on the Adrenaline defense, ponders the question when asked if Shaw ever "opens up" while at home.
"Not much," Whitaker says with a laugh.
"Well, I guess he's a little bit different at home, once you get to know him. I think he's just one of those people that has to have a trust level with you first. We do talk about things at home, but it's still not the normal amount of conversation you would expect. That's just him."
Coach Moore, who has been around the professional football circles for years in various capacities, says he's never seen a player wired quite like his top lineman.
"I did play with a guy on the Saskatchewan Roughriders named Gino Mackowski who was a real quiet guy," Moore recalls. "The difference is he was quiet on the field, too.
"With Shaw it's like night and day. Off the field you'll see him not moving. Not blinking. Just looking straight ahead. It's almost a little bit scary. Then he goes out on the field and just starts pounding people. He's a little different in that respect, but he's a good guy and a great asset to this organization."
Special to the Courier - Friday, May 16, 2008
The Daily Courier/Matt Hinshaw
Fernandez Shaw, right, who played collegiately at Alabama A&M, ranks among the AIFA league leaders in sacks and tackles.
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Despite being undersized at a charitable 230, Adrenaline defensive end Fernandez Shaw is third in the AIFA in sacks and eighth in overall tackles.
Just don't ask him to elaborate.
The ultimate introvert on a team that has its share of free spirits, "The Silent Assassin" is quiet, unassuming, shy and modest in alternating bursts.
Then he starts playing football.
"With most guys once the season ends you have to turn the volume all the way down," says Adrenaline veteran offensive lineman Lucian Scott. "But with Shaw, the second a practice ends the power goes off. The second the game begins, the power goes back on. To tell you the truth, I've never seen a guy who can turn it off and on like he can. And that's from pee wee football to the John Madden video games."
That weekly power surge has become as dependable as the Prescott Valley wind, and has opponents talking, even if Shaw won't.
"That might be the hardest I've been hit all season," Wyoming quarterback Matt Strand said of Shaw's late-game sack against the Cavalry in Sunday's 72-56 Wyoming win. "He got there in a hurry."
With the explosiveness to break outside and a knack for pouncing on the quarterback once he gets there, Shaw is called "almost unblockable" by his teammate and roommate, Chris Whitaker. But despite being among the league's top defensive linemen, some feel that he's really a lineman in a linebacker's body.
"Actually, I played some strong safety in college," says Shaw, who played collegiately at Alabama A&M. "I really consider myself an outside linebacker. That's probably my most natural position. But I'm enjoying where I'm at right now."
Shaw, who grew up in Tacoma, Wash., and graduated college with a degree in animal science, doesn't mind referring to himself a "simple guy" who prefers hitting the weight room, fishing and horseback riding to some of the louder undertakings of your average 26-year-old single male.
"I just feel like I let my work do the talking," he said. "I look at the game of football as a business with the purpose of helping my team win games."
Ken Robinson, a regional football scout informed Shaw about the Adrenaline. He was living in Phoenix at the time, and remembered reading a newspaper account of a new team starting up north.
"I really wasn't interested at first," Shaw said. "But I thought it would be a great way to stay in football shape.
"My primary goal is to get back to outdoor (football), but Arena1 would be a step up as well and a good way to get back into outdoor. But I'm having a great time playing here and looking forward to helping our team win more games."
Adrenaline head coach Andrew Moore sees no reason why Shaw couldn't fit nicely into a defensive line package for any Arena1 team, even if that dreaded word "undersized" continues to follow him around.
"Size isn't everything, and I think Shaw is a perfect example of that," Moore said.
"I still remember the first day he practiced and Coach Mark (Obermeyer), our defensive line coach, saw his size and came up to me and said 'What are you giving me here?' Then the first play from scrimmage Shaw beat the guy and shot straight through for a sack. Coach came back to me, put his hand out and said, 'Thanks.' "
Linebacker Chris Whitaker, his roommate and also a staple on the Adrenaline defense, ponders the question when asked if Shaw ever "opens up" while at home.
"Not much," Whitaker says with a laugh.
"Well, I guess he's a little bit different at home, once you get to know him. I think he's just one of those people that has to have a trust level with you first. We do talk about things at home, but it's still not the normal amount of conversation you would expect. That's just him."
Coach Moore, who has been around the professional football circles for years in various capacities, says he's never seen a player wired quite like his top lineman.
"I did play with a guy on the Saskatchewan Roughriders named Gino Mackowski who was a real quiet guy," Moore recalls. "The difference is he was quiet on the field, too.
"With Shaw it's like night and day. Off the field you'll see him not moving. Not blinking. Just looking straight ahead. It's almost a little bit scary. Then he goes out on the field and just starts pounding people. He's a little different in that respect, but he's a good guy and a great asset to this organization."