Post by rkozak201 on Mar 4, 2010 11:21:47 GMT -5
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty
The Reading Express is stocked with talent at the skill positions.
Most Valuable Player Rob Flowers is back for his third year at quarterback after leading the Express to last year's American Indoor Football Association title.
Receivers Carmelo Ocasio and Jeff Willis return along with several other players who will battle for playing time.
But the Express will place its hopes to repeat on the line - the offensive line - when it opens the season Sunday at 2 p.m. on the road against the Erie Storm.
Chris Nunn is the only one of the three starters from last year's championship team who returns up front. Although the 6-10, 368-pound AIFA first-team selection is a big start to rebuilding the offensive line, he'll need help.
"It's nice to have Nunn as an anchor," said Express coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski. "We're working on the other two positions."
Mark Stout, a four-year starter for the Express, retired after helping Reading win its first championship.
Now Nunn, a two-year starter who previously played in Huntington, W. Va., will take on the leadership role.
"I don't think there's going to be any problems," Nunn said. "When I first got here Stout was the only one left, and we worked in and jelled well with him. We're just learning how to work together right now."
Candidates to fill in the other two positions on the offensive line include Marques Ogden, a 6-6, 290-pounder with NFL experience; Glenn Revell, a 6-1, 295-pounder out of Hardin-Simmons; and Chris Osborne, a 6-0, 314-pounder out of Elizabeth City University.
Putting together a strong unit up front will be the job of offensive line coach Kenny Miller.
"We have good people," Miller said. "So far this group's been fitting in real well. We've been piecing it together. We put the puzzle together. We protect Rob, and we're good."
Nunn was a standout on an offensive line that helped Flowers throw for 86 touchdowns and run for 20 last season. He started in 17 games, but missed the victory over Wyoming in the championship game because of a partial tear of an ankle tendon.
A strength and conditioning coach during the week, Nunn said he has fully recovered. Now he must rehabilitate the rest of the line.
"We have to be able to react to what the defense does and work together," Nunn said. "I think we're going to be all right."
The Express defense is a mirror image of the offense. The strength is a group of defensive backs led by former Reading High standout Sam Bryant and returning starter David Smith.
The linebackers include four-year starter Matt Sola and third-year player Matt Millard.
The big question mark is the defensive line where four-year starter Brett Kolk has departed, along with three-year starter Adam Vogel.
"The defensive line has worked itself out pretty well," Nowotarski said. "In theory, we're younger, we're bigger and we're faster. That's what I think. We'll find out how we play when we play somebody."
Travis Albanesius, a 6-4, 285-pounder out of Delaware Valley College, is the only returning starter.
"Both lines we thought are going to be works in progress," Nowotarski said. "We'll see how it pans out."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
Reading Eagle
Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty
The Reading Express is stocked with talent at the skill positions.
Most Valuable Player Rob Flowers is back for his third year at quarterback after leading the Express to last year's American Indoor Football Association title.
Receivers Carmelo Ocasio and Jeff Willis return along with several other players who will battle for playing time.
But the Express will place its hopes to repeat on the line - the offensive line - when it opens the season Sunday at 2 p.m. on the road against the Erie Storm.
Chris Nunn is the only one of the three starters from last year's championship team who returns up front. Although the 6-10, 368-pound AIFA first-team selection is a big start to rebuilding the offensive line, he'll need help.
"It's nice to have Nunn as an anchor," said Express coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski. "We're working on the other two positions."
Mark Stout, a four-year starter for the Express, retired after helping Reading win its first championship.
Now Nunn, a two-year starter who previously played in Huntington, W. Va., will take on the leadership role.
"I don't think there's going to be any problems," Nunn said. "When I first got here Stout was the only one left, and we worked in and jelled well with him. We're just learning how to work together right now."
Candidates to fill in the other two positions on the offensive line include Marques Ogden, a 6-6, 290-pounder with NFL experience; Glenn Revell, a 6-1, 295-pounder out of Hardin-Simmons; and Chris Osborne, a 6-0, 314-pounder out of Elizabeth City University.
Putting together a strong unit up front will be the job of offensive line coach Kenny Miller.
"We have good people," Miller said. "So far this group's been fitting in real well. We've been piecing it together. We put the puzzle together. We protect Rob, and we're good."
Nunn was a standout on an offensive line that helped Flowers throw for 86 touchdowns and run for 20 last season. He started in 17 games, but missed the victory over Wyoming in the championship game because of a partial tear of an ankle tendon.
A strength and conditioning coach during the week, Nunn said he has fully recovered. Now he must rehabilitate the rest of the line.
"We have to be able to react to what the defense does and work together," Nunn said. "I think we're going to be all right."
The Express defense is a mirror image of the offense. The strength is a group of defensive backs led by former Reading High standout Sam Bryant and returning starter David Smith.
The linebackers include four-year starter Matt Sola and third-year player Matt Millard.
The big question mark is the defensive line where four-year starter Brett Kolk has departed, along with three-year starter Adam Vogel.
"The defensive line has worked itself out pretty well," Nowotarski said. "In theory, we're younger, we're bigger and we're faster. That's what I think. We'll find out how we play when we play somebody."
Travis Albanesius, a 6-4, 285-pounder out of Delaware Valley College, is the only returning starter.
"Both lines we thought are going to be works in progress," Nowotarski said. "We'll see how it pans out."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
