Post by marinersmedia on Mar 25, 2010 16:40:42 GMT -5
Despite 3-0 Record, Baltimore Looks to Improve with Tougher Challenges Ahead
BALTIMORE, MD (March 25, 2010) – There is an old English proverb, “A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.” Baltimore Mariners Head Coach Chris Simpson knows this is true as he prepares his 3-0 team for tougher challenges ahead and seeks improvement as they face adversity, “Our mindset has been the same all season. We focus on the game at hand and improving each week as a team. We have not won the conference or the championship yet. We have 11 more games left, plus, the playoffs. It's too long of a season to get satisfied and comfortable.”
With their 3-0 start, the Mariners are also in uncharted territory. In their inaugural 2008 season, in which they finished 4-10, Baltimore did not earn their fourth win of the season until their 13th game. In 2009 after a sluggish start they earned win number four in week seven, but finished with a flurry winning five of seven to compile a 9-5 record and make the playoffs. Now after just three games they are poised for their fourth victory this weekend. Coach Simpson must also balance the confidence that comes with his team’s 3-0 start and overconfidence that could lead to a letdown. “Starting out 3 - 0 on the season builds confidence. We understand that there is a fine line between that and being overconfident. I don't mind a little confidence and a little swagger. That is part of why we haven't lost yet. However, we are mature enough to know that there are things that we must improve upon as individuals and as a team. As there coach, it is my job to keep them grounded and hungry.”
One player who has bought into the Simpson message is quarterback E.J. Nemeth, who leads the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) with 11 touchdown passes, “Each week my goal is to make myself better than the week before and to prepare to win a game. What we have done in previous weeks has nothing to do with the upcoming game; we must stay in the present; not worrying about past or future games. I don't think about being 3-0, I just focus on winning the next game on the schedule.”
To win that next game, the Mariners must defeat an expansion Richmond Raiders team, which has been surprisingly competitive in their first two games. In week one, they fell behind 56-29 to the defending AIFA champions, the Reading Express, but rallied back with two late touchdowns to cut the final tally to 56-42. In week two, after falling behind 16-0 early in the second quarter to the New Jersey Revolution, they again rallied and won the first game in franchise history 51-38.
Part of the transition from expansion team to early season contender has been led by two players, Wilmont Perry and Robbie Jenkins. Running back Perry, a former fifth round pick of the New Orleans Saints, leads the AIFA with 110 yards rushing, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. In two seasons with the Saints, Perry started five games and totaled 302 yards. Unfortunately for Richmond, Perry is listed as injured this week. While Mike Jenkins has been the starter in the Raiders first two games, his brother Robbie Jenkins, has relieved Mike in both games. Robbie, an indoor football veteran who won a championship with the Richmond Bandits of the old American Indoor Football League in 2005, led the Raiders to victory in week two with four touchdown passes. Despite limited playing time in the first two games Robbie Jenkins ranks fifth in the league in passing yards (309) and touchdown passes (6).
The Mariners next test will come this weekend against the Raiders, as they seek to go 4-0. If all goes as planned, Coach Simpson’s method of keeping his winning, and confident, team grounded should also produce results as their seas get a little choppier when they hit the road for five of six games in April and May, following a bye in Week 5 of the AIFA schedule.
* * * * * * * * *
The Baltimore Mariners face the Richmond Raiders on Sunday, March 28th at 4:00 PM at 1st Mariner Arena. Tickets are still available through the 1st Mariner Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster.com, all Tickermaster outlets, and group sales are available by contacting the Mariners Group Sales Office at 410-347-2006.
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
BALTIMORE, MD (March 25, 2010) – There is an old English proverb, “A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.” Baltimore Mariners Head Coach Chris Simpson knows this is true as he prepares his 3-0 team for tougher challenges ahead and seeks improvement as they face adversity, “Our mindset has been the same all season. We focus on the game at hand and improving each week as a team. We have not won the conference or the championship yet. We have 11 more games left, plus, the playoffs. It's too long of a season to get satisfied and comfortable.”
With their 3-0 start, the Mariners are also in uncharted territory. In their inaugural 2008 season, in which they finished 4-10, Baltimore did not earn their fourth win of the season until their 13th game. In 2009 after a sluggish start they earned win number four in week seven, but finished with a flurry winning five of seven to compile a 9-5 record and make the playoffs. Now after just three games they are poised for their fourth victory this weekend. Coach Simpson must also balance the confidence that comes with his team’s 3-0 start and overconfidence that could lead to a letdown. “Starting out 3 - 0 on the season builds confidence. We understand that there is a fine line between that and being overconfident. I don't mind a little confidence and a little swagger. That is part of why we haven't lost yet. However, we are mature enough to know that there are things that we must improve upon as individuals and as a team. As there coach, it is my job to keep them grounded and hungry.”
One player who has bought into the Simpson message is quarterback E.J. Nemeth, who leads the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) with 11 touchdown passes, “Each week my goal is to make myself better than the week before and to prepare to win a game. What we have done in previous weeks has nothing to do with the upcoming game; we must stay in the present; not worrying about past or future games. I don't think about being 3-0, I just focus on winning the next game on the schedule.”
To win that next game, the Mariners must defeat an expansion Richmond Raiders team, which has been surprisingly competitive in their first two games. In week one, they fell behind 56-29 to the defending AIFA champions, the Reading Express, but rallied back with two late touchdowns to cut the final tally to 56-42. In week two, after falling behind 16-0 early in the second quarter to the New Jersey Revolution, they again rallied and won the first game in franchise history 51-38.
Part of the transition from expansion team to early season contender has been led by two players, Wilmont Perry and Robbie Jenkins. Running back Perry, a former fifth round pick of the New Orleans Saints, leads the AIFA with 110 yards rushing, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. In two seasons with the Saints, Perry started five games and totaled 302 yards. Unfortunately for Richmond, Perry is listed as injured this week. While Mike Jenkins has been the starter in the Raiders first two games, his brother Robbie Jenkins, has relieved Mike in both games. Robbie, an indoor football veteran who won a championship with the Richmond Bandits of the old American Indoor Football League in 2005, led the Raiders to victory in week two with four touchdown passes. Despite limited playing time in the first two games Robbie Jenkins ranks fifth in the league in passing yards (309) and touchdown passes (6).
The Mariners next test will come this weekend against the Raiders, as they seek to go 4-0. If all goes as planned, Coach Simpson’s method of keeping his winning, and confident, team grounded should also produce results as their seas get a little choppier when they hit the road for five of six games in April and May, following a bye in Week 5 of the AIFA schedule.
* * * * * * * * *
The Baltimore Mariners face the Richmond Raiders on Sunday, March 28th at 4:00 PM at 1st Mariner Arena. Tickets are still available through the 1st Mariner Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster.com, all Tickermaster outlets, and group sales are available by contacting the Mariners Group Sales Office at 410-347-2006.
For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.
