Orlando Predators are Beefing Up the Offensive Line Heading into Training Camp for 2008 - AFL

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com – The 2008 Orlando Predators will return plenty of talent from the ‘07 squad along with a few fresh but familiar faces for training camp. Starting February 5th, 37 players will compete for 24 available roster spots.

At the top of the list for returning players is quarterback Shane Stafford who re-wrote the Preds single-season record book in 2007. Stafford threw for 4,284 yards while completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 76 touchdowns.

The Preds also return their entire receiving corps from 2007, including Javarus Dudley, Jimmy Fryzel, and Ron Johnson. Dudley set career highs in 2007 with 107 receptions for 1,524 yards and 29 touchdowns, while also leading the team in scoring with 198 total points. Fryzel had an injury riddled season, but still managed to finish third in receptions with 55 for 581 yards and eight touchdowns. Johnson burst onto the scene mid-season for the Predators, quickly establishing himself as the team’s go-to receiver inside the red zone. In just eight games he scored 12 touchdowns on 69 receptions for 733 yards. Levon Thomas returns with a chance to challenge for a roster spot after last season when he joined the team for the final three games of the regular season. T.T. Toliver will also return this season primarily to return kickoffs and play spot duty at receiver and defensive back.

The new faces in camp at the receiver position include Steve Bergeski and Roosevelt Kiser. Bergeski spent last season with the Amarillo Dusters of the af2. He led the team in every receiving category with 121 receptions for 1,478 yards and 33 touchdowns. Florida football fans may recognize Kiser from his days at Florida A&M and he was most recently in the Jacksonville Jaguars camp. He will also be challenging for the kick return position.

Perhaps the most hyped of all players on the Preds offense is the new addition at fullback. Odie Armstrong comes into training camp as a very highly touted player who ran for the ArenaCup champion Tulsa Talons last season. At 6’2 and 260 pounds he is the biggest true fullback the Preds have ever had. He had six rushing and eight total touchdowns for the Talons last season while averaging 4.6 yards per carry. When the Predators reach the red zone you can also expect to see Marlon Moye-Moore get time at fullback in the goal-line package.

The offensive line has certainly beefed up for the Preds this season as Assistant Coach/Director of Player Personnel Les Moss has brought in eight guys that each weighs over 300 pounds. Justin Cleveland and Jim Sodano are the only returning offensive linemen to training camp. Joining the team for the first time will be Jonathan Clinkscale who is listed at 6’3, 315 pounds. That listing ties him for the fourth biggest offensive lineman on the camp roster. The biggest is Qasim Mitchell at 6’6, 355 pounds out of North Carolina A&T. Mitchell has spent time with three different NFL squads since 2003. The other new faces are Joe Johnson (6’5, 320lbs.), Theodric Watson (6’2, 302lbs.), Bobby Harris (6’4, 315lbs.), and Jasper Harvey (6’3, 315lbs.). No matter what happens in camp, Stafford and back-up QB Jake Eaton should feel very protected when they go back to pass this season.

As for the kicking game, Jay Taylor will return for his fifth season as the Preds place kicker. He hit on 101 of 109 extra points last season and enters this season as the most accurate kicker in Orlando Predators history.

The Preds offense is coming off a season in which they had the most total yardage in team history. They will look to build on that this season as they try to translate those yards into more points and more victories.

Try MLN Sports Zone, the No. 1 Magazine in the Minors for 30 Days, FREE! Use Discount Code RFKL to SAVE 20% OFF the $11.99 Annual Subscription!