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Destroyers knee-deep under center
By David B. Lukow
What looked like a cakewalk has suddenly turned into a dogfight. When the Buffalo Destroyers announced recently that last year’s starting quarterback, Fred McNair, would not return for a second season, it was widely assumed that Jeff Loots would inherit the top job. After all, when given a chance to showcase his wares, Loots sparkled in 2002. In nine games, he passed for 643 yards and 10 touchdowns. His 61.4 completion percentage was the highest in team history.
But three off-season additions, Tim Carey, Chris Sanders and Mike Cawley, have dramatically altered the landscape. The young signal callers may have Loots, a veteran of seven Arena Football League (AFL) campaigns, peering over his passing shoulder.
"All four of these guys looked good on film, but they’ve looked even better here in (training) camp," Buffalo head coach Ron Selesky said. "All four offer something a little different for our team and none of them have had any trouble at all grasping what we’re trying to do. We haven’t played a game yet, no bullets are flying, but they’ve all looked good."
Carey, who played at Hawaii, has three AFL seasons under his belt. He appeared in 14 games for Chicago last season, throwing one touchdown pass. Sanders and Cawley, who also spent time with the Buffalo Bills, are both rookies. "If I had to name a starter right now, if somebody had a gun to my head, I’d say Jeff’s the guy," Selesky said. "But from top-to-bottom, it’s very close. We’ve got some talent at the position."
In addition to McNair, Buffalo said goodbye to offensive specialist Lamont Cooper. An electrifying performer, Cooper was former head coach Ray Bentley’s favorite weapon a year ago. "Lamont was a good receiver and great on returns, but we’ve got a couple of players, Jarrail Jackson and Gunnard Twyner, that can add to our offense," Selesky said. "Both players are better receivers and route runners than Lamont. They might not be as skilled in terms of returns, but they have the kind of ability, from an offensive standpoint, that can really help us out." Jackson, an Oklahoma product, had eight catches for 126 yards and four touchdowns for the Destroyers last year. Twyner, who played with the Tampa Bay Storm, had nine receptions for 128 yards.
Chad Plummer, who has seen action in both the NFL and the Canadian Football League, and returnee Bret Cooper, who had 51 receptions and 12 touchdowns for Buffalo last year, anchor a gifted group of wide receivers. A 6-foot-3 inch, 220-pound rookie, Plummer played his college ball at Cincinnati.
As was the case under Bentley, Buffalo is once again solid at fullback/linebacker. Veteran Juan Long is battling three newcomers, Tyrell Peters, Anthony Hicks and Corey Terry, for playing time. "Tyrell Peters has been doing very well, he’s been impressive," Selesky said. "Anthony Hicks has been a solid player in this league for four seasons." Peters (Oklahoma) and Terry (Tennessee) are in their first seasons. Hicks came to Buffalo from Toronto, where he rushed for 67 yards and six touchdowns in 2002. He also had 12.5 tackles and three sacks. Long played in 14 games and finished with 19 tackles and a sack. A strong inside runner, he totaled 61 rushing yards in 2002.
Buffalo’s line play, an area that gave Bentley fits in his final campaign, may be much improved under Selesky. Alex Houston, who played at Colgate, and Mark Valvo, a former Buffalo State standout, should upgrade a shaky unit. "Alex played with me in Albany last season," Selesky said. "He’s 6-foot-3 inch, 265 pounds, and when we tested the players, he ran 40 yards in 4.56 (seconds). He’s got a lot of potential." Valvo, a Cheektowaga native, played in 11 games for the Indiana Firebirds in 2002, registering four tackles.
The regular season is still a few weeks away, but Selesky, who built his reputation evaluating personnel, likes what he’s seen. "Overall, we’ve got a very athletic group," Selesky said. "We’re especially athletic in the secondary, at receiver and along the defensive line. We’ve got a great combination of size and speed
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