SKIPPER OPTIMISTIC WITH WEEK LEFT IN TRAINING CAMP
News Courtesy of the San Francisco Demons
LAS VEGAS, Nev. (January 20, 2000) – The San Francisco Demons completed their third week of pre-season training camp and Coach Jim Skipper had mixed emotions about his team’s controlled scrimmage against Memphis Saturday.
“We still have to keep hacking wood, we aren’t there as a football team by any means,” the head coach said. “But we made big progress in the last week and I was really pleased with our coverage on special teams.”
The scrimmage was dominated by the teams’ defenses and neither offense moved the ball consistently. The Demons were without both starting receivers, James Hundon (quadricep) and Brian Roberson (back), and their first-team tight end Sean Manuel (knee).
The teams not only worked on offense and defense, but staged several kicking situations and even practiced the XFL’s overtime procedure. Skipper said the only drawback during the two-hour scrimmage was the Demons committed several mental mistakes and blamed the situation on fatigue.
“When you are a little tired, the guys get sloppy mentally and that causes errors,” Skipper said. “Right now, we are just on a par with everyone in the league and that’s not where we want to be. The guys understand we have work to do.”
Cornerback Dwayne Harper, a 12-year NFL veteran, halted one Memphis possession with an interception of Maniax’s quarterback Craig Whelihan. Brandin Young, the former St. Mary’s tailback who is competing with several veterans for the starting job at running back, returned one of the kickoffs for 42 yards and Pat Barnes threw a 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Rich O’Donnell.
The Demons must cut six players from its 62-man roster Sunday and then begin their final week of practice with two sessions Monday. San Francisco will scrimmage against Las Vegas Friday of next week and then determine its opening day roster the following weekend.
In addition, the Demons also are in the market for a third quarterback after former BYU standout Kevin Feterik suffered a broken thumb in the scrimmage and is out indefinitely.
The trio of receivers was not the only Demons to sit out the scrimmage. Also on the sidelines were offensive lineman Michael Kiselak (knee), defensive end Jomo Cousins (shoulder) and linebacker David Thomas (groin). Earlier in the week, San Francisco had placed three players on four-week injured reserve. They are receiver Mike Adams (knee), offensive tackle Ben Nichols (foot) and
defensive lineman Barry Mitchell (knee).
The Demons open the 2001 season against the Los Angeles Xtreme Sunday, February 4, at Pacific Bell Park, at 1:00 p.m. Season and individual-game tickets are available by calling 1-888-4XFLTIX or at www.sfdemons.com or www.tickets.com on the internet or in person at Pacific Bell Park or Giants’ Dugout stores.
