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BM - Hello ladies and gentlemen, this is Bobby McFreaky, the voice of the Little Rock Toads here on your home for Toads football every sunday, 103.7, the Buzz. Little Rock's FM talk station, and a truly independent station at that. Now, lets get down to business. The Toads went on the road this week, to play in Salt Lake City. After a horrible performance in Lawrence in week 6, I can tell you that not many people expected the Toads to win this game, and they didn't. BUT! Let me just say that the Toads played one hell of a game, and were a completely different looking team against the Stallions this weekend. 203 rushing yards was a huge improvement over the 107 total offensive yards against the Phantoms. They even stayed alive in this game until the end, taking the Stallions into overtime. But, they just ran out of gas a little there in overtime didn't they? Got stuck on the bad end of a field position battle and came out the losers. Oh well, its a young team and if Head Coach Cris Kelly gets this team to keep improving then we should be great down the road......Speaking of Coach Kelly, he and his Toads are back in town, and the Coach is going to be our guest this week. Coach are you there?
HC Kelly - Hey Bobby, how are you?
BM - Not too bad. So Coach, it was a tough loss and I assume a pretty hard plan trip home huh?
HC Kelly - Well Bobby, I told the guys to keep their heads up. They played a damn good game, and if we can do it like that again next week here at home against Newark, then we can get ourselves a win.
BM - Well, that one will be a tough game thats for sure. So against the Stallions, you made the much talked about move of switching backto the veteran QB, Bennett Renteria. Did he ply as you had hoped, and is he going to remain the starter?
HC Kelly - Bennett did a fine job. He can lead our offense, make the right changes at the line, and is just a better for this young team right now I feel. He will continue to be the starter, atleast for the next several games. Our offense shows a little more life with him at the helm.
BM - Dixon had another good day running the ball Coach, are you happy with the progress he is making as a rookie?
HC Kelly - We are pretty happy with him, our goal for him right now is to get his average up. He is below 4 and we want him up over 4 yards a carry. We think that if we can keep getting FB Heath Leigh the ball like we did in SLC, then Brian Dixon will be able to get some of that needed rest during the game, and our running game will not drop off with him out, and he will still be going strong at the end of games.
BM - Speaking of Leigh, a pretty good game for him as well Coach.
HC Kelly - Indeed, over 80 yds running and 5 catches. Had both our offensive TDs. He is one of our best offensive players, one of the few non-rookies. We decided it was time to get him more involved.
BM - Well Coach, now I have to lead this to the less pleasant side of things, the defense had a bit of a rough time didnt they?
HC Kelly - That James Tart is a great back, and Coach Pearson of the Stallions knows how to use him to the best of his abilities. We were just a little over-matched in this one. We got a little tired there at the end, and plus our guys got ut in a bad position in overtime there. Having to shut down Tart with him strting at our own 48 yard line is a tough task. Overall I was not too dissapointed in the D, but we obviously have some things to work on.
BM - How about Frank Wideman? He has played well this season, but he was trying to be a one man wrecking crew on sunday wasn't he?
HC Kelly - Wow! Frank really picked it up a notch eh? His 10 tackles, 5 assists, a sack was something to see....he even batted a pass down at the line if I remember correctly. He had a non-stop motor, and I hope some of the other guys pick up on tha too.
BM - How about injuries Coach? Any thing big there?
HC Kelly - Not really. Leigh twisted his ankle a bit, but he will be fine for the Newark game. Guard James Brown should be even healthier next week, so we hope that will help us out some. DT Thomas Fierro is probable, but he will be a game time decision, we don't want to make him any worse right now....
BM - So, looking forward to the Newark game Coach, what should we expect to see?
HC Kelly - Well, Newark is going to be a damn tough game. They have a GREAT defense. Their coach Eddie Morris, and his D coordinator, Jonathan Farmer, have built a solid unit over there. Its going to be pretty tough to move the ball against them. On the plus side, we feel that our defense matches up pretty good to their offense, and we hope to be able to stop them. I am looking forward to a low scoring, tight game. We are going to have to play solid ball, and keep the turnovers to a minimum. Our guys are going to work pretty hard this week, in preperation of the hard hitting we plan on dishing out and receiving this next game.
BM - Any new twists you are planning on throwing into the game plane Coach?
HC Kelly - Well, probably not. We may get ripped for being a little too "vanilla" sometimes, but that is my style, and I think it is the best way to go with a young team like this. A couple plays may be added, but nothing special, that is the norm really for most teams I think. Also, this Newark defense is not a unit that you want to try tricks on, we are going to have to punch them in the mouth if we want to win this game, and that is what we will try to do.
BM - You are sitting in last place in the division now Coach, at 2-4. This is a pretty big game huh?
HC Kelly - It is a big one, but not the "make or break" point of the season. This Toads team has suprised me some this year, both in good and bad ways. I think we can win this game, but as I have said, its a tough one.
BM - Well, I think the Toad faithful enjoy hearing that Coach. Thats is the end of our time today Coach, I was real glad to have you on and good luck this week against the Newark Bulldogs.
HC Kelly - Thanks Bobby, see you around.
BM - Ok folks, we are ging to take a break here and when we come back its open lines. Lets hear what you have to say about the Toads, after this Newark game is our first game ever against division rival Columbia. They have gotten hot and that will be another big game for the Toads. Or feel free to bring up some of the other divisional races going on around the league.....be right back.
HC Kelly - Hey Bobby, how are you?
BM - Not too bad. So Coach, it was a tough loss and I assume a pretty hard plan trip home huh?
HC Kelly - Well Bobby, I told the guys to keep their heads up. They played a damn good game, and if we can do it like that again next week here at home against Newark, then we can get ourselves a win.
BM - Well, that one will be a tough game thats for sure. So against the Stallions, you made the much talked about move of switching backto the veteran QB, Bennett Renteria. Did he ply as you had hoped, and is he going to remain the starter?
HC Kelly - Bennett did a fine job. He can lead our offense, make the right changes at the line, and is just a better for this young team right now I feel. He will continue to be the starter, atleast for the next several games. Our offense shows a little more life with him at the helm.
BM - Dixon had another good day running the ball Coach, are you happy with the progress he is making as a rookie?
HC Kelly - We are pretty happy with him, our goal for him right now is to get his average up. He is below 4 and we want him up over 4 yards a carry. We think that if we can keep getting FB Heath Leigh the ball like we did in SLC, then Brian Dixon will be able to get some of that needed rest during the game, and our running game will not drop off with him out, and he will still be going strong at the end of games.
BM - Speaking of Leigh, a pretty good game for him as well Coach.
HC Kelly - Indeed, over 80 yds running and 5 catches. Had both our offensive TDs. He is one of our best offensive players, one of the few non-rookies. We decided it was time to get him more involved.
BM - Well Coach, now I have to lead this to the less pleasant side of things, the defense had a bit of a rough time didnt they?
HC Kelly - That James Tart is a great back, and Coach Pearson of the Stallions knows how to use him to the best of his abilities. We were just a little over-matched in this one. We got a little tired there at the end, and plus our guys got ut in a bad position in overtime there. Having to shut down Tart with him strting at our own 48 yard line is a tough task. Overall I was not too dissapointed in the D, but we obviously have some things to work on.
BM - How about Frank Wideman? He has played well this season, but he was trying to be a one man wrecking crew on sunday wasn't he?
HC Kelly - Wow! Frank really picked it up a notch eh? His 10 tackles, 5 assists, a sack was something to see....he even batted a pass down at the line if I remember correctly. He had a non-stop motor, and I hope some of the other guys pick up on tha too.
BM - How about injuries Coach? Any thing big there?
HC Kelly - Not really. Leigh twisted his ankle a bit, but he will be fine for the Newark game. Guard James Brown should be even healthier next week, so we hope that will help us out some. DT Thomas Fierro is probable, but he will be a game time decision, we don't want to make him any worse right now....
BM - So, looking forward to the Newark game Coach, what should we expect to see?
HC Kelly - Well, Newark is going to be a damn tough game. They have a GREAT defense. Their coach Eddie Morris, and his D coordinator, Jonathan Farmer, have built a solid unit over there. Its going to be pretty tough to move the ball against them. On the plus side, we feel that our defense matches up pretty good to their offense, and we hope to be able to stop them. I am looking forward to a low scoring, tight game. We are going to have to play solid ball, and keep the turnovers to a minimum. Our guys are going to work pretty hard this week, in preperation of the hard hitting we plan on dishing out and receiving this next game.
BM - Any new twists you are planning on throwing into the game plane Coach?
HC Kelly - Well, probably not. We may get ripped for being a little too "vanilla" sometimes, but that is my style, and I think it is the best way to go with a young team like this. A couple plays may be added, but nothing special, that is the norm really for most teams I think. Also, this Newark defense is not a unit that you want to try tricks on, we are going to have to punch them in the mouth if we want to win this game, and that is what we will try to do.
BM - You are sitting in last place in the division now Coach, at 2-4. This is a pretty big game huh?
HC Kelly - It is a big one, but not the "make or break" point of the season. This Toads team has suprised me some this year, both in good and bad ways. I think we can win this game, but as I have said, its a tough one.
BM - Well, I think the Toad faithful enjoy hearing that Coach. Thats is the end of our time today Coach, I was real glad to have you on and good luck this week against the Newark Bulldogs.
HC Kelly - Thanks Bobby, see you around.
BM - Ok folks, we are ging to take a break here and when we come back its open lines. Lets hear what you have to say about the Toads, after this Newark game is our first game ever against division rival Columbia. They have gotten hot and that will be another big game for the Toads. Or feel free to bring up some of the other divisional races going on around the league.....be right back.
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