AFL: Mini-Camp Gives Kelly A Step In The Right Direction
Jarrod Rogol
December 12, 2005
* Article Credit: Chicago Rush
MINI-CAMP GIVES KELLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
The Chicago Rush concluded its three day mini-camp last week, and for one of the newest members of the Rush it was a great experience.
Rookie FB/LB Jeff Kelly signed with the Rush in October after spending four seasons playing linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons.
As a rookie attending mini-camp, he not only was learning the Rush coaching staff and his new teammates, but the game of Arena Football as well.
For Kelly, these three days were an invaluable learning experience.
It was great to be back playing football again,” said Kelly. “I always wanted to be an offensive player at a high level and now I am getting my chance.”
Kelly, a First Team All-American linebacker at Kansas State hasn’t carried the ball since his days as a high school running back.
I had the opportunity to choose whether to play running back or linebacker at Kansas State, and I decided I wanted to play linebacker.
Now I have to re-learn the offensive side of the ball, which means learning the technique at a different position, the position of my feet, shoulders and approach to the position.”
Rush head coach Mike Hohensee knows that last week’s mini-camp was important for Kelly.
He came in and worked hard,” said Hohensee. “He was the only FB/LB we had in camp, so we concentrated on teaching him the rules of the game and the technique of the position.
We think that he can take what he has learned and come back next month during training camp and compete for a job.”
Kelly agrees.
It really was a good learning experience,” he said. “It was also good to meet many of the guys who are going to be my teammates.
I had guys helping me pick up things whom I had never met before. Guys who I might be fighting for a roster spot with. They didn’t have to help me, but they did. It says a lot about the character of the guys the coaches have in here.”
One player who Kelly was glad to see was his former Kansas State teammate Michael Bishop.
It was great to see Mike,” Kelly said. “We still speak about once a week, but I have not seen him in person for more than four years. It was good to hang around with him again.”
Come January, however, Kelly and Bishop could be seeing each other every day for the next six months.
Official Site: CHICAGO RUSH
MINI-CAMP GIVES KELLY A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
The Chicago Rush concluded its three day mini-camp last week, and for one of the newest members of the Rush it was a great experience.
Rookie FB/LB Jeff Kelly signed with the Rush in October after spending four seasons playing linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons.
As a rookie attending mini-camp, he not only was learning the Rush coaching staff and his new teammates, but the game of Arena Football as well.
For Kelly, these three days were an invaluable learning experience.
It was great to be back playing football again,” said Kelly. “I always wanted to be an offensive player at a high level and now I am getting my chance.”
Kelly, a First Team All-American linebacker at Kansas State hasn’t carried the ball since his days as a high school running back.
I had the opportunity to choose whether to play running back or linebacker at Kansas State, and I decided I wanted to play linebacker.
Now I have to re-learn the offensive side of the ball, which means learning the technique at a different position, the position of my feet, shoulders and approach to the position.”
Rush head coach Mike Hohensee knows that last week’s mini-camp was important for Kelly.
He came in and worked hard,” said Hohensee. “He was the only FB/LB we had in camp, so we concentrated on teaching him the rules of the game and the technique of the position.
We think that he can take what he has learned and come back next month during training camp and compete for a job.”
Kelly agrees.
It really was a good learning experience,” he said. “It was also good to meet many of the guys who are going to be my teammates.
I had guys helping me pick up things whom I had never met before. Guys who I might be fighting for a roster spot with. They didn’t have to help me, but they did. It says a lot about the character of the guys the coaches have in here.”
One player who Kelly was glad to see was his former Kansas State teammate Michael Bishop.
It was great to see Mike,” Kelly said. “We still speak about once a week, but I have not seen him in person for more than four years. It was good to hang around with him again.”
Come January, however, Kelly and Bishop could be seeing each other every day for the next six months.
Official Site: CHICAGO RUSH