Team Elite Flag Football team
Every Wednesday night, I leave my job and make my way up Route 40, to Free State Sports Arena. Here, grown men are having fun playing a tamer version of the game we all grew up loving to play, football. But this isn't Semi pro, this is flag football.
When my cousin Dorian Jones, first asked me to come out and help him coach his coed flag football team a few years ago, I was a skeptic. My personality when it comes to sports is brash, and I can be pretty aggressive with my words if I feel something is not being done right. But I assisted him, and I soon realized my fears were true. Coed football isn't for me.
Well, this past Winter, Dorian and my friend's Corey Jackson and Tim Jones asked me to coach their men's flag football team. I was hesitant at first, knowing my own personality and how I can get very frustrated when things are not done correctly. But after some thought, I agreed to help as best I could. But I made it clear, my strength is talent evaluation, and unless the men are committed to practice and working on getting better, I can't guarantee anything.
Well, five months later, and well into our 2nd season, and we have had 1 practice. 1. But we have made improvements. Our roster is shaping out to be top notch, and I truly do believe we have what it takes to be champions in this league.
The Men's Flag football league at Free State, is fast, physical, and it is intense. Please don't think of this as the flag you remember from when you were a young kid playing Pop Warner. It is far from it. There is blocking that is hard hitting, contact happens all the time, although its frowned upon by the refs, and you will get hurt if you don't protect yourself. Honestly, its real out there.
We have allot to be proud of, as from where we started from to where we are now, is a huge improvement, but its not good enough. Honestly, we have given games away. Our defense has improved greatly, but we still have communication breakdowns that must be corrected. Our flag pulling technique, as a whole, needs improvement, but we are getting there. Our offense just doesn't generate points early in game and we give possessions away. I'm honest about what we need to improve on. But we have talent.
Defense
We have two shutdown corners in Bonner and Tony who come to work with a personal assignment to outmatch their opponent every week.
Our Safety/ Backup QB Kenny has added an extra spark to the team and has really given us added athleticism that we have been missing.
Our Middle linebacker Jordan is a machine. The guy goes balls out every play and brings an intensity to the field that fuels the entire defense.
Our D line Corey, Ahki, and Dorian are tasked with containing these fast QBs while also trying their best to blow plays up in the backfield. I am extremely proud of the effort and gas tank these guys exhibit week in and week out.
Offense
Our QB Paul brings a cannon for an arm to the table, and while we do need to put more points on the board, I know he wants to win. We got to go get it!!!
Our receivers Lowe, Randy, and Mikey possess the speed, quickness, hands, and ability to get open, that puts us up there with the best receiving core in the league, no question in my opinion. We make plays, but we have to make more early in games. And we will, I am confident.
Our O line is the glue of our team. You don't have to worry about if they will be there, cause they are always there. Tim, Eddy and Cody do the dirty work so the team can flourish. What they lack in speed, they make up for in toughness and a will to win. Pancake city.
All in all, we have what it takes to be the best, but we have to come out smoking from the jump and punish teams. We can't keep having to fight from behind.
I have no doubt we will rally and make some noise this year. We play the top 3 teams in the league the next 3 weeks and it will go a long way in determining our playoff future. I got faith we can rally and get in the tourney.
If you want to come out and support us, Wednesday night's, Free State Sports Arena is the place, team Elite is the team. If you want to join us, holla at me for the next session. I will see what we can do.
When my cousin Dorian Jones, first asked me to come out and help him coach his coed flag football team a few years ago, I was a skeptic. My personality when it comes to sports is brash, and I can be pretty aggressive with my words if I feel something is not being done right. But I assisted him, and I soon realized my fears were true. Coed football isn't for me.
Well, this past Winter, Dorian and my friend's Corey Jackson and Tim Jones asked me to coach their men's flag football team. I was hesitant at first, knowing my own personality and how I can get very frustrated when things are not done correctly. But after some thought, I agreed to help as best I could. But I made it clear, my strength is talent evaluation, and unless the men are committed to practice and working on getting better, I can't guarantee anything.
Well, five months later, and well into our 2nd season, and we have had 1 practice. 1. But we have made improvements. Our roster is shaping out to be top notch, and I truly do believe we have what it takes to be champions in this league.
The Men's Flag football league at Free State, is fast, physical, and it is intense. Please don't think of this as the flag you remember from when you were a young kid playing Pop Warner. It is far from it. There is blocking that is hard hitting, contact happens all the time, although its frowned upon by the refs, and you will get hurt if you don't protect yourself. Honestly, its real out there.
We have allot to be proud of, as from where we started from to where we are now, is a huge improvement, but its not good enough. Honestly, we have given games away. Our defense has improved greatly, but we still have communication breakdowns that must be corrected. Our flag pulling technique, as a whole, needs improvement, but we are getting there. Our offense just doesn't generate points early in game and we give possessions away. I'm honest about what we need to improve on. But we have talent.
Defense
We have two shutdown corners in Bonner and Tony who come to work with a personal assignment to outmatch their opponent every week.
Our Safety/ Backup QB Kenny has added an extra spark to the team and has really given us added athleticism that we have been missing.
Our Middle linebacker Jordan is a machine. The guy goes balls out every play and brings an intensity to the field that fuels the entire defense.
Our D line Corey, Ahki, and Dorian are tasked with containing these fast QBs while also trying their best to blow plays up in the backfield. I am extremely proud of the effort and gas tank these guys exhibit week in and week out.
Offense
Our QB Paul brings a cannon for an arm to the table, and while we do need to put more points on the board, I know he wants to win. We got to go get it!!!
Our receivers Lowe, Randy, and Mikey possess the speed, quickness, hands, and ability to get open, that puts us up there with the best receiving core in the league, no question in my opinion. We make plays, but we have to make more early in games. And we will, I am confident.
Our O line is the glue of our team. You don't have to worry about if they will be there, cause they are always there. Tim, Eddy and Cody do the dirty work so the team can flourish. What they lack in speed, they make up for in toughness and a will to win. Pancake city.
All in all, we have what it takes to be the best, but we have to come out smoking from the jump and punish teams. We can't keep having to fight from behind.
I have no doubt we will rally and make some noise this year. We play the top 3 teams in the league the next 3 weeks and it will go a long way in determining our playoff future. I got faith we can rally and get in the tourney.
If you want to come out and support us, Wednesday night's, Free State Sports Arena is the place, team Elite is the team. If you want to join us, holla at me for the next session. I will see what we can do.