2008 New Orleans VooDoo Training Camp Practice Schedule (1 Viewer)

[Andrus]

2008 New Orleans VooDoo Training Camp Practice Schedule
New Orleans Saints Training Facility, Metairie, Louisiana
February 4 – February 21

Two-A-Day Schedule One-A-Day Schedule
First Morning Practice = 8:45 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. Practice = 10:30 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.
Second Morning Practice = 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

Date Practice Schedule
Monday, February 4 Player Meetings – Media access upon request
Tuesday, February 5 Practice 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability
Wednesday, February 6 Practice 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability
Thursday, February 7 Practice 10:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability
Friday, February 8 Practice 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability
Saturday, February 9 Scrimmage 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability
Sunday, February 10 Players off – Media access upon request
Monday, February 11 Practice 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability
Tuesday, February12 Practice 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability Wednesday, February 13 Practice 10:30 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability Thursday, February 14 Practice 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability
Friday, February 15 Practice 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability
Saturday, February 16 Scrimmage 8:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability
Sunday, February 17 Players off – Media access upon request
Monday, February 18 Practice 8:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. at Facility – post-practice availability
Travel to Dallas
Tuesday, February 19 Combined Practice/Scrimmage at Dallas Desperados
Wednesday, February 20 Combined Practice/Scrimmage at Dallas Desperados
Travel to New Orleans
Thursday, February 21 Player Meetings – Media access upon request

 

[Andrus]

New Orleans VooDoo Training Camp Preview

New Orleans VooDoo Training Camp Preview
By Justin Macione, New Orleans VooDoo

Metairie, LA -- The New Orleans VooDoo will start preparations for the 2008 season when they begin their training camp on Monday, February 4 with physicals and a team meeting. The first session of practices will start on Tuesday, February 5 at the New Orleans Saints indoor practice facility.

Since the VooDoo’s 2007 season finale, Head Coach Mike Neu’s objective has been to make the improvements on offense, defense and special teams necessary to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. After a 5-11 finish in 2007, the club’s first year back in play after suspending operations in 2006 due to Hurricane Katrina, Neu is preparing his squad for the next step, when the VooDoo and Los Angeles Avengers will open the 2008 AFL season on Friday, February 29 at the Staples Center.

In the offseason, Neu and his coaching staff have scoured prospective AFL free agents and af2, NFL training camps and NFL Europa rosters to make improvements at several positions on offense, defense and special teams. The training camp roster features 22 new faces, which along with 15 returnees will enhance competition for starting spots.

The VooDoo will enter training camp with a 37-man roster. Neu will have 26 practices during an 18-day period to prepare his team for the regular season while he makes evaluation to allow him to cutdown to 24 players on February 25. During camp, the team will take part in two intrasquad scrimmages at home and will also travel to Dallas to face the Desperados in four practices from February 20-22 to close out training camp.

The VooDoo retained several key pieces to the third ranked passing offense in the AFL in QB Steve Bellisari, WR Wendall Williams, FB James Lynch and linemen Chad Setterstrom and Greg Walker, while making several exciting additions up front and at wideout.

At quarterback, the VooDoo re-signed Bellisari, who gained extensive experience in his first full AFL season. The southpaw started five games and saw significant reps in two others, completing 193 of 307 passes for 2,287 yards with 45 touchdowns. Blessed with outstanding mobility, Bellisari was the club’s second leading rusher with 54 yards and led the team with seven touchdown runs. Second-year signal caller Danny Wimprine is an excellent young prospect that will enter as the team’s backup.

In addition to Bellisari’s ability to elude pressure and escape for a first down or more, the running game will be flanked by Lynch, a 2007 AFL All-Rookie selection, who had 47 yards and five touchdowns to lead all first-year fullbacks. His pass protection skills are an asset to the VooDoo offensive attack and he can serve as a weapon in the club’s screen packages, having caught nine balls for 109 yards and one touchdown in his first year. Eight-year AFL veteran Ricky Hall, who started at fullback for New York in 2007 and can play several other positions on offense and defense will add depth to the position.

The wide receiver position was immediately upgraded when New Orleans native and former Saint Derrick Lewis was lured back to the Crescent City after hauling in 252 passes for 3,314 yards and 64 touchdowns in two seasons with the Austin Wranglers, finishing among the league’s leaders in all major categories. The VooDoo re-signed Wendall Williams, who was the club’s fourth-leading receiver, despite appearing in only the final six games of the season, recording 65 grabs for 648 yards with 11 touchdowns. The club also signed Sale’ Key, a 6-4, 220 pound target who had 129 grabs for 1,584 yards with 41 touchdowns in af2 in 2007. James Jordan and free agent pickups Darrin Chiaverini and DeAndrew Rubin round out the New Orleans wide receiver corps.

The offensive line will feature the return of Setterstrom and Walker on the outside positions, while Adam Metts, a member of the inaugural 2004 team and one of the top centers in the league was re-acquired in the offseason. Setterstrom, a former Saint who started 14 games in his debut in the outdoor game and Walker, who appeared in the final two, are expected to anchor the two guard positions. Kelvin Chaisson, Konrad Dean, Ricky Hall, Rob Hunt and Delanio Taylor are free agent and trade acquisitions who will compete with the incumbents and add depth to the VooDoo line.

The defense is poised to significantly improve in 2008 following several important player additions as well as the continued contributions and expected improved health of several returning key components.

With the importance of rushing the passer at a premium as much as it ever has been in the AFL, the club has made several changes to the defensive front. Mike Landry moves to his natural position of defensive end, which he played in college and the NFL, after manning the nose the last three years. Lauvale Sape is a two-year NFL veteran, whose pass-rushing abilities should translate well indoors. Mike Sutton, a former LSU star, was acquired in a trade from the Georgia Force, for who he had a career-high four sacks in 2007. Michale Spicer, who returns in 2008, possesses the versatility to play both end and linebacker. Damien Bauman was chosen from Austin in the dispersal draft and will add depth in the middle. Henry Bryant returns to assume the “Mac” linebacker position. In his first season with the club in 2007, Bryant was an impact and high-energy player on defense, recording 21.5 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and two blocked kicks.

The defensive backfield has been upgraded with the return of healthy Chris Brown and the addition of Lin-J Shell. Brown was the team’s second-leading tackler in 2007 with 65.5 stops and tied for the team lead with seven passes defensed, despite missing the final seven games with a hip injury. Shell, one of the league’s most promising young defenders, comes to New Orleans from Orlando, where he led the Predators with 110.5 tackles and 18 passes defensed, adding four interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He brings extensive playoff experience and a nose for the ball to the secondary. B.J. Barre, Anthony Floyd, Norman LeJeune, Calvin Spears, Keon Raymond and Ray Williams round out the secondary. Barre, a 2007 AFL All-Ironman selection with ArenaBowl finalist Columbus, had 51 tackles and an interception, while also adding 22 grabs for 291 yards with seven touchdowns. He possesses the ability to make an impact on both sides of the ball. Floyd was a late-season acquisition by the VooDoo who has valuable starting experience. The hard-hitting LeJeune, who played strong safety for LSU’s 2003 National Championship team, has spent the last three seasons in the NFL. Spears, who returns to action after missing the 2007 season with an Achilles injury, has been a fan VooDoo favorite since their inaugural and possesses the versatility to play on both sides of the ball. Raymond, who was acquired from Nashville in the dispersal draft, made 70 tackles and three interceptions in his first AFL season with the Kats. Williams is a speedster who went to training camp with the Saints and can play both cornerback and wide receiver.

Jonathan Ruffin, a graduate of Ridgewood Academy and former Lou Groza Award winner, returns to the VooDoo after solidifying the kicking game at midseason, making 39-of 41 extra point attempts. The VooDoo kickoff coverage units finished first in the AFL in 2007, as the VooDoo surrendered only 14.6 yards per return. Barre, Rubin and Wendall Williams will compete for kickoff return duties.

Neu returns for his fourth season as coach of the VooDoo along with his entire coaching staff from 2007: Line Coach Junior Ili, Defensive Coordinator Jeff Russell, Special Teams Coordinator Gary Gussman and Strength and Conditioning Coach Adam Bailey.

Notes: Georgia FB Dan Curran, the VooDoo’s all-time rushing leader agreed to terms with the Seattle Seahawks on a two year contract. Prior to being traded to the Force this offseason, Curran was one of the first additions to the VooDoo when the franchise prepared to begin play for the 2004 season. In his first season in New Orleans, Curran led the AFL in rushing with 85 carries for 336 yards and 21 touchdowns, becoming only the fourth player in league history to record over 20 rushing touchdowns in a season. Curran was named first team All-AFL and to the league’s All-Ironman Team. Following the seasons, he went to training camp with the Saints, then returning to the VooDoo for the 2007 season. In his career here, he rushed 112 times for 403 yards with 24 touchdowns.

“We are very happy for Dan and it’s a testament to his persistence,” said Neu. “He will always have a special place in the heart of our fans and organization due to his work ethic and dedication. I have the utmost respect for him as a player and person and whish him the best of luck with this opportunity.”

 

[MickelMouse87]

Wow, the team looks exciting on paper; hopefully, it will translate well onto to field where it counts. I'm eager to see what Bellasari can do now that he's "the guy."