Shock set to open season

The Spokane Shock are close to finalizing their opening-day roster and it should look pretty familiar on offense, quite a bit different on defense. Spokane, which visits San Jose on Friday to launch the 2011 Arena Football League season, will probably start six players returning from last year’s offense. The unit is led by veteran quarterback Kyle Rowley, MVP of Spokane’s 69-57 victory in last year’s ArenaBowl. Rowley’s targets will be Markee White, Greg Orton and Raul Vijil. White had four touchdown receptions in the championship game and Orton led the AFL in post-season receptions. Vijil, returning from a torn ACL, holds virtually every receiving record in franchise history. Shaun Kauleinamoku and Emery Sammons, whose efforts as a fill-in linebacker helped the Shock win the ArenaBowl, also are in the picture. Clay Harrell returns at fullback and Antonio Narcisse is back on the line. Former Washington Husky Ben Ossai and Vladimir Richard are probable starters up front with Shock veteran Brandon Leyritz also an option. The names will largely be the same, but the offense will be directed by Fred Biletnikoff Jr., who replaced Matt Sauk. “The difference you’ll see the most is in the formations and a different style of motion, coming from all sides, all angles,” said Shock head coach Rob Keefe. “Freddy B has 20 years of experience and he can do it in his sleep. I feel really comfortable with the offense.” Keefe will again coordinate the defense and he’ll probably have five new starters: linemen Khreem Smith, Mike Alston and Terrance Taylor, ‘Mac’ linebacker (Micah King or Beau Bell), and Terrance Sanders in the secondary. The holdovers will be ‘Jack’ linebacker Antwan Marsh, a key mid-season addition to the lineup in 2010, and Alex Teems and Rod Mosley, who was limited to two games because of injuries, in the secondary. “We had five defensive play calls last year at this time, this year we have 19,” Keefe said. “We’re able to do more because we recruited a lot of veteran talent that understands the game. I’m happy with where we are, but the best practice is a game. I’m curious to see what product we have come game time.” Taylor Rowan, a 2010 standout, returns at kicker, and Keefe said he has several options (Sanders, Sammons, Ruschard Dodd-Masters, Josh Ferguson) at return specialist. Vijil ready to go Vijil’s comeback from knee surgery will take another step forward Friday. He’s expected to start against the SaberCats. Vijil tore his ACL and damaged his MCL against Milwaukee on June 26. His MCL injury didn’t require surgery, but his ACL was repaired on Sept. 1. He was back on the field for Spokane’s first day of training camp Feb. 19 and he’ll play in a game roughly six months removed from surgery. “I think he’s full speed, but even when he’s 90 percent he’s better than a lot of people,” Keefe said. “If it has to be two days on, one off, we’ll manage him accordingly. The strength and stamina is the question, but it’s a slow build-up process.” Stull backup QB The Shock looked at a few veteran quarterbacks (Andy Collins, Joe Ayoob), before settling on arena newcomer Bill Stull as Rowley’s backup. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Stull, who played for Pittsburgh in the Big East Conference, was briefly with the Kansas City Chiefs and UFL Hartford Colonials. “He’s really eager to learn and he has a cannon for an arm,” Keefe said. “Once he gets a feel and understanding for the game, he’ll be fine.”