Shock continually looking to improve

Roster turnover is somewhat common in arenafootball2, particularly early in the season as teams try to identify a core group of players.

The Spokane Shock routinely bring in prospects, typically on a two-day tryout, in attempts to upgrade their roster. NFL teams have a similar practice, working out players at their training facilities.

“It’s part of the business,” Shock coach Chris Siegfried said. “The younger guys might take it a little more personally, but we’re constantly bringing guys in as they become available because our goal as a staff is to be constantly improving our team. We’re starting to get a core group that, barring injuries, we’re going to stick with. Actually, it hasn’t been as crazy as past years.”

For players whose jobs are on the line, it can be unnerving and/or motivational. Last week, former University of Miami quarterback Derek Crudup, who was in training camp with the af2 Louisville Fire, worked out for the Shock, but wasn’t signed. A couple days later, Spokane’s Alex Neist had his best game of the young season, passing for 351 yards and five touchdowns in a 44-41 win over Everett.

“There’s competition all the way around,” Neist said. “You can’t worry about it, you just have to worry about yourself and do your job.”

Siegfried said part of his job is keeping tabs on prospective players.

“It’s a fact of life for the players and the coaches,” he said. “If we’re not putting the best product on the field, then it’s our heads.”

Eagle has landed

Former Eastern Washington Eagle Raul Vijil, a first-year af2 player, produced five touchdowns Saturday.

“This is only Raul’s sixth year of football, one year of high school and four at Eastern,” Siegfried said. “He’s a player that’s going to get better every week. I can’t keep him on the field enough.”

Vijil’s playing time has increased the last couple weeks, in part because receiver/defensive back Anthony Griffin, another former Eagle, has been battling an injury. Late in Saturday’s game, Siegfried attempted to put Griffin in at defensive back, but the move wasn’t allowed by the substitution official. Af2 rules allow non-specialists to substitute only once during each quarter.

“He told us Anthony was ‘dead,’ meaning he’d already gone in and come out and couldn’t go back in, but he was wrong,” Siegfried said. “I went through the tape. It was unfortunate, but it’s not something you can really argue with because he was doing what he thought was right.”

Scrappin’ Stevens

Lineman Jerome Stevens was ejected from Saturday’s game late in the first half after a scuffle involving several players from both teams. Shortly after Stevens was tossed, Siegfried drew a personal foul following a verbal exchange with an official.

Siegfried declined to comment on the officiating, but he doesn’t expect Stevens to be suspended.

“It was a heat-of-battle thing,” Siegfried said. “If there is (a suspension), then three or four guys on the other team should be, too.”

There was no shortage of trash talking and post-play dustups, particularly in the first half. It was the first meeting between Spokane and Everett. The next two contests figure to be interesting.

“When you play a team like Everett that has players talk so much trash and take so many cheap shots, if you let it affect you it can get out of control,” Siegfried said. “I thought our guys in the second half did a good job of not letting their actions dictate how the game went.”

Notes

Receiver/linebacker Nian Taylor, helped from the field late in the game, was having further tests on his knee, but it doesn’t appear to be a serious injury. … Defensive back Rob Keefe tweaked his ankle, but Siegfried said, “he’s fine.” … Spokane has recovered three onside kicks in three games, two leading to touchdowns.