Hines’ time to shine
Andrico Hines wasn’t sure until the phone call came earlier this week.
Spokane Shock head coach Adam Shackleford was on the line, informing Hines that he’d won the starting quarterback job over Matt Gutierrez for Saturday’s arenafootball2 season opener against Stockton at the Spokane Arena.
“Matt did a good job of challenging me the whole camp,” Hines said. “It was pretty much back and forth. He did some things better than me and I did some things better than him.”
In the end, Shackleford picked Hines because of his “timing on throws, decision-making and confidence. He steps in the huddle and shows a lot of confidence. And he has played indoor football before so he understands the angles a little better.”
Hines, a product of Middle Tennessee State, made one start with af2 South Georgia two years ago and he played on a team in Columbus, Ga., last year until a torn ACL ended his season.
“I can’t wait (for Saturday),” Hines said. “It’ll be the first time I’ve played in front of so many people since my senior year of college.”
Hines’ relative inexperience doesn’t concern Shackleford, who tutored then-af2 rookie Brett Deitz to a huge season with Louisville in 2006. Deitz signed with Spokane, but recently joined the Kansas City Brigade’s practice squad, with Shackleford’s blessing. Af2 players make $200 per game and $50 for every win; AFL practice squad players make $450 a week.
“As far as ability and talent and awareness, Andrico has the ability to surpass anybody I’ve worked with,” Shackleford said.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Hines has impressed teammates.
“He’s a little quicker on the reads and he played well in the scrimmage (last week), so we’re looking for him to do good things for us,” receiver Raul Vijil said.
Hines said he just wants to do his part.
“I think I’m a pretty good leader,” he said. “My job is kind of easy. The offensive line and receivers have the hard work. My job is to get everyone on the same page.”
Helping hands
Shackleford has assembled an impressive coaching staff, which includes NFL veterans Steve Emtman and Tom Ackerman.
Ackerman, a former Eastern Washington Eagle who played in the NFL for eight years, is working with the offensive line. Emtman, the former Washington Husky who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in December, is a volunteer assistant.
“It’s a tribute to what’s happened here before I got here,” Shackleford said. “Both those guys came to games last year and both wanted to get involved. Tom is really trying to get into coaching. Steve’s a businessman who has the luxury of having some free time in the evening and he wants to stay involved in football. Trust me, they’re not doing it for the money. They do it because they love getting out here and working with the guys.”
Alex Sirianni, who coached with Shackleford at Anderson (Ind.) University, is a defensive assistant and also serves as special teams coordinator. Shackleford described Sirianni as a workaholic who should get a shot at a head coaching job in the near future.
Former Shock head coach Chris Siegfried and line coach Travis Crusenberry are with Kansas City in the AFL. Siegfried is the offensive coordinator; Crusenberry coaches the offensive line. Defensive coordinator Troy Biladeau joined Quad City in the same capacity.
Coach on the field
Veteran af2 defensive back Rob Keefe is helping call plays for the secondary.
“Alex (Sirianni) will call the defensive fronts and Rob and I will call the coverages,” Shackleford said. “Rob’s probably got more experience than anybody I could bring in as a coach. We talk about it every week, what we’re thinking and what we’re going to do. He’s on the field and he sees it and I trust him to call it. So far it’s worked out really well.”
Keefe considered retiring after last season, but a tryout with Kansas City convinced him to keep playing.
“It would be one thing if I couldn’t play (in the AFL) and guys were beating me left and right, maybe I would have tried something else,” Keefe said. “But it gave me confidence to know I should be at that level.”