RSS Feed
Print Story
E-mail Story
Blitz will try to keep its focus on football
| Saturday, Jul 14 2007 1:05 AM
Last Updated: Saturday, Jul 14 2007 1:07 AM
There are times adversity brings sports teammates together, and that's what the Bakersfield Blitz is counting on tonight.
BAKERSFIELD.COM HOT TOPICS:
Loading Stories
Advertisement
"We're all professionals," said quarterback Chad Elliott, who is slated to return to the lineup tonight when the Blitz (5-8) plays host to the Everett Hawks (4-9) at 7 p.m. in Rabobank Arena.
"We're trying to stay focused, more than anything," Elliott added. "Stay focused on the football aspect of things and not let anything else interfere with that."
The Blitz has been rocked by its most trying week ever. A 47-14 loss Saturday at Boise was followed by the arrest of two of the team's top players prior to the team's return to Bakersfield.
Defensive tackle Maurice Troutman, the team leader with 101/2 sacks and second in the af2 with seven forced fumbles, remains in a Boise jail after being arrested last Sunday for the reported rape of a woman in a downtown Boise hotel room early Sunday morning.
Troutman was arraigned Monday and a public defender was assigned as his attorney. He did not enter a plea at the arraignment and is being held on a $300,000 bond. Troutman is scheduled for a preliminary hearing July 23.
Also arrested was wide receiver Rennard Reynolds on felony burglary charges. He was also assigned a public defender during his arraignment Tuesday and is being held on a $150,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 31.
Reynolds, in his fourth season with the Blitz, leads the team and is ranked seventh in the af2 with 103 receptions and 31 TD catches. He has at least one TD catch in 12 of Bakersfield's 13 games this season.
DeRonn Finley is second on the Blitz with 13 touchdowns and Eric Mahanke is second on the team with 57 receptions.
Troutman and Reynolds have both been suspended from the team while their cases are being investigated, according to Andrew Watkins, the team's president and general manager.
"It's an unfortunate situation that happened," Blitz coach Gary Compton said. "Obviously, we support them. They are in our thoughts."
The challenge is for team members to step up and overcome the absence of Troutman and Reynolds, Compton said.
"This is professional football and you're brought here for a reason," Compton said. "You're brought in to fill the void. Everybody has to hunker down and carry the load."
Former San Jose State player Josh Powell, who was added to the team last week, will get his first start at wide receiver, Compton said.
Troutman's defensive tackle position will be manned by Ibok Ibok, who moves over from nose tackle, Compton said. Former Idaho State player Francisco Anguiano will start at nose tackle.
"It's hard when you have two guys like that who are missing," Compton said. "You put new people in, but everybody will have to pick up the load now. The load will be spread around.
"Maybe one or two guys I'll ride a little more, and I'll expect them to do the same things those other two were doing."
Thus far, the team has responded to the adversity, Compton said.
"To tell you the truth, we've had our two best practices we've had in two months this week," Compton said. "Guys know they're in the playoff hunt. They'll be mentally and physically ready to play this week."
Elliott, who has been sidelined with a high right ankle sprain, was designated as the player spokesman by team officials. No other players were made available for comment.
"The last two days of practice have been awesome," Elliott said. "Hopefully that will carry over to the game.
"As far as their situation, I don't have any comment about that. I am personally trying to stay focused on what we have to do."
Compton said he has not spoken to Troutman or Reynolds since they were arrested.
Watkins, a corporate attorney, said he met with Troutman on Monday to outline what he can expect. Watkins said he did not have a chance to visit with Reynolds.
"He is very confused, very embarrassed and very scared right how," Watkins said of Troutman. "Right now we don't have a timeline (on how the case will proceed), and that's what's frustrating."
Watkins said the police report has not been made available.
"Right now we don't know what happened," Watkins said. "There's a lot of hearsay and speculation at this point."