Georgia Force Make Roster Moves As They Prepare For The 2008 Season
02/23/08 - Arena Football League (AFL) Georgia Force

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA - The Georgia Force today released seven-year AFL veteran WR Willis Marshall. The team also waived WR Antwone Savage, DL Elbert Shumake, DB David Philyaw, OL Tucker Peterson, FB Keith Belton, OL/DL Aqua Etefia, DB Cam Newton, WR Herman Bell and WR Chris Baker. Georgia also placed OL Steve Franklin, OL Corey Davis, WR/DB Syvelle Newton and QB Tom Arth on injured reserve.

"This is always a difficult day for the both the players and coaches," said Head Coach Doug Plank. "We had a very competitive training camp and I believe every player had the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities. I know many of the players that we released will have a chance with another team somewhere down the line, but I believe the players that we kept on this team will help us reach our ultimate goal of winning an ArenaBowl."


The 13 roster moves were in an effort to meet the AFL's mandated 24-man roster by 12 p.m. on Saturday, February 23.


The Force will kickoff the 2008 season when they host the Dallas Desperados in the season opener on Saturday, March 1, at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on ABC.


Force season tickets are currently on sale, starting at $9 a game. For ticket information, please contact the Force ticket sales office at 1-888-55-FORCE.

Saw this on the Force website. Sorry to see Baker go, looked like he had some ability and would be exciting to watch... Thats football!

/ca

I was suprised about Marshall's release. I didn't know much about him to start with, but from the way the Force site reacted to his signing I figured he was definitely a keeper. Must not have lived up to expectations during practice.

Also let it be a message that just b/c you were yesterdays' hotshot doesn't mean you will be tomorrow automatically. You always have to take it to the next level.

gr8 is right. Last year It was Kevin McKenzie. This year Willis Marshall.

I was glad to see Fred Coleman made the cut. He's a vet who could be a big contributor.

Of course, he was also on that Patriots squad that #23 is suing. Huh.

The Georgia Force today released seven-year AFL veteran WR Willis Marshall.


Looks like we did not forget that Arenabowl game after all. :lol: Well, Coach was talking with the fans at the fan fest about it did not matter to him what "you" thought you brought to the team but what you actually did on the practice field. His thinking is what you give on the practice field is what you will give on the playing field on game day. Looking at some of those names, I think I understand what he was talking about.

I think we have a huge hole for our two way Iron man now. No Hillery No Marshall No Josh Bush... I think this one will come back to bite us if we ever have an injury during a game. The way I understood it Marshall was making plays in practice however was never in the right place he was supposed to be. Who does everyone think will be our two way relief player now? Willie Gary?? Carl Morris? he can't fillin at DB in case of emergency. I also believe we are carring too many FB's one will need to go to the practice/injured status.

Willis had a lot of potential in that ironman type of role. Jarrick was immensely valuable for that purpose last year. Unfortunately you have to think that Marshall's cap number must have been considerably higher than JHill's was.

We'll see. Carl has had experience working at DB in practice, but I'm hoping we can concentrate on using him as a WR and KR. Holmes could be a good KR as well.

And yes, I could see Willie stepping into that role some as well. Maybe not in the same way, but that job has more to do with knowledge and decision-making than any one physical skill, and I think Willie holds up well in that lineup.