Sunday, December 23, 2007
Quotes about Ikaika
Thank you to Tombo for finding this article!
MD = Macomb Daily
About how Ikaika could be a starter and important contributor next year, Lions coach Rod Marinelli said:
"I'm counting on him being a major factor, really. I've looked at him inside as a pass rusher (in nickel situations). He's a big, strong left end and he's got a great motor. He's a want-to type of guy." (MD)
MD Note: "With Kalimba Edwards likely to be released in the offseason, Alama-Francis could have every opportunity to win a job in camp. The Lions have several holes to address on defense -- linebacker and cornerback chief among them -- but need to upgrade their pass rush desperately."
About how Ikaika has been doing well during his playing time that he's been getting over the past few weeks after being inactive for quite some time, Marinelli said:
"He's just got to get more comfortable coming off in the system every snap. (Last week) he did pretty well." (MD)
MD Note: "Typically, defensive ends take as much time as anyone to develop. Last year's No. 1 overall pick, Mario Williams, battled inconsistency as a rookie for the Texans but now leads the AFC with 13 sacks. Alama-Francis has an even steeper learning curve considering he didn't play organized football until college and missed spring workouts with a pectoral injury. Still, he was poised to crack the rotation midseason until a pulled hamstring sidelined him for three games. Two weeks ago he returned and passed Edwards on the depth chart, and last week he made four tackles (two solo) in a 51-14 loss to San Diego."
Asked if he sees himself as a starter next year, Ikaika said:
"That's what I'm working for. The more I'm out there the better everything feels. And when you have that confidence level you tend to play a lot better." (MD)
MD = Macomb Daily
About how Ikaika could be a starter and important contributor next year, Lions coach Rod Marinelli said:
"I'm counting on him being a major factor, really. I've looked at him inside as a pass rusher (in nickel situations). He's a big, strong left end and he's got a great motor. He's a want-to type of guy." (MD)
MD Note: "With Kalimba Edwards likely to be released in the offseason, Alama-Francis could have every opportunity to win a job in camp. The Lions have several holes to address on defense -- linebacker and cornerback chief among them -- but need to upgrade their pass rush desperately."
About how Ikaika has been doing well during his playing time that he's been getting over the past few weeks after being inactive for quite some time, Marinelli said:
"He's just got to get more comfortable coming off in the system every snap. (Last week) he did pretty well." (MD)
MD Note: "Typically, defensive ends take as much time as anyone to develop. Last year's No. 1 overall pick, Mario Williams, battled inconsistency as a rookie for the Texans but now leads the AFC with 13 sacks. Alama-Francis has an even steeper learning curve considering he didn't play organized football until college and missed spring workouts with a pectoral injury. Still, he was poised to crack the rotation midseason until a pulled hamstring sidelined him for three games. Two weeks ago he returned and passed Edwards on the depth chart, and last week he made four tackles (two solo) in a 51-14 loss to San Diego."
Asked if he sees himself as a starter next year, Ikaika said:
"That's what I'm working for. The more I'm out there the better everything feels. And when you have that confidence level you tend to play a lot better." (MD)
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