Thunder brings in quarterback Roach

June 10, 2009 at 12:10a.m.

He signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2008.

Vindicator staff report

NILES — Brad Roach was quite noticeable during the Mahoning Valley Thunder’s practice Tuesday at the Ralph Infante Wellness Center.

The 6-6, 250 former Catawba College quarterback was taking snaps while Davon Vinson rested his ankle in preparation for Saturday’s af2 game in Albany, N.Y. against the Firebirds.

With Blake Powers injured, Vinson started last week’s game against the Milwaukee Iron, but Mahoning Valley had no qualified backup.

Roach was the South Atlantic Conference’s offensive player-of-the-year in 2007.

He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 as an undrafted free agent, but was released during training camp.

Catawba, a Division II school in Salisbury, N.C., plays in the same league as Carson-Newman, Wingate, Lenore-Rhine, Tusculum, Newberry and Mars Hill.

He was with the Ravens from the NFL draft in late April until July. After the Ravens, Roach had tryouts with the Cleveland Browns and the AFL’s Colorado Crush.

He said he was with the Browns during a four-quarterback tryout after both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn got hurt.

“They wanted a guy with experience,” Roach said. “I was a rookie and hadn’t played a preseason game.”

Most recently, Roach signed with the CFL Montreal Alouettes in January, but was released from the team’s three-day rookie camp last week.

“I got released Friday then came here Sunday,” the 24-year-old Roach said of his latest travels to stay in football.

The Alouettes’ first preseason game will be June 17 in the league which runs from June-November.

Roach explained why he wasn’t needed by Montreal.

“They had eight quarterbacks in camp and five were there last year. It was great competition. It was hard for them to cut somebody, so it was a tough situation.”

Roach described his attributes.

“Probably the biggest thing I bring is a strong arm because you have to make a lot of off-balance throws in this league and that requires using all arm [and little body]. And, being tall, of course, always helps.”

Roach is trying to cram to learn coach Chris MacKeown’s offense.

“It’s pretty simple reads, but the biggest thing is the timing with the receivers — knowing when to throw the ball and knowing when they’re going to break. Also, it’s reading DBs [defensive backs] and just getting rid of the ball quick.”

Thunder receiver C.J. Brewer made this observation of Roach: “He has real strong arm and a nice release. Once he gets comfortable with the touch of the game, I think he’s going to be good.”

Roach’s hometown was Williamston, N.C., about 30 miles east of Greenville, N.C., until his family moved 20 minutes down the road to the small town of Washington.