Thunder has first full practice; 30 on board

By John Bassetti

Coach Hold greeted 29 players as he began his third season with the organization that finished 7-9 in its inaugural season and 3-13 last year.

NILES — Maybe the luck of the Irish could shine on the Mahoning Valley Thunder this year to finish better than 3-13.

And maybe the spirit of the St. Patrick’s Day season will extend from March 27 to July 25, so that the Valley’s af2 team doesn’t have a quarterback carousel like it did last year.

The Thunder used six quarterbacks in 2008, but coach Mike Hold doesn’t expect the same curse in 2009.

“It was just one of those things,” Hold said Tuesday after his team finished its first full practice — indoors, of course, at the new Ralph Infante Wellness Center.

“You don’t plan on it, especially to have six different quarterback rotations. We were unlucky in that respect,” said Hold. “Hopefully, we don’t go through that problem again.”

Hold greeted 29 players in the morning as he began his third season with the organization that finished 7-9 in its inaugural season in 2007.

Wally Sonnie would make a 30th player once he reunites with the Thunder soon. Mahoning Valley could bring in as many as 35 during camp, but Hold will only keep 22 at its completion in two more weeks.

One day isn’t enough much of a gauge, but Hold feels good about this year’s group.

“We’re nowhere near where we want to be,” he said. “What we’re looking for right now are just guys who could play. In the first few days we’re not so much worried about schemes and things like that, but, rather, who’s got the ability and that’s what we’ve come to find out. We have some guys who can play, no doubt, but now we have to teach them how to play together and that’s where we’re at.”

The Thunder, which is a member of the af2’s Eastern Division, along with Albany, N.Y., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. and Manchester, N.H., returns seven who played in at least one game. Of those seven, only Ray Williams was in all 16 games.

By contrast, Hold said that some league teams have as many as 15 or 18 players back.

“It’s almost like [college] spring football for them — picking up where they left off. We’re [relatively] starting from scratch. But that’s why we have camps.”

Hold said the Thunder has done a good job of getting quality players who have played either in the Arena Football League or younger guys who had outstanding college careers and spent some time in NFL camps.

Position-wise, offensive linemen are the hardest to procure.

“We’ve got five signed [including Sonnie], so it’s tough to do too much because you wear those guys down and you want to avoid doing that,” Hold said.

How is he approaching his 22nd year of arena football experience?

“I try get better by learning from last year’s mistakes. The personnel changes so much every year that you’re always starting from ground zero in teaching everybody our schemes and things like that,” said Hold.

The coach is especially excited about the depth of the current group’s talent and, hypothetically, wouldn’t cut anyone.

“I don’t think there’s anybody on our roster [now] I can say won’t be here [when camp ends].”

To emphasize that he’s got a better pool than in the preseason camp of 2008, the coach made a comparison.

“Last year we had three good defensive linemen. I think we’ve got six good defensive linemen this year. So our depth is pretty good.”

Even though the AFL is on hiatus until contractual problems are resolved, Hold doesn’t think that makes af2 the top dog.

“We’re not on TV. We didn’t take their spot on ESPN. Sure, there are some players you’re getting back or players who would have probably gone to the AFL that didn’t because they’re not playing. In that respect, the talent throughout our league will be richer.”

Hold has no reservations about returning.

“I’ve done it for 22, it’s just my third here. This is what I enjoy doing.”

Hold refrained from standard cliches, but, instead, introduced a new one: “Basically, we’re here to win ball games and we feel we’ve got some guys who can do. We’re going to be aggressive. Now we just have to put it all together in the next 10 days and build off of that throughout the season. Attitude-wise, the guys are great. If that carries over, I think good things can happen.”

Mike, who spends his offseason recruiting, is the coaching staff’s only Hold-over.

However, he’ll have as four assistants: three full-time and Paul Hulea, a part-timer who has been the Thunder’s line coach since its inception.

“He teaches at Poland High, so he can’t do it until he gets out for the summer, but he’ll be around as much as possible helping out,” said Hold.

bassetti@vindy.com