For some it’s do or bye

THE MAHONING VALLEY THUNDER

Only head coach since April 28, but already Brennen Booth has brought in one new player to kick start team’s miserable slump

By JOHN BASSETTI

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

A bye week usually means a break. But, for the Mahoning Valley Thunder, it may mean bye-bye or adios for some players.

Coach Brennen Booth said that he’ll use the af2 team’s upcoming bye week to bring in several players in hopes of turning around the season that is currently mired in a five-game losing streak.

“There’s going to be probably five or six guys here — anywhere from defensive backs to wide receivers and I need another offensive lineman. There are some key elements I need to make us better.”

Booth, who took over on April 28, has already brought in a cornerback, Darrell Carlton, to help kick start the team’s miserable slump.

Carlton’s inclusion didn’t require anyone’s release, but if the losing continues against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Friday, the bye week will have more serious implications.

“If a guy comes in and he’s better than what we’ve got, then we’ve got to go with that guy,” Booth said earlier this week.

Booth spoke of the areas of concern that need correction, but not particular positions.

“We’ve got to come together as a team a little bit more, but there are some particular spots on the field that need to be addressed. I’m not going to talk specifically about which ones they are, but there are certain positions on our team that need to be addressed.”

Booth hopes the current players and the addition of Carlton will be enough of a jolt in the rectification process, but the coach won’t hesitate to do more.

“[Carlton’s acquisition] is part of the key elements to it [fixing the problem], but if we’ve got to add a guy here and there, we will. That’s what I’m looking to do.

“I feel like we’re close to being good and close to getting over that hump as far as being competitive [with the teams that may be a little tougher in the league] and as far as beating the teams that we should beat. Right now, we’re a couple guys short.”

The team suffered another blow with the loss of offensive lineman Shawn Donaldson.

“We had one of our starters give up football,” Booth said of the former Kent State player. “He said his heart wasn’t in it. That’s understandable because I went through the same thing when I stopped playing. It’s unfortunate because he’s a good player. He had good chemistry with the team, but right now I’m only carrying three offensive linemen.”

Booth said he may put defensive lineman Frashon McGee at tight end or fullback. McGee had to play fullback at Albany last week because of some injuries.

“We need to carry a fourth lineman,” Booth said. “Not get rid of anyone, but just carry a fourth one. It’s hard to find offensive linemen, so we’ve got to hope that nothing happens.”

How did Booth sum up his first week at the helm?

“I started sleeping 3-4 days afterwards just because my mind was racing. It’s a lot more responsibility; I didn’t realize how much more. The first 3-4 days of being interim head, my phone just rang and rang and rang. It was more being on the phone than anything else. I just kind of picked up where we left off from Coach [Mike] Hold.”

The new coach said that bringing in Andy Kelly as offensive coordinator was definitely a blessing.

“Andy and Coach [Nick] Ward are very big cogs because they’re two af2 vets. I was lucky Andy was out there to replace a mind like Coach Hold. It’s helped a lot in the transition.”

Former Youngstown State placekicker Brian Palmer was at Tuesday’s practice as a tryout.

“You’ve always got to have that backup,” Booth said. “If, for some reason in a game, [Thunder kicker Derek] Schorejs would get hurt, I’d need somebody. Before he [Palmer] came today, I had no idea who I would call if something happened to Derek. Since you can’t carry two kickers, it’s good to have that secondary person available. I’m making sure we’re covered at that position.”

bassetti@vindy.com