By Brandon Wright, Times Correspondent
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
TAMPA — Now that the Lightning has been eliminated from the playoffs, carpet has replaced ice as the Storm got its first full week of practice inside the St. Pete Times Forum.
Tampa Bay previously practiced on a makeshift field at Tampa's Larry Sanders Progress Village Sports Complex. It had no nets or Arena League regulation goalposts.
"Any time you're able to practice on the same field where you play, it's an advantage," coach Dave Ewart said. "If you look at it like hockey, you can throw two nets up on Lake Michigan but it's not the same."
Ewart said all phases of practice will improve with the move indoors.
"The whole system will run better, and we'll have cleaner practices," he said.
"From the netting to spacing to the field markings, it will help."
Lighting it up: Georgia (6-5) enters Saturday's division game against the Storm (4-6) with a prolific passing attack.
QB Brett Elliot's 292.1 yards per game are sixth in the league and his 67 touchdowns third. Maurice Purify tops the league with 31 touchdowns and is seventh with 90 catches. And Larry Shipp needs just 75 yards to join Purify and CJ Johnson as the league's only three teammates with 1,000.
Transactions: The Storm signed OL George Bussey and activated DB Terrance Washington from the Refuse to Report list this week. Bussey, who was with Tampa Bay during training camp, will likely play right tackle with Jorge Guerra sliding over to left tackle.
Tampa Bay is without starting tackles Manny Akah and Tom Kaleita because of knee injuries.
Ballhawking secondary: The defensive front, which is tied for second in the league with 22 sacks, gets most of the ink. But the Storm's secondary has been instrumental in creating turnovers of late.
DB Michael Hawthorne has an interception in each of the past three games, and DB Deonte Bolden has caused or recovered a fumble in four of the past five.
Tampa Bay also has allowed a league-low 240.4 passing yards per game.
Edwards back? The Storm has not decided on activating WR Hank Edwards, who has been on injured reserve since May 6 with a broken bone in his hand, in time for Saturday's game.
Edwards, the Storm's leading receiver last season, was scheduled to visit with doctors Wednesday night and will try to play catch today in hopes of being in the lineup.