Player Spotlight : Chris Rodriguez

Its a sunny fall day in North Delta and on the uneven turf of Sunbury Park stands Panther Football rookie franchise quarterback, Christian Rodriguez. The 6'0 pivot is young at only the tender age of 18, but the fate of the expansion Panthers rests heavily on the shoulders of the Sands Scorpion Grad.

His life started out in Toronto, where he was born after big brother Carlos Rodriguez. The family after several years headed west to Vancouver in search for a better a life. The move landed the family in the suburb municipality of North Delta. The family of Mexican descent found themselves amidst the Hockey friendly community as Chris eventually started to play minor league hockey in the winter time and ball hockey in the summers.

An already developed pre-teen coming into his own when he reached high school in the fall of 05', Chris found himself being a stand out in much of the activities and sports he set his sights on. The all star ball hockey player joined Scorpion Football his junior year and never looked back. He had an impressive first year in which he led his squad to the playoffs. The mobile slinger used a combination of his feet and arm to account for 4 touchdowns during the first round but his team was eventually slowed down to end the programs inaugural junior campaign. His final 2 years of high school ball were plagued by his busy commitment to hockey that didn't see Chris play every possible snap.

As Chris graduated Sands, he was drafted 10th overall in 2010. Everyone knows about his arm but he has very deceiving speed and has a great ability to throw on the run. Hes got the swagger and hes not afraid to throw the long ball. During the summer campaign he was able to show poise in the pocket beyond his years and the hype for the rookie has been wide spread through fall. As half a year looms before the start of the 1st spring season for the Panthers, Chris is determined to put all the distraction behind him and put forward a successful year. The teams message to the young man is simple. He doesn't have to be great, just good and he doesn't have to win games, just don't lose them. Chris is at his best when he has time in the pocket with max protection and able to make his reads. His arm is top notch and his mobility will come in handy if he ever needs to buy himself time to air it out. Chris needs to work on the cerebral part of the game, but his natural athleticism and football sense is high enough to get him by for now. Like any young quarterback, interceptions will be his measure of unit for his productivity but if he is able to combat them with TDs, the fans wont care.

Chris Rodriguez is a young QB with the talent to be the next big thing. Only time will tell if the hockey player turned gun slinger will blossom into the franchise quarterback the Panthers think he can be.

Next day we look at agile Tight End and brother of Christian Rodriquez, Carlos.

people need to relax

i posted the andrew girl thing as a joke.

it is completely false and

i apologize if any one was offended.

Player Spotlight: Andrew Robertson

We roll right into the second half of the player spotlight profiles with the other Robertson twin, Andrew. He had the same upbringing as his brother Josh so i wont bore you with a boring childhood. In elementary school, it was clear to say that Andrew was more physically mature than his younger counterpart Josh. The more social, taller and annoying brother was always a step ahead as far as milestones were growing upand by knowing them personally growing up I'd say Andrew was more popular as well (sorry Josh it was only Elementary school). When he wasn't stunting his massive pokemon collection he was usually on the field or court. He was a standout soccer player just as his brother was and actually a decent basketball player. In the summers he was a blur in the rink as he was also from what I hear was an accomplished ball hockey player (i wouldn't say that about him now however). In highschool, he started as a 1 sport athlete playing pawn to the junior boys basketball teams at Sands Secondary. Not a shooter by any means he was considered a perimeter player that played hard D. Lets just say his stroke didn't match his swagger. In his senior year of basketball he once again played role player toa unexpected Fraser Valley run for a newly created groupof players that included transfers Xavier Johnson, Charles Riby-Williams andTaylor Potkins. Post secondary life has seen Andrew play soccer, indoor and outdoor as well as ball hockey anchoring but also gooning up the North Delta Giants backend.

On the football field, his swagger and trash talking is usually the first things noticed. He walks with a hip in his step and brings others down to build himself up. But what does his OLD SPICE SWAGGER say when he gets chirped in a sensitive subject? The answer is usually a variation of the saying " I'm joking man, I love you". This kid is soft. Period. Im sorry Andrew but his ability to Hawk on D and run the go route every down is over shadowed enormously by this attribute. He has fallen to the injury bug twice in the summer campaign and has blamed it on other people both times. If he spent more time boosting his health and not his ego, he'd spend more time on the field and less at home watching Glee with a bag of chips. I guess its only fair for me to say "Im joking dude, I love you". He is 1 dimensional on offence.

He only goes deep and only shows up in the red zone. He needs to get dirty and get to the middle of the field and show that he can catch the ball in traffic. On offence he can play the safety and corner positions decently, but it transferring over to when it counts is of course yet to be seen. Hes fast and athletic but like everyone else has a few a long ways to go to catch up to his once lagging behind brother.

Next day we take a look a the other set of brothers: Quarterback Christian Rodriguez and Tight End Carlos Rodriguez

Player Spotlight : Josh Robertson

The first portion of the player spotlight takes a look at one part of the Robertson Tandem. Josh Robertson is the younger of the two twins but not much about these two are identical. Josh grew up in the North Delta Suburb of Delsom Village where he and brother Andrew spent most of their lives. At Brooke Elementary school, he was a standout at soccer

, ball hockey and basketball. Though gifted athletically, Josh ended up being a late bloomer in his early years in highschool. This was a huge burden to face as sports teams took an immediate toll on the half asians drive to play in organized leagues. He presumably ended his ball hockey career early after years of winning championships and all star teams at the tender age of 15. He also ended up quitting the senior basketball team in his junior year of highschool. After he graduated Sands Secondary School, a huge growth spurt lifted Josh according to him around 5 inches. The once soft spoken late bloomer was finally becoming a man. As post highschool life revealed a door of opportunity for Josh, he entered the life of Flag Football. A natural on the field with a huge pool of knowledge for the game, Josh has immediately been great source of life, enthusiasm and talent to both the Panther offence and defence. Josh has a great ability to catch the ball in traffic and being 6'2 has the skill set to go up and get it when need be. A hawk of the ball on defence, his speed makes him an asset when trying to take off flags and save the huge

play from happening. Josh's determination level does however result in at times inconsistent games. Due to a full time work schedule, he sometimes feels "lazy" playing a game after a shift of work and who can really blame him. His natural athleticism is off the chart, but inevitably it can only get Robertson so far. To say Josh is a gym rat would be a complete lie. If josh could ever contribute his passion of the game to improving his self health, the skies the limit for a boy who once quit all organized sports.

Stay tuned as we take a look at the other half of the Twin Duo; Andrew Robertson.

Fall Training Camp Preview: The Birth of the Panthers

Its early October and the hype over the newly formed North Delta Panthers of Top Flite Flag Football is already in full swing.

The season still looms 6 months away, but expectations are already running high in the spirits of the team. The fate sits securely on the shoulders of first year pivot Christian Rodriguez. You live and die with the QB, and from looks of drive and performance from summer practice games, it looks like the 6'0 185lbs kid from Sands Secondary is already gearing up for a trip to Disney Land. The weapons that Rodriguez possess could certainly help his case for the Lombardi Trophey. The recieving core led by lanky but dependable Josh Robertson appears to be strong. With the addition of un-signed draftee Matt Gross, the already deep group that includes Hardeep Gill, Ranvir Khosla, Andrew Robertson and TE Carlos Rodriguez is built to win now and a championship later.

Josh is fired up after leaving the game for a year, but talent never dies. He's quick, runs every route and has the hands to boot. Hardeep "Terrorble" Gill looks to breakout this year after a respectable summer campain. Though not the best route runner nor the fastest player, he posesses intangables that every coach desires. Ranvir Khosla is a veteran speedy wideout also out of Sands. He possess all the tools to become a number 1 receiver but his contribution to defence and the area inbetween his ears are the only things holding him back. Andrew Robertson is a tall receiver who plays the best when healthy. After leading the 09 summer campain in drops, he was hit hard this year by the injury bug. If he can toughen up and regain some sand paper in his game, the skies the limit for the 6'1 target. Matt Gross is another tall reciever that makes catches of the "circus" variety. Hes a member of the Longhorns and seems to be developing perfectly fine. Keep an eye out for him come April. The lone tight end is Carlos Rodriguez. A strained calf will see him out of action for the remainder of camp. He does posses sure hands and inept route running and the knock on him is his mental capabilities when he doesnt get targets and conditioning.

In the back-field, Sajid Desai stands alone. A rookie back with hamster like feet does what all RB's do; wheels. Possibly the hardest player to catch in open field, Sajid "Moe" Deasi has the potential to be an elusive back for this young franchise. The one knock on him is his ability to catch the ball out of the back-field. Moe led the league in drops this season and will try to work hard on getting his hands up and not into a basket.

The real concern for this team however, is their front 3. There are a lot of question marks and uncertainities that surround the teams offensive and defensive lines. With the likes of veteran Matt Ferrero and Jacob Wideman slotted in to play, mysteries surround the team in who will fill the other voids. This issue needs to get solved quick or else Rookie QB Rodriguez will have no time in the pocket. The same can be said about D-Line. There are zero answers when it comes to the question of who will pressure the opposing quarterback. Stay tuned all fall for any developments.

The pride and soul of this team might be the ball hawking group that is the Panthers defence. The already mentioned Ranvir Khosla is the captain of the defence and tied for the summer season lead in INTs. The secondary is strong with the likes of the Robertson twins, Ethan "Island" Martin (Pylon) and Rob Munro. When the summer campaign closed it was evident that this group struggled in man coverage. This is a concern but the team promises to sort out this issue come April. In the middle the Line Backing Core is anchored by rookie LB Ron Cordova. The 5'9 175lbs backer had a strong summer campaign as he was converted from corner early in July. Not the fastest runner or best flag puller, he does posses a nact to always be near the play. He plays the postion well but inexperience and height will be his biggest knocks come April. Hardeep Gill is a plain old hawk. He wants the ball in his hands and will sometimes get beat bad when he risks for a pick 6. Discipline and an understanding of the game will help his play. The biggest question mark on the defence is not only the D-Line but who will play opposite of Khosla. Sources out of camp say Travis Topham or Matt Gross might have to drop back and play the strong safety postion.

The Panthers are a young and high energy team that are looking to make some noise in the B division of the Top Flight Flag Football League. They possess the drive, the determination, the charisma and talent to be successful but is a championship in the conversation?

I guess well have to wait and see.