May 25,2016
By Tyler Graddy Randy Hippeard has set Arena Football ablaze this season, positioning himself for a run at the league MVP with 2196 yards, 50 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. He has shown the qualities demanded from true leaders by making those around him better, even turning two offensive linemen into dangerous scoring threats while steadying the Predators’ season through eight weeks and seven wins.
It’s apparent that the gunslinger has improved in many ways since his most productive campaign in Tampa Bay, now on pace to top his career best season of 4,406 yards, 93 touchdowns, 23 interceptions and a 58.6 completion percentage. If he keeps on it, Hippeard will post an MVP caliber stat line of 4392/100/10.
“When I was playing for Tampa it was my first year as a starter so they didn’t really open up the playbook to me. It was a lot of ‘we’re going to try to keep things real simple and just kind of go at it.’,” he explained.
No Predators quarterback has ever passed for triple-digit touchdowns, making the Virginia native an exclusive member of the 100 touchdown club. For his part, Hippeard hasn’t kept watch on any record books.
“I didn’t even know anything about it until today, until you guys said something about it. It’s just one of those things, like I told you, if we do reach it that means we’ve done things offensively to give ourselves the opportunity to win football games. I’m one of those guys, I’d rather throw one touchdown and win the game than nine or ten and lose,” said Hippeard.
Success is not a newfound reality in his world. Making the move from collegiate football in 2009, Hippeard left campus with the knowledge that his name was firmly stamped on almost every single career passing record in the history of the Virginia-Wise Highland Cavaliers.
Transitioning to the AFL wasn’t easy at all. Athletes make plays and football instinct is almost an unteachable sixth sense, but for a quarterback the changes can be vast. Angles, throw power, adjustments and game speed are completely new entities in comparison to the traditional game.
“It’s a big adjustment,” the veteran of the game analyzed. “[Outside] there’s more field to play with, you can kind of use your arm a little bit more, in this league you’ve got to get rid of the ball a little bit quicker, you’ve got to make your reads a little bit faster and it’s a lot more touch use in this league than in the outdoor game, [where] you can kinda put things on a line a little bit more, you can kind of show your arm off; throw the ball 75 yards down the field.”
His first season in Orlando opened up a whole new world of the game. Hippeard was given the keys to a brand new Ferrari by the Predators’ coaching staff – full access and command of the playbook.
“When I came to Orlando the first thing [former offensive coordinator Siaha Burley] told me was ‘we’re going to open the playbook up, it’s yours – let’s run with it.’ Just to have somebody to have that confidence in you to say, “This is your offense, this is your team. We’re going to go as you go.” It’s a big confidence builder in myself and it’s the same when Sauk came in when he first got here. ‘The playbook is open, I’m going to call the plays, you read it, you execute it. It’s all on you,’.”
Offensive Coordinator Matthew Sauk has been in lockstep with his quarterback since arrival this season, bringing with him the knowledge that ranked his 2012 squad as the most productive in Arena Football League History.
Clearly the offense is now humming as Hippeard’s command of the scheme grows in his second year with the throttle wide open. Continuity with his receiving corps has helped, and a deeper understanding of passing in this league is on display every week.
Talented receivers Greg Carr and Brandon Thompkins have certainly played a role in Hippeard’s explosion onto the scene. The duo have experienced benchmark years themselves, pacing the AFL’s best receiving corps with a combined 1457 yards, 36 touchdowns and 107 receptions.
“These guys, they really make plays for you out there. I’m the middle man from the center to them; I’m the guy who delivers the ball to the athletes, that’s what I tell them all the time. You just throw the ball up and let these guys be athletes,” he humbly attested.
Praise continued for his skill players, crediting the offense’s prowess completely to their ability to make plays when it matters. It’s no surprise that Hippeard can be so humble with his own accomplishments or so ready to dole out credit to his teammates when you consider the chemistry of this team.
“You’ve got to be close,” Hippeard stated about his teammates. “When you have 24 guys on a roster you can’t help but get to know the man next to you or get to know the guys on the defensive side of the ball. These outdoor teams, these NFL teams you have 53-man rosters you may not know that 53rd guy. It’s just one of those things where we’re so close as a group. We go out to eat, we bring breakfast every now and then for each other. It’s just a really close family and for a lot of us to be here for the second year together it just builds that relationship stronger.”
All of the lessons are finally culminating for Hippeard. His team is on a warpath to the ArenaBowl, his offense is firing on all cylinders and there is almost a certainty that MVP candidacy is already locked in.
By Tyler Graddy Randy Hippeard has set Arena Football ablaze this season, positioning himself for a run at the league MVP with 2196 yards, 50 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. He has shown the qualities demanded from true leaders by making those around him better, even turning two offensive linemen into dangerous scoring threats while steadying the Predators’ season through eight weeks and seven wins.
It’s apparent that the gunslinger has improved in many ways since his most productive campaign in Tampa Bay, now on pace to top his career best season of 4,406 yards, 93 touchdowns, 23 interceptions and a 58.6 completion percentage. If he keeps on it, Hippeard will post an MVP caliber stat line of 4392/100/10.
“When I was playing for Tampa it was my first year as a starter so they didn’t really open up the playbook to me. It was a lot of ‘we’re going to try to keep things real simple and just kind of go at it.’,” he explained.
No Predators quarterback has ever passed for triple-digit touchdowns, making the Virginia native an exclusive member of the 100 touchdown club. For his part, Hippeard hasn’t kept watch on any record books.
“I didn’t even know anything about it until today, until you guys said something about it. It’s just one of those things, like I told you, if we do reach it that means we’ve done things offensively to give ourselves the opportunity to win football games. I’m one of those guys, I’d rather throw one touchdown and win the game than nine or ten and lose,” said Hippeard.
Success is not a newfound reality in his world. Making the move from collegiate football in 2009, Hippeard left campus with the knowledge that his name was firmly stamped on almost every single career passing record in the history of the Virginia-Wise Highland Cavaliers.
Transitioning to the AFL wasn’t easy at all. Athletes make plays and football instinct is almost an unteachable sixth sense, but for a quarterback the changes can be vast. Angles, throw power, adjustments and game speed are completely new entities in comparison to the traditional game.
“It’s a big adjustment,” the veteran of the game analyzed. “[Outside] there’s more field to play with, you can kind of use your arm a little bit more, in this league you’ve got to get rid of the ball a little bit quicker, you’ve got to make your reads a little bit faster and it’s a lot more touch use in this league than in the outdoor game, [where] you can kinda put things on a line a little bit more, you can kind of show your arm off; throw the ball 75 yards down the field.”
His first season in Orlando opened up a whole new world of the game. Hippeard was given the keys to a brand new Ferrari by the Predators’ coaching staff – full access and command of the playbook.
“When I came to Orlando the first thing [former offensive coordinator Siaha Burley] told me was ‘we’re going to open the playbook up, it’s yours – let’s run with it.’ Just to have somebody to have that confidence in you to say, “This is your offense, this is your team. We’re going to go as you go.” It’s a big confidence builder in myself and it’s the same when Sauk came in when he first got here. ‘The playbook is open, I’m going to call the plays, you read it, you execute it. It’s all on you,’.”
Offensive Coordinator Matthew Sauk has been in lockstep with his quarterback since arrival this season, bringing with him the knowledge that ranked his 2012 squad as the most productive in Arena Football League History.
Clearly the offense is now humming as Hippeard’s command of the scheme grows in his second year with the throttle wide open. Continuity with his receiving corps has helped, and a deeper understanding of passing in this league is on display every week.
Talented receivers Greg Carr and Brandon Thompkins have certainly played a role in Hippeard’s explosion onto the scene. The duo have experienced benchmark years themselves, pacing the AFL’s best receiving corps with a combined 1457 yards, 36 touchdowns and 107 receptions.
“These guys, they really make plays for you out there. I’m the middle man from the center to them; I’m the guy who delivers the ball to the athletes, that’s what I tell them all the time. You just throw the ball up and let these guys be athletes,” he humbly attested.
Praise continued for his skill players, crediting the offense’s prowess completely to their ability to make plays when it matters. It’s no surprise that Hippeard can be so humble with his own accomplishments or so ready to dole out credit to his teammates when you consider the chemistry of this team.
“You’ve got to be close,” Hippeard stated about his teammates. “When you have 24 guys on a roster you can’t help but get to know the man next to you or get to know the guys on the defensive side of the ball. These outdoor teams, these NFL teams you have 53-man rosters you may not know that 53rd guy. It’s just one of those things where we’re so close as a group. We go out to eat, we bring breakfast every now and then for each other. It’s just a really close family and for a lot of us to be here for the second year together it just builds that relationship stronger.”
All of the lessons are finally culminating for Hippeard. His team is on a warpath to the ArenaBowl, his offense is firing on all cylinders and there is almost a certainty that MVP candidacy is already locked in.
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