Garvin eager to build on success
Defense looks to carry momentum forward after opening victory
Add one more entry to the litany of “firsts” achieved by the Orlando Apollos during the Alliance of American Football’s opening weekend.
Terence Garvin, who notched both the league’s first interception and first pick-six in Orlando’s 40-6 romp over Atlanta, received the final punctuation by copping the AAF’s inaugural Defensive Player of the Week honors.
“It’s exciting,” said Garvin, who learned of the honor at the conclusion of Tuesday’s practice at Camping World Stadium. “I’m happy about it; I appreciate it. I know there’s a lot more work to be done, so I’m excited to get back to work.”
Arizona quarterback John Wolford, a Jacksonville native who starred at Wake Forest, was the AAF’s first Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for four touchdowns in a victory over Salt Lake.
Garvin’s 11 tackles against Atlanta leaves him tied for the league lead, and no one else managed to pick off two passes during Week 1. He took the second pick back 51 yards to the end zone, eluding the reach of Legends quarterback Matt Simms for the final five yards.
“He had a really nice game,” said Apollos defensive coordinator Bob Sanders. “That’s the standard. We always say, ‘The standard’s the standard,’ and that’s the standard for him. He came out and played well.”
It was a solid night for the entire defense, which held Atlanta to just 80 yards rushing and 224 yards of total offense. That puts the Apollos atop the league in rush defense and No. 2 in total defense behind the Birmingham Iron, which shut out Memphis on Sunday.
OK, it’s only a one-game database, but it’s a strong start.
“I think our coaches just really prepared us,” said Garvin, who added two pass deflections to his
other stats. “We really had a good idea of what (Atlanta) wanted to do – different things they had in mind, different tendencies.”
Nor does it hurt that Garvin has appeared to turn a negative – five different NFL stops in six years – into a positive with his ability to adapt to a situation where everyone’s trying to get up to speed quickly.
The Baltimore native, who played college ball at West Virginia, spent his first two NFL seasons learning under renowned Pittsburgh Steelers coordinator Dick LeBeau. Later one came one season in Seattle under Pete Carroll.
“I’ve been fortunate to play for some really good coaches with really good schemes,” said Garvin, who played a lot of special teams in the NFL and is thankful for another chance to show his linebacker skills again.
“On different teams, you can get labeled,” he continued. “It’s cool to come out here and show my skill set, what I bring after all these years.”
Sanders also noted Garvin has taken a leadership role with the defense, joining other veterans like Will Hill III and Cody Riggs in helping younger players understand what it’s going to take to stick in the NFL.
“All those guys that have been on NFL teams have done a good job of leading by example and showing the guys that you have to spend a little extra time on your own,” he said.
On Saturday, Hill and fellow safety Jerome Couplin III were pressed into action a few times in different spots when teammates came off the field banged up. Even so, Bryce Canady also picked off Simms and cornerback Marquez White was on the wrong end of a replay call that could have given the Apollos a fourth interception.
“Atlanta’s a good team, but we just happened to have some success early,” Sanders said. “Now we have to build on that. We can’t rest on our laurels. This is a new week, a new game and a really good football team.”
The Apollos play their first road contest Sunday when they visit the San Antonio Commanders. Like the Apollos, the Commanders kept their opening foe out of the end zone in posting a 15-6 win over the San Diego Fleet.
Roster moves: As expected, receiver/return man Marvin BracyWilliams Jr. was placed on injured reserve while his broken forearm heals. The former Olympic sprinter and Boone High alum was hurt in the scramble for a muffed punt in the second quarter.
Linebacker Jacob Pugh III, who did not dress against Atlanta after suffering a neck injury in practice, also went to injured reserve.
League rules require players on injured reserve to sit out at least four games.
Joining the active roster were receiver Willie Quinn, one of the Apollos’ final cuts out of training camp, along with linebacker Terrance Parks. Adding Parks gives the Apollos eight former Florida State players on the roster, though rival Florida holds a 7-6 edge in active players.