04-05-2023, 02:15 PM
(This post was last modified: 04-06-2023, 09:47 AM by H0PPY75. Edited 1 time in total.)
It was a great honor and privilege to get to sit down with one of the important cogs that was the Kansas City Coyotes front 7 during this past season. Their all-around team play and effectiveness was in full display for the whole season. One only has to look at a stat sheet to see how fun this defense really was. Without further ado, I present an interview with Lukas Van Ness (LVN).
Dom: Hey! Thank you so much for giving me the time to ask you a few questions. I know our readers will be thrilled to get to you know a little better, since they now only know you as the dominant defensive end on the Coyotes. So I have a few questions for you: some burning, some fun. But I suppose we’ll start off with this—what convinced you to forgo the NFL Draft, where you were a 1st round lock to come to the ISFL? I mean, sure, there’s more glory and money and fame in the ISFL, but I was wondering if there was another factor.
LVN: Thanks for inviting me out Dom and to answer your question I skipped the DSFL Draft as a test for the GM’s of the league. I wanted to be apart of a active team with active GM’s so I skipped the draft to see who would pick me in UDFA and sure enough KCC GM, Tuba, reached out to pick me up fo the Coyotes. He already had a bunch of DE’s on the Coyotes but explained that he would use some of them to fill LB positions. I ofcourse requested to stay and DE because I am a known power rusher. If I had skipped to the ISFL I probably would not have started on the team let alone get drafted.
Dom: And thank goodness he did! You've made quite an impact in 3 short weeks in Kansas City, already tied for 2nd most sacks in the league with 3! The defense that the Kansas City Coyotes GMs have put together has been an immense force and a large part of that is thanks to you. What goals do you have for your rookie season?
LVN: Yes I agree that this KCC defense is top tier but that also means alot of the guys I am competeing with for sack leader are on the same teams as me and I love the guys on the team, especially Jason Steele because we have just built a special brotherhood on and off the field. My goals for my season is to get at least 10 sacks as that will definitely have GM’s looking at me as a potential 1st round draft pick. I will not declare for the draft this year but probably next year or the year after as I want to develop to make that immediate impact in the big leagues.
Dom: It takes a humble attitude to elect to stay in the DSFL longer for development's sake. That speaks volumes to your future GM suitors! On that front, what is your greatest quality as a player? What can you bring to a defense in the ISFL?
LVN: On the field I have been told I am a athletic freak when it comes to DE. What I bring to the table is a equally strong and fast end who doesn’t stop until the QB is sacked. As a player I am a teamwork kinda guy, meaning the play doesn’t have to have me at the center of it. For example if I am instructed to take a double block so that Steele or Lawrence can get in I will follow through for the outcome of giving our offense more chances.
Dom: Wow, I know for a fact that many ISFL GMs are going to want to hear that. And your claim is matched by the stats; there is no one player on the Kansas City defense that stands out beyond the others--you all play team-oriented ball that has proven to be incredibly effective. Even though you weren't in the DSFL Draft, you're making a very strong case as to why you should be a high pick in the upcoming ISFL Draft.
This game has been going on for decades before us and will continue, i presume, to go on decades after we're gone. But as we grow up, I think every boy with professional football dreams has a player or two that they look up to and try to model their game after. Is there a player like that for you?
LVN: My idol is Nero Alexander, Hall of Fame DE for the Wraiths. Ever since his saftey in his last year in the DSFL he has been a role model for being equally a huge factor and a team player.
Dom: Wow! What a throwback there. It's so refreshing to see rookies that are well-versed in the history of the league. You couldn't have picked a better player to model. Nero was a legend and honestly still has the talent to play in today's ISFL.
This might seem a sudden turn, but this question was specifically requested on Twitter when we announced that we would be interviewing you: Who would win in a fight--the entire Coyotes defense or three black bears?
LVN: I'm going to have to go with the Coyotes defense because black bears are relatively solitary creatures and we the KCC can work together to take each of the bears down and win the fight.
Dom: After some of the utter dominance you guys have displayed this season, I think I might have to agree. The Coyotes mean business on every single play.
Alright, just a couple more questions for you before I let you go to watch some more film.
It's obvious to anyone that when you guys come out of the locker room at the beginning of the game, you are all amped up. What is your pre-game routine that gets you guys going and prepares you for the game at hand?
LVN: My personal pregame routine starts with "the 10s" which consist of 10 minutes of thanking everyone I know (in my head) for getting me to be where I am at now. 10 minutes of stretches and 10 minutes of practice. Then we gather ourselves up and do the "coyote cave" also known as the hype circle. Last but not least we go out their and play our best.
Dom: Wow! I love the progression from humility to hype. The ability to stay grounded and have intensity is an exceptionally important balance that the great football players have.
Last question for you: What do you want to say to all of the ISFL GMs that will read this?
LVN: I would like to thank the GMs for any opportunity they give me to play on their team.
Dom: Pristine. Thank you for your time! Excited to hear your name called at the ISFL Draft!
LVN: Thank you for having me and I am too.
GMs, welcome to the future of your defense.
(1144 words)
Dom: Hey! Thank you so much for giving me the time to ask you a few questions. I know our readers will be thrilled to get to you know a little better, since they now only know you as the dominant defensive end on the Coyotes. So I have a few questions for you: some burning, some fun. But I suppose we’ll start off with this—what convinced you to forgo the NFL Draft, where you were a 1st round lock to come to the ISFL? I mean, sure, there’s more glory and money and fame in the ISFL, but I was wondering if there was another factor.
LVN: Thanks for inviting me out Dom and to answer your question I skipped the DSFL Draft as a test for the GM’s of the league. I wanted to be apart of a active team with active GM’s so I skipped the draft to see who would pick me in UDFA and sure enough KCC GM, Tuba, reached out to pick me up fo the Coyotes. He already had a bunch of DE’s on the Coyotes but explained that he would use some of them to fill LB positions. I ofcourse requested to stay and DE because I am a known power rusher. If I had skipped to the ISFL I probably would not have started on the team let alone get drafted.
Dom: And thank goodness he did! You've made quite an impact in 3 short weeks in Kansas City, already tied for 2nd most sacks in the league with 3! The defense that the Kansas City Coyotes GMs have put together has been an immense force and a large part of that is thanks to you. What goals do you have for your rookie season?
LVN: Yes I agree that this KCC defense is top tier but that also means alot of the guys I am competeing with for sack leader are on the same teams as me and I love the guys on the team, especially Jason Steele because we have just built a special brotherhood on and off the field. My goals for my season is to get at least 10 sacks as that will definitely have GM’s looking at me as a potential 1st round draft pick. I will not declare for the draft this year but probably next year or the year after as I want to develop to make that immediate impact in the big leagues.
Dom: It takes a humble attitude to elect to stay in the DSFL longer for development's sake. That speaks volumes to your future GM suitors! On that front, what is your greatest quality as a player? What can you bring to a defense in the ISFL?
LVN: On the field I have been told I am a athletic freak when it comes to DE. What I bring to the table is a equally strong and fast end who doesn’t stop until the QB is sacked. As a player I am a teamwork kinda guy, meaning the play doesn’t have to have me at the center of it. For example if I am instructed to take a double block so that Steele or Lawrence can get in I will follow through for the outcome of giving our offense more chances.
Dom: Wow, I know for a fact that many ISFL GMs are going to want to hear that. And your claim is matched by the stats; there is no one player on the Kansas City defense that stands out beyond the others--you all play team-oriented ball that has proven to be incredibly effective. Even though you weren't in the DSFL Draft, you're making a very strong case as to why you should be a high pick in the upcoming ISFL Draft.
This game has been going on for decades before us and will continue, i presume, to go on decades after we're gone. But as we grow up, I think every boy with professional football dreams has a player or two that they look up to and try to model their game after. Is there a player like that for you?
LVN: My idol is Nero Alexander, Hall of Fame DE for the Wraiths. Ever since his saftey in his last year in the DSFL he has been a role model for being equally a huge factor and a team player.
Dom: Wow! What a throwback there. It's so refreshing to see rookies that are well-versed in the history of the league. You couldn't have picked a better player to model. Nero was a legend and honestly still has the talent to play in today's ISFL.
This might seem a sudden turn, but this question was specifically requested on Twitter when we announced that we would be interviewing you: Who would win in a fight--the entire Coyotes defense or three black bears?
LVN: I'm going to have to go with the Coyotes defense because black bears are relatively solitary creatures and we the KCC can work together to take each of the bears down and win the fight.
Dom: After some of the utter dominance you guys have displayed this season, I think I might have to agree. The Coyotes mean business on every single play.
Alright, just a couple more questions for you before I let you go to watch some more film.
It's obvious to anyone that when you guys come out of the locker room at the beginning of the game, you are all amped up. What is your pre-game routine that gets you guys going and prepares you for the game at hand?
LVN: My personal pregame routine starts with "the 10s" which consist of 10 minutes of thanking everyone I know (in my head) for getting me to be where I am at now. 10 minutes of stretches and 10 minutes of practice. Then we gather ourselves up and do the "coyote cave" also known as the hype circle. Last but not least we go out their and play our best.
Dom: Wow! I love the progression from humility to hype. The ability to stay grounded and have intensity is an exceptionally important balance that the great football players have.
Last question for you: What do you want to say to all of the ISFL GMs that will read this?
LVN: I would like to thank the GMs for any opportunity they give me to play on their team.
Dom: Pristine. Thank you for your time! Excited to hear your name called at the ISFL Draft!
LVN: Thank you for having me and I am too.
GMs, welcome to the future of your defense.
(1144 words)
Code:
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