Linebackers (4) – James Frazier, Tony Longo, Harry McCall, Santino Turnbow

“I was not impressed with our linebackers during mini camp,” said Back. “That is why Frazier will be moved to middle linebacker.”

Longo and McCall will have  chance to compete for both the Mike and Jack positions, but Frazier will get plenty of reps should either prove not ready to take over the position. Longo probably enters camp with the lead for the Jack position.

Turnbow is the only true linebacker with indoor experience on the roster, and he was named second-team all-UIFL last season while playing for Northern Kentucky. He was third on the team with 47 tackles and three sacks. However, he is looking to be the long shot to make the roster.

Defensive backs (6) – Darren Barnett, Jeff Demery, Corey Stewart, E.J. Underwood, Brian Edwards, Markkus Davis

Opposing offenses will have troubles with this secondary regardless of who makes the roster. The double motion offenses the UIFL uses will test the defensive backfield, but the talent level will be amongst the best in the league.

“We will be dressing three per game,” said head coach Billy Back. “Who can lock up (defensively) and give us an option elsewhere, along with the three that plays best together will dress.”

Barnett, who is the second UIFL player that possesses a Super Bowl ring, will line up at one cornerback position and Underwood will be opposite. It will be his return to the indoor game after sitting out last season. In 2010, he was one of the most dynamic players on defense.

Underwood comes back after a year hiatus, but when we with the Commandos, he was one of the league’s most dynamic

The Cincinnati Commandos are the longest-tenured professional indoor football team in the city of Cincinnati. The two-time champions will embark on their third consecutive title 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3 when they host Johnstown. Tickets are currently on sale via TicketMaster or via the Cincinnati Gardens box office, calling (513) 631-7793 or visiting in person at 2250 Seymour Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212.

Defensive line (5) – D’arrell Brown, Terrill Byrd, Thomas Claggett, James Frazier, James Spikes

Good luck trying to figure out the competition along the defensive line, although the team plans on keeping four. The roster spots may not be as valuable if Frazier makes the successful transition to Mike linebacker.

There is no situation, except *keeping fingers crossed* injury, that would keep Frazier from making the team. The only question is whether his will be starting at end or middle linebacker. He was limited to a mere seven games and only recorded 7.5 tackles. Fans will also find him taking snaps as part of the Commandos “wildcat” offense.

Byrd is coming off an injury and his readiness for the opener is in doubt. A two-time first-team all-league recipient, the Colerain product has anchored the defense the last two years. He finished the season with 22 tackles and seven sacks. His 14 quarterback pressures were second on the team.

After recording 34 tackles last season, good for fourth on the team, Claggett returns hoping to make a bigger impact this season.

Spikes and Brown return to the team after playing the 2011 season elsewhere. Brown, who played with Northern Kentucky last season, was named second team All-UIFL last season. He was third on the team with eight quarterback hurries, while recording 26 tackles and six sacks.

The Cincinnati Commandos are the longest-tenured professional indoor football team in the city of Cincinnati. The two-time champions will embark on their third consecutive title 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3 when they host Johnstown. Tickets are currently on sale via TicketMaster or via the Cincinnati Gardens box office, calling (513) 631-7793 or visiting in person at 2250 Seymour Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212.

Two-time all-league performer Frank Straub returns for his third season.

As training camp starts today, we continue taking a look at the training camp roster as the Cincinnati Commandos work towards their third straight league championship.

Offensive line (6) – Richard Bailey, Matt Byrd, Richard Deutch, James Jenkins, Mike Nitz, Frank Straub

You can write Straub’s name on the Commandos roster in ink as bearing something drastic in training camp, he will line up at his typical guard position when the season opens.

Jenkins, who spent the 2011 season with the Eastern Kentucky Drillers, will compete with former Mount Union All-American Mike Nitz for the center position. It’s going to be a tough battle as Jenkins may have to edge due to his professional indoor experience. However, the player that fails to land the starting position will be in competition with Bailey and Deutch at the other guard position.

“We have three very good centers in camp, and they all bring different strengths to the game,” said head coach Billy Back.

Byrd, a rookie who was named an All-American while at Georgetown College (KY), is a longshot to make the roster. However, don’t count him out. His physical attributes and physicality in the trenches will land him in the middle.

The team could only keep three offensive linemen on the roster so the competition will be very spirited.

The Cincinnati Commandos are the longest-tenured professional indoor football team in the city of Cincinnati. The two-time champions will embark on their third consecutive title 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3 when they host Johnstown. Tickets are currently on sale via TicketMaster or via the Cincinnati Gardens box office, calling (513) 631-7793 or visiting in person at 2250 Seymour Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212.

Phillip Barnett may have to improve his practice habits to ensure chances at touchdowns.

With the players scheduled to report to training camp on February 18^th, we take a look at the camp roster and how things could shake out in preparation for the season opener March 3rd against the Johnstown Generals.

Receivers (6) – Brandon Boehm, Maurice Lee, Shawn McGarity, Mack Ogeltree, Phillip Barnett and Kyenes Mincy

Brandon Boehm has been the most consistent receiver for the last two seasons for the Commandos, and will once again be asked to provide stability to the team’s receiving corp. He was second on the team with 26 receptions, while leading the team with 13.4 yards per reception.

Mincy, who can also serve as the back-up quarterback, led the team with 29 catches and 13 touchdowns in his first season with the Commandos.

“We will dress the four that gives us the best option for that game,” said head coach Billy Back. “We will be charting drops in camp, who ran the wrong route. It’s going to come down to practice, mental capacity and chemistry with (quarterback) Tyler (Sheehan).”

Back acknowledged that Barnett seems to play well when the lights of competition are the brightest. He finished the 2011 season second on the team with 10 touchdowns, while hauling in 18 passes.

Newcomer Mack Ogeltree may become the biggest surprise of the 2012 season. However, Back is withholding judgment until the team dons the pads.

“A lot of guys look like Tarzan and play like Jane,” said Back. “I have a feeling he is going to play like Tarzan as well.”

McGarity is the most improved person in the receiving corps, but he is still a longshot to make the team’s 18-man active roster, while Lee versatility gives him a chance.

The Cincinnati Commandos are the longest-tenured professional indoor football team in the city of Cincinnati. The two-time champions will embark on their third consecutive title 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3 when they host Johnstown. Tickets are currently on sale via TicketMaster or via the Cincinnati Gardens box office, calling (513) 631-7793 or visiting in person at 2250 Seymour Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212.

Running back Derrick Moss is almost guaranteed a roster spot.

With the players scheduled to report to training camp on February 24^th, we take a look at the camp roster and how things could shake out in preparation for the season opener against the Johnstown Generals.

Quarterbacks (1) – Tyler Sheehan

There will be no quarterback controversy for the Commandos as they look embark on the mission of three championships in three seasons. Sheehan averaged 172.6 yards per game with a total of 34 touchdowns en route to being named Most Valuable Player of the CIFL. His completion percentage of 56.8 led the league.

Running backs (4) – Derrick Moss, Andy Stuckert, Demetrius McCray, Paul Young

With the move to the United Indoor Football League, the running back position could have a smaller emphasis in the Commandos offense. However, head coach Billy Back said the team will not completely abandon the running game.

“We are going to run the ball 10 to 12 times per game,” said Back. “We will still keep some of the read option packages in our offense. We have some good running schemes, sound blocking schemes and will use teams over pursuit in our running attack. Our running backs can all read zones.”

Derrick Moss is seemingly the only lock to make the roster. He averaged a team-high 4.6 yards per carry, while scoring 10 rushing touchdowns.

Stuckert has been a lynchpin on the Commandos roster in the last two seasons. His versatility is one of the reasons he is a valuable player, especially with the UIFL rules limiting active rosters to 18 players. In Cincinnati’s first season, he lined up as the starting center and performed admirably despite being severely undersized in the trenches. He can play along the offensive line, running back and linebacker, so that may earn him a roster spot.

McCray and Young will have their work cut out for them, and showing the ability to excel at multiple spots will help them land a roster spot. Back was quick to point out, however, that training camp performances will dictate who will make the final 24-man roster.

The Cincinnati Commandos are the longest-tenured professional indoor football team in the city of Cincinnati. The two-time champions will embark on their third consecutive title 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3 when they host Johnstown. Tickets are currently on sale via TicketMaster or via the Cincinnati Gardens box office, calling (513) 631-7793 or visiting in person at 2250 Seymour Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212.

James Frazier, Terrill Byrd and Tony Longo (R-L) will spearhead a Commandos defense.

CINCINNATI, OH – Coming off back-to-back league championships, Cincinnati head coach Billy Back has a lot of reasons for optimism as the team starts a new chapter in the clubs tenure.

After dominating the Continental Indoor Football League to the tune of a two-year record of 23-1, the Commandos are about to embark on its first season in the United Indoor Football League.

“This is the most talented team we have had since I been here,” said Back. “The additions of players like Tony Longo, Darren Barnett and Mack Ogeltree make us even more athletic.”

Barnett, when he takes his first snaps, will be the second player in the history of the UIFL that has played on a Super Bowl winning team. Like his predecessor, Jared Lorenzen, Barnett was on the Giants’ XLII team that defeated the New England Patriots. The former Michigan State product graduated from Cincinnati Princeton High School, and joins an already stout secondary.

While the new additions are nice to talk about, it’s the veterans that make Cincinnati one of the odds on favorites to claim its third title in three seasons. Terrill Byrd (Colerain/Univ. of Cincinnati) and James Frazier (Middletown) anchor the defensive line that has driven opposing offenses crazy for two seasons.

But in the indoor game, if you can’t score, you don’t win and the Commandos’ powerful offense returns many of their key cogs – starting with quarterback Tyler Sheehan. His favorite target, Brandon Boehm, is back for this third stint, while the explosive Phillip Barnett and Kyenes Mincy are also back.

Stay tuned to cincinnaticommandos.com as we will breakdown each position battle in the coming weeks leading up to training camp.

CINCINNATI, OH

Former UIFL first-teamer Ricardo Lenhart and Calvin Bini have signed to play in the Indoor Football League (IFL), while former UIFL first-teamer Matt Rahn has signed to play with the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.

Rahn marks the second straight season a player with ties with the Commandos has signed with the Gladiators, following in the footsteps of receiver Dominick Goodman.

“Were happy and eager to move players up as soon as possible even if the season hasn’t even started, its part of our job description as coaches,” said head coach Billy Back. “Calvin Bini, Ricardo Lenhart and Matt Rahn never played a down for the Commandos in our 2.5 year existence, but I knew they belonged at a different level.   Our goals are simple at this level, give players a fair opportunity to play the game they love, compete every day for a championship and get them where they want to be and succeed at their goals.”

Lenhart, who is heading to play for the Bloomington Edge, led the UIFL last season in receptions and touchdowns en route to helping Northern Kentucky claim the regular season championship, while Rahn was stout along the line as NKY was the most explosive offense in the league.

Bini will take his talents to Indiana, and will suit up for the Chicago Slaughter.

The Cincinnati Commandos are the longest-tenured professional indoor football team in the city of Cincinnati. The two-time champions will embark on their third consecutive title 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3 when they host Johnstown. Tickets are currently on sale via TicketMaster or via the Cincinnati Gardens box office, calling (513) 631-7793 or visiting in person at 2250 Seymour Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212.

CINCINNATI, OH

The Commandos will kick off the season on March 3 with the first of three straight home games. Former CIFL rival Marion visits April 28, the only one of three meetings to be held at the Cincinnati Gardens. The home dates have remained the same as the previous schedule.

The team recently released its 38-player training camp roster that features 28 players with ties to the Cincinnati area.

Cincinnati is the longest tenured professional indoor football team in the history of the city. Season tickets are currently on sale, buy one, get one half off at the Cincinnati Gardens box office. You can follow all our Cincinnati Commandos news at www.cincinnaticommandos.com; follow us on Twitter @commandos_cincy; and fan us on Facebook.

CINCINNATI, OH

The 38-player roster features 28 players with ties to the Cincinnati area. The two-time league champions have 17 players that have played for the Commandos in either of the two season.

When the team kicks off on March 3, the Commandos will be the longest-tenured professional indoor football team in the history of the city. Season tickets are currently on sale at the Cincinnati Gardens box office, and can be purchased buy one, get one half off.

CINCINNATI

The Commandos Cuties will be a 16-member team will perform at halftime of the Commandos football games and also serve as community ambassadors for the professional indoor football team.

The following members, Jessica Baker, Angela Siemer, Heidi Sprowls, Emily McCracken and Aimee Signorelli, are returning from last year’s team. The 11 new Cuties are Carol Ayers, Chelsea Bitter, Samantha Bitter, Angela Caliguri, Noelle Holt, Hanna Kaltenbach, Kellie Ann Kulka, Kelly Larson, Michelle Mayhall, Loise Reid and Elizabeth Schroeder.

When they kick off in March, the Cincinnati Commandos will be the longest-tenured professional indoor football in the city’s history. Season tickets, which start at $70, are currently on sale at the Cincinnati Gardens Box Office or via Ticketmaster.