Montrell Dobbs: “The kid can flat out play football.”
That was a comment a year ago on the NVL Football Blogosphere.
So far this season the Chargers running back isn’t letting the blog posters down.
Dobbs took a few minutes recently to reflect on last year’s football season and to look ahead to upcoming games.
Valley Indy: So, tell us what it feels like to be an Ansonia Charger, with all the history the program has.
Dobbs: It feels great, especially now that I’m starting. As a freshman on the varsity squad, I wasn’t getting much playing time. It was a dream of mine seeing guys such as Alex Thomas playing in front of me. It was something one could only explain if they were in my position. When I saw Tristan a year later, it made me want the spotlight even more. I was closer to Tristan than I was with Alex Thomas and when Tristan described what being in the spotlight was like, it amazed me.
Valley Indy How’s Tristan doing?
Dobbs: He’s doing well. He’s starting at WR for Lackawanna College in Pennsylvania. I stay in contact with him.
Valley Indy: What’s it like to be coached by Coach Brockett?
Dobbs: Coach Brockett is a wonderful coach. If he could play, I bet he would. He is very intense. He makes the team practice every part of the game and takes practice very seriously. Just a week after the championship game we were already preparing for the 2009 season. He preaches that what we do in practice is what we will do on game day.
Valley Indy: Was it harder this year because of last year’s state championship loss?
Dobbs: No, but we definitely used the loss as motivation. When the clock was sitting at 2 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, reality set in that we were going to lose the game and losing isn’t in our vocabulary in Ansonia. It bothered us.
Valley Indy: What was the team’s attitude coming into this season after losing the state championship game last year?
Dobbs: We had to prove a lot to ourselves as a team. We really had to step it up in the off-season and not let the loss affect us. We needed to use it as motivation. It’s not like we could take the loss back. It was very hard walking off of that field but you just remember that moment and fight until the end.
Valley Indy: What are your expectations for this season?
Dobbs: You just try and take it game-by-game. We really want to make it this year, especially being the starting running back and feel like I can take my team to a championship victory. We have a lot of good teammates. We have a lot of help and we’re on the same page as far as wanting to win a championship.
Valley Indy: What game on your schedule might be the toughest in the league this season?
Dobbs: A game that sticks out to me is the Derby game just because I used to play Pop Warner there. The history and rivalry between the two towns (Ansonia and Derby) are great. I remember playing Ansonia when I played for Derby and remember playing Derby when I moved to Ansonia. The games were intense. It will be a big game, period. I am playing against family members and that will be fun, too.
Valley Indy: Describe your running style.
Dobbs: Well, I mean, I like to hit the holes fast and make my decisions on what I’m going to do next. Bobby (Kinnebrew) is a fast dude, so I have to hit the holes that much faster so that I can cut off of his blocks. I like to hit the outside and use my speed. I like to juke. I had a wrist sprain early in the season and sometimes have to lower my shoulders as opposed to stiff-arming defenders like I am used to doing.
Valley Indy: Describe what it’s like to rush the ball behind Bobby Kinnebrew.
Dobbs: It feels good to have Bobby as my fullback. Ansonia football usually has a good blocking fullback and a speedy tailback. The difference with Bobby is he is big and fast and can take the ball to the house any time he touches it. Bobby and I are close off of the field so that makes our chemistry on the field that much better.
Valley Indy: What would you say is the strength of this year’s team?
Dobbs: I think that our offense is one of our strong points but we’re trying to improve a lot more on defense. We know we can punch it in with our offense but we want to be balanced at the end of the day. Ansonia teams aren’t used to being scored, on so we pride ourselves on defense and don’t ever want to give up points.
Valley Indy: What do you think about Kenny Tinney?
Dobbs: I loved watching him play. I was in Pop Warner at the time and after my practices, it became customary to watch the high school (Varsity team) play. I’ve never seen anything like him. From the QB position, he used to score at-will. The team really relied on his play. I’ve never seen that kind of speed at the high school level. He was very explosive, which made him a very dangerous player when he stepped onto the field.
Valley Indy: What would you say to people that doubt this year’s squad?
Dobbs: I’m not really a person for words. I’d rather prove it on the field. I’ve always been that way. This team has been doubted all the time, even in our own school by classmates. The comments and negativity make us work harder.
Valley Indy: Who’s been your inspiration all of these years playing ball?
Dobbs: Growing up, I really paid attention to Willis McGahee when he played for Miami. He was my favorite running back at the time. Right now, it’s Reggie Bush. I like his running style. He can juke you and still run you over. I watch his highlights before a game sometimes to get me pumped-up. I like watching guys get run over, juked, and out-run.
Valley Indy: What college football team do you follow and why?
Dobbs: I like to watch the Florida Gators. I feel like the way Tebow takes over the team and puts the team under his wing is very inspirational. After his big speech, I admired the way he carried himself and was there for his team. The guys feed heavily off of that.
Dobbs and the Chargers visit Holy Cross at Municipal Stadium in Waterbury Friday (Oct. 2) at 7 p.m.
