Talon's Game Plan: Give it to Odie

Originally Published: May 12, 2010 8:39 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma – In a pass-happy league, one Tulsa Talon is turning heads with his feet.

“Odie (Armstrong)’s just a good ball player,” said Talons head coach Mitch Allner. “As long as our guys up front keep on working like they’re going, we’re going to feed him and let him run with the ball.”

A lot of times, the running back in the AFL is a lot like the left-handed specialist in a baseball team’s bullpen. He’s there if you need him, but most nights, he’s just a guy in a uniform. That’s no longer the case with the Talons.

Odie Armstrong has carved out a niche in Tulsa. He provided a much-needed spark when Tulsa was down last Saturday. His third quarter touchdown run lifted the team’s spirits after a dreadful first half performance.

“When I got the ball, the only guys I saw were my black jerseys,” Armstrong said after the game. “With nothing but green grass, you can’t do anything but run.”

The Talons run the football more often than most in the AFL. Armstrong has five scores on 17 rushes this already season. His 6.3 yards per carry average is best in the league among players with 15 or more carries. Giving Odie the ball is becoming more of a strategy than specialty.

“We’ve been incorporating him more and more each week,” said Allner. “We’ve made a few changes and moved some guys around.”

Armstrong has proven that all of his hard work is worth it. After picking up a big home win over Alabama to boost their record to 3-2, the Talons will try to win their first road game of the season this Saturday. Tulsa visits the Cleveland Gladiators at 7 p.m.

“We’ve got that taste back in our mouth, now,” said Armstrong. “We’re hungry for it.”