Dutton: The Other QB
Tim Ball
Wednesday July 24, 2002
Many times this season I’ve referred to Dutton as the “other” quarterback for a reason. He’s no back up. Dutton, back in the roll of starter, led San Jose effectively against the Carolina Cobras, who flushed the 6’4” QB from the pocket on the SaberCats first possession.
Here’s the play: Fourth down and eight, the snap, Dutton rolls to his left, defenders give chase, they’re in his face, he sets both feet under himself and simply tosses the ball 40 yards into the left net, where it bounces perfectly in the waiting arms of OS James Hundon…All in a days work. (Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have Hundon to throw to, either.)
Starting quarterbacks
Two of the last three NFL Super Bowls (you know, the big format) were won by QB’s who were on the sidelines at the start of the season. Two of the last three Super Bowls had former Arena League quarterback Kurt Warner in them, who never won the ArenaBowl. So much for the title of back-up meaning lesser than and so much for the best Arena League quarterback being in the NFL.
I mean c’mon, the ‘Niners passed on Aaron Garcia, who’s run a west coast style offense at three times the speed and in one quarter the space of the big version. Oh well, Garcia ended the season with New York with a win. Not surprising. Also Garcia is lucky: not many former NFL quarterbacks made it in the Arena League this year. Their backups are now playing.
MVP awards are earned by putting up numbers and statistics throughout the season but sometimes it is what you are in comparison to who you are. You simply cannot overstate the value on that. This is what has brought San Jose to the brink of perfection all season long: every man, every play, every game, whether you start or not. Now it is John Dutton’s turn. The close working relationship between Dutton and Mark Greib, thanks to head coach Darren Arbet’s insight, has the SaberCats in a good position to go all the way.
A few really good men
Carolina quarterback John Fitzgerald (19-40 for 275 yards) had the Cobras in the lead 26-24 at halftime by simply playing great. His touch passes and bullets were mixed so well he had the amazing SaberCats defense missing opportunities quite often. That is no small feat. An injury (high ankle sprain) slowed Fitzgerald the rest of the game or who knows what would have happened.
With Dutton (17 of 25 for 214 yards) playing so well and both teams knowing before the game started they were in the playoffs; it was thought that Carolina would concede. Not a chance. In the second half San Jose had to step it up to overcome the Cobras confidence and pride at wanting to beat the SaberCats and go into the playoffs on that high a note.
WR/DB Barry Wagner (5-85, 3 TD’s) played like, well, Barry Wagner. Mr. Everything led the SaberCats with three touchdowns and was dominant on both sides of the ball and fought through some personal heartache, having learned just prior to the game that his uncle had passed away.
WR/LB Shalon Baker earned Ironman honors for this game for being in on virtually every play of the game. Whether rushing, receiving, an interception, throwing key blocks or special teams play, Baker has been as reliable and valuable as a serviced Rolex since coming off the IR to play in the third game of the year.
Rookie of the year contender DS Clevan Thomas returned another kickoff for a TD for a league best sixth time. His solid play all day kept Cobras quarterback John Fitzgerald choosing other options rather than going at the formidable rookie.
OS specialist James Hundon (6 for 87 2 TD’s) kept his year of excellence on track with two touchdown receptions, the first coming effortlessly off the nets. His second score came with an offsides call, making it a free play for San Jose.
This productivity from a few players, combined with two rushing touchdowns, one by OL/DL Matt McMillen and the other by FB/LB James Williams, and the SaberCats are back on track with a lot of firepower yet to be called on.
Let there be playoffs
San Jose (13-1) is the first seed in the playoffs with archrival Arizona (11-3) number two. The Chicago Rush may have lost their last game but that may just have served as a wakeup call. The whole of the West is in the playoffs and Grand Rapids with Clint Dolezel are not fading away, and they’re looking for the back-to-back championships that set a team in the “All-Time” category. The best is truly yet to come.
San Jose could easily be going for a three-peat and are still smarting from the last two seasons where a combined 22 wins and 6 losses did not add up to TWO Championships.
The Second Season 2002 poses to be impossible to predict. San Jose faces fighting the same fight every game. They are the best team in Arena Football and everyone wants to beat them to prove they aren’t.
John Dutton knows all to well that opportunity does not come around often. Mark Grieb deserved the number one spot for his performance all season long and Dutton (who is a free agent next year), in just a few games, can set his name in lights. Once again all eyes are set on (and some against) the SaberCats, to stand tall in ArenaBowl XVI. The ease at which John Dutton went about his business and fit in so smoothly, has got to alarm the teams facing San Jose in the playoffs.
Now it’s one loss and you’re out. Another season of excellence hangs on what will happen in the playoffs, where being undefeated isn’t an option… it’s a Championship.
Tim Ball is a writer in the Chicagoland area. Married and father of three, his opinions on Arena Football reflects the positive aspect of the game as a family event second to none in pro sports.
