SaberCats 2003 Journey Begins
Tim Ball
Friday February 7, 2003
A shadow quickly hung over the arena. An injury on the first play of the game to SaberCats OL/DL Joe Jacobs (rupture bicep) reminded players that the short off-season left them vulnerable. With the entire schedule ahead of them, neither team seemed to go all out in the first half.
Pass interference and holding penalties, errant throws, dropped passes and not one successful field goal, were evidence that both teams were playing in second gear.
Sure as a Nostradamus prophecy, darkness descended on the Rattler faithful during intermission. The 15,372 fans in attendance quickly learned that quarterback Sherdrick Bonner would not be playing in the second half. Bonner sustained a separated shoulder and would watch the action from the sidelines.
Backup quarterback Chris Hixson brought hope to the home crowd by throwing a touchdown on the first play of the second half to even the score at 21-21. Snake Pit happiness was short-lived, however, as even though the game was played on a Sunday, the SaberCats weren’t in town for church service and quickly took back the lead on their next possession and never looked back.
“We came out and tried to make things happen, and once we calmed down and realized all we had to do was play football, we did all right,” head coach Darren Arbet said in a quote to the San Jose Mercury News.
With San Jose netting a divisional win with this victory they did all right indeed. Los Angeles is up next and with a win over the Avengers; the SaberCats would take sole possession of first place in the West.
Tough-guy competition
Starting this season where he was stopped last season, SaberCats quarterback Mark Grieb not only faced the same team that brought his historic season to an end but also finished San Jose’s quest to go undefeated.
“I feel great,” said Grieb, responding to a question of off-season preparation and healing. “I have the kind of guys around me that push me hard in practice. Once we get the rhythm and timing down I won’t have much to worry about. I was lucky that it wasn’t a major injury like a rotator or damage to my throwing arm.”
Grieb showed he has the toughness to get things back on the same track he was on in 2002. Not only did he make two tackles on special teams -- defending runbacks from missed field goals -- he also took a left hook to the jaw from Arizona’s Bo Kelly in the fourth quarter.
In a sport where negativity is hard to find in the game, and in a city with the best fans in the sport, Kelly’s actions may have been borne out of frustration but find no excuse. Not only was Kelly sidelined, the penalty assessed on Arizona resulted in the SaberCats going up 41-21, on the ensuing drive.
There was some question that last season’s hard tackle by Stacey Evans that broke Grieb’s collarbone in game thirteen was intentional or not. Kelly’s shot to Grieb’s jaw left no doubt in this case.
Let me back the tape up and look at this again: Ball is snapped, Kelly is rushing in and being blocked by Matt Kinsinger and, there it is again, Kelly lunging forward, left hand out…bang, right into Griebs’ face.
Kelly “may” have been trying to deflect the pass, but the force and sound that followed his failed attempt left room for discussion between the announcers and a penalty flag on the field.
Vets make room
While Grieb settled down and found his favorite veterans Hundon, Roe and Wagner for touchdowns, rookie FB/LB Keala Keanaaina earned his spot beside on the team.
Replacing FB/LB Bob McMillen who signed with the Chicago Rush, is no easy matter. McMillen’s leadership, strength and ability to play both ways were a big part of the SaberCats success. Keanaaina proved he’s up for the task.
Keanaaina was as dominant on defense as he was on offense. His solo tackle of Bonner on the one yard-line denied Arizona a tying touchdown as the first half ended.
Not only establishing the second longest run in SaberCats history, the young rookie provided key blocks for Wagner’s rushing touchdowns and later scored his first career rushing touchdown to supply the SaberCats with their final margin of victory.
2002 Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year, DS Clevan Thomas shut down Rattlers receivers all game long and capped off his day of continued excellence with an interception. Thomas’ ability to cover the receiver in motion puts him in a class by himself and cuts an already small field in half.
“It’s important to use good technique and keep yourself in position to break up the pass,” said Thomas, as if anyone can do it. “If you can establish a good angle you can frustrate the receiver and give the linemen time to get to the quarterback.”
Thomas illustrates the SaberCats mentality that every player is dependent on each other. In arena football, with compressed lanes of operation and the speed at which things happen, the need is not for hokey motivational pep talks from fired up coaches but players that can be counted on.
Pick up the pace
While some teams depend on a few star players to carry the load, the above quote from Thomas not only has humility from undoubtedly the league’s best defensive player but also is born out in San Jose’s constant productivity level of new players.
San Jose didn’t lose ground from last season. In fact, it seems to have gained some with the constant motivation of rookies added to the consistency of the SaberCats veterans.
2003 will be an uphill climb for sure but one that is a little easier when pushed by those who want to prove they are worthy to be included. So when the inevitable dark clouds loom on the horizon there will be a silver lining with each one.
Next up for San Jose is another divisional rival. The Los Angles Avengers know if they want to reach the next level they’ll have to take down the SaberCats.
Game time is Sunday February 9th 12:00pm at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
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.
