Conversation with 2002 Offensive Player of the Year Mark Grieb
Tim Ball
Saturday February 8, 2003
Sustaining a broken collarbone to end his season in the only SaberCats loss of 2002 against Arizona in game thirteen forced the league’s top rated quarterback to watch his team win the championship from the sideline in ArenaBowl XVI.
If there is any consolation to the disappointment that Grieb surely harbors, it is that his team dominated and defeated the very team responsible for his injury. The SaberCats won the championship in the most dominant victory in league history. If Grieb wasn’t on the field during the championship game, his hand was on the season of excellence and had a place reserved for it on the ArenaBowl trophy.
Willing to make tackles on special teams play in the first game back in 2003 indicated that Grieb has not returned just to be the quarterback. Grieb’s hard play against Arizona showed his teammates and fans he is here to play football.
It was a little easier for an Arenafan reporter to get a hold of Grieb than his opponents. I didn’t have to go through the SaberCats heralded front line -- I just had to go through the front office.
Tim Ball: First off, two tackles on special teams in the first game of the season, against Arizona? What were you thinking? What did your agent think?
 Mark Grieb Image courtesy of Jeff Marshall |
TB: Actually both you and (kicker) Daron Alcorn got tackles. What’s up with that?
MG:Well he’s really big! (Laughing) And he loves it! I was just trying to get angles and he goes right at ‘em.
TB: I spoke with Steve Papin before the Dragon’s game last year and he said the same thing. He mentioned Alcorn possibly tackling him.
MG:He was on our team -- he knows.
TB: How did it feel starting in Arizona? Any thoughts about the injury pop up?
MG:Getting injured really is part of the game. I think the thing we all thought about the most was; are we ready to play with no real preseason games behind us?
TB: Both teams came out a little slow in the first half, did the injury to Joe Jacobs on the first play of the game cause players to worry?
MG: No, not really, I mean he was still walking around. I think we were rusty that’s all. The intensity between both teams wasn’t there at first like it usually is. Both Bonner and I got off slow. We got into a rhythm towards the end of the first half and continued it in the second half. It wasn’t one of our best starts.
TB: How were the Arizona fans towards you? Any heckling?
MG: The place was packed. It was great. They have great fans. You know that. They were really loud and gave us all a hard time but that’s what they’re supposed to do.
TB: It looked like Bo Kelly may have purposefully struck you in the face on his personal foul penalty in the third quarter. His coach sidelined him for a while. Did you know it when it happened?
MG: My head snapped back pretty hard on the play but until I saw the tape I didn’t know what he was doing or why. My jaw is still sore, I know that. Danny White doesn’t go for that kind of play and pulled him aside to think about it. He probably got caught up in the moment.
TB: Why is the SaberCats offense so good? Whether away or at home, the productivity stays the same. What’s the main ingredient?
MG: We have players with a lot of arena experience. They know that the other team is going to score and in arena football it’s going to happen a lot. I think the main thing is we know to do our jobs the way we train and practice. You can’t afford a lot of confusion in this league. The teams that prepare the best succeed.
TB: The SaberCats are a calm team. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of trash talking players on the team. Is that part of your leadership style or what?
MG: (Laughing) We do our fair share, Tim. I get that a lot; that the SaberCats seem reserved. It’s just that we keep it player to player on the field. But there’s trash talking --don’t fool yourself.
TB: OK, there doesn’t seem to be excessive celebration after “San Jose” touchdowns. Some players in the league do dances and jump around. Do the SaberCats coaches play that down?
MG: No, our coaches just want us to score. I can’t remember a time when anyone was told what they can or can’t do after scoring, as long as you don’t draw a penalty. Celebrating is part of the game and I think it’s great. Our coaches prefer to celebrate after the victory. Remember in this game if there is 10 seconds on the clock, nothing is in the bag. But if a player wants to celebrate in the end zone, go for it.
TB: Do you have a favorite receiver?
MG: (Laughing) The one who just made the catch.
TB: C’mon no clichés.
MG: I really have faith in the guys I play with. We score a lot of touchdowns and it’s not just one guy.
TB: It seems like you look for Wagner when you’re in trouble. Do you use him as the go-to guy?
MG: His experience is key. And, he’s a big guy at 6’2” 220. If he’s matched up with a little DB at 175lbs, he can go up and get it, that’s for sure.
TB: You don’t throw a lot of interceptions. Why is that?
MG: That’s a good question and I really give credit to the receivers we have. They know how to position themselves to keep the angle to the ball away from the defender.
TB: You are known to throw pretty good passes. You have the finesse for sure but there have been times when you just wing it in there. What’s your secret and please no pat clichés, c’mon now.
MG: This game is suited to my style. There is not a lot of room for just throwing hard all the time. Most passes have to go over or around guys. There is a lot of precision in Arena Football because of the size of the field and the speed at which things happen. If you force a throw it usually doesn’t turn out good.
TB: What about the times we see you fire it in there?
MG: Most plays are designed for what kind of pass to use. When you see any quarterback throwing hard, there is a reason. It’s usually the amount of space you’re throwing into or when you’re forced from the pocket and a receiver is breaking back for the ball with a defender right on him.
TB: It’s easy to see why you are a good quarterback. I mentioned several times in articles that it was your willingness to share practice time with John Dutton that had him primed and ready when needed.
MG: Well really I’d take every rep if they’d let me. But seriously John is a great quarterback and our offensive coordinator Terry Malley needs the credit for this. He knows that every player has to be ready to play when called on.
TB: Your mom sent me a three-page email over something I mistakenly reported in pre-season stats between you and John a few weeks ago. Is she always that protective?
MG: (Laughing) Wait ‘til she sees you at a game. Be careful. She reads Arenafan all the time.
TB: How does it look for 2003? With the exception of McMillen, Smith and Ulufale, the team is pretty much the same.
MG: It’s going to be tough and we know it. Teams made adjustments in the off-season to bring in better and better players. We just have to stay healthy and do our jobs.
TB: You guys have to know you are a good team. Maybe the best of all-time under coach Darren Arbet, with a plus 800% winning average. Is it as easy as taking it one game at a time?
MG: We are a good team. There is no doubting that, but if you don’t focus you won’t go anywhere. It’s not a cliché about taking it one game at a time. It is the only way to keep your concentration on what team you’re going to play. Coach Arbet knows each team presents different schemes and problems. You can’t prepare for different teams the same way.
TB: Here’s one for the fans. How many seasons will you play?
MG: (Laughing) As long as I can make the team and produce. If they want me around I’ll play.
TB: You clichéd me again. All right then, how do you like the NBC coverage so far? You played in the XFL, any thoughts about the direction of the league?
MG: They seem to be handling the league with the respect it deserves. NBC wasn’t in charge of the XFL. It was a wrestling thing. From what I’ve seen so far the league is headed in the right direction.
TB: From what the league has seen of you and the SaberCats you’re headed in the right direction also. Any predictions for the season?
MG: (Laughing) We are going to have to make the playoffs to get to the championship game.
TB: Mark, thanks for letting Arenafan readers in on a glimpse of the best quarterback in the league. So for now, we’ll take it one game at a time.
MG: Thank you. It’s going to be an exciting season for everyone. See you at the games.
For the Arena Football League, this year is like no other in its sixteen-year history with the well-deserved exposure of the NBC coverage of the 2003 season.
For the teams and players of the league, last season was the year of excellence by which all who follow will be judged.
Not only did Mark Grieb lead the SaberCats to an unbeaten record with twelve wins in a row, when defeat came and Grieb was sidelined with a season-ending injury, his team responded with the most impressive win in championship history, leaving no doubt of the outcome had Grieb played every down.
This season may head down different paths with differing destinations, but one thing is certain: The road to perfection runs by way of the one paved by Mark Grieb and the San Jose SaberCats.
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.
