Just a Mistake Away from Victory

Chuck Fasse
Tuesday February 18, 2003

Three weeks, three last minute losses. What’s next for the Colorado Crush, and more importantly, what’s keeping them out of the victory column? After having the luxury of starting their season with three straight home games, the Crush must now go on the road for four straight weeks; looking for their first victory and to pick up some momentum as they head into the meat of their divisional schedule. Head Coach Bob Beers has had to endure three difficult losses and the aftermath of answering to the fans and media as to what is keeping his team out of the win column.

Beers said, “Mental mistakes are holding us back, it’s the small things that you take for granted that are holding us back. It’s not just one specific thing. We’ve been in these ball games and our guys are playing hard. We just have to eliminate the mental mistakes and win one of these. We have to learn to finish.”

In three games, the Crush have been able to stay neck-and-neck with some of the Arena League’s best teams, only to lose in the waning seconds. Five costly fumbles by quarterback John Dutton led to three touchdowns in the Crush’s first two games. Fumbles that just slipped out of the quarterback’s hand as he went to pass. Then in week three, a blocked extra point returned for two points and a fumbled kickoff in the end zone which was recovered for a touchdown are the mental mistakes Beers is referring to.

“Eliminate just one of those mistakes and we are 3-0 and we aren’t sitting here,” stated Beers in his after-game remarks. “I’m going to sit down and watch the film and have a beer. Hell maybe a case of beer… This one hurts.”

The kicking game for the Crush has yet to find its legs, no pun intended. As will happen with expansion teams, the Crush’s goal post has yet to arrive at their practice facility, leaving their kicker with nothing to practice on.

The kicking game has been one of the weak spots in the Crush’s game, with multiple missed extra points and the inability to convert field goal attempts into points has cost the Crush dearly late in the game. Twice this season if the Crush’s kicker converts one extra point in either of those contests Colorado walks away winners. Coach Beers reiterated the point that the Crush are a good team and as soon as they eliminate the mental mistakes things will fall into place and fans will see victories start to add up.

“We aren’t far off, I can feel it” said Beers, showing his unwavering faith in the team and the players he has put together and led onto the field. With that type of attitude, it won’t be long till the Crush start to put together wins. And if you believe Beers, that could happen this week.

 

The opinions expressed in the article above are only those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts, opinions, or official stance of ArenaFan Online or its staff, or the Arena Football League, or any AFL or af2 teams.

Chuck Fasse Articles
A Chat with John Elway 5/27/2003
Dutton Believes Season is Salvagable 3/19/2003
Latest Loss Could lead to Big Crush Changes 3/18/2003
Just a Mistake Away from Victory 2/18/2003
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