Cobras Struggle to Play as a Team
Chuck DiLullo
Monday February 24, 2003
"We can play with anybody if everyone will execute at the same time,” said exasperated Cobras` Head Coach Mike Hold. “Too many times when we have opportunities, somebody isn`t stepping up to the plate. The positive is that we proved we can play with them but we got to play 60 minutes."
Connell Maynor stepped in for the injured Gruden and quickly took over the game, exacting revenge on the franchise that cut him last year despite leading the Cobras to a 3-1 record and first place standing.
Maynor is no stranger to success, having guided the 2000 Predators to the Arena Bowl championship. With targets like Corey Flemming, Thabiti Davis and Travis McGriff, it is unlikely the Predators` offense will miss a beat for the balance of the season.
"Maynor is a scrambler, a Michael Vick-type player," said defensive coach Flint Flemming. "I`m not taking anything away from Connell Maynor, but any time you don`t take care of your job on defense, anybody`s going to look like an all-star when you look that sloppy and lackluster."
One of the few bright spots for the Cobras was newcomer Van Johnson. Signed earlier in the week after spending four seasons with the Firebirds organization where he posted 61 catches for 794 yards and 11 TD`s last season and hauled in five catches for 82 yards and two scores in his debut with the team.
"We`re just trying to get it together. The play calling is good," Johnson said after the game. "This is one of the best play-calling systems I have ever been part of. We have to make the plays when they are there for us to make."
"Van stepped up and played great and did some really good things," said Hold. "With less than a week of practice."
This will be a tough week for Mike Hold and Eddie Khayat, Senior Advisor of Football Operations for the Cobras. Critical personnel decisions have to be made on the heels of this dismal performance.
"There are times when guys aren`t making the plays when they need to make the plays,” said Hold. “You have eight guys in the field. This is a man-to-man league and if one man isn`t doing his job, there`s a breakdown. And if you have a breakdown, you are going to get hurt. We have to find the right mix that is going to do it and we have to watch the film to find where the breakdown is. Not everyone is doing their job and if that means making changes, absolutely. What we did tonight was not good enough to win football games and if that same group is going to give us the same outcome all the time we cannot keep it. We have to fight for 60 minutes."
"We can`t make plays for the guys and ultimately they have to shoulder some of the responsibility.” Said coach Flint Flemming. “It is very frustrating if guys quit on you. This game is about execution."
The coaching staff and player personnel department are in a difficult position because the Cobras did not make an aggressive pitch to bring in veteran players in the off-season. This has challenged coaches Hold, Flemming and Maurice Blanding to put together a cohesive unit that can develop and mature from week-to-week. The Cobras have made some critical pick-ups since week three, including Robert Hall, Ty Law, and Van Johnson. But it takes time to blend as a team, which is critical in such a talented league. Pride and commitment will be the key to turning this season around for the Cobras. They are in good hands with the experience, leadership and pedigree of success provided by Hold and his staff. The team must look to its veteran core within the locker room and challenge themselves as professionals.
They will have their chance in week five on the road versus the Grand Rapids Rampage.
Chuck DiLullo works for a manufacturer of process control instrumentation as a sales engineer. He has been a fan of professional, college and high school football since he could walk. Chuck is originally from Philadelphia and he became a huge Arena Football League fan while living in Buffalo. Chuck has lived in Charlotte since 2000 with his wife & three children.
