Cobras Look for First Win Under New QB
Chuck DiLullo
Friday February 28, 2003
"Robert has been a little bit uncomfortable at times," said Hold. "I am going to start Glen this week. I told Robert that it is not because I am down on him. It is just that I don`t think the consistency is there. Robert`s numbers are actually pretty good but I am going with a gut feeling."
Gauntt represents the Cobras’ fourth starting QB this season and will be making his first AFL career start in front of a sold-out crowd in Grand Rapids. Though a rookie in the AFL, Gauntt has played the last two seasons with Hold with the af2 Augusta Stallions.
The Cobras are coming off a 70-42 thrashing at the hands of the undefeated Orlando Predators in a game where they trailed by only six points at halftime. The Rampage suffered their first loss at home to the Tampa Bay Storm 58-56 losing on a last second field goal after fighting back from a 14-point deficit to take the lead with 49 seconds left.
QB Clint Dolezel is the offensive leader of the Rampage and has thrown a touchdown pass in every game he’s played with the Rampage. "You don`t stop Clint Dolezel," said Hold. "If you can stop him, I want to buy some of that remedy. Dolezel is going to get it done and get his touchdowns. The key is to get a stop now and again. Dolezel is a veteran guy and they are a veteran team and they are going to execute."
Hold continues to emphasize the importance of execution & momentum in winning AFL games. "Momentum is a huge part of this game and right now we are on the tail end of the momentum. When you get the momentum on your side the play calling is easy," said Hold. "My main focus is to execute and to do things the way they need to be done. I feel we can compete with anybody. We just have to do it and we can`t go out and play a series one time and take the next one off. That`s our problem…. Every play is so important and we must learn as a team that every play counts."
The Cobras will have to find a way to put together a complete, 60-minute game. The past two have shown a strong first-half team, but they couldn’t close the deal. Hold understands that the team is close to turning the corner towards accomplishing this goal. "We`re close but close isn`t good enough. Five plays made the difference in 28 points versus Orlando. That`s just Arena Football and as lopsided as some of our games have been, we`re still not that far from being right where we want to be. We have to be worried about how to get a win because winning is contagious and we are really close."
The Cobras may be close but they have to find a way to nail down that first victory. This week they look to do that by matching up a rookie QB in a hostile environment against a veteran team with one of the best quarterbacks in league history at the helm.
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.
