SaberCats Face Chicago Without Hundon
Tim Ball
Friday March 7, 2003
Chicago is also bad as in bad for western division teams in Arena Football. All who have made the trip have been turned away empty-handed. The Rush holds a 4-0 record over the west at home.
And there’s bad news coming out of SaberCats practice today. OS James Hundon will be sidelined for six to eight weeks recovering from hernia surgery. Aaron Bailey, former OS for Carolina, will be starting in place of Hundon (so it’s not that bad).
Though 2-3 on the season, Chicago has found the right formula having won the last two and are looking forward to making it 3-3 at the expense of the visiting SaberCats.
San Jose had their toughest regular season game last year against the Rush. QB Billy Dicken refused to concede anything until the final second disappeared from the clock. Neither a turnover nor offensive touchdown seemed to deter Chicago and Dicken from rebounding from any SaberCats success. Six points decided the final outcome.
Classic Rematch of Second-Year Stars
San Jose DS Clevan Thomas hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down from last season’s historic accomplishments. Already with five interceptions this year, it was Thomas who was all over Chicago last year. Thomas returned three kicks for touchdowns and intercepted Dicken as well. You can bet Thomas is going to factor into Chicago’s game plan.
Chicago’s OS Antonio Chatman, also in his second year, mirrors Thomas. In their last meeting Chatman lit it up stride for stride with Thomas and both finished with almost identical return yards. Both are leading their teams in kick return yards this year, proving that last season was just the start. Chatman’s a sure bet to weigh heavily on the SaberCats defensive scheme.
“They’re going come at us like before,” said Thomas. “They’re playing the way we thought they could. There’ll be turnovers but it’s our job to get more than they do. Chatman is outstanding and having a great season so far. This is going to be a great game.”
Offense sells tickets but it is the defense that wins games. Because of their defenses, neither San Jose nor Chicago have to rely on answering back endlessly when opponents score and those defensive stops are huge in Arena Football.
“Our goal is to pressure Dicken; that’s no surprise,” said defensive coordinator Michael Church. “But players are the ones on the field that have to execute. Chicago has speed and we’ll have to be successful at the line in order to keep Dicken from delivering quick strikes. All the game plans in the world cannot beat players making plays.”
Bring Your Game and New OS
Barry Wagner echoes his defensive coach. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing,” said Wagner. “We have to play our game. You can look at tapes and study film all day long but when it’s game time it’s just the guys on the field. You either make the plays or you don’t.”
Going into Chicago and making those plays is not going to be easy. While this game shines on two outstanding second-year players, Thomas and Chatman cannot do it alone. With sellout crowds firmly behind their team, the Rush faithful are not rolling out the red carpet for the ‘Cats. San Jose’s bench is the only place they’ll see a friendly face.
The news of Hundon -- who is the catalyst for San Jose’s offensive productivity -- being out could have been a major setback if not for the depth of San Jose. Bailey is no second string player and when asked if he was ready to go responded with just a smile and one word: “Yes.”
Bailey led Carolina to their first playoff victory in style by beating the defending champion Grand Rapids Rampage and left his mark in the record books as well.
If it wasn’t for last second heroics by the Rattlers to oust Carolina from the playoffs in the quarterfinals, Bailey might have played against the SaberCats in the ArenaBowl.
It is this example of depth that keeps pressure on San Jose’s opponents even before the coin toss. When one San Jose player goes down another of equal value is more than ready to prove his worth.
The Strongest Muscle
Chicago proved in last year’s meeting that turnovers and disappointments meant little with time remaining. With the SaberCats rolling over their last two opponents like a tank over a speed bump, the Rush are going to have to rise up and push back.
You either slow the SaberCats ability to score from both sides of the ball or you run with the pack and hope for the best.
It is that black and white.
With Chicago, they have to be beaten and not just played. They have proven to San Jose that they are not intimidated or shaken by anything that the SaberCats bring to the game.
Wagner and Church sum it up as good as it gets. To them, it’s the players with the biggest heart and with the desire to “make the plays,” who are going to leave this game with a victory.
Winning and losing is like therapy itself. It brings both hot and cold before relief is complete. San Jose and Chicago know the feeling of both.
Though playing in the coolest city in America, one thing is for sure: These teams won’t chill out until that last second disappears off the clock.
Don’t miss this game.
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.
