San Jose Looks to go 11-4 in Tampa Bay
Tim Ball
Saturday May 10, 2003
This time around, the Storm hope to show similar hospitality on their home field. But first is securing the all-powerful home field advantage and with a win against San Jose, it would bring that goal one step closer for Tampa Bay. The SaberCats under head coach Darren Arbet are not known for sentimentality, they are known for winning.
Trying to Arbet’s attention at practice isn’t easy. The SaberCats’ work ethic is intense and unless reporters are willing to walk and talk at the same time, there’s no telling when the session is going to end. An open door in the weight room allowed a hurried dash to the roving leader. On playing Tampa Bay, Arbet is well aware of the task at hand and the importance of the game.
“Tampa Bay is a great ball club,” said Arbet. “They’re efficient in what they do. There is not going to be room for error. The level of play this season has been intense and teams have had to give it their all on virtually every play. Going in to Tampa Bay we’re expecting a tough game.”
Almost every game this season has been decided on the last possession. The “room for error,” mentioned by Arbet is a fact that has made this season unbelievably exciting. Even in defeat San Jose and Tampa Bay have only lost by more than a touchdown once between the two -- an overtime loss by the Storm to the Gladiators 51-65.
A must see match-up is an understatement as this could easily be the preview to ArenaBowl XVII.
Defensive match-up to watch
Clevan Thomas and Omarr Smith in 2002 anchored a defense that so dominated the league and the championship game, it makes you wonder if San Jose may again be undefeated this year if both were still on the same team.
Thomas earned 2002 Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year awards and Smith received the ArenaBowl XVI Ironman Award. Now their excellence as defensive specialists will be played out as opponents.
Tampa Bay, in a move that may be a big reason why they are in first place, picked up Smith as a free agent in the off-season. Thomas has led the SaberCats’ defense even while playing hurt, with an injury that eventually saw him miss his first games since coming to the league.
Both Thomas and Smith are at the top once again. Thomas with 11 interceptions and 27 passes defended in twelve games and Smith with eight interceptions, and 21 pass break ups on the season.
“You look at what Omar did with our team last season and it’s not surprising that he’s having a great season this year with Tampa Bay,” said Arbet. “He puts out the effort and works hard to be where he’s at.”
Both San Jose and Tampa Bay deserve to be where they are.
With Los Angeles (10-4) playing Colorado (2-12) and Orlando (10-4) playing Carolina (0-14) it’s almost unfair that the SaberCats and Storm have an epic battle, while the other two top teams have little to fear except injuries, in becoming 11-4 on the season.
The why and how
San Jose stresses team unity above all else. Stars mean little if they are sitting at home watching the playoffs, pouring over season statistics of individual accomplishments.
 Mark Grieb Image courtesy of Ken LaRue |
After 14 games this season, San Jose leads the league with a 71.71% scoring efficiency with 109 touchdowns on 152 possessions. 44 of which have come by way of rushing touchdowns. San Jose has set the all-time record for rushing touchdowns at the 44 mark and still have two games left to play with the new 16 game format.
“It doesn’t really matter who does what,” said Grieb. “Gaining a win and making it to the playoffs and getting to the championship is the most important thing to play for. I’m fortunate to be on a team with guys who have the attitude to support each other and put their ego in the proper place.”
The red-zone may be the most telling sign that Grieb and the SaberCats think in those exact terms. San Jose is 60 for 61 for a 98.4% success rate inside the ten-yard line. The SaberCats are 26 for 26 in their last six games and have used the run the majority of the time.
The loneliest number
The list of top talent in the game between San Jose and Tampa Bay deserves your time in visiting websites, from arenafan.com and arenafootball.com, to the San Jose and Tampa Bay websites. In fact the list of new places to read up on the Arena League is growing and growing.
There is no sure thing as a victory this season but it’s probably safe to say that if the SaberCats beat the Storm, the league is looking at a four-way tie of 11-4 teams.
Last season the league was just looking for someone to fill in the other side of the picture in press releases about the San Jose SaberCats championship run. This season, while San Jose has once again set an all-time record (it really means to date) in the rushing department, there really are many very good teams that could streak through the single-elimination playoffs and win it all.
The number the SaberCats are setting as a goal is not to be unbeaten on the season. It is to be unbeaten in one game -- this weekend in Tampa Bay.
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.
