Dragons Unable to Recapture Last Season’s Playoff Success
David Holusha
Monday February 16, 2004
Despite last season’s home playoff win, there have been whispers that the home field is not all that much of an advantage for the Dragons. Head coach Todd Shell feels he may have an answer for this.
“For some reason we just don’t focus, but I’ll get it figured out,” said Shell. “This is a professional business. This is pro football. Guys aren’t here on college scholarships. They either get it done—it’s my job to get it done—or we’ll all be out of here.”
One aspect of the game the coach was not happy about was the frequent jumping off sides by the Dragons on the defensive side of the ball.
“To me the ball is in front of you,” explained Shell. “When the ball goes, you go. We continue to have that problem. These guys are going to have to take it upon themselves. If they continue to do it, we’re going to be putting ourselves in a hole every time we line up.”
In a physical and frequently heated game—Dragons rock hard fullback/linebacker Rodney Filer came to near blows in a fierce confrontation with Chicago’s defensive all-everything and record holder John Moyer—you had the sense neither team was going to run away with this thing.
True to form, it was the Dragons final offensive play with less than half a minute to go that would decide the outcome. Because the Chicago defense was able to block two Dragons point after attempts—the first by John Moyer, the second by James Baron—the Dragons were forced to go for a two-point conversion after scoring their final touchdown in order to send this game into overtime. Receiver Chris Anthony appeared to find a seam in the end zone, but safety DeJuan Alfonso made contact, causing the ball to hit Anthony on the helmet. What may have gone as pass interference at another time instead went uncalled.
When asked if he thought there might be something called, coach Shell said, “I thought maybe, but that’s the way the game is. They’ve got good players too, and the officials make the best calls they can. You’ve got to live with that. But we never should have been in that situation in the first place. We should have been kicking an extra point to tie the game.”
Quarterback Aaron Garcia echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“It’s a physical game,” said Garcia. “They called pass interference a couple of times down there before. I’m sure Chris Anthony felt it was the same situation. He tried to get through there and the guy kind of grabbed him. I put the ball up and thought he was going to get a call, but that’s just the way this game is. You’ve got to fight to the end, but we just didn’t get it done.”
Despite that final play, Garcia and his receivers had another impressive game, combining for seven touchdowns. Garcia also ran for one score. When asked about the running attack, both the coach and quarterback felt they could do better.
“We’ve just got to continue to keep working at it,” said Shell. “Chicago is pretty good up front Every time we did run the ball, they did a nice job of getting off the blocks. We’ve got to do a better job of executing. We’ve got to execute on both sides of the ball and on special teams.
“Right now, as good as we played last week, you’ve still got the two things I tell these guys, either you get better or you get worse each time you step on the field. Today we got worse.”
Garcia had his own views on it as well.
“In the arena game, you’re often blocking three on four,” said Garcia. “That’s why at times they try to use me to run the ball, because it gives you an extra blocker. On the first touchdown that was evident. We tried it one more time, but they stuffed it. They have one of the best defensive lines in the league for a reason.
“I don’t mind running the ball. I enjoy it, but I’d rather throw it. If we feel like that is one of the places we can capitalize on, then sure.”
Garcia was quick to praise his receivers, in particular rookie offensive specialist Vinny Sutherland, who Garcia compared to two former Dragons now playing in the NFL.
“He played a lot better this week, and that’s how it’s going to be for any receiver in this league,” said Garcia. “Mike Furrey had a learning curve, Kevin Swayne as well, and Vinny is going to have the same thing. I think he came out and showed that he got a lot better this week than he was last week.”
However, it was the kicking game that led to the Dragons eventual downfall. Coach Shell was not at a loss for words when addressing this.
“We’re just not getting our job done in that area. It’s a man on man situation. You’re blocking guys, and their man beat our man. It’s as simple as that. Those extra points are crucial situations. That’s the way this game is when you play good teams. It usually comes down to who has the ball last—whoever makes the plays—and we just didn’t get it done.”
David Holusha was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2003 to 2004.
