Desperados Not Desperate
Tim Parry
Monday February 23, 2004
Dallas seemed desperate just a few weeks back, but without McClay, who took over as head coach just days before the season opener against Carolina, and Gauntt, the starter under center, the team is in great shape with a 2-1 record.
The Desperados saga started last month, when record-setting quarterback Jim Kubiak was lost for the season with a neck injury. Gauntt, a backup quarterback at the University of South Florida with just one AFL start under his belt, became the starter.
Then, less than a week before the season started, Joe Avezzano left the Desperados to take a job with the Oakland Raiders. Though McClay had several years of AFL experience, word around the league was that Dallas was doomed.
But Dallas (2-1) suddenly does not seem desperate. Especially after Gauntt and McClay led the team to a 56-44 win on the road against the New York Dragons.
"This is a testament to the whole squad and the whole staff that they believe in what we are doing," McClay said. "These guys are going out there, making the right plays and overcoming adversity."
Gauntt completed 23 of 35 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for another. And for the first time in his young career, he did not throw an interception.
"Glen`s continuing to get better and the people around him are getting better," McClay said. "Glen made plays today when there was a lot of pressure on him, and he hung in there and threw the ball well."
Gauntt, who made just his fourth career start, also out-dueled Aaron Garcia, one of the league`s top quarterbacks. But he was quick to pass the credit on to the coaching staff, his line and the Dallas defense.
"We did what we had to do to get the win," Gauntt said. "Any win in Arena Football on the road is a good win, especially against New York and a quarterback like Aaron Garcia. I thought our defensive line put pressure on Garcia all day and made him look human."
The Desperados` defense sacked Garcia twice and hurried him three times, the last resulting in an interception by Jermaine Jones at the Dallas 11-yard line with the Dragons trailing by four with 1:45 left to play. Jones` interception came on a tip from Derrick Stingley, who knocked a pass out of the hands of Dragons receiver Lincoln Dupree in the end zone three plays earlier.
"It`s just about being in the right place at the right time," said Stingley.
Though it`s tough to rattle a veteran like Garcia, Desperados rookie lineman Colston Weatherington did his best by getting into the quarterback`s face early and often. After a second-quarter hit by Weatherington, Garcia lost his cool and shoved back, leading to tension between the two that lasted through the game.
"It`s chemistry, and we`re starting to get it now," said Stingley. "For the first time everything is aligned with the line and the secondary. We got good pressure on the line and the backs are playing together, so everything started going our way."
Tim Parry is a veteran Arena Football writer whose work has appeared in several print and online publications. After coordinating AFL coverage for one website for the past three seasons, he now does the same for his own website, Football Galore.
