San Jose Players Shine in Week Two
Tim Ball
Thursday February 26, 2004
So much for Rashied Davis being a secret. And I’m not one for “I told you so,” but I did. The wide receiver/defensive back/kick returner just made a name for himself in the same way as the big bang theory.
Davis had two 57-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns against the Avengers in the 61-55 victory over Los Angeles. And to put icing on Davis’ already tasty cake, the Arena Football League honored his efforts by awarding the two-way speedster Ironman of the Week.
Los Angeles wasn’t so nice to the young star, but in the end it was Davis who overcame Los Angeles’ attack and led the way.
“It feels great,” Davis said of the award. “I really appreciate it. I could have played better on defense, but a win is a win. It’s always great to be recognized and I thank the league for giving it to me.”
In the preseason of 2002, Davis was on an exercise bike at the beginning of that historic year, never taking his eyes off of the players he would be running with. In 2003, at the start of rumors about his ability, Davis was sidelined with a season-ending injury.
In the off-season Davis has gotten bigger and stronger, with the rumors still firmly in place. But now those who could only guess have stats to establish truth.
Against Los Angeles’ talented team, Davis showed that he deserves a spot with the best, and the hype was grounded on fact and not gossip.
Davis joins the pantheon of league award winners produced by San Jose. In the first game of the season against the Detroit Fury, it was teammate WR/LB Omarr Smith who received league honors. In only their first two games, San Jose has shined.
Move over greatness
Offensive specialist James Hundon and wide receiver James Roe had a field day against newcomers in Los Angeles’ secondary. Even the best backs in the league have problems with Roe and Hundon, but the Avengers had to resort to on the job training for Robert Bean and Keith Hayward with the losses of Cornelius Coe and Damen Wheeler.
The SaberCats scored on every possession except for the final drive of the game, when the SaberCats ran out the clock AFL-style rather than extending the score over LA.
Look for Bean and Keith to learn from the lesson. LA is picked to be in the playoffs because of the talent they select and, like San Jose, on-field excellence is a matter of team pride.
It’s to be expected that LA will be firing on all cylinders and back to their winning ways, and the inevitable race to the end will be showcased in the west. The Avengers will get a rematch in only five weeks.
The other “biggest” star
The SaberCats expect performance. They have won over 25 games since the start of 2002 and don’t look to stop anytime soon.
The big reason is supernova quarterback Mark Grieb. While other quarterbacks get the press for deservedly good performances, Grieb’s loss record as a starter has not even reached double-digits (43-8).
Read the previous sentence again and remember that San Jose has been the number one seed the last two seasons.
Grieb is in a class by himself, but his unassuming personality and quiet leadership are best recognized where it counts most. And like the start of this article, Grieb never gets the headlines he earns. On a team that set the league record with rushing touchdowns and with a defense that has redefined Arena Football, Grieb is not likely to get the credit he deserves.
In 2002, the only thing that stopped Grieb and the SaberCats from a perfect season was a shattered collarbone that ended the season for him and a flawless season for San Jose. Though we all know the talent in quarterback John Dutton, the outcome of San Jose’s championship season would have been epic with Grieb starting the ArenaBowl.
Rather than expecting to be quoted, Grieb comes and goes like a face in the crowd. While flagging him down for a quote he just waved back, asked about my kids, said hello and walked into the films room… You gotta’ love the AFL!
“That is to be expected,” said offensive coordinator Terry Malley. “This is a team effort and, though every player wants time on the field and to be recognized, the goal is for that all to happen at the end of the season and realized with a championship.”
That from an offensive coordinator whose team averages 60 points a game and wins ninety plus percent of the time. It’s easy to see where Grieb gets his mentoring.
Let’s look at something. Los Angeles’ Toni Graziani threw 40 passes—20 of 40 for 289 and 7 touchdowns—and still came up short. Grieb threw 21 times with only three errors—not necessarily accredited to him—and the SaberCats still won the game.
Number ones
In their first two games, wins of course, the SaberCats have had two different players not on the offense win AFL weekly honors.
While the SaberCats do not do themselves any favors by always being “the team to beat,” it just seems to come naturally. Like the fastest gun in the west, nothing can stop a well-deserved reputation and those gunning for a reputation themselves.
While Rashied Davis takes his place among the shiniest SaberCats the team has only played two games.
Who’s next?
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.
