Philyaw Means to End for Rush
Mary-Ann Williams
Wednesday March 24, 2004
I no longer worry about the Rush falling apart midway through the game. In all honesty, as I watched them play a hardscrabble game against the perennial tough guys, the Orlando Predators, I never doubted the outcome. Interceptions, forced fumbles, recovered fumbles for a touch down, sacks… and not one of them against the Rush.
Not that Orlando didn’t play hard. They did. They played tough, and mean, just like they always do. It showed in the fights on the field, in the cheap shots from both sides, and in the non-stop taunting. It showed in the way they never gave up, even when the Rush shoved the Predators back 10 yards to Chicago’s 12 with a sack… twice on the same drive. It showed in nearly every play. But Chicago’s heart, and talent, showed more.
When QB Raymond Philyaw went down with a shoulder injury in the first half, I was concerned. I like backup QB Chad Salisbury, and I think he’s a talented guy, but something told me Philyaw was the difference, the spark, the change that’s given the Rush a 5-1 start. I was right.
“I think Ray Philyaw has a lot to do with that,” said Rush head coach Mike Hohensee. “I think everyone realizes we have a chance to score every time we have the ball. He just doesn’t do the wrong thing with it.”
“Again, he played a flawless game today. He showed his courage coming back and playing in the second half,” continued Hohensee. “He wanted to be part of that, and he wants to be the leader of this team. If he didn’t want to be a leader of this team, he wouldn’t have come back that second half. He knows Chad’s good enough to help us win a football game.”
So, Philyaw went out in the second quarter, Salisbury came in, and the Rush scored a TD without batting an eye. (Salisbury’s first of the season, in case you were curious.) Chicago’s defense then absolutely manhandled the Predators, forcing a turnover on downs during the next drive, despite numerous flags. (Come on, it’s the Rush against the Preds; there are going to be flags. Just expect it and settle in for a long game.)
But the intensity was lacking on the next drive led by Salisbury. Functionally, it worked, sort of. They got a field goal, and went into the locker room with a significant lead, 27-7. But it may as well have been last year’s team for all the personality on the field. Philyaw is definitely the difference.
As Hohensee said, Philyaw came back after the half and gave the Rush a 48-7 lead before bowing out to Salisbury for the rest of the game. And Salisbury did fine. He brought home another TD. He kept the team on track. He did a perfectly good job of being backup QB, but let no one wonder who the real leader of this team is now. Raymond Philyaw has made his mark, and will continue to do so, maybe all the way to the ArenaBowl.
Interesting… for the first time ever I feel comfortable making that prediction. Thanks, Ray.
Another DB Gone
Joining a long line of DBs who have gone before him, WR/DB Malcolm Moore suffered an injury that put him out of the game, and he did it a little more spectacularly than the others. Moore snapped his left tibia and fibula, not only ending his season, but quite possibly his career. The Murray State alum was playing in his first Rush game (his second AFL game) ever, and doing a bang-up job of it, too. When he went out midway through the third quarter, he had batted away three passes and assisted in two tackles.
Showing the same grit on the gurney that he did on the field, Moore lifted his hand, showing number one, high into the air, letting fans and teammates alike know that he was just fine, and what he expected of them.
Moore makes the fifth defensive backfield player to be knocked out of the game. DS Greg Williams underwent surgery for a ruptured flexor tendon in his left ring finger, DS DaShane Denis and WR/DB Josh Phillips both went down under New York on St Valentine’s Day, and WR/DB Donnie Caldwell tore the ACL of his right knee against Colorado on February 22.
Even knowing injuries are a large part of the game, especially in the backfield, one has to wonder if there isn’t some seriously bad karma going on with the Rush’s defense.
Mary-Ann Williams lives in Chicagoland with her four children, Carter, Jackson, Jeremy, and Riley Jade. As a freelance writer, she`s written articles for the Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the Daily Herald. She also serves as editor of the AFL-side of Arenafan Online, and covers the Chicago Rush.
