San Jose SaberCats Reach 10 Wins Again
Tim Ball
Wednesday May 5, 2004
Whether you root for your team to beat them or cheer their victories, the SaberCats are once again the team to beat or the team to win it all.
When you first meet the SaberCats the thing you notice is the quality of person inherent in each player. Opposing teams know by the end of a game a whole different aspect of that talent.
The first thing you’re aware of when seeing New Orleans is the quality and style of the place and its people. Though San Jose beat their new VooDoo soundly in their first meeting, there were no excuses offered for the loss and no winners taking it in stride.
The SaberCats could be honorary citizens of “The Big Easy.” The Silicon Valley knows a thing or two about etiquette and its football team showed the new team from the smooth southern city why, for the last five seasons, San Jose has been the class of the league.
The VooDoo came out fast and loose and took a 13-point lead before San Jose garnered their first score. New Orleans took little time to find the end zone again on the first play of the second quarter, when quaterback John Fitzgerald found OS Aaron Bailey on a perfectly thrown timing route on a 24-yard pass.
The SaberCats were facing a dire situation down quickly 20-7 at the end of the first quarter. New Orleans had just stopped San Jose on four straight attempts just five yards from the goalline, had already intercepted the SaberCats on the second play of the game and had forced a fumble on San Jose’s first rushing attempt for a score on this drive.
Another defensive stop looked likely and would have put the SaberCats in a deep hole as New Orleans could have taken a 20-point lead with the turnover on downs, and a field-goal wouldn’t have done much to stop the VooDoo momentum growing on each successive down.
SaberCats QB Mark Grieb and offensive coordinator Terry Malley went over the play that would put the game back in reach for San Jose. Grieb strode into the huddle and a few seconds later WR James Roe hauled in the strike from Grieb.
There were more sighs of relief than there were cheers for the dramatic touchdown from the worried San Jose faithful. As fans turned to each other to celebrate, you could feel the SaberCats’ train getting back on track. And with it, you could sense the VooDoo knew what was coming for them.
It came in the shape of defensive specialist Omarr Smith. With only 46 seconds left in the first half, and the VooDoo on the verge of taking a 13-point lead into the locker rooms at halftime, Smith reacted quickly to a deflected pass that went spinning straight up into the middle of the field and was first to the ball.
As both teams headed into the locker room at halftime, the SaberCats were ahead 28-27. The VooDoo would never see the lead again as San Jose left them far behind. By the game’s end San Jose’s defense simply steamrolled New Orleans time and again, and the SaberCats’ offensive power could not be stopped by the VooDoo.
The final score, 68-34, was an indication of the effort put out by the San Jose defense. San Jose completely dominated the second half with a relentless defensive performance that netted three more interceptions and a forced fumble. The shear number of turnovers kept New Orleans away from any hope of staying in the game. Fittingly the game ended on an incomplete pass.
Let’s talk about it
SaberCats head coach Darren Arbet and New Orleans star OS Aaron Bailey, met on the field after the game. Bailey’s talent was unfortunately neglected while with the SaberCats last season as he was behind the equally talented OS James Hundon and had some nagging injuries throughout the year to deal with as well.
“We know how talented Aaron is and we were effective in getting to Fitzgerald and throwing off his timing routes,” said Arbet. “The VooDoo did a good job coming out strong in the first half, but I’m proud of our team for preparing all week and making the adjustments needed to take control of the game.”
“San Jose has been a championship quality team for years and it showed tonight,” said Bailey. “We knew what we were up against and I know we’ll use this as a lesson. No one likes to lose, but, if we can learn from it, it will make us a better team.”
No one hurried off the field and players were talking to each other at length. Long after the game was over New Orleans QB John Fitzgerald made no excuses for the loss and VooDoo head coach Mike Neu echoed Bailey’s words.
“Any turnover can cost you the game, whether it’s Arena Football or any other,” said Fitzgerald. “When you have that many turnovers it shows that the other team is being effective and not just lucky. San Jose has been a quality team for so many years for a reason and you have to give them credit for an effort like this tonight. We’ll look at the films and learn from this going into the playoffs. We have a talented team and are not going to let this get us down that’s for sure.”
“The biggest thing is the number of turnovers,” said Neu “You draw the line right there. We had too many turnovers and you just can’t do that against a team the caliber of San Jose and expect to give yourself a chance to win. They created opportunities. San Jose has been playing championship caliber ball for last five years. They know how to finish off games and they did a good job tonight that’s for sure.”
Once again
There is one reason for San Jose’s continued excellence year after year. The many players waiting their turn produce incredible results when called on. Teammates who go from practice to game time stand alongside superstars like WR/LB Barry Wagner, DS Omarr Smith, OS James Hundon, WR/LB James Roe as equals and not rookies.
WR/LB Fred Coleman may be the biggest single pickup in the Arena Football League. A five-year veteran of the NFL, Coleman was a member of the 1999 Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. Coleman has a contagious attitude to be around.
“It may sound too easy, but I love being on this team and having the opportunity to play football,” said Coleman. “I’m just glad to be a part and when my number is called I just want to produce.”
Coleman joins Hundon, Roe and Wagner as another “go-to guy” and the combination of such talent may end up as the best teaming of receivers in league history.
DS Charles Pauley was called on to replace Wendall Davis, who is on the injured reserved list, in possibly the most demanding position in the game. Playing in the defensive backfield with Smith, who had two interceptions on the night, Pauley had his first career interception, a forced fumble and played a part all night long in an impressive defensive display against the VooDoo.
“Charles had a big night,” said defensive coordinator Michael Church. “I’ve seen many players step into a starting position and never have a really big game. With Omarr, he’s already a proven talent and is as good as it gets. Charles was as good as anyone on the field tonight, and we knew that there was a lot on his shoulders against Fitzgerald and an offense that has beaten a lot of good teams this year.”
Pauley joins the long list of SaberCats players who not only get to start, but step in and make an immediate impact.
The stretch run
Up next for San Jose is a grueling final four regular season games and has them playing three of their last four games against divisional opponents. Up first are the sizzling Arizona Rattlers, who have won their last five games.
Arizona is an historic rival of San Jose and is responsible for knocking the SaberCats out of the playoffs last year, just one game shy of the ArenaBowl. Since 1996, only San Jose and Arizona have been the Western Division champions.
If San Jose is going anywhere this season it will start at the Snake Pit this Sunday, May 16th.
Like the rivalry between the Predators and Storm, the SaberCats and Rattlers play at a level of intensity that sets them on a course that defines their season.
The SaberCats have established themselves as the most impressive franchise in the AFL with a winning percentage closing in on a staggering 80 percent over the last five seasons.
San Jose has again achieved double digits in the win column and again all teams define themselves when playing the SaberCats. In a year that has seen amazing new franchises with winning records, and the old guard rising like the Phoenix at the end of regular season, the SaberCats remain the team to beat or the team to win it all.
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.
