SaberCats Regroup to Face Las Vegas
Tim Ball
Friday February 4, 2005
All they need to do is hang the numbers 33 and 35 in the locker room. As in points scored. The thirty-point loss at the hands of Tampa Bay was the third worst in franchise history and San Jose’s 33 points scored was the lowest since May of 1999 in a loss to Iowa 34-30.
Whether veterans or rookies eager to stand alongside their talented teammates as equals, nothing needs to be said that isn’t already known. "We don’t lose that way very much here," said QB Mark Grieb to the Mercury News. "Actually, I can’t remember the last time we did."
Losing to the Storm 63-33 was bad enough but guess the last time San Jose only scored thirty-something points? Last season in Las Vegas, on May 16th 2004 San Jose lost to the Gladiators 44-35. Fights marred the loss, as well as multiple penalties, as the Gladiators kept the SaberCats to their lowest offensive output of 2004.
Hurdles and Walls
And it doesn’t get any easier. To fan the rumors of there being no love lost between the league office and the San Jose franchise, the SaberCats play at home only once until week seven. And with the exception of Las Vegas, every team that San Jose faces in their first six games made the playoffs last season.
Las Vegas, in looking back to last season’s win over San Jose and their struggling defeat against Tampa Bay, will have the Gladiators facing the reigning ArenaBowl champions with confidence.
While San Jose is trying to find consistency with a new players in the lineup, they will have to find their rhythm for the most part in the enemy camp. Six defensive stops by the Storm showed that the SaberCats are not going to get the time on another teams field. So preparation between games is going to be key to finding the sync that was missing in Tampa Bay.
Welcome to the next step in that uphill climb. Las Vegas boasts two athletes that are the prototypical one-two punch for an arena team offense. QB Clint Dolezel and 2004 Offensive Player of the Year Marcus Nash are as good as any combination in the league and will be looking to continue gaining ground for the Gladiators in the Western Division. Already the win over Los Angeles gives them an edge in the new playoff format.
A Common Star
While it is hard to understand why NBC had second-string announcers calling a game between the last two ArenaBowl champions, there was a storyline emerging to be told that involved the same superstar player.
Barry Wagner simply shined for all to see in a game with not much to highlight for the SaberCats.
While one announcer seemed hung-up on the age of Wagner (13-year veteran), the kickoff return yardage (8 for 159) being wracked up by the sole shining star for San Jose that day was of no concern. This is one game that should be put far behind in the memories of SaberCats players, but Wagner’s performance on kickoffs demanded respect. You can bet that Ray Bentley or Pat Haden would have given the San Jose fans something with which to hold up their heads as one of their franchise players - on an otherwise dismal day - performed like one.
While Wagner held up his end on special teams, the SaberCats players have and will follow the leader. And Wagner has been on both of San Jose’s ArenaBowl teams.
The Rough Going
To a man the veteran SaberCats players knew that this season was going to be tougher than any they have ever faced. In the week preceding the start of the season, players ate meals walking from the practice field to locker rooms to the film room, while preparing for what lay ahead.
Two championships in three seasons paint a large target on the uniform of every SaberCats players and the first game against Tampa bay proved what an uphill climb they have. Learning from a five-time champion, while hard to take, should inspire rather than setback San Jose.
While you’ll never hear an excuse from anyone in a San Jose uniform, the schedule, losing key veterans and roster movements will take time to find the adjustments needed for the timing and flow that defines SaberCats football.
Game time for the SaberCats versus Gladiators is 6:00pm at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
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.
