San Jose at 1-2 face an uphill climb
Tim Ball
Friday February 18, 2005
The valley below.
The SaberCats are the 2004 AFL champions. But that was then and this is now.
It’s 2005 and San Jose isn’t even listed in the top eight poll and we’re heading into week four.
Granted, some important plays went New Orleans’ way last week, but that’s what happens when you’re playing at home. And nothing can diminish the performance by the VooDoo offense that was simply stellar.
Back to back 60-plus point games and still San Jose is looking at an uphill climb as the next three games are on the road. The SaberCats won’t see a home game for almost four weeks. That’s a long valley to dwell in when home-field advantage is a reality.
"This is part of football," said offensive coordinator Terry Malley whose offense scored 61-points in the losing effort in New Orleans. "There are a lot of factors to winning and losing. A season is a marathon and not a sprint and there’s a lot of season left to be played."
The players don’t seem shaken by the sudden drop off the radar screen. "The first game against Tampa Bay you just got to give credit where credit is due. They beat us fair and square," said FB/LB Matt Kinsinger. "We played well against Las Vegas and again put up 60-points against New Orleans. We just have to keep playing SaberCats football and get the pieces in the right places."
Nobody knows my troubles
It’s lonely at the top? Where did that saying even come from anyway? You think Bill Gates is ever lonely or alone?
Look at how many teams are willingly pursuing the spot recently vacated by the SaberCats.
Sorry, but I am not one of those people that hate to tell you so. Did anyone think it was going to be easy for San Jose to repeat? It hasn’t happened since the Storm did it in ’95 and ’96. San Jose was picked by experts to reach the ArenaBowl and that could indeed still happen, but if you are looking for dynasties may I mention the Storm has five championships, the latest earned less than two years ago and the Predators, are the sole undefeated team at the expense of Tampa Bay last weekend.
San Jose has the coaching staff that can move the X’s where they’ll do the best job against the O’s and it is indeed a long season. And it just got longer. This just in: In a press release today, it was reported that the SaberCats superstar DS Omar Smith has been placed on injured reserves after sustaining an injury to the patellar tendon in his right knee in the fourth quarter of last week’s game against New Orleans. In the release it is also reported by team sources there is a chance that Smith will return to the lineup by the end of the season.
The excellence maintained by San Jose since 2000, literally, their winning record and two championships in the last three years, has ushered them into the league’s elite status. But that comes at a very high price. "We realize teams get up to play against us," said Kinsinger. "We’ve viewed game films of teams that look so-so and we don’t even recognize them when they play us."
The SaberCats aren’t alone in facing fierce competition. There’s far more than one good team in the AFL. In fact the level of talent flooding into the league is making most teams lethal come Sunday. "This league has grown fast over the last five years," said defensive coordinator Michael Church. "You can’t expect other teams to sit by and watch the show. Players are competitive by nature and coaches will find ways to harness that power. We have the players to respond to the challenge ahead," said Church. "I’m confident in the guys we have on this team."
Show time
San Jose has only won one game so far but it was an important division win. Next up is Los Angeles and not only can the SaberCats even their win-loss record but another division victory improves the playoff picture.
Avengers fans have a well-earned reputation and will be smelling blood from San Jose’s surprisingly slow start to the season. SaberCats players will once again find themselves in the enemy camp trying to win another game. While Los Angeles lost QB Tony Graziani to Philadelphia and OS Chris Jackson to Grand Rapids, there are plenty of players on the Avengers that are capable of keeping San Jose in the loss column.
Notably, the off-season acquisition of QB John Kaleo was huge. Kaleo led the 2003 Storm to their fifth ArenaBowl championship and with his experience already has the Avengers record looking good at 2-1 on the season. LA’s amazing kicking machine Remy Hamilton, who’s coming off a record-setting five field goals in last week’s win over the Austin Wranglers, proves why a defensive stop doesn’t slow the Avengers from scoring points.
San Jose’s uphill climb has another mountainous peak looming ahead in Los Angeles. As a division match-up there’s playoff implications and everyone should keep an eye on this game.
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.
