SaberCats Hit Stretch Run
Tim Ball
Thursday April 14, 2005
San Jose is no stranger to adversity. They’ve been a franchise for more than a decade and have "only" two ArenaBowl wins. That means they know losing and achievements yet to be reached.
Back to back championships is still a goal to be attained. And Chicago and Tampa Bay showed that if you play as close to perfect, that the SaberCats can be beaten by the intensity and not by a lucky bounce or a questionable call (or, a linebacker out of the box).
Hold on to those early season predictions about San Jose’s threat to repeat but realize that back then it was just journalistic hype when there was nothing else to write about.
Now we all can see through the haze and the season is coming into sharp focus. The SaberCats are in a rebuilding mode if no one noticed and are still winning (and winning big) during the most difficult of football endeavors.
Working parts
Offensive specialist Rashied Davis - a "two and half" year veteran - is only in his first few weeks at this position and while setting some games on fire is still a work in progress. "I realize that there are going to good days and bad days," said Davis. "The goal of our team is to look at mistakes and setbacks on game films and improve where we see problems."
While the best quarterback in the league anchors San Jose, Mark Grieb still has many new adventures to lead with young receivers stepping in and stepping up for AFL veterans.
On offense James Hundon has been out all season and Barry Wagner has been sidelined for the last five weeks.
Rookies Rodney Wright and Ryan Fernandez have been called on early to take the SaberCats ship in the right direction. "It takes time to find a rhythm between a quarterback and a receiver," said Grieb during a break between reps at practice. "There is only one place you can work out the timing and consistency and that is during a game."
Record reasons
At 6-4 it’s been a bumpy ride but the trip is a familiar one. 2004 was anything but smooth sailing and the SaberCats managed to find safe harbor in a foreign port. A reason for the continued offensive success of San Jose can be found in the mix of consistent veterans working with the rookies. Experienced wide receiver/linebacker Shalon Baker has maintained consistency through a storm of roster change.
Keeping the chains moving and the SaberCats all-important timing going strong, Grieb, as he does with James Roe, looks to find Baker when the going gets rough.
"Shalon and I have been through a lot of tough situations," commented Grieb. "He has been consistent time and again and knows where to be when needed."
The seven-year veteran plays his role to perfection. Baker is widely known for his height - giving up almost a foot to taller players – but when you look through the lens of clutch plays and consistency, he may be one of the best players in the league.
"If they call my number I want to be there for the team," said Baker. "If it’s blocking, tackling or receiving the end result is winning. I just want to be counted on to make the play."
Hold on
The most important single aspect of every kind of football is at the line of scrimmage.
While San Jose looks to players to make plays, missing a pass or not making a tackle can find excuse in opposing players on the other side doing their job as well. Mental errors can carry a whole different weight to the outcome of a game.
Penalties have sidetracked the SaberCats time and again this season and no amount of complaining about referees can erase holding and bad blocks you can see on a radio broadcast.
There is a big difference to pulling down an opposing lineman or pointlessly jumping the snap count to the critical choice made by a defensive back stopping a sure touchdown catch.
Even worse than a missed extra-point, even in Arena Football, is giving up a free first down when there’s a defensive stop or calling back a touchdown that would have put away the game. A senseless penalty can literally change the momentum of the game and league standings at the same time.
"Class" in session
Witnessed by the Chicago Rush players showering head coach Mike Hohensee with a Gatorade shower after beating San Jose in a regular season game, the SaberCats have to compete at playoff level every week.
Every team "gets up" for their shot to play not only the defending champions, but also clearly the best team in the AFL over the last five seasons. And San Jose has to be perfect far too often.
While San Jose is made up of only fallible humans, their response to mistakes is key to the winning percentage that gives them the ability to reach the ArenaBowl year after year.
In that film room Davis is not the only player looking to improve.
While some teams see defeat in losing, the SaberCats see within a loss, the opportunity to find success. Practice may make for perfection but first you have to know what to work on.
The San Jose SaberCats are working on another trip to the ArenaBowl.
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.
