Kats Slay Dragons
Dwayne Smith
Tuesday January 31, 2006
A closer look at the New York off-season would indicate losses on the defensive side of the ball could cause problems for a unit that performed very well in the 2005 season. Defensive Specialist Billy Parker, along with kicker Rob Bironas were lost to the NFL and head coach Weylon Harding was left filling holes and re-assembling a defense that performed so well for him in 2005. Harding noted "You’re talking about a lot of new faces out there" that had to face a rising Kats team which continued it’s late 2005 run against the Dragons
This defensive unit, along with the New York Special Teams, allowed Nashville to score with uncanny and distressing ease. In seven drives against the Dragons, Nashville scored on fewer than 5 plays. Most disheartening were the touchdowns that came within minutes of a Dragons score. After New York took a 14-7 lead with just under ten minutes left in the second quarter, the Kats would start a run that would allow them to take control of the game and silence the initially raucous New York crowd.
The ensuing kickoff by new Dragon place kicker Tony Dodson was returned by WR/DB Jarrick Hillery 58 yards for the game-tying touchdown, ending the Dragons final lead of the game in a single play. Things would not improve for New York as Garcia endured the relentless attack of a Kats pass rush that produced a team record seven sacks, including a safety. FB/LB Frank Carter led this onslaught with four. The pressure would force Garcia into three turnovers and effectively stymie New York’s high-powered offense.
This constant pressure and a relentless offensive attack led to Nashville scoring 26 unanswered points which put the game out of reach by the early part of the third quarter. The pressure faced by Garcia was nothing new dating back to the end of last season. "It’s kind of the same way we finished last year… we can’t… have guys go the wrong way and guys come free… In our offense, we’ve gotta be able to get back and throw it down the field."
The pressure, combined with a conservative coverage scheme by Nashville all but eradicated the big play from the New York offense. In fact Garcia completed only one pass of greater than 20 yards for the entire game. Something not lost on Garcia, "a lot of teams are going to play us with the weapons we have … (they’ll) play off deep… we’ve gotta change something up"
If the Dragons do change anything and get themselves in contention for their fourth straight Division Championship, they’ll have to do it on the road. In 2005, opponents were not kind to the Dragons as five of their six losses occurred away from the friendly confines of the Nassau Coliseum. Next weekend’s journey to Chicago starts a three game road trip for the Dragons and officially puts great pressure on a team that is still looking to regain the identity that served them well in 2005. Garcia, undaunted by the upcoming road trip said, "If we block, we tackle, we throw and catch, it doesn’t really matter where we’re at." The Dragons field general would also add, "we’ve got a lot to improve on and we really don’t care where it is."
An 0-1 start to the season in a game that wasn’t close for nearly a half in front of a very supportive home crowd is bad enough. Facing a three game road trip with several untested players in prominent roles is even more daunting. The fact is, in a division becoming more competitive, the Dragons don’t have a chance to complain about the hand dealt them by the schedule maker. Coach Harding and staff have to find a way to get the new players to compliment the immensely talented veteran foundation in order to make a playoff run before 0-1 becomes 0-4.
Dwayne Smith covers Arena Football and the NFL for different web outlets along with providing a fantasy column to FantasyGMs.com. Dwayne has also been a contributor to other online and print outlets, including the Dallas Morning News. In 2003, he covered the NFL Draft from the Headquarters of the New York Jets.
