2006 Rush – QB Play Will Be Key
Jeff Sims
Friday February 3, 2006
The fans of the Chicago Rush will certainly be familiar with most of the team. Returning veterans such as FB/LB Bob McMillen, OL/DL John Moyer, and WR/LB Etu Molden, have become recognizable within the organization over the last few seasons and are loved by Rush fans. It is that type of familiarity that keeps fans coming back for more and also helps to create new ones.
Returning 16 players certainly does not hurt the team either. The players are familiar with each other and understand their own individual styles of play. They understand what it takes to make it far into the playoffs as they have made it to the semi-finals each of the last two seasons.
Having added players to the roster that are familiar with the game of arena football will also benefit the Rush this season. All-Arena WR/LB Cornelius White rejoins the Rush after a stint in Columbus, as do AF2 Lineman of the Year Khreem Smith, and highly touted free agent OL/DL Curtis Eason, who also played last season in Columbus.
There is one obvious change to this team, and a big one it is. The Rush have a new leader on offense in QB Matt D’Orazio. With Raymond Philyaw gone via free agency, the QB position was up for grabs during training camp. D’Orazio, free agent acquisition Michael Bishop, last year’s back-up Todd Hammell, former San Jose back-up Nick Rolovich, and second year player Asad Abdul-Khaliq were set to battle for the position.
With Rolovich being released prior to training camp after the signing of D’Orazio and Hammel being released after training camp, the coaching staff had a tough decision to make prior to their week one match-up with the defending ArenaBowl champion Colorado Crush. D’Orazio got the nod.
"He (was) consistent through training camp and I think the team is ready to follow (him)," Rush head coach Mike Hohensee told ChicagoRush.com. "He has learned the offense, worked on his technique and his reads, and has done everthing that you can ask a quarterback to do to get ready."
After one week, it certainly looks to be the right decision. D’Orazio leads the league with a 68.8% completion percentage and a 132.9 QB rating. Anyone questioning his mobility should feel a bit more at ease after he rushed for 22 yards and appeared to be on the move when he needed to be. He is certainly no Michael Bishop with the ability to "WOW", but he appears to have the all-around skills to get the job done.
If he is able to become familiar with his receivers and offensive line rather quickly, which it appears he may have, the Chicago Rush could be in the hunt once again during the AFL playoffs. If he does not and the Rush get off to a disappointing start, and with the QB position being so important in this league, it will be interesting to see if coach Hohensee is quick to begin the QB carousel and insert Bishop.
Either way, a lot of the responsibility for the success or failure that the Chicago Rush encounter this season will fall squarely on the shoulders of whoever takes the snap.
Jeff has been writing for ArenaFan.com since 2004. Originally from New York, Jeff has been living in the Chicago area for the past ten years and is an avid football fanatic. He holds a BA in communications from Hofstra University in New York and a sports management certificate from Loyola University in Chicago.
