Defense Key to Mustangs’ Success
John Hoh
Monday January 22, 2001
Head Coach Rick Frazier seeks the following goals to be successful: 1) Be competitive every game, 2) win the division to gain a first round bye and a home playoff game, 3) win a playoff game, and 4) avoid injuries, especially the critical injuries.
Frazier stressed that the Mustangs’ defense needs to get back to the upper echelon of defenses in the league. His goal is to hold teams to 35-40 points a game. The success of the defense, he says, “hinges on the line—they need to get more pressure on the quarterback.” To that end the Mustangs have signed proven QB traps from the af2 and the Indoor Professional Football League (IPFL). Lawrence Lewis played for the af2 Richmond Speed last season and led the junior circuit in sacks. From the IPFL the Mustangs inked league sack leader Mike Moncrief (Shreveport) and Anthony Martin, who led Portland in sacks. Also signed is Corey Dowden.
One of the biggest losses for the Mustangs is QB Kevin McDougal to the XFL’s Chicago Enforcers. While it won’t be easy to replace a QB who tossed 73 TDs in 2000, Frazier feels confident that he has capable arms in Craig Kusick from Grand Rapids (in Craig’s second stint with Milwaukee) and former Rattler Donny Davis. Coach Frazier stressed that Kusick was on the All-AFL first team two years ago.
 QB Craig Kusick was a key Mustangs` Free Agent signing for 2001. Image courtesy of Jeff Marshall |
How will Milwaukee avoid the slow starts of the last two years when the Mustangs were only 2-5 by midseason? Frazier stressed that injuries played a role in last season’s slow start. Alvin Ashley and the number one offensive linemen were lost to injury early in the season. It took a few weeks for players with less experience to jell. For example, the offensive line gave up four QB sacks in the first game, but only three for the rest of the season.
Another Frazier goal is to have a great camp and get the players well-conditioned so they can avoid injuries. Losing his two starting defensive specialists in the last game of the season hurt the Mustangs in the playoff game against Tampa Bay. Although the Mustangs scored the second most points by any team in a playoff game in 2000, they allowed Tampa Bay to score the most. Chalk it up to the two rookies who played in place of his experienced starting DSs.
In asking Rick Frazier about free agency and its effect on the Arena League, he stated, “It’s a little bit of a card game.” He felt free agency would be good for the league and the players. At the same time, free agency has the potential to drive out lower-funded teams that can’t afford the increased salaries that go with it. Just look at the Iowa Barnstormers and the rest of the franchise movement this offseason. And while Milwaukee lost 3 of its 6 free agents, the Mustangs feel they bolstered their team by signing other free agents.
Pressure on the QB. Good quarterback play. Conditioning. The Mustangs are aiming for a quick start, a division title, and an ArenaBowl appearance in 2001. The stampede is on.
John L. Hoh, Jr., is a free-lance writer from Milwaukee who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, as an avid Dolphins fan. He followed Arena Football since its inception, at one point watching tape-delayed games on low-powered WAV-TV in Waukesha. His happiest day was when Milwaukee was awarded the Mustangs franchise; his saddest when the Mustangs were contracted out of the league. John is married to his wife Maija (13+ years) and has a young son, Matthew. John pines for the return of the Arena Football League to Milwaukee.
