Taylor-Made Victory
Jack Bedell
Wednesday April 18, 2007
In a decade of Arena Football League action, Mark Grieb has established himself as one of the premier quarterbacks in the history of the league. In fact, it’s difficult to find a significant passing category in the AFL record book that doesn’t feature his name—best career efficiency rating, best career completion percentage, best season yardage and completion totals, etc.
In front of a capacity crowd in the Graveyard on Friday the 13th, though, Grieb had the look of a co-ed running from a machete, only it wasn’t Jason wielding the weapon, it was Henry Taylor and the rest of the New Orleans VooDoo defensive line.
With constant pressure from the first series on, Taylor and his linemates forced Grieb into three interceptions and at least a half dozen terrible throws. And while his numbers appeared respectable by the end of the night (35 of 54 for 445 yards, six TDs, and 3 INTs), it was clear to everyone in the New Orleans Arena Friday that the VooDoo’s pressure package had Grieb completely off of his game. Many of Griebs’ incompletions (and quite a few of his completions, actually) left his hand out of desperation.
Henry Taylor has been a consistent force all season for the VooDoo defense, but he was in “the zone” against San Jose. Regardless of whether the SaberCats put Patrick Afif or Julius Gant over Taylor, he was in the backfield every snap as soon as Grieb planted on his third step. And even though he was only credited with one sack, Taylor’s hand on Grieb’s back prompted the quick throws that led to two of San Jose’s turnovers and the bulk of San Jose’s offensive ineffectiveness.
A LITTLE BIT OF PITCH AND CATCH
While it was definitely Henry Taylor’s game, I’d be remiss if I didn’t throw a few props to first-year pivot Steve Bellisari and his go-to guy on the night, James Jordan. Last week filling in unexpectedly for an injured Andy Kelly, Bellisari looked a little out of sorts and tentative against the Storm. That was far from the case last Friday night.
With a good week of prep under his belt, Bellisari processed information quickly and got the ball out to his receivers decisively and with authority. The receiver who benefited the most from Bellisari’s decisions was James Jordan, who used his rare combination of size and speed to dominate two of the AFL’s better cover men, Clevan Thomas and Omarr Smith. Jordan finished the night with six grabs for 144 yards and four TDs, and at least one knockout when Clevan Thomas stepped up to jam him and wound up looking up at the lights as Jordan scored on a bomb from Bellisari.
UP NEXT
The VooDoo take their act on the road next Saturday night to Austin when they visit the Wranglers for a key divisional match-up. Austin has been sneaky good this season. To stay above .500, and to create a little space in the division behind them, the VooDoo are going to have to bring the same heat they had for San Jose to come out of Texas with a “W.” My prediction: the VooDoo squeak one out behind the defense and Bellisari again.
