Blaze defeat Shock, may lose Boone

Don Eisenbarth
Monday April 18, 2011

Did the Utah Blaze offense play a perfect game against the Spokane Shock? The Blaze had 10 possessions in Friday’s game against the Shock. They scored on 9 and used the last possession to run out the clock to win the game 69-62. So, I asked Offensive Coordinator Matt Sauk.

"It's pretty close," said Sauk. "Without a doubt, we were the most efficient we've been all season. Tommy (Grady) played awesome, the receivers played awesome. We had a certain game plan that I wanted to execute and it worked to perfection. I can't complain."

"We work for (perfection) every week, Coach Sauk did a good job with those guys knowing what the game plan was going to be,” said Head Coach Ron James. “Our guys rose to the challenge. They took care of the football and made plays when they had too. We're very pleased with the effort top to bottom.” That game plan was so well known that every player I talked to said basically the same thing when I asked them their keys to success.

"They (Spokane) have one of the best pass rushes in the league and we stopped looking downfield and went to a shorter, quicker game. Some quick screens and quick hitches, we had them on their heels" said Wide Receiver Aaron Boone. That short, quick attack led to Tommy Grady having a different kind of day then he was used to. Grady only threw for 245 yards (it was the first time this season he had under 300 yards passing), but he completed 78.8% of his passes.

With the Blaze playing so efficiently and effectively on offense, the Blaze only would need 1 or two defensive stops to win the game, which they were able to get in the form of Michael Lewis picking up a fumbled snap by Spokane and a turnover on downs. That was all the Blaze defense needed to do to provide a win.

“The difference in the game was, what we talk about every week, is that we got two more turnovers.” said Coach Ron James. “Our defense came to play and did a great job and the offense was very efficient again. It's a good football game”

With the win, the Blaze take a 2 game lead over the Shock for 3rd place in the West and are currently tied with the Dallas Vigilantes for fourth place in the American Conference. The Blaze now prepare for the Arizona Rattlers, the last undefeated team in the League, next Saturday in Phoenix

Sauk wins over old team -

Utah has a couple of former Shock players on the team, but the most important Spokane transplant is Offensive Coordinator Matt Sauk, who’s made a gigantic difference in the play of the Blaze, even according to his players.

“Coach Sauk is making a huge difference, he's brought in an efficient offence and proven system. We're glad to have him,” said WR Aaron Boone. “We've been working on it. We've got some veterans and young guys and with the mix, we're able to mesh well and come out here and put on a show.” Boone and QB Tommy Grady have both profited greatly from Coach Sauk’s offensive scheme, which they have freely admitted as the source of their increase in offensive production. I asked Coach Sauk what it is about his system that if helping Grady and Boone to have amazing seasons.

“One, they're good players,” said Coach Sauk. “I have a QB friendly offense., There's no indecision in routes. When you run a route and a QB drops back and there's indecision, that adds time to his drop back. If we're doing a five step drop, and you're at five, you're either throwing it deep, middle or low. That's the biggest thing. I equate it to a west coast offense. Everything is on time. If you wait and you're late, the ball is not going to be completed. If you drop back and make your reads and it's on time, you've got completions. My goal is right around 70%.”

Sauk joined the Spokane Shock in 2008, as Quarterback/Wide Receivers coach. That year, he developed Nick Davilia who was 3rd in the league in quarterback efficiency as a rookie. After playing a season after that for the Arizona Rattlers, Sauk rejoined the Shock’s coaching staff in 2010 where he served as the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator. The Shock would win Arena Bowl XXIII and the Spokane offense finished 3rd in the league in scoring while also being in the top 5 in just about every offensive category. Sauk, a Utah State product, came to Utah to be closer to his family and has been a key piece to the Blaze transition from worst to first offensively.

When asked about beating his former team Sauk said, “I'm not going to lie. This game is sweeter. I didn't want to bring it into focus. I didn't talk to the guys about it. It was just sweeter at the end to be happy. At the end I'm as happy as can be.”

Boone Breaks Records, Knees, May Retire -

Early in the Second Quarter, Aaron Boone broke the all-team team leader for receiving yards, breaking the record that used to be held by Siaha Burley. Boone has also just one more touchdowns to become the career leader in receiving touchdowns tying that record with Siaha Burley. Boone has been a standout with the Utah Blaze since he joined in 2007. While being, in his own words "not a burner" Aaron has an innate ability to use his body to get room between himself, the defender and the ball.

“Siaha was an amazing receiver,” said Boone about the former Blaze player who now is second on the Blaze in all-time receiving yards. “He was quick, and shifty and a lot different. I'm a more of a big body type receiver. I push off a lot more. He's shifty and beats you with speed and I beat you more with the mental aspect and with muscle and it's worked for both of us, we've both have successful careers.”

However, that career may be at an end with the Utah Blaze. As the Deseret News is reporting that Aaron Boone is going to need season ending knee surgery for an undisclosed injury. With the small amount that Arena Football players make, and with Boone needing to look out for his future concerns, Boone may just be calling it a career because of this injury.

"I went into this game thinking it might be last. The decision will probably be Monday or so, unfortunately. I still came out and played tonight, but if it's a long-term risk then I got to make the right decision for my future," said Boone to the Deseret News.

"I got some MRI results; I've been kind of struggling with the knee. It's been swelling up — so I went and got an MRI and it's not looking good. They recommend that I get some season-ending surgery. We'll take another look at it Monday, and make some decisions and take it from there.”

“We lost a good wideout. Who knows what else is going to go on. It's tough,” said Coach Sauk about the former all AFL receiver. If this was his final game in a Blaze uniform, then Aaron Boone will finish his career with 4,094 yards and 93 Touchdowns in 44 games with the Blaze, according to the Utah Blaze website.