SaberCats Eager to End Playoff Win Drought Against Hot Division Rival

Griffin Aseltine
Friday August 1, 2014

When was the last time San Jose found itself victorious in the postseason? July 12, 2008. Certainly deep within the AFL's past when it comes to a historically rich franchise like the SaberCats.

Quite a bit has happened since that day, including the infamous league suspension, nearly five full seasons of action, and the entering and exiting of a vast number of teams. In fact, the Grand Rapids Rampage, who were on the losing side of San Jose's 81-55 playoff victory in 2008, were one of many franchises that found themselves drifting away from the league as the years progressed. To top it all off, the SaberCats were the defending ArenaBowl champions at the time, but have not held the coveted title since.

Now, six years later, with their first division crown and home playoff match since league suspension, it appears as if San Jose has a golden opportunity to end that drought and shake the postseason monkey off of their back. The only problem? They're playing arguably the least favorable opponent that they could possibly ask for. The 11-7 Spokane Shock are currently on a five-game winning steak, not losing a single matchup since quarterback Erik Meyer returned to the starting lineup. The 13-5 San Jose SaberCats won the regular season series 2-1, a primary key that ended up being the deciding factor for their division title. But both wins came when Meyer was on the bench after suffering a major shoulder injury in Week Eight. Spokane missed him dearly, going on a dreadful 1-5 streak during his absence. It is very much possible that the Shock would be holding the Pacific Division Champions banner if not for the brief loss of their MVP.

The SaberCats likely recall how much of a nightmare it was with Meyer behind center. Back in Week Four, they suffered a 73-62 loss at home to the Spokane Shock, easily their worst performance in San Jose all season. Quarterback Erik Meyer rushed for four touchdowns on his own that night, something that can't be replicated if the SaberCats want to end their playoff slump.

"We took away what they did best and Meyer took off and made plays," head coach Darren Arbet said following the Week Four loss. "He certainly got MVP for a reason. He really is a great football player."

San Jose's defense allowed 73 points in what was debatably their worst game of the season and perhaps their only "legitimately" bad performance all year. Even more unfortunately, the defensive roster took a hit in the final week of the regular season, with cornerback Simeon Castille being placed on injured reserve, and defensive lineman Luis Vasquez being placed on inactive reserve. On the positive side, defensive backs Demar Dorsey and Kenny Okoro were both activated. The SaberCats can only hope that their losses on defense don't result in a repeat performance from Week Four, one that has fortunately not been seen since.

Another interesting story coming into Saturday's postseason showdown is San Jose's quarterback battle. It was just announced that Russ Michna, who has been on the sideline since a major injury against the Arizona Rattlers in Week Twelve, has been activated from injured reserve. Both Nathan Stanley and Michna have their pros and cons, and it is tough to determine who will be taking the first snap come playoff time. With Stanley being under center for seven straight games, Michna will likely have some rust under his belt. In fact, Michna showed displeasing signs of rust when he returned from an early injury in Week Four, a possible factor in the resulting meltdown against Spokane. Whether or not the SaberCats decide to make a switch, one thing is certain: they will have one experienced quarterback starting under center and one experienced quarterback sitting on the bench ready if needed.

Overall, with several pieces clicking together in the Spokane Shock's favor, it may seem that San Jose's season will once again end with a one-and-done playoff exit. With that said, the SaberCats will still likely and understandably be favored by most analysts come Saturday due to home-field advantage and a consistent, legendary defense. This game is perhaps the biggest toss-up of the weekend when it comes down to it, and the only potential surprise will be if either team has the victory locked down by the end of the third quarter.