Player Perspective: A Week of Practice with the Rush
A.J. Blazek
Saturday May 5, 2001
Kevin Sheller and I talked in pre-season about writing about my life as a player and all that goes into a day, a week, and a season. I am going to try and give you all a perspective of not only the life of an Arena player, but also the life of a rookie Arena player. If anyone has any specific questions, please e-mail me.
Week 4: Chicago Rush vs. Detroit Fury
Last week we escaped with a great win over Carolina and we felt like we were on the top of the world. After the game, we were all enjoying the win when the news came that winless Detroit had beaten undefeated Oklahoma City -- who had just beaten us the week before. From that point on, our minds were set on Detroit. We have known all week that the game is going to be nationally televised on TNN.
Since the upcoming game is on Sunday, we had an extra day off, which allowed me to get back and visit friends in Iowa City. On Wednesday, the team returned and had meetings for two hours. In those meetings, we watched film from the Carolina game, we put in the special teams game plan for Detroit, and we began to break down individuals from Detroit. That was just the morning. Our first practice Wednesday afternoon was pretty light, but very mental. We review most special team plans and run through team offense and team defense. That was about a two-hour practice that ended by running hundred-yard sprints.
Thursday was a much more physical day. We had meetings that started at 8am, not 10am like Wednesday. After stretching, which is how practice begins, the lineman go straight to one-on-ones which are mano y mano, man vs. man, you against him. They are a dog fight. I live with Jim Stiebel the other center and we go 105% against each other. My hands always get cut up more in one-on-ones that in games or any other time.
Every night of the week, Stiebel and I watch about an hour of film just on the two or three guys that we are going to be facing in the upcoming game. Breaking down film on your own at home is not optional. If you want to make it and stay in this league, or any league for that matter, you have to be a "Student of the Game." You have to study the game and your opponent so much that you know what he is going to do before he does it.
That is it for our first week, if all goes well, you`ll be seeing plenty more from me. I invite all you readers to email me at ajblazek@aol.com and fire questions at me that I can address in future editions. "Talk to ya......"
A.J. Blazek was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2001 season.
