Rush Mid Season Report Card
Kevin Sheller
Saturday June 9, 2001
It seemed crazy. When training camp began, the Rush were trusting journeyman QB Jeff Loots, a mismatched band of rookie wide receivers, a rookie kicker, and a few injured FB/LB’s to be carried by an experienced line and defensive backfield. What kind of fanciful prognostication is a 10-4 record from the champion Orlando Predators?
An intelligent one. All because of one man: head coach Mike Hohensee.
“We can win every game,” said the confident coach. “I’m being very realistic when I think we can win every game. Good things are going to start happening for us because we work too hard to lose.”
No kidding. Talk to any player. They’ll echo their appreciation of the coaching staff’s evaluation of the next opponent. So much so that players like WR/DB Dameon Porter always seems to be standing between the opposing QB and the intended target. That’s not chance. The coaches know where he should be. And Porter studies just as hard.
When I asked Coach Hohensee who the big surprises were, he talked about Porter first. “I knew he was a good football player. He’s playing much better than anyone expected early on. We knew we would be good defensively.”
Oddly enough, Porter was kinda’ hoping he’d be the team’s offensive specialist. Now that he’s on pace the eclipse the league’s single-season interception record, he’s probably not too worried about the OS spot.
At QB, the Rush organization is very happy with Billy Dicken and their recent trade of Jeff Loots. Dicken had a chance to learn the offense from the sidelines for about five games (including preseason), and then he was ready to step in and take charge. Now he’s 3-1 as the starter. Of course, he’s not an all-star yet, but he has great potential. His ability to stay cool in the pocket and make something out of nothing combines the intangibles with discipline – a powerful mixture.
Loots will be missed. His injuries prevented him from showcasing his talents, and he didn’t appear to get along with Hohensee as well as most of the other players on the team.
So what happened to that unknown squad of inexperienced rookie wide receivers from training camp? Who cares? They’ve been replaced by key signings and veteran acquisitions. OS Joe Douglass was a steal off the waiver wire, thanks to the XFL. (Jay Gruden cut Douglass when he decided to play in the XFL this season.) Meanwhile, steady forces like WR/LB Jai Hill and Porter keep the offense consistent. Of course, WR/LB Dale Koscelski and OS Cornelius Bonner managed to survive the round of replacements, and have contributed as solid second-teamers.
FB/LB Jamie McGourty has been a pleasant surprise on both offense and defense, already turning in some game-winning performances on the ground. His backup, Jamie Bower, doesn’t let up when he enters the game to give McGourty a breather.
The experienced line has only gotten better with the addition of OL/DL Mike Thornton from Toronto. But while the squad has done well, it hasn’t been perfect. Just ask Loots, who suffered deterring injuries when Oklahoma, Carolina, and Detroit terrorized him in the backfield. There’s no doubt the line can get strong pressure on the opposing quarterback, and a few great performances like the one turned in by Anthony Hutch against Houston (two passes defensed, a quarterback sack, a forced fumble, and recovery) keep the unit very respectable.
So far the team has been winning on defense, and don’t expect that to change. DS Derek Stingley can only get more chances to show off his talents as QBs learn to avoid throwing Porter’s way.
Pete Elezovic has turned in consistent performances this season, reaching the net on kickoffs more often than not, and nailing 31 of 35 extra points. He’s not a league all-star, but he’s solid enough to get the job done.
Overall, the Rush have been winning close games and losing some even closer ones. While Hohensee will tell you he feels his team should be
“I expect to win every game because we’re going to out-coach anybody we play. We have the athletes here to do it,” said Hohensee.
Reminder
I asked Hohensee about his team’s biggest weakness: “Everything. We need to continue to get better. We’re young. We’re learning each other. We’re playing against teams that have been together for 5-6 years, and we’re two months old.”
“We’re much farther along. We are comparable to a second-year team. I believe this team can (get to the playoffs). Right now everyone who plays us is taking us very seriously and they should.”
Winter in May
Coach Brent Winter was selected by Hohensee to stand in as interim coach against the Houston Thunderbears last week. Personally, I was concerned that a reluctant coach would lack the confidence and experience to send in the right plays from the sideline, but Winter called a solid game.
The real test was when the Rush took over on downs with a minute to play and a 5-point lead. Thanks to Arena Football rules, the QB can’t just down the ball and let the clock run out. Winter had to call the right plays to make forward progress and convert a critical third down after losing two yards and swallowing an incomplete pass on second down. He did it, and the Rush preserved the victory.
Kevin Sheller ia founder of Arenafan Online and was the principal owner until 2004. Kevin graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in technical writing, and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1993. He has worked as a professional web programmer and is also the executive producer for a computer/video game company. The most recent Xbox title to his credit is called Hunter: The Reckoning.
