Perception vs. Reality
Kevin A. De Ceuninck
Monday July 2, 2001
Perception # 1 – A veteran Rampage team and veteran quarterback with eight wins on the season should beat an expansion team on the road.
Perception # 2 – Fury coach Mouse Davis, known as an offensive coach, will be able to show AFL teams how offense can really be played. Defense will be an afterthought.
Perception # 3 – Expansion football teams are not playoff football teams.
Reality turned out to be much different than the perceptions.
Rampage QB Clint Dolezel’s two interceptions in the first half, along with his first fumble of the night, which he recovered in the endzone for a Fury safety, had the Rampage behind 12 at the half. While never looking flustered, Dolezel was kept off-track by the Fury defense with pressure and knockdowns.
Offensively, the Fury receivers were taking advantage of holes in the Rampage coverage. Fury QB Scott Semptimphelter fired three of his seven touchdown passes for more than 30 yards.
Perception # 1 dismissed.
The Fury controlled most of the game and play on Saturday night, especially on the defensive end, knocking off the division-leading Rampage, and taking one more step to a playoff birth in the team’s first season.
Dolezel, while statistically impressive, was forced into three interceptions, nearly matching his season total (4). He was continually pressured. Fury lineman Voncellius Allen recovered Dolezel’s second fumble, again on his own goal line, for a touchdown.
“The defensive line kept the pressure on and did a great job,” said Davis.
Lineman R-Kal Truluck, who forced both fumbles and was credited with the safety, said he was just able to take advantage of the openings the Rampage offered. “It was much different than the previous time we played them. It just seemed that they were overset a little more. So I just took the inside every time.”
DB Chuck Levy’s two interceptions are a credit to the defensive line. “We pride ourselves on playing defense and stopping guys from getting in the end zone,” said Levy. “We have guys like Kelvin Kinney and R-Kal Truluck rushing the passer, making it easy on the secondary guys to stand back there and catch the ball.”
Levy continued to give credit especially to Truluk. “I don’t think anyone in this league can block that guy one-on-one, and you saw that tonight. Sometimes he has made a play before we even turn to look at our guy.”
Entering the game as the third rated defense in the AFL, the Fury is very much a defensive team. Perception # 2 dismissed.
Since day one, Davis has stated his goal was to make an impact on the playoffs. Beating teams ahead of them in the standings and in the division achieves that. This team also has the ability to make an impact in the playoffs.
“I feel very confident we can pull into the playoffs,” said Levy. “We are on a roll right now with four in a row. I think with this team, no one is worried about us. We will see in the end. We will be ready.”
More importantly for the Fury, in this streak of four straight wins, they have avoided costly mistakes, and have been able to overcome the minor ones. Against the Rampage, the Fury continued their pace to lead the league in yellow laundry (eight penalties for 56 yards). They also showed no signs of panic when a 12-point halftime lead had evaporated within the first four minutes of the second half.
Perception # 3 nearly dismissed.
The Play-Off Picture:
With three games to play, the Fury appears to be in a spot that very few people expected them to be after starting 2-5. One win nearly assures them a playoff spot. A clean sweep sends the Fury into the playoffs as the hottest team in the AFL, and a squad that cannot be overlooked. Hosting the Florida Bobcats and Indiana Firebirds, the Fury would love to finish the inaugural season 6-1 at home. Friday’s road game at Milwaukee could be a potential stumbling block. As Grand Rapids found out, underestimating the Mustangs can only lead to disappointment.
Kevin A. De Ceuninck was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2001 season.
