Georgia Force vs San Jose SaberCats: a Rose by any other Name
Tim Ball
Friday May 3, 2002
Looking for a combination of players and strategy, Georgia has their work cut out for them. The Force comes in with only a few options. Go for a shoot out like Arizona or play the conservative clock game Tampa Bay tried last week against the SaberCats. Neither worked. San Jose came away with wins. Since Georgia is moving personnel, this shapes up to be a good old fashioned, last man standing, battle of the titans.
Hatfields and the McCoys
Both teams have some vengeance on the line. San Jose has two years worth of payback for being denied trips to the ArenaBowl in 2000 and 2001, with a majority of the players on the Force having been on the former Nashville Kats both years, making it to the championship game at San Jose’s expense.
Georgia got embarrassed at the first Arena Football game played in Atlanta’s Philips Arena. Preseason or not, the SaberCats pounded the Force from start to finish. Georgia’s favorite son, University of Georgia star and former NFL quarterback Eric Zeier, left after the 68-35 loss to look for a slower version of the game back in the NFL.
Pass it on
Quarterback Andy Kelly has gone on to the Dallas Desperados and the torch eventually passed to Kevin McDougal. With a win over Los Angeles and a gutsy performance against Carolina where McDougal left the game with an ankle sprain only to come back and lead the team to the game’s final scoring drive. This kind of bravado may be necessary against the SaberCats formidable defense and merciless offensive scoring machine.
San Jose’s quarterback Mark Grieb, (who hits receivers with passes the length of the field in stride like most quarterbacks hand off), has it a little easier because “back up” John Dutton also had the offense flowing like milk and honey at the preseason game in Georgia. With a platoon of stellar receivers itching to score on every pass play, San Jose can match totals with this week’s lotto.
Grieb has shown the ability to keep his troops well fed by throwing for over 300 yards in both wins over Arizona and Tampa Bay and is looking to improve on that. McDougal is letting the league know that the Force is his team, even if it means playing injured. This matchup of wills and ability will be something worth watching.
S-t-o-p
Arena Football is famous for its high scoring games. Who doesn’t love touchdowns? Georgia’s head coach Brian Young and Defensive backs coach Robert Lyles and San Jose’s head coach Darren Arbet and defensive coach Michael Church that’s who. The golden rule does not apply to opposing team points. Stopping just one opposing possession from scoring looms large in the overall game.
Who doesn’t score when they have a chance has decided many games in this young season. San Jose won each of its first two games by a touchdown or less and Georgia lost to Carolina by one point. Although foreign to most concepts of the Arena game, the SaberCats have included defense in the formula for their victories this season as turnovers (interceptions) sealed the wins in both game one and two.
Penalties could cost either team a victory. San Jose almost gave away the game to the Storm last week by very costly mistakes that had touchdowns called back. Without a doubt it would have been easier for the Force to make a two-point conversion against Carolina without being backed up an additional ten yards by penalties.
The game
If emotions run wild on both teams, things could get out of hand. This game may hinge on the coaching staff and their ability to focus their players to do their jobs and not get caught up in the history between the two clubs.
Georgia Force vs San Jose SaberCats , Compaq Center Saturday May 4th, 7:30 pm PST.
Tim Ball is a writer in the Chicagoland area. Married and father of three, his opinions on Arena Football reflects the positive aspect of the game as a family event second to none in pro sports.
