Who`s in First? Western Shootout Will Tell
Tim Ball
Saturday May 11, 2002
Although San Jose is undefeated at 3-0, the Western division is still wide open. Los Angeles and Arizona had victories over Dallas, while San Jose beat Arizona in the season opener. With Arizona and Dallas playing outside of the division, a victory in this game means a division lead for either San Jose or L.A.
Coaching Staff Stability
Having beaten the SaberCats in their last meeting, The Avengers shouldn’t get caught up in trying to out-swagger the “confident” San Jose bunch. This game will likely hinge on consistent drives for touchdowns rather than emotions running wild. Los Angeles will need to stay focused every second or it’s going to be a long night of fast scoring for a San Jose team that doesn’t need all the fire power from the offense any more.
Head coach Darren Arbet and his coaching staff were absolutely pivotal at maintaining that focus in the win last week against the Force and at Tampa Bay the week prior. (This despite the Georgia Force trying to unhinge (literally) SaberCat quarterback Mark Grieb, with the help of the rowdy Force crowd.) Momentum in this sport can bring about multiple touchdowns in a single minute. During both games, Georgia and Tampa Bay seemed to be getting away from the SaberCats but the coaches kept the players from allowing their emotions to take over.
Avengers head coach Ed Hodgkiss knows three different teams tried three different strategies to defeat San Jose. All three came up short. Arizona tried a shoot out; Tampa Bay used the clock; and Georgia tried physical warfare. Hodgkiss and the Avengers will need to find their own direction, but regardless, the combination of a strong defense with blazing offensive capabilities makes San Jose a tough team to play.
Kickers, Special Teams and Traditions
Last week, Georgia kicker Scott Szeredy virtually put on a clinic at San Jose. SaberCats’ outstanding rookie Clevan Thomas, the AFL’s rookie of the Month for April, was shutout from scoring by Szeredy’s high arcing kickoffs that descended at an angle so difficult to gauge that there was no way to guess what it would hit: the net, the pole, or the ground. San Jose’s longer field worked to Georgia’s advantage, with Szeredy maintaining a consistency that almost won the game for Georgia.
Los Angeles and San Jose will have to come up big in both the kicking game and special teams since both teams have proven solid at quarterback and defensive play (sacks). The SaberCats have to improve in giving up return yardage. The Avengers without offensive specialist Chris Jackson, (who is out with a broken hand), have to look elsewhere for additional firepower.
Arena Football is football after all. The differences from the outdoor game are obvious but traditional similarities will always exist. A kicker pinning the opponents deep even on a 50-yard field is a big advantage. Special teams play can swing momentum from a sure loss to a dramatic come back, and good old-fashioned defense has highlighted the three SaberCats victories so far.
Paying Attention
As the season progresses, teams have more film to review to decide game plans. Los Angeles is lucky in this aspect, as opponents have to play all out against the SaberCats. The Avengers, in a city that doesn’t tolerate losers very well, have everything to gain from playing the SaberCats this early in the season … including first place in the Western Division.
While other teams decide on roster moves, personnel decisions and game plans for the winning strategy, the SaberCats look to each other. Whether we’re talking about starter or practice squad, coach or player, everyone has had a hand in victory so far, from the quiet kicker Daron Alcorn steadily holding the course, to the sensational play of rookie DS Clevan Thomas, OS James Hundon’s superb receptions from the accurate arm of QB Mark Grieb, or 11-year veteran Barry Wagner still doing it all. If you watched the SaberCats victories, then you know the meaning of team play.
The Wild West
If San Jose loses this game, they go from undefeated to second place in the division behind the Avengers. Arizona beat L.A. and only lost to San Jose by one point. They take on Dallas in week five who only lost to L.A. by one point. The Desperados play the Rattlers, SaberCats and the Avengers (after this weeks game with New York) three straight games…May 18th and 25th and June 8th.
Let the fun begin!
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.
