Hodgkiss Takes Blame for Avenger Loss
Steven Herbert
Monday May 13, 2002
Quarterback Tony Graziani was sacked three times, once more than the opening three games combined, and had to face a fierce rush countless other times.
Hodgkiss said one mistake was calling too many five step drops for Graziani.
“We should have done more three-step and more screens,” Hodgkiss said. “They are a great rush team. We knew that going in and didn’t prepare properly.”
After trailing 20-7 after one quarter, the Avengers remained within striking distance of the Arena Football League’s last undefeated team through the second quarter, trailing 37-34 with 18 seconds before halftime.
However, they could get no closer, surrendering a 22-yard touchdown pass from Mark Grieb to James Hundon with four seconds left in the half and were outscored, 34-10 in the second half.
“We didn`t play well in any phase of the game outside of special teams,” Hodgkiss said. “Defensively, we just let them go up and down the field. Offensively, we didn’t protect very well and dropped a couple of balls and had a fumble.
“It just wasn’t our day. Against a team like San Jose, who’s arguably the best team in the league, you can’t get away with those things.”
Defensively, Hodgkiss said he called a wrong coverage that led to a touchdown by San Jose (4-0), but on two touchdowns, the players “had to do a better job of playing what’s called.”
Another need defensively is to improve communication, Hodgkiss said.
Los Angeles (2-2) played without Chris Jackson, who entered this week’s play as the league’s leading scorer and receiver and was the AFL’s offensive player of the month for April. Jackson will miss at least two games after breaking a bone in his right wrist near the end of the first half of a 52-51 victory over the Dallas Desperados May 4.
Jackson’s absence “did not change the outcome of the game at all,” Hodgkiss said.
J.J. Washington replaced Jackson at offensive specialist, catching six passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Graziani completed 17 of 33 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns, ending his streak of back-to-back 300-plus yard games.
Chad Dukes, a two-time AFL rushing leader and All-Arena player, made his biggest offensive contribution during his brief Avengers tenure, rushing for a team-record 49 yards, including a 39-yard first-quarter touchdown run for another record.
Dukes also set a team record with a 56-yard second-quarter kickoff return for a touchdown, and scored a third touchdown on a one-yard run later in the quarter.
Although the Avengers “didn’t take any positives,” from their game at San Jose, there are several reasons for optimism as they prepare for Friday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Storm at Staples Center, Hodgkiss said.
"Offensively, we`ll be better this week because its an extra week for J.J. playing the offensive specialist position," Hodgkiss said. "He`ll have one more week of growth at that position."
A key goal for the week in practice is for players do to a better job on their assignments, Hodgkiss said, especially on defense.
"Those are the things we`re not doing properly," Hodgkiss said. "Guys are trying to do too much at times. That can be encouraging--you like guys to do all they can--but they also need to learn they just need to do their assignment and trust the other seven guys to do theirs and we`ll be fine. We`re not at that point yet. Guys are trying to do a little too much and we`re getting hurt that way.”
Another positive will be playing at Staples Center following three road games after opening the season with a 43-25 victory over the New York Dragons at Staples Center April 19.
"We`re excited about it," Hodgkiss said. "In any sport, it`s tough to win on the road, especially professional football. We had a great crowd that first game. It really helped us. Score-wise, we played our best game of the year."
Steven Herbert began covering Arena Football in 1988, the league’s second season. He has covered the sport for The Associated Press, Arizona Republic, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Providence Journal-Bulletin, Palm Beach Post, Daily Oklahoman and other publications. Herbert has also written on college and NFL football for The Washington Post and spent five years as a Los Angeles Times staff writer.
