Miller Struggles and Fury Lose, 55-34
Neal Ruhl
Sunday May 19, 2002
Miller had an interception and fumbled the QB/Center exchange twice as the Fury offense was only able to muster 34 points despite a career day from WR/DB Chuck Winters. Winters returned 2 Firebird kickoffs for touchdowns to go along with the 39-yard scoring strike from Miller. Winters appeared to be the Fury’s go-to guy since offensive specialist Robert Gordon was lost for the year after breaking his arm last week against Buffalo. The division loss to Indiana dropped Detroit’s record to 1-4, making them the only team in the American Conference with just 1 win.
Eddie Brown was the star of the game for the Firebirds, as he hit payturf a total of four times. In a league where running the ball is usually abandoned, Brown was able to break through for two TD carries to add to his two TD receptions. Indiana QB Raymond Philyaw avoided making any mistakes as the Firebirds improved their record to 3-2 assuring themselves of at least a tie for the division lead.
“Quotables”
Winters on the possibility of being the new “go-to” guy for the Fury. “I wish I was the go-to guy. I’m glad I had a good game. Hopefully I can become the main guy with Robert (Gordon) not here. I’m definitely going to step up.”
Firebird’s Kicker Andy Payne on the apparent trash talking between him and Chuck Winters. “There was nothing to it, we were just playing the game.”
Winters on the trash talking. “You just have to play the game and that is part of it.”
Coaches Corner - quotes from Fury Coach “Mouse Davis”
On the squib kick style the Fury tried in the second half. “We were trying to see if we could kick it into a player and see if we get an on side kick from it. It didn’t hurt us because we weren’t able to stop them in the field.”
On Detroit’s 1-4 start. “I would say we are pretty much in desperate mode right now, although we did play better. We just have to keep improving and get better.”
Inside the Fury
Miller made his first career start at quarterback in the Arena Football League. He was named starter after the team cut QB Rickey Foggie earlier in the week. The Fury came into tonight’s game with the worst turnover margin in the league (-4). Three more turnovers did nothing to improve that. Chuck Winters’s four TD’s are the most he’s ever had in a game.
Behind Enemy Lines
The Firebirds sacked Miller on the Fury’s last offensive play of the game. It was their first of the year. They were the last team in the league to record a sack this season. Eddie Brown must love seeing the Fury on the schedule. He now has nine td’s in the last three matchups of these two squads. The teams meet again on June 14 at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Neal Ruhl lives in the Metro Detroit Area where he has covered the Detroit Lions as well as the Motor City Bowl.
