Mike Black has been Kicking Butt
Matt Krueger
Saturday June 24, 2000
Black, last season’s kicker of the year, was a perfect five for five on extra points, bringing his total up to 45 for 47, and nailed four of six field goal attempts helping the Destroyers to a 55-44 win.
He is currently fourth in the AFL in kick scoring with 90 points, one field goal attempt shy of 300 and the first kicker in league history to surpass 900 points.
Black struggled through most of the season, but after a conversation with coach Ray Bentley and making some corrections on his form, has regained his stroke.
“Mike has a unique situation in his contract,” Bentley said. “The way it was set up enables him to go home each week and he works on the television crew for ESPN. I felt like Mike was just a part time football player. I also know that Mike is the best kicker in this league and he was kicking average. Mike, through my conversation with him, has renewed his commitment to us. He’s here with us at least three practices a week and I think that makes a difference.”
Black’s reemergence has led his team to victory and pleased his coach.
“He’s reaping the rewards of his work and his refocus and I couldn’t be prouder of him,” Bentley said.
The team looks to make it three in a row as they travel to New Jersey this weekend for a showdown with the division-rival Red Dogs.
Coach Bentley said he wants to utilize the defensive strategy that has been successful in the past two weeks.
“They (New Jersey) love the big play. That’s what they try to get on you. We’re going to continue our plan defensively that we’ve done in the past and try to eliminate that big play, make them earn their way down the field, deliver our punishment and then make our stand in the end zone.”
Bentley also expects to take advantage of the Red Dogs’ secondary, which so far has been very successful.
“As for our offense, we feel we can get some things on the secondary. They’re aggressive; they take chances. That’s why they have so many interceptions. I also feel like they try to jump routes and squat on some things. And with double moves, we can get the big play on them.”
Browning Nagle will look to get the passing game going as he gets the nod over last week’s starter Nick Browder. Nagle stepped in for Browder in the second half of last week’s game to lead the Destroyers to victory.
On a down note for Buffalo, Jerald Jeffcoat broke a couple of bones in his neck last week.
According to Bentley, the latest word on Jeffcoat is that he’s stable and won’t have any long-term nerve damage.
“That’s a huge disappointment to me personally and to our football team, and to our football family,” Bentley said. “We’re going to put him on injured reserve and he will not come back for the rest of the season.”
Flint Fleming and Johnie Church have been activated off of IR and are expected to fill the gap left by Jeffcoat.
Matt Krueger was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2000 season.
