Avengers 4-2 Start Best Ever
Steven Herbert
Friday May 31, 2002
The Avengers are 4-2, the first time in their history they are two games above .500. Although third in the Arena Football League’s Western Division, Los Angeles is in a four-way tie for the league’s third-best record, trailing fellow Western Division members San Jose and Arizona, the only teams to defeat the Avengers.
A victory Saturday night over Dallas at Staples Center would match last season’s team-record five-victory total. If Los Angeles posts a .500 record in its final eight games, it would equal the eight victories it recorded over its first two seasons.
Despite occasional lulls, the Avengers passing game is statistically the best in the league, averaging 284.5 yards per game. Offensive specialist Chris Jackson leads the league in touchdowns with 19 and is fourth in receptions (44) and receiving yards (514) despite missing two games because of a broken right wrist.
Coach Ed Hodgkiss said quarterback Tony Graziani has exceeded his expectations “in terms of his growth level as the season has progressed.”
“The one thing we talked about early on was not turning the ball over and he’s done a good job of that,” Hodgkiss said of Grazini, who has thrown only two interceptions while throwing 31 touchdown passes. “We are to the point with Tony that if the others players do what they are supposed to do, we will be hard to stop offensively.”
Free agent signees Chad Dukes and Greg Hopkins have both paid dividends, offensively and defensively. Dukes was selected as the AFL’s Ironman of the Week for his three-touchdown and game-high 8.5-tackle performance against Georgia.
Hopkins is tied with Jackson for fourth in the league in receptions, is fifth in receiving yards with 568 and shares the team lead in interceptions with two.
The Los Angeles defense has set franchise records for the fewest points allowed in both its home games, but still needs to overcome the stigma of allowing a franchise-record 78 to San Jose May 11.
The special teams have shown a knack for key plays at opportune times. This was especially proven out in Friday’s 74-53 victory at Georgia, when the Avengers executed a successful onside kickoff, then recovered the two ensuing kickoffs off the rebound nets, helping them score 29 points in a one-minute, 33-second span.
“I’m obviously happy to be 4-2, but as a coach, you can never be satisfied because you can always get better.” Hodgkiss said.
In seemingly every game, the Avengers have demonstrated flaws. They generally correct those problems in the following game, only to find other areas needing improvement.
“We are learning from our mistakes and not making the same mistakes twice,” Hodgkiss said. “I’m pleased with the way our team has continued to grow.”
One area needing improvement was slow starts. Los Angeles was held scoreless in both of its first-quarter possessions in a 38-24 victory over Tampa Bay May 17, then rebounded against Georgia the following week, scoring touchdowns on its first five possessions, breaking out to a 37-30 halftime lead.
The Avengers could not carry that momentum over to the second half, when quarterback Tony Graziani was sacked in the end zone for a safety on their first possession.
“When we came out in the second half, we were not able to match their intensity,” Hodgkiss said. “We expect to score a touchdown on every possession.”
Los Angeles scored a touchdown and added a two-point conversion on their second second-half possession. The following drive ended when Rory Hamilton missed a 20-yard field goal after the Avengers failed to convert on a first-and-goal from the Force five-yard line, leaving them with a total of eight points on their first three second-half possessions.
Hodgkiss has identified several areas of emphasis for his team as it prepares for the Desperados.
One is doing a better job of protecting Graziani than it did against Georgia. The defensive line also needs to do a better job of rushing the quarterback, Hodgkiss said.
Another is reducing penalties. The Avengers were penalized a team-record 18 times in their 52-51 victory at Dallas May 4, with several penalties prompted by Desperados quarterback Andy Kelly’s effective use of cadence.
The Los Angeles offense will be facing a slightly different Dallas defense than it did in the first meeting between the two teams, Hodgkiss said.
“Dallas has changed up in the secondary, playing a little bit tighter with more bump-and-run coverage,” Hodgkiss said.
However, to Hodgkiss, the Avengers control their own destiny, both against the Desperados and in the remainder of the season.
“We have enough talent that if we don’t beat ourselves, don’t get penalties, play smart and don’t make turnovers, we’ll be all right,” Hodgkiss said.
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.
