Hold the Phone on the Phantoms
Jim Parcels
Thursday June 13, 2002
It was a premature statement.
Since a 45-36 win against Indiana on May 9th, the Phantoms have struggled miserably on the offensive side of the ball as they have only won once in four games.
After Sunday’s embarrassing defeat to the revamped Georgia Force at Philips Arena, the club returned home battered and beaten after a sloppy 35-22 loss.
“It was a football game in which we simply did not execute”, said Head Coach Mark Stoute. “There’s not too much else I want to say about it other than that.”
In a game where the Phantoms were without the services of leading receiver Damian Harrell and top rusher Jermaine Younger, the club looked listless and confused.
A similar situation occurred about the same time last year when the club dropped to 3-6 in mid-June.
“This has to be the worst loss in the history of the Toronto Phantoms,” said veteran QB Pat O’Hara after the loss in Atlanta, “It’s actually worse in many ways than our 70-22 loss in Orlando last year.”
O’Hara saw action in only his second game of the season on Sunday after replacing an ineffective Chad Salisbury in the fourth quarter.
Salisbury completed 18 of 26 for 220 yards but threw three interceptions and was harassed all night by the Georgia defense.
“That was one of the worst performances of my career”, says the Phantoms pivot. “Actually, no, check that – that was the worst, period!”
The game featured the Phantoms scoring on only three of 11 possessions and being assessed eleven penalties – many frustration infractions after the whistle.
Over the past month the Phantoms offense has been off balance and disorganized while the defense (rated number one in the AFL) has actually kept many of the games respectable.
Injuries have been a key factor in recent weeks starting with DS Del Lee who’s injury in mid-May forced WR/DB Charlie Davidson to move to the DS role. He also had to drop to the backfield on Sunday after starting DS Anthony Derricks dislocated a finger vs. the Force.
Taking Davidson out of the offensive unit has forced many changes in recent weeks.
For one, it has placed added responsibility on youngsters Luke Leverson, Nakia Jenkins and Kahlil Carter and two, it puts a veteran like Davidson in the uncomfortable role of defensive specialist – the most difficult position in the game to play.
“Playing DS is a bit of an adjustment for me but its hard to do it in the middle of a game,” said Davidson. “I played the role earlier in my career but it’s a big change when you have to change positions during a game.”
Add that to the loss of OS Harrell and FB/LB Jermaine Younger and you have a unit that has seen several new faces forced into starting roles over the past month.
And oh ya, also add to the list, OL/DL Steve Konopka who appears to be done for the year after suffering another knee injury on Sunday night.
The sophomore is among the league’s leading linemen with 4.0 sacks and several tackles to his credit and was actually the AFL Defensive Player of the Month for April. He has only played two full games this season before Sunday’s injury.
If there is such as thing as “must win” in only the ninth week of the season then Thursday’s game at home to Buffalo is a huge contest on the Phantoms schedule.
With New Jersey leading the division at 5-3, the Destroyers and Phantoms are perched at 4-4. Buffalo has the upper hand with a 3-1 divisional record while the Phantoms would be looking at dropping to 1-3 in the grouping with a loss.
“There is no question that tomorrow’s game is a big one for us,” said Younger, who is expected to return to the lineup after suffering a shoulder strain in New York.
On the bright side, the Phantoms are in the thick of a playoff race and the defense is playing very respectably at this point.
If there is one thing about Arena Football – it’s much easier to sort out problems offensively than defensively at this point in the season.
Let’s hope that turnaround starts on Thursday.
Tales from the Crypt
Don’t be surprised to see O’Hara get the starting nod against Buffalo on Thursday… OS Damian Harrell strained a hamstring in the victory in New York and is also expected to dress on Thursday… The Phantoms lead the league in scoring defense allowing just over 40 points per game… DS Anthony Derricks dislocated a finger in Atlanta but is expected to play on Thursday as well… The loss of Konopka is an opportunity for veteran OL/DL Michael Harrison to play a larger role on the defensive side. Harrison led the Florida Bobcats in sacks last season but has played a limited role as a reserve this year… Take a look at today’s AFL Eastern Division standings 1. New Jersey, 2. Buffalo, 3. Toronto, 4. New York – turn them upside down – that’s what the standings looked like at this time last year!… The more I see Frank Haege’s New Jersey Gladiators the more I like their chances to make some noise late in the season – there’s something about his club that tells me they are motivated after a 2-12 campaign last season… Is it just me or is the Phantoms offense the only unit in the league that doesn’t employ a larger bag of creative plays of quick hitches, screens and mis-direction plays? Take a look at how Grand Rapids, New Jersey and San Jose run their offenses – it’s like a playground out there every night… OL/DL Craig Moore has been added to the Phantoms practice squad. Moore played in Milwaukee under defensive coordinator Rick Frazier and line coach Bob Landsee and is familiar with their schemes. Expect Moore to fill the hole in coming weeks left by Konopka.
Jim Parcels was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2002 season.
