Looking Back; Chicago Rush 2005 Season Report Card
Jeff Sims
Thursday January 26, 2006
The Chicago Rush went into the 2005 season coming off of a 10 - 6 2004 season and a heartbreaking semi-final playoff loss to San Jose. The expectations for the Chicago Rush were nothing short of reaching the ArenaBowl in 2005. Returning most of the core players from the 2004 team and adding what was believed to be some key additions, the team felt that it had the makings to contend for the ArenaBowl championship.
But for the second consecutive season, the Rush were ousted from the playoffs in the semi-finals as they lost to the Colorado Crush in what has to go down as one of the most bizarre games in AFL history. For the Rush, it can all be summed up as would have, could have, and should have. They would have won if they came out aggressive early, but they did not (the team was held scoreless in the first quarter). They could have won on a Keith Gispert field goal attempt in overtime (he missed the attempt). The Rush should have won this game, period!!
As is the typical sports slogan in the city of Chicago, the Chicago Rush would have to "wait until next year" to get another shot.
The grades below are reflective of the team’s performance during the entire 2005 season.
Quarterback
Raymond Philyaw once again proved that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the AFL. He finished second in the league with a 67.5% completion rate and continued to be an efficient offensive leader. But early on in the 2005 season, it was apparent that he was favoring the knee that he injured in the semi-final game in 2004 against San Jose. He was a pocket passer and did not show the ability or want to move out of the pocket in fear of re-injuring himself. He did sprain the knee before their bye-week and ended up sitting out for two weeks. Upon his return, he looked more like the Raymond Philyaw we expected going into the season.
The one other downside this season was the number of interceptions thrown by Rush QBs. After throwing only four interceptions the previous season, the combination of Philyaw and Todd Hammell combined for a total of 16 last season. Some came at critical moments of games, not typical of either one of these veterans.
The Rush still had a luxury in this position. Todd Hammell was able to start the two games in place of Philyaw and come out with wins.
Grade: A - (2004 season rank: A)
Fullback/Linebacker
Bob McMillen continued to be the definition of the term Ironman. He rushed for 178 yards and scored nine times last season, playing in all 16 games. What more can be said for a player that is one of the all-time great FB/LBs in the game and continues to produce year in and year out?
Jamie McGourty had some difficulties with injuries again this season playing in only nine games, but he continued to bring a physical presence to the Rush when healthy.
The surprise here was the emergence of Charlie Cook. Cook did not have many carries, but when he did, they counted. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and had two key touchdowns toward the end of the season. With the loss of McGourty for the 2006 season due to retirement, Cook will be a valued asset to this team.
Grade: A- (2004 season rank: B+)
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
Outside of Russell Shaw, the Rush did not really have a WR/DB step up with a quality season. Shaw, a key acquisition during the off-season, only caught 44 passes and 2 for touchdowns. From there, the list is not very impressive.
Charles Pauley, who was hyped by the coaching staff after being acquired during the off-season produced only 21 catches in nine games for the Rush.
The grade here is somewhat salvaged by the play of DeJuan Alfonso, who just knows how to play this game. His contribution on both sides of the ball and his willingness to do anything make him a key contributor consistently. As a result, Alfonso was rewarded with a contract extension prior to the end of the season.
Grade: C- (2004 season rank: C)
Wide Receiver/Linebacker
In only his second season, Etu Molden has made a name for himself in the AFL. He was a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2004 and lived up to the hype in 2005 as well. He led the team in receptions (96) and receiving yards (1158). His 30 touchdowns were the tops on the team and his presence on defense does not go unnoticed by opposing teams.
Credit also has to be given to Jeremy McDaniel for moving from his natural OS position to take on a new role as WR/LB. His 51 receptions and 13 touchdowns were down from 2004 (still 3rd on the team), but for learning a new position and maintaing a great attitude, MCDaniel still proved to have a quality season.
Once again, the flexibility of DeJuan Alfonso plays a key role in this group as well.
Grade: A (2004 season rank: B)
Offensive Specialist
Henry Douglas was just what the Rush needed to upgrade in this position, with certainly no offense to Jeremy McDaniel. Douglas was acquired in the off-season as a free agent and was everything that the coaching staff asked for, and more. He brought the speed needed at the position and posed a threat at all times. He was second on the team in receptions (87) and receiving yards (1019) and was also able to provide a shot in the arm for Chicago as a return threat in special teams.
Once again, the coaching staff was able to have a trick up its sleeve. In the five games missed by Douglas due to injury, C.J. Johnson stepped up and produced quality results for the Rush. After being moved over from the practice squad, in his five games, Johnson had 26 receptions and nine touchdowns. In his debut against Nashville, he recorded seven catches for 100 yards and two scores. Not bad at all for a guy coming off of your practice squad.
Grade: A- (2004 season rank: B)
Offensive/Defensive Line
This group continues to be the heart and soul of the Chicago Rush. These guys take pride in their performance week in and week out and are the unsung leaders of this team. John Moyer is the All Arena lineman that sparks this group. His seven sacks were fifth in the AFL last season. As Moyer gets most of the credit, Frank Moore, John Thomas, D.J. Bleisath, and John Sikora filled out a solid line. Giving up only eight sacks in a season is quite an accomplishment (the group only gave up six in the 2004 season). A plus for Rush fans is that most of these guys will return next season.
Grade: A (2004 season rank: A)
Defensive Specialist
With the performance from the revolving group of players in this position in the 2004 season, there was nowhere to go but up for the Rush. And they did just that by having a core group of players in this position throughout the course of the season. The tandem of Jeroid Johnson, AFL rookie Tony Lukins, and Greg Williams were a vast improvement. The only problem with this group is their size. Taller Wide Receivers such as Damian Harrell and Marcus Nash were able to easily score against this secondary. The group brought speed and an ability to close quick on opponents to make plays.
The wild card here was the emergence of Todd Howard after Lukins went down with an injury. Howard’s ball-hawking ability and his toughness made him the defensive player of the week in his first AFL game.
This team now has something to build on for the 2006 season.
Grade: C+ (2004 season rank: C-)
Special Teams
An improvement was made here as well for the Rush. Having Henry Douglas return kicks gave them a legitimate return threat that they have not had since Antonio Chatman left for the NFL. It looks like some excitement will be brought to the special teams again in Chicago.
Grade: B (2004 season rank: C+)
Kicker
Keith Gispert continued to be one the most consistent kickers in the AFL. He converted 11 of 18 field goals and 91 of 104 extra points in 2005. Not only was he one of the league leaders in percentage, Gispert has an uncanny ability to execute the onside kick. He kept the Rush in a number of games by getting the bounce just right and in my opinion, was a key to some of the Rush victories. He is a valuable piece to the overall puzzle for this team. The only thing that I will ding him for is the miss in the confetti game against Colorado. Most of the time, he makes that!
Grade: A- (2004 season rank: B+)
Coaching Staff
The coaching staff once again did a great job in preparing the team week in and week out for the rigors of an AFL schedule. Many upgrades were made on the offensive side of the ball resulting in a more exciting product for fans and a younger, energetic feeling for the team as a whole. The defense was susceptible due to their lack of size, but they did make up for some of that in speed and determination. All of the right pieces were in place for this 2005 team to win an AFL championship.
Grade: A - (2004 season rank: B)
Conclusion
There can be no doubt that the Chicago Rush had an excellent 2005 season. A loss in the now infamous "Confetti Game" in the league semifinals was a tough pill to swallow for this team. They had a number of chances to put Colorado away and just could not get the job done. But that does not take away from the fact that this team has made the playoffs in each of its first five seasons and has reached the AFL semi-finals the last two seasons. They have positioned themselves to be a contender for the next couple of years with a number of players from the 2005 season set to return in 2006.
Overall Grade: A - (2004 season rank: B+)
Coming later this week: 2006 Chicago Rush season preview
Jeff has been writing for ArenaFan.com since 2004. Originally from New York, Jeff has been living in the Chicago area for the past ten years and is an avid football fanatic. He holds a BA in communications from Hofstra University in New York and a sports management certificate from Loyola University in Chicago.