Improving a Champion
Jeff Sims
Saturday March 3, 2007
Since that title game, a lot has happened within the league and the Rush team itself as they prepare to try to be only the second team to repeat as champion since the Tampa Bay Storm in 1995 and 1996. Repeating will not be easy since the league adopted the new free substitution rule that almost takes the “Ironman” away from the game and allows players to concentrate on playing one side of the ball.
With this major change, Rush Head Coach Mike Hohensee said he had one of the busiest offseasons in his coaching career.
“Initially, I was not happy with the substitution changes,” said Hohensee. “But as things were presented to me, it may be good for the game. It forces you to go out and get better players.”
Hohensee stated that his main focus was on the offensive and defensive lines. The team lost Tango McCauley in the expansion draft to New Orleans and last season’s Defensive Rookie of the Year Khreem Smith signed with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. To make up for these losses, the team signed All-Arena DL E.J. Burt as a free agent and signed rookies Robert Boss and Demetrios Walker.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Rush bring back most of the nucleus that led them to the title last season. QB Matt D’Orazio will be hooking up with WR Bobby Sippio once again and should be one of the best combinations in the league. All-Ironman FB/LB Bob McMillen returns for what he claims will be his final season as does exciting WR Woody Dantzler. The most notable loss comes in WR/LB Etu Molden, who was released on Monday and has since signed with the Las Vegas Gladiators. Molden leaves as the Rush’s all-time leading receiver. In his three seasons with Chicago, Molden caught 264 passes for 3,132 yards and 71 touchdowns. He led the team in receptions last season with 67 despite missing four games due to injury.
“The guys that we kept are the guys that deserve to be here,” noted Hohensee. “I make decisions based on what I believe is best for the football team. I thought some other guys stepped up in that position and I thought that our team was ready for that change.” (Etu) was not as focused as he had been in the past. He was just not prepared for our team right now.”
One of those guys that stepped up during camp to earn a roster spot is former Chicago Bears wide receiver and return specialist Ahmad Merritt. Merritt comes to the Rush after playing four years in the NFL. He was released by the Bears in September of 2004 and then signed with the Dallas Cowboys, who released him prior to the 2005 season after tearing ligaments in his foot.
“He’s a guy who didn’t try to big time this organization or big time his teammates,” said Hohensee. “He has earned this position.”
Merritt is just learning the AFL game, but he is learning to adapt quickly.
“It’s a little different in coverages and the angles because of the smaller field,” said Merritt. “Right now I am a student of the game and learning as much as I can. But it is still football. I’m not 100% comfortable right now, but I will be.”
It’s All About Defense
Even with the potent offense returning this season, it is the Rush defense that Hohensee thinks will be the team’s best attribute.
“I have high hopes for our defense. We are at a very high level right now and that will be the strength of our team. Even in the ArenaBowl, we may not have won that game without our defense.”
Jeremy Unertl returns for his first full season with the Rush, after being signed early into last season. Teamed with Dennison Robinson and the recently acquired Jonathan Ordway, who was released by the Grand Rapids Rampage earlier this week after leading the Tampa Bay Storm in tackles last season, the Rush stand to have a quality and hard hitting defense.
The big questions may be at Fullback/Linebacker and at Quarterback. With Charlie Cook forced to retire after being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, the Rush have converted lineman D.J. Bleisath to back-up McMillen.
At QB, after D’Orazio, the Rush will be relying on rookie Russ Michna out of Western Illinois. After the releases of Asad Abdul-Khaliq and Michael Bishop during the offseason, Michna beat out last year’s AF2 Rookie of the Year Brett Dietz for the back-up spot.
“Michna was consistent,” says Hohensee, who tends to be very critical of quarterbacks considering his past playing history. “He’s made some incredible throws for a guy that has not played this game. He has been in our facility for months trying to learn this game.”
At least Michna will have a very talented cast around him should he be needed this season.
One thing is for sure; the Rush should provide plenty of fireworks during the 2007 season that should result in them making a run at back-to-back ArenaBowl titles.
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.
