Chicago Rush 2007 Review and 2008 Outlook
Jeff Sims
Friday February 29, 2008
The team started off with a rough loss to Kansas City and then went on an impressive eight game winning streak that proved their ability to possibly repeat. A loss to Dallas in week 10 proved to be costly as the Rush would lose all-pro wide receiver Bobby Sippio early in the game to a high ankle sprain that would keep him out for the following three games. The Rush would go 1-2 during the three game stretch showing the value that Sippio brought to the team. With the return of a healthy Sippio, the Rush would finish the season 3-1 in its final four games and then blow out the Los Angeles Avengers 52-20 in the Conference semi-finals. The season would end on a low note as the Rush would commit an uncharacteristic five turnovers in a loss to the San Jose Sabercats 61-49 in the Conference final.
The grades below are reflective of the team’s performance during the entire 2007 season.
Quarterback
While his numbers reflected the best season of his career, there were times where Matt D’Orazio seemed pressed to make a play instead of playing smart as he did during the 2006 season. While showing a confidence in his receivers, D’Orazio threw twice as many interceptions (10) as he did in 2006. He finished the season with 3,787 passing yards, 82 touchdowns, and a 69.4% completion rate which are all career highs.
His heart and love for the game cannot be questioned. When he hurt his back in the June 23rd game against Kansas City, D’Orazio was still determined to play and lead his team like a true warrior. He was able to hide it for the first playoff game against Los Angeles and then it became apparent during the San Jose game that the pain was too much to handle. He threw three interceptions, leading to a Rush loss.
The Rush seem to have a “diamond in the rough” in back-up QB Russ Michna. Rush head coach Mike Hohensee cut co-Rookie of the Year Brett Dietz (Tampa Bay) prior to the start of the season in favor of Michna. Michna almost brought the Rush back in the Conference final pulling the team within six points in the fourth quarter. He completed 22 of 30 passes for 247 yards and 5 touchdowns. His lone interception came early in the fourth quarter and the team was unable to climb back into the game.
Grade: A –
Outlook
What a difference an offseason makes. D’Orazio was released and the Rush have brought in veteran signal caller Sherdrick Bonner for 2008. One of the best quarterbacks in AFL history, Bonner will need to learn a new offense and get used to his new teammates. It will be interesting to see how long it takes this new unit to gel together. Luckily for the Rush, Russ Michna stays on as the back-up and will be a solid compliment to Bonner.
Fullback
Playing in his 13th and final AFL season, Bob McMillen once again had a solid year. While McMillen no longer put up a lot of rushing yards (who does in this league?), he was a solid fullback who could get you tough yards when you needed them and protects his quarterback and teammates like nobody else.
Although the “ironman” isn’t necessarily applicable anymore in this game, McMillen is a true ironman having played linebacker and the offensive line last season when teammates were injured.
Grade: B +
Outlook
McMillen might now be off the field, but he returns to the Rush as their fullbacks/linebackers coach. Once again, the Rush made a big splash bringing in Nashville fullback Dan Alexander, who broke single season rushing title last year and scored 40 touchdowns. Also coming in is former San Jose fullback Matt Kinsinger. Kinsinger comes to the Rush after winning the title last season with the SaberCats. These two additions should bring some needed power to the Rush on the ground and make McMillen’s first year as a coach relatively easy.
Wide Receiver
Do they get any better than Bobby Sippio? The guy is a team player with a positive “attitude” who couldn’t be stopped. How can that be argued when in 13 games he caught 125 passes for 1,737 yards and 53 touchdowns? Not only did he contribute with receptions and scoring, but Sippio was a great blocker from the wide receiver position and did what was needed to win football games.
There was certainly a big drop off after Sippio. When he missed those three and a half games in the second half of the season, it definitely showed. Rookie Rob Mager showed potential and the return of Etu Molden late in the season gave D’Orazio another solid target. After that, DeJuan Alfonso played well at times also, and that was it.
Grade: A
Outlook
How do the Rush replace Bobby Sippio? After Sippio was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Rush only go out and bring in the Offensive Player of the year from 2005 and 2006. Damien Harrell will pick up right where Sippio left off. Harell makes big catches at big times and has the ability to score. The Rush also picked up Ryan Dennard in free agency from Los Angeles. As soon as they get the timing down with Bonner, this should be a solid offensive unit.
Offensive Line
A little make shift work made this a somewhat solid offensive line. While rookies Robert Boss and Jason Thomas were not completely solid, they were able to fill the roles presented to them when the Rush lost center Frank Moore to a knee injury that forced veteran John Sikora to move into the middle. The group gave up 25 sacks in 2007 which was only one more than in 2006.
While this group did not give D’Orazio as much time to throw as he would have liked, he can be happy that he did not end up on his back more often.
Grade: B –
Outlook
The only two starters from last year’s offense to come back are on the offensive line (Boss and Sikora). With the new rules, it will be interesting to see how much time they need to give Bonner to throw. This unit will need to work hard to keep Bonner off of his back.
Linebacker
The Rush probably had the best pair of linebackers in the AFL. This duo is the heart and soul of their defense. John Moyer’s move to the mack position from the defensive line gave Chicago another solid player to pressure the opposing quarterbacks. He registered 3.0 sacks for the season from the position, which was second best on the team.
DeJuan Alfonso can do it all. Alfonso can force fumbles, recover lose balls, return interceptions, and he even is the holder in the kicking game. He was second on the team with 93 tackles and was tied for second with six interceptions from the jack position. That is unheard of. He forced four fumbles and recovered six to tie an AFL record.
Grade: A+
Outlook
The Rush have this tandem locked up for another two seasons. With Moyer possibly moving back to the defensive line, the team will most likely look to Kinsinger as the team’s mack linebacker. With the new jack linebacker rules, it will be interesting to see how well and how soon Alfonso adapts to the new defensive schemes.
Defensive Line
The new rule changes for unlimited substitution last season may have caused a problem for the Rush from the defensive line standpoint. Having to go up against linemen that specialize in protecting their quarterback, the defensive line saw a low output in its sack total for 2007. The line only registered 14 sacks, which was down from the 21 they put up in 2006.
Free Agent pick-up E.J. Burt saw a majority of those sacks putting up six, most of them coming in the first half of the season. While Curtis Eason played well in the middle, Joe Peters was unable to put a lot of pressure on quarterbacks only putting up one sack all year.
Grade: C
Outlook
Upgrades are plenty at this position for the Rush. With the addition of Kinsinger, Moyer will most likely move back down to the defensive end position. The return of AFL All-Pro James Baron brings an intimidation factor back to this defensive line. Joe Peters returns for another season as well. There are also rumblings that Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006 Khreem Smith may return if he is released from his NFL contract with the Chiefs.
Defensive Back
These four guys helped the Rush have the top ranked defense in the league giving up a league low 44.9 points per game, down from 52.1 in 2006. All-Pro Jeremy Unertl had another solid year with 22 pass break-ups and six interceptions. The underrated Dennison Robinson had a team high 102 tackles, 22 pass break-ups, and a team high 7 interceptions. His hard hitting style helps bring a much needed energy to the Rush defense. Jonathan Ordway had 13 pass break-ups and three interceptions. The sometimes forgotten James Sadler was solid as well with 40 tackles and one interception in limited playing time.
Overall, this group tackles extremely well not allowing yards after a catch. They attempt to make a play on every ball and have great closing ability on deep routes.
Grade: A +
Outlook
With every cog of this well oiled machine back for 2008, the Rush defense intends to pick up right where it left off last season. With possibly more pressure coming from the defensive line, could it be possible that this unit improves over last season? That is a scary thought, and should be for other AFL teams.
Special Teams
The special teams were another part of the game that was affected by the new substitution rules. Instead of linemen having to cover on kickoffs, teams were able to substitute with quicker players that were able to get downfield quicker to make plays on the return. This resulted in fewer touchdowns and return yards.
With that in mind, Jonathan Ordway and Russell Shaw brought a solid return game for the Rush. Returners were able to gain 1357 yards as compared to 1774 in 2006 before the rule change. That is not bad at all. The three touchdowns by Ordway were three fewer than the six the team totaled the year before.
Grade: B
Outlook
With Ordway returning and knowing Coach Hohensee’s ability to surprise in special teams, the Rush will once again have a solid return team.
Kicker
The first thing I learned when I started covering the AFL was that you look for kickers to make about 50% of their field goals and about 90% of their extra points. With that in mind, Dan Frantz converted 11 of 27 field goals (40.7%) and 104 of 115 extra points (90.4%).
While the extra point accuracy is there, Frantz had difficulties in kicking short field goals. If he had to hit a field goal over 40 yards, no problem. It was within shorter distances where he struggled.
Frantz had a good year with kickoffs as well having a number of touchbacks. He is one of the best clutch kickers in the league and is set to return next season.
Grade: 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. They could have used a better game plan when they lost Sippio for that three game stretch. On the defensive side of the ball, the coaching staff got this team to be the top defense in the league lowering their points per game average from last season by almost eight full points.
Head coach Mike Hohensee continued to coach his team even after getting hit by a car in a local supermarket parking lot. If that isn’t the definition of a dedicated team player, please tell me what is.
Grade: A –
Outlook
Almost the entire coaching staff returns for 2008. The only difference is the addition of Bob McMillen as fullbacks/linebackers coach and the loss of Tony Bowick as line coach. The core team of Hohensee, Houseman, and Schwartz make up one of the best coaching staffs in this league.
Conclusion
Would have, could have, and should have. That is the saying that applies to the 2007 Chicago Rush. A not typical five turnover game was the doom for this team, although it was a very solid season.
With a new offense and the top defense in the league returning at full strength, the Rush will once again be a top contender to the AFL crown in 2008.
Overall Grade: A -