Blizzard looking to grind it out in '08
Andrew Pekarek
Saturday March 29, 2008
The Green Bay Blizzard is the closest thing in arenafootball2 to a three yards and a cloud of dust type team.
Head coach Bob Landsee, who is returning to the team after taking the 2007 season off because of a life-threatening condition, built the Blizzard into an af2 power around the old cliché of if you play good defense, don’t turn the ball over and convert in short-yardage situations you’ll win.
Landsee was an all-American offensive lineman at the University of Wisconsin, which explains why the Blizzard run the ball more than most af2 teams and try to slow down the pace of the game.
The Blizzard will look to play this same style of football in 2008, but the key to how far the team goes depends on the most recognizable position on the field, the quarterback.
In six seasons, Green Bay has never had the luxury of having a returning starting quarterback, like Quad City and Tulsa have this season with J.J. Raterink and Justin Allgood. The closest it came to that happening was Zeke Dixon in the 2006-2007 seasons, but he saw action in only one game in 2006.
Instead, each year the team has to look for a new signal caller, but this is common in the af2 because the league is designed to help players get to the next level. The Blizzard has done this with three of its previous quarterbacks Chris Greisen (AFL), James MacPherson (AFL) and Gino Guidugli (CFL).
So, the problem isn’t finding talent each year at the quarterback position, but deciding on a starter, which for the Blizzard is a decision that hasn’t been made till halfway through the season the past few years.
In 2006 the team switched between MacPherson and Ronnie Gordon. MacPherson finally won the job and gained confidence down the stretch of the 2006 season to lead the team to the ArenaCup.
Last year, the team started the season with Ryan Hawk, which lasted only one game, and then switched between Dixon and Guidugli. Dixon ultimately won the job because Guidugli signed with a Canadian Football League team during the season.
Why is it important for a team to find a starting quarterback? Because ultimately the quarterback is the leader of a team and it’s hard to lead if you don’t know where you stand with the team.
In 2008 the two quarterbacks fighting for the job are Matt Bohnet and Shane Adler. Bohnet played at Eastern Michigan in college and played in the now defunct-NFL Europa. Adler is from UW-Lacrosse and was a backup for the Louisville Fire last season.
This season the Blizzard’s championship aspirations depend on either Bohnet or Adler stepping up and winning the job, and never losing it.
Catching the ball from Bohnet or Adler will be Scott Burnoski, who is one of the few players returning from last year’s squad. In 11 games he had 58 catches for 775 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Joining him at receiver will be newcomers Steve Gonzalez and Quorey Payne. Gonzalez played last in the af2 with the Manchester Wolves and has spent time with the AFL’s Philadelphia Soul. Payne had 73 catches for 837 yard and 13 touchdowns for division-rival Louisville last year.
The Blizzard defense also features three players who played with Louisville last year. They are All-af2 defensive lineman Eddie Yauch and defensive backs Rusty Midlam and Nate Green.
Defensive lineman Kory Lothe is the only returning player on defense, but defensive coordinator Doug Lytle is back. Lytle took over as head coach last year because of Landsee’s medical condition and is a big reason for the defense’s success.
It sounds cliché, but if Green Bay continues to play good defense, doesn’t turn the ball over and converts in short-yardage situations then you can expect the team to make the playoffs again.
If you add to that cliché find a leader at quarterback, then you can also add another title to Titletown U.S.A.
