Cure Needed For the Rush
Jeff Sims
Saturday April 23, 2011
If there was a doctor in the house (trainers don’t count), the Chicago Rush could have used one on Friday night against the Kansas City Command at Allstate Arena.
The team suffered from a known and common football disease; fumble-itis.
With three botched center to quarterback exchanges and two fumbles on kickoffs on special teams, any knowledgeable fan of this great game knows that a formula like this typically leads to a blowout.
But on this night, the Command offense seemed to want to match the Rush offense turnover for turnover in a game that would make any offensive purist sick. The Rush defense intercepted two passes and recovered two fumbles of their own to keep the team alive in a game that they could have easily been blown out of. The mistakes kept coming for the Rush offense as they lost to the Command 58 -51.
Even with five seconds left and the ball on the Command five yard line, the Rush had an opportunity to tie the game and send it to overtime, but once again the disease reared its ugly head. Another fumbled snap on a fourth down play from center TJ Watkins to quarterback Russ Michna solidified the victory for the Command.
“It’s center to quarterback 101,” said Rush Offensive Coordinator Sherdrick Bonner. “We are having problems just getting the ball to our quarterback.”
Even when they would get the snap right, the Rush offense was anemic, only amassing 191 total yards for the game. Surprisingly, 34 of those yards were on the ground rushing. The passing game could not get on track and it was more than one thing contributing to the offensive woes.
“We are not consistent right now,” said Rush head coach Bob McMillen. “One play we’re not blocking somebody and the opposing team is pressuring (our quarterback). On the next play, our receivers can’t get open and (our quarterback) has all day to throw it. The next play, our quarterback is overthrowing a wide open receiver. It has got to be consistent. We have too good of players on that side of the ball to not put up enough points to win football games.”
The offense can thank the defense for keeping them in the last two games.
The Rush offense has turned the ball over eight times over the last eight quarters. In those eight quarters, the Rush defense has forced its opponents into six turnovers. Against the Iowa Barnstormers last weekend, the team had to overcome a 14 point deficit to come away with the win with a field goal as time expired. Down by fourteen again this week, the team could not duplicate the effort as the offensive situation continues to get worse. While everyone on the team is close and they accept defeat as a team loss, they all know what is happening and where the problems lie.
“We have to get better on offense,” said McMillen. “We are not a good offensive team right now. We are relying on our defense way too much. With five turnovers, the other team is going to score 58 points, flat out, and we have to figure out what we are going to do on offense.”
McMillen has already hinted that there will be some changes made to the wide receiving group and also some changes along the offensive line. He is adamant on running a tight ship and having his players follow his script.
“I have preached it since day one about accountability and knowing your role on this football team and doing your job,” he said. “Guys are not doing that consistently. Unfortunately, we might have to make some changes. It is just that easy. Guys are consistently making the same mistakes. You will see changes in the waiver wire when they are gone. We have one wide receiver consistently getting open and two other guys that can’t get open. We have defensive backs playing their own coverage. We have offensive linemen jumping off sides.”
In a moment that would have made former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary proud, McMillen couldn’t help to be passionate in his thoughts about his team’s faults on offense and the impact it has on his football team.
“Unacceptable. That is exactly what I just told them in the locker room. Unacceptable; can’t happen. Two fumbled kicks on special teams; can’t happen. That’s why we lost the game. “
Is there a doctor in the house?
Game Notes
Defensive back Vic Hall was inactive for this game having sprained an MCL in his knee earlier in the week. He tried to go, but with an eighteen game schedule, the coaching staff felt that it was best to keep him out for this game. They anticipate him to fully practice next week and be prepared to play against New Orleans next weekend.
Center Beau Elliot suffered a minor setback on the rehabilitation of his sprained knee that he suffered against the Milwaukee Mustangs in week one. Elliot was prepared to return this week and was working out for team physicians on Thursday when he “felt something.” He is now listed as day to day and could be available for the game against the VooDoo.
Leading wide receiver Reggie Gray suffered a stinger in his shoulder area when he went into an open partition in the west end zone during the first half trying to make a catch. He would return and make an impact with the kickoff return team after Jason Simpson fumbled twice on previous kickoffs. Gray returned a kick for a touchdown in the third quarter. He is not expected to miss any time.
The Rush defense scored a touchdown as mack linebacker Marcus Waugh caused former Rush quarterback JJ Raterink to fumble. The fumble was recovered by defensive lineman Joe Clermond who returned the fumble 43 yards for his first AFL touchdown.
Raterink defeated his former team by completing 27 of 36 pass attempts for 286 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for two touchdowns and had 48 yards on six carries. He did throw two interceptions.