Steamwheelers Looking To Build On Win
Gary Stibolt
Wednesday April 20, 2005
Sam Clemons started the game for the injured Matt Pike at quarterback and completed 19-33 for 253 yards and 5 touchdowns with one interception. Assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, Steve Fickert was pleased with Clemons performance but not ecstatic about it.
"Sam you know, he got his first start, his first win, he made some good plays and he made some poor plays." Fickert said. "I think that his improvement was definitely the key to us at least in moving the ball offensively. We're happy with the win but we're definitely not satisfied with our offensive performance."
Clemons did not drop a snap at all in the game and that was a huge improvement. The line protection was much better and it will continue to improve.
"We did not throw everything in the offense," explained Fickert. "It will take time for Sam to get in synch with our receivers, but we’re getting there."
As the offense searched their way to a win, the defense came up huge.
Defensive backs coach, Eddie Langford, explained about this year’s defensive performance.
"You know, our defense this year is better than what we had last year," Langford said. "We have a complicated defense. Last year, we just ran ‘man’ all year long. This year, I'll bet you we have twenty-one different coverage’s. It's a complicated system to learn and I would rather get better as the season goes on than to be really good up front and not have anything to show them (opponents) to use later in the year."
In that ‘man’ coverage, Matt Forbes (DS) was all alone in the secondary. This year, he has a lot of help. The biggest impact comes from the defensive front four applying some immense pressure.
"We did a really good job, I thought, in the second half," said lineman Pete Traynor as he was catching his breath following the game. "As far as our defense...we got great pressure on him (Slover). I mean everyone played really well. Our defensive backs stepped up, D-line, our linebackers, everyone did...we were getting good pressure on him. Now we just need to put a complete game together."
John Culp echoed Traynors’ thoughts as well. "We had a good week of practice and we knew they didn't want to lose, nobody wants to lose, so we came out and played and we got the shut-out in the second half. I think we've got a good team and we're going to get better down the line."
Getting better is just what the Steamwheelers are looking for. They have a very tough test over the next couple of weeks especially when they take on Oklahoma City (2-1) this Saturday on the road and return home to take on the division leaders from Memphis (3-0).
"Our defense is getting better," stated head coach Rick Frazier. "We had one bad half at Wilkes-Barre but our defense was on the field the entire second half. Sam didn’t put the ball on the ground tonight and we did a good job defensively. We are still learning."
While the defense seems to be the strongest dimension of the team right now, special teams improved as well. Nick Gatto was very good on his kickoffs and he hit a clutch 30-plus yard field goal to force a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter before Matt Forbes came up with his second interception. It is the defense that appears to have things rolling and the offense that is clearly finding its’ way right now.
They will continue to find their way under the direction of Sam Clemons. Sam is expected to get the start this weekend against the Yard Dawgz. When talking about the offense you have to talk about Sam Clemons. Dallas Desperados offensive coordinator and former Steamwheelers head coach Rich Ingold said in the Quad City Times that coach Frazier is getting a hell of a quarterback in Clemons. Some fans however, don’t have the patience for an offense and a quarterback to develop. We are use to putting up bigger offensive numbers and this year it is going to take a little more time. So in that, there is a fine line in which to balance the time you have and the wins you must have especially when the next two games are against division foes.
"My hats off to Sam, I mean when you take a kid...and what people have to remember about Sam Clemons is this: He hadn't played a down since college," explained Frazier. "He goes to the Cowboys and he's a back-up practice squader QB. He goes to Chicago (Rush) and he's a back-up and never gets on the field. He goes to Dallas (Desperados) and he's on their practice squad all year. He hasn't started a game since college and that's it. You know, you go to Quad Cities and it's a good place to play but it's a tough place to play. Our fans expect results and Sam's out there under the gun. You know he still, even though we gave him the start, he still had five total days of practice as to where Matt Pike going into last weeks game, had three weeks of practice and a preseason game. Sam has the talent and he's just going to get better, better, and better."
Frazier’s players agree and a win always helps put things in a positive perspective. Pat Hughes puts it this way, "I'm just glad we came together as a team and we've got something positive to build on for next week in Oklahoma City." Travis Burns agrees, "We've just to come back and get everything together and gel as a team. We still haven't put together a real great offensive game like I know we can. We just have to get together and watch film and practice." The Steamwheelers continue to build upon those things and look forward to inching up to 2-0 this Saturday night in Oklahoma City.
Gary Stibolt has covered the Quad City Steamwheelers since their 2000 inaugural season. He also owns, operates and is the Chief Editor/Publisher of SteamwheelerFans.com, a website dedicated to the Steamwheelers and their fans. He coresponds for other media outlets covering arenafootball2. In addition to leading the Steamwheelers Fan Club, Gary serves as Coordinator of the National af2 Fan Club. He is married with two sons and works as an Infrastructure Analyst for Deere & Company in their Corporate Computer Center in Moline, Illinois.