Ask ArenaBoy
by Richard Giorgi
March 29, 2007
How the West was won
I had the good fortune of being able to see the San Jose Sabercats travel to the east coast to take on the Georgia Force. Two of the better offensive squads in the Arena Football League put on quite a show, scoring in buckets before a whiffed onside kick, a mishandled snap and a questionable call on another onsider sealed a victory for Georgia. But the Cats were in the game, in Georgia, against the 3-0 (now 4-0) Force.
Off to a 1-2 start, some might think discouragingly about the Sabercats chances. I think that those thinkers should stop thinking that and start thinking something else. This is a good team. And the time has come.
The Sabercats played their first three games on the road, traveling to tough environments in Los Angeles, Chicago and Georgia. In spite of that tough start, San Jose is a mere 5 points away from being undefeated. In spite of that tough start, San Jose is producing well from a fantasy perspective. A quick glance at their upcoming record dictates that you get your Sabercats into the lineup in the coming weeks, and quick, because there is a big pregnant rain cloud full of points hovering on the horizon that looks ready to release a deluge.
Let's look at the upcoming games: Tampa Bay (6th highest points allowed) at home, Colorado (9th highest points allowed) at home, Utah (3rd highest points allowed) at home, Arizona (4th highest points allowed) on the road, Las Vegas (2nd highest points allowed) at home, Grand Rapids (1st highest points allowed) at home, Nashville (5th highest points allowed) on the road. Is a picture becoming clear to you? San Jose, an excellent late season team that builds momentum through the middle months of the season faces a veritable Who's Who of Bad Defenses. And they finish the season with the Blaze, Rattlers and Gladiators.
Can anyone say Bonanza? Can anyone say Smorgasbord? Can anyone say Barrage?
Mark Grieb, Ben Nelson and James Roe should feast on that opposition. But the player to watch is this year's version of Rashied Davis, none other than Rodney Wright. As the WR3 on the Sabercats, Wright may not be at the center of everyone's attention but more games like he had in Atlanta - where he caught 11 passes for 110 yards and a TD, collected 150 return yard and a return TD, and provided a spark everytime the Sabercats looked on the verge of extinction - will thrust him plainly in your fantasy viewfinder. On the year, Wright now has 31 catches for 282 yards (a 9.1 yard per catch average), 3 receiving TDs, 2 rushing TDs, 304 return yards (on only 11 returns, a 27.6 yard average on a 50 yard field) and one return TD. Wright is currently averaging 33 fantasy points per game, 7 points more per game than higher profile teammate Roe. His quarterback, the record-setting Grieb, himself a late-season phenom, has confidence in Wright, looking for him again and again in critical 3rd and 4th down situations, using Rodney in a delicate blend of outlet and long ball.
Did I point out that upcoming schedule for you?
In the Georgia game, Coach Darren Arbet tried out George Trestin on returns but quickly reverted back to depending on Wright for the electric moves and speed the Sabercats needed to offset the potent Force offense. Rodney did not take long to pay dividends, totalling 150 return yards, including a 54-yarder with 1:48 left in the game that gave San Jose a chance to win the game. Unfortunately that was when A.J. Hagland swung his foot and missed the ball, resulting in the flubbed onside kick which was recovered by Georgia at the 1-foot line. A short push by Chris Greisen later and Georgia was back up by 8-pts. San Jose pulled within 2 points, fumbled the snap on the conversion and the game was over.
But the offense showed that they could be potent against good competition. So ignore the record and start those Sabercats. And don't be surprised when the three receivers end up with 100+ catches and 1500+ yards each. And don't be surprised to see Wright lead them all in scoring.
You heard it here first.
Rich Giorgi is a member of the Arena Football League Writers Association and has been following the Arena Football League for 8 years and participating in arena fantasy leagues for 6 years. Contact Rich at info@arenafootballonline.com
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