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   Rattlers Rampage Grand Rapids

Arizona traveled a long way to visit the Rampage and try to break their three game losing skid. When it was over the Rattlers had the 51-41 win. It was needed, but it did not answer many questions as to why the talent loaded Rattlers are struggling. Grand Rapids was winless and fighting their own problems, but Arizona had to hold on to win. Not a good sign.

Last year the team was at the same point, 4-5 and in need of boost. They got together and dug deep and found themselves in the title game. An amazing feat and to top it off Randy Gatewood was named the leagues Ironman. But last year there were more spots open for playoffs and chances of coming in from the outside were good.

For the 2004 season the league reduced the spots to only eight. Certainly the rich contract from NBC has something to do with it. (Insert sigh here). Definitely the cities not getting the extra game and the teams trying to find some pride will be diminished, but hey, tough TV. Under the current system the best records are in, and it is possible that a division champion can be excluded from the playoffs.

That leaves the Snakes in a pit, so to speak. They cannot afford to lose another one. Not even one. A tough ticket since they still have the Avengers and the Sabercats, twice, meow...... Here is the real problem, more than a few teams have to lose at least four games and the Rattlers win them all. Now the Rattlers could do that. But some of the others won’t lose much.

All is not lost, currently the Snakes are in the tenth spot behind Detroit, New York, LA and Dallas. They can help themselves in upcoming games with the Desperados, Fury and Avengers. Winning those will keep them in the hunt. This weekend they play a team they should have beaten a few weeks ago in Las Vegas. On that day a former Rattler, Maurice Bryant had a career day on the field. He also had a career day with his mouth. There was no one in the Rattlers organization the he did not hurl insults at. A few missed their mark tho, seems they jumped just before they got there and bounced harmlessly away. Doooohhhh. If he survives this game intact, then the Rattlers are in trouble.

Against Grand Rapids, in a must win game to be sure the Rattlers looked good, then average as they had a Doggette day while taking too many Ricks and having Loots to worry about. They are not misprints, but former Rattlers Cecil Doggette, Mark Ricks and QB Jeff Loots. By the way 0-8 is how the Rampage finished the day.

The season long problem of low scoring first quarters again plagued the Rattlers. The only first quarter scoring by either team was a Nelson Garner field goal for a 3-0 lead. The second quarter was opened up when Hunkie Cooper threw a 9 yard TD to lineman Wendall Gaines. It was Cooper’s second TD pass and Gaines third TD catch of the season. Then Bonner hit Gatewood for a 16 yard score to make it 17-0.

Then with a little over five minutes till the half, Grand Rapids went on a Rampage as Steve Smith took the kickoff 56 yards for the TD and it was 17-7. Moments later Bonner was sent to the dog house as Cecil Doggette bit him with his INT and 19 yard return. The Rampage quickly drove down and scored and the score is a very scary 17-14. Now the scenes from the prior three games started coming to mind. Not a good feeling.

The team breathed a Siaha of relief as Burley took the kick off back 25 yards. After a couple of passes to Justin Taplin and Randy Gatewood, Bonner finished the drive with a 3 yard toss to Gatewood. Rattlers 24 Rampage 14. Another Mike Black missed field goal ended the half. (Good thing we had Garner kicking.)

The second half was good and bad for Arizona. Good that they scored 20 in the 3^rd and GR scored 7. Bad that they score 7 in the 4^th and GR scored 20. Bonner took the team in for a score on the opening drive. It was 6 yard pass to Bo Dozer Kelly. AZ 30 - GR 14. The Rampage, however, comma, were not impressed and Bishop to Johnson for TD. AZ 30 - GR 21. Then the ASU connection came along swimmingly as pool boy Tom Pace dove right in for a one shoe 52 yard KOR for a TD. AZ 37 - GR 21.

Soon after the machine was called upon and the Bo Dozer Kelly delivered with a 5 yard TD. AZ 44 - GR 21. And this is how the 3^rd would end. Things looked good and all was jolly in the desert back home. But quicker than you could say "It’s in the bag,", all things Rattler began to sag. Moments later the chess match began again and it was Bishop to Dutcher. AZ 44 - GR 28. In this complicated, narrow game, chess is often played in a teams own red zone. Onside kick by Grand Rapids soon, very soon became a 17 yard TD to Randy Gatewood. AZ 51 - GR 28.

Surely now the winless Rampage would simply accept their fate. But they had other plans, one of which was the Bishop to Smith TD pass. AZ 51 - GR 35. Only five minutes remained. A good place for the Rattlers to be, in the lead and time running out. The Rampage tried another onside kick, again to a Rattler, this time it was Frank 32 and the Snakes took over at the GR 11. With 2:31 left, they gave the ball back to GR at the 11.

GR QB wanted the win, he wanted this win. He spread the ball around and with 35 seconds on the clock his 25 yard pass to Foreman made the score AZ 51 - GR 41. Another onside kick and another Rattler (Orshawante Bryant) recovery, this alone has to be a record for AZ. Three onside kick recoveries in one game. The game ends with the Rampage 0-8 and the Rattlers 4-5.

It was a win, but not a victory for a team trying to play a complete game. It can best be summed up by what I saw on the radio as Gene Nudo could be heard saying on many plays, "It was missed tackle. after missed tackle, after missed tackle." Tonight a kicker was the difference, and yes it was as simple as Black and white. Had Mike Black made his field goals this game would have been different. But, then again, who knows if GR could have kept Pace..............................

The letdowns that allowed the Rampage big scores has been the same thing following the team all season. A lot of player changes have been made. Much soul searching and some unhappy sounds. But the bottom line is the little things are not being done. Yes you can cut a kicker, trade a DB or whack a wide receiver, but I just keep going back the Nudo quote. "Missed tackle after missed tackle, after missed tackle, after missed tackle."

Stats should be kept on this category. Then when you want to cut or bench someone do the math and ad the points for their big plays, then subtract the points the other team scores when they "miss a tackle," total it, put it in a box next to the kickers stats. Then cut, bench or trade the right guys. Could get interesting. Or not.

It matters because the Rattler team is second to no one in the AFL in any department. Not coaching, players, trainers, front office. They have the tools to always win all their games. Sure they should, like San Jose, lose the occasional game due to the bounces of the ball. But this team, this year should not have one loss on their record this season. Too much talk is made of the core players, they are great, above average players that any team would be proud to have in their jersey.

But what this organization does is surround the core with great talent, year after year. I want to nominate Pete Ketella, Gene Nudo, Matt Anderson and Danny White as the core talent on this club and MVP’s of the Rattlers unmatched success in the AFL. Coach White is criticized unmercifully, usually for things beyond his control. But over time the little things are always done by him and this core group. Needless to say they don’t have many missed tackles.

Oh yeah, don’t blame the kicker when a TD is run past him on a kickoff. Kickers tackle like they bench press, with their backs, we all know how that turns out.

If the guys will not miss those tackles and not give up the 25 yard plus TD’s on 3^rd and 4^th down, then you can bet that the Rattlers will be in the big game again. And if they get there. pity the fool they have to play.

Up next are the Las Vegas Gladiators. Now in their last meeting, a very sloppy game that LV won in OT on a MoB TD, 65-64 their coach proved that he was a generous man. In fact, you might say that he would give you the shirt off his back. He did last time. That and  a headset that he donated to a young fan 25 rows up in the stands. Due to his generosity, Frank Haege has been given other "duties" for a time. So don’t expect to see him on the sidelines this Saturday.

The game kicks off at 7:00 PM at AWA in Phoenix. The winner gets to make a run for a playoff spot. The loser gets an early start on getting ready for the 2005 season. See you there if you dare.

PAADOW AWARD: Goes to the guy that made the big splash when he ran with one shoe off and one shoe on for a needed TD on a kickoff return. That would be Tom Set The Pace.

Rattlers Sweep Game Honors: OK, so Cecil Doggette is a former Rattler.
Offensive Player of the Game: Sed Bonner
Defensive Player of the Game: Cecil Doggette, woof.
IRONMAN: Randy Gatewood

Don't forget, the AFL is on NBC every Sunday.

The Rattlers quest for a third straight ArenaBowl began February 8, when they took on the Los Angeles Avengers at America West Arena. For season ticket information, call 602-514-TDTD or visit  azrattlers.com
 

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