ORLANDO, FL (April 15, 2000) - The New Jersey Red Dogs opened their 2000 campaign with an impressive defensive showing and equally impressive special team defense against the Orlando Predators. Unfortunately, they couldn't produce enough offense in Orlando to muster up any kind of threat after the first few minutes and as a result, got blown out 38-21.
In a game that featured two teams that both lost five-time AFL Ironman, Barry Wagner to free agency in the same offseason, the defense reigned supreme. While Jay Gruden's team held the visiting Dogs to a mere 21 points, they did allow New Jersey to roll up 252 yards in kickoff returns and another 231 yards via the air. On the other side of the ledger, the Doggies smothered Connell Maynor limiting the Pred QB to an anemic 121 yards passing and nine completed passes on 22 attempts.
So how the heck could the Red Dogs lose a game they dominated so well defensively? Well, plain and simple, their offense was offensive. Tommy Maddox finished the night completing 22 of 41 passes, but threw only one TD against two crushing interceptions. Maddox's performance was not unexpected however. In his defense, this was his first exposure to the fast-paced game of Arena football and he spent a lot of the evening running around trying to find receivers. The UCLA graduate played with intensity, so much so that he was called for unsportsmanlike conduct and argued with officials on several occasions. You gotta like that fighting spirit. But what fans may not like is that Maddox overthrew and underthrew on several key downs. Unless you're in the huddle, you don't know if the "rookie" QB misfired or the rookie receivers ran wrong routes, still.. an incomplete pass is a team breakdown.
Other problems for the Red Dogs were turnovers and a horrific performance by new New Jersey place kicker, Todd Latourette who missed EVERY field goal attempt he tried. Latourette did very little to make the Kennel Club faithful rooting back home at Double D's forget about recently traded Steve Videtich. Latourette's 0-3 night left the Dogs down by 17 points late in the game. Three FGs could have made it a tighter eight-point game, but the rookie Red Dog kick couldn't connect (and he didn't earn any style-points on his tackling ability either). If Latourette struggles, this will be a VERY long season for the Red Dogs.
But even though Latourette earned the Kennel Club's Game Goat honors, he wasn't the cause for the loss. Not even close. The major reason for this loss was turnovers, turnovers, turnovers, turnovers, turnovers. Yes, there were FIVE in all. Two fumbles, two drive-killing picks thrown by Maddox (one with a Pred defender draped all over his back) and even a muffed kickoff return by the usually reliable George LaFrance. In Arena football, winning teams score a TD on basically every possession. Just turn the clock back 48 hours and look at the performance by the Albany Firebirds. They scored seventy-six points on a Nashville team that some experts have picked to go all the way. That's why the Firebirds are the defending AFL champs. And for New Jersey to even dream of being in Albany's league, they have to protect the football. Until then, the Red Dogs shouldn't delude themselves with the occasion win over the Firebirds.
With all of these miscues, the Kennel Club fans following the game live at Double D's in Morristown weren't sure if they were listening to the Same Ol' Red Dogs or what. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but Frank Mattiace's coach staff did a decent job on an area that killed New Jersey last year, penalties. The Dogs finished with eight flags (which are a lot), but that's a major improvement over last year's record-setting team that had nights with sixteen to eighteen whistles per game. However, the running game was remenisant of 1999 with only three total yards (compared to Orlando's 52 yards).
The Kennel Club fans (with IKE of course) were optimistic at first with New Jersey stopping Orlando on their inital drive with a key sack by Robert Stewart who is picking up where he left off in 1999 when he led the AFL in sacks. And when Tommy Maddox threw his first AFL touchdown to WR Chris Pope for 26-yards and a 7-0 lead, the gang at Double D's burst into celebration. Orlando settled the Kennel Club down with consecutive scores which put the home team up 10-7, but Ike's Army was back on it's feet in Morristown when George LaFrance took the ensuing kickoff coast-to-coast for a 56-yard return for a touchdown. But then, the turnovers started.
New Jersey gift-wrapped 21 points for Orlando and found themselves trailing 31-14 going into the fourth quarter. The heart-breaker came when the score was a reachable 24-14 and New Jersey was in the red zone about to cut the game to 24-21. But Orlando's Cliff Dell stepped in front of a Maddox duck and returned it the length of the carpet for the killer.
New Jersey clearly had their chances late in the game, but couldn't capitalize. At 31-14, a multitude of Predator penalties kept Red Dog drives alive, but the visitors could only manage a one-yard plunge by Maddox. That scored did give the Kennel Club hope, but that optimism was quickly dashed to the Double D's floor as Joe Douglass returned the kickoff 49 yards to put the Red Dogs back down by 17 points.
Still there was over nine minutes left in the game, but New Jersey obviously had no answers and squandered the time remaining to settle for a 38-21 defeat. Realistically, the Red Dogs are a team with only three starters returning as starters (Younger, Stewart and Matt Steeple) so too much can't be expected from them early in the season. It would be interesting to hear new Offensive Coordinator Amod Field's take on the game. Field was an original Red Dog defensive back and a defensive coach last season. Maybe he needs a few games under his belt calling the offense. Maybe the hold team needs a few games. We'll see how they respond as the host the Arizona Rattlers this week in the Meadowlands (Arizona beat Iowa 56-48 in their season opener).
Scoop's Concerns:
- Todd Latourette... 0 for 3? Where is Ali Haji-Sheik when you need him?
- Tommy Maddox... average numbers, but too many errant passes. Needs a quicker release.
- The Red Dog running game... Three yards on nine attempts? An old lady could fall down and gain three yards.
- No props to the Kennel Club by the Red Dog radio crew?... Hey Joe, whazup with that?
Scoop's Bright spots:
+ George LaFrance's kickoff return abilities... 252 yards and a TD on eight attempts? A superstar shines in a Red Dog uniform
+ Maddox's take-charge attitude... Just stay clear of the yellow flags T-Mad.
+ The Red Dog killer defense... 121 yards? Give these guys the Kennel Club Game Ball
+ Double D's... If you're a Kennel Club member and want to follow the game live with other Kennel Clubbers, the Helmet Heads have done you a great service by upgrading from Charlie Browns to Double D's. The Morristown nightclub has three separate rooms to take advantage of plus an outdoor patio complete with a gigantic sand-filled volleyball court and billiard room. The food there was top-notch, the service was excellent and to say that the seating was comfortable would be an understatement. Kennel Clubbers had our own private bar and waiter, leather couches, special Kennel Club food and drink prices (25% off all food plus $1 drinks) and even a live band after the game.
-Scoop