Official Columbus Destroyers Thread

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Dispatch

3/30/06

ARENA FOOTBALL

‘D’ is driving force behind Destroyers’ recent winning ways

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>MIKE MUNDEN | DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Brandon Hefflin of the Destroyers is AFL defensive player of the week. He had two fumble recoveries, an interception and 13.5 tackles in a 65-21 win over Colorado. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


In the Arena Football League, offenses get the glory. Quarterbacks get the money. Receivers get to showboat after scoring touchdowns.
Defenses exist as fodder, or at least that’s how it sometimes seems. Most of the time, they survive by having short memories as they hope to make the occasional play to stop a drive.
For a defense to dominate bucks the nature of the AFL. Yet that’s what the Columbus Destroyers have done this season, particularly lately.
The resurgent Destroyers (or maybe it should just be "surgent," given their sorry history) have ridden their defense to a 5-4 record heading into Saturday’s game at Dallas.
Last week, Columbus stunned defending AFL champion Colorado by holding the Crush to three touchdowns in a 65-21 win. The week before, the Destroyers beat Philadelphia 53-20. For the season, Columbus is yielding only 41 points per game, best in the league.
"Hard work. That’s basically the key," defensive specialist Jerald Brown said. "And believing. If you don’t believe you can stop people in arena football, you won’t. We believe we can."
Against the Crush, Columbus held Colorado scoreless on 11 of 14 possessions. In the AFL, defenses are considered to have had a successful game if they have three stops. The Destroyers are averaging 4.3.
"Every game we’ve had except the Georgia game (68-50 loss March 10), we’ve had at least five stops, which is really unheard of in arena football," Brown said.
The Destroyers have flourished with a formula common to successful defenses in any type of football — a strong pass rush, solid tackling and a knack for turnovers. Columbus has forced a league-high 28 turnovers.
"The rules only let you do so much," defensive assistant coach Ian Cooper said. "We try not to make huge adjustments and let our guys play and be athletes."
Cooper praised the play of the Destroyers’ defensive line, particularly Ken Jones, Mike Sutton and Kelvin Kinney. Columbus has only five sacks, but opposing quarterbacks often are harassed.
"When you have a tremendous defensive line like we do, there’s not too much you have to do other than do your job," Brown said.
The secondary has overcome injury problems to intercept 15 passes, eight by Brown. Brandon Hefflin had two fumble recoveries, an interception and 13.5 tackles last week to earn AFL defensive player of the week honors.
Hefflin was one of the few players asked back from a team that went 2-14 last year.
"I think we’re doing a better job of preparing and doing a better job of understanding what we have to do," Hefflin said.
The Desperados should provide a stern test this week. Dallas (7-2) scored 87 points two weeks ago against Orlando.
Destroyers coach Doug Kay praised his team’s defensive play but added a cautionary note.
"They need to understand this is the same football team that three weeks ago against Georgia had no stops," he said. "This game is humbling."
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

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Dispatch

4/2/06

DESPERADOS 51 DESTROYERS 30

Dolezel hits Destroyers with five TD passes

Sunday, April 02, 2006

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For the second time this season, the Destroyers were unable to contend with the Eastern Divisionleading Dallas Desperados.

Clint Dolezel threw five touchdown passes — four to Terrill Shaw — in the Desperados’ 51-30 victory over the Destroyers last night at American Airlines Arena in the Arena Football League.

Destroyers quarterback John Kaleo threw three interceptions, and Dialleo Burks returned one 7 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter as the Desperados built a 31-13 halftime lead.

Kaleo completed 19 of 35 passes for 250 yards and two touchowns for Columbus (5-5). David Saunders caught five passes for 60 yards and a touchdown and Carl Bond had three receptions for 56 yards and a score.

Defensively, Brandon Hefflin led the Destroyers with 10 tackles.

For Dallas (8-2), Dolezel was 22 of 39 for 279 yards. Shaw had 120 yards on seven receptions and Burks added 83 yards on nine grabs.

The season sweep by Dallas included a 52-38 win on Feb. 11 in Nationwide Arena.
The Destroyers return home for a game against Orlando at 3 p.m. next Sunday.

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Dispatch

4/6/06

ARENA FOOTBALL | DESTROYERS

Receiver’s release a head-scratcher

Soul cut Knight loose after big game, but he’s over that

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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On March 5, the Philadelphia Soul’s Marcus Knight caught nine passes for 131 yards in a game against Las Vegas.
Five days later, the Soul put Knight, its leading receiver, on waivers. Confused? So was Knight, whom the Columbus Destroyers signed a week later.
"It definitely caught me off guard," Knight said yesterday as the Destroyers began preparations for Sunday’s game against the Orlando Predators.
A Soul official said there was nothing behind the scenes that caused Knight’s departure other than a desire to change the on-field dynamics of a struggling team. The harsh truth is that roster volatility is a fact of life in the Arena Football League. Players have to keep their head on the proverbial swivel off the field as well as on it, lest they be blindsided.
"I find myself thinking about it every so often especially when it’s alone time, just wondering where it all made a sour turn and how it could have been avoided so it won’t happen again in another organization," Knight said.
Destroyers coach Doug Kay said the decision to sign Knight was a no-brainer. Knight has slowly worked his way into the lineup. In last week’s loss at Dallas, Knight caught three passes for 36 yards.
In addition to learning a new offense, Knight has been asked to play defensive back for the first time since high school.
"I’ve got to get better on defense in order to contribute on offense," Knight said. "That’s just the way it is."
Kay said he has kidded Knight whether he regrets signing with a team that has asked him to play defense.
"He just giggles," Kay said. "I can’t ask any more from a person than Marcus has given. He’s come in with a great attitude and a great work ethic. Every day he takes a step toward getting on the field more. I feel bad about it because we’ve got a good football player that we’re trying to find a niche for."
Defense isn’t the only adjustment Knight has had to make since joining Columbus. Knight played for Michigan, an inconvenient alma mater in these parts.
"That’s probably been the most difficult thing about being here in Columbus, just seeing all the OSU fans here and the things they have to say about Michigan," Knight said with a smile. "But it’d be the same (for former Ohio State players) if there was an AFL team in Ann Arbor."
After leaving Michigan, Knight played three seasons in the NFL. In 2002, he played for Oakland in the Super Bowl. He has not given up his dream to return to the NFL. Not even his abrupt departure from Philadelphia has shaken that resolve.
"It shows what you’ve got inside," Knight said. "It takes a strong heart, a strong will. I can’t say it doesn’t bother you because you think, ‘I’m doing the best I possibly can. I like where I’m at and don’t want to leave.’
"But life is not always easy. This is a roller coaster season for me. I’m here for Columbus now. Hopefully, we can go out and finish the season on a high note."
Brown honored

Destroyers defensive specialist Jerald Brown was named AFL defensive player of the month for March. He intercepted four passes, broke up four passes and had 20 tackles to help Columbus win three of four games.
"He’s playing the most difficult position on the football field and playing it as well as anybody’s playing it," Kay said. brabinowitz@dispatch.com

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Dispatch

4/10/06

PREDATORS 39 | DESTROYERS 36

Turnovers, lapses lead to latest loss

Monday, April 10, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>NEAL C . LAURON | DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Destroyers defender B.J. Barre slumps to the turf after failing to intercept a pass late in the game. </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>NEAL C . LAURON | DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Destroyers defensive specialist Jerald Brown shoves official Greg Wilson during a melee in the second quarter. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


The six-victory plateau coach Doug Kay scoffs at doesn’t seem like such a small obstacle anymore.
Not when the Columbus Destroyers play as poorly as they did yesterday in a 39-36 loss to the Orlando Predators in Nationwide Arena.
The Destroyers haven’t won seven games in a season since the franchise started in Buffalo in 1999. Kay has always considered that a speed bump on the way to much greater things.
Two weeks ago, coming off two dominating victories, Kay had every right to feel that way. But now, when the Destroyers should be starting a playoff drive, they’re regressing.
Kay didn’t try to sugarcoat it after the Destroyers lost their second straight game to fall to 5-6.
"Sometimes we don’t like to compete and we think we can do a lot of things other than play hard and still control the football game, and we can’t do that," he said. "We’re so blue-collar that if we don’t play hard, we’re not going to get results.
"Turnovers in the first half against a football team that has long been one of the better teams in the league, we can’t do it. We don’t have enough firepower to overcome that."
Kay was referring to four first-half turnovers, two interceptions by John Kaleo and fumbles by Kaleo and receiver Marcus Knight. Those mistakes enabled the Predators (7-4) to take a 33-14 halftime lead.
But what may have burned Kay even more was the ejection of defensive specialists Jerald Brown and Cecil Doggette late in the second quarter.
"That’s a lack of character in that situation," Kay said. "We can’t do it."
The flare-up began when Doggette was pushed into the out-of-bounds wall by Predators lineman Justin Cleveland after recovering a fumble. Brown said Cleveland grabbed Doggette around the face mask or neck. Doggette lifted a leg as if to kick Cleveland in retaliation.
"I lifted my leg and then I stopped," Doggette said.
An enraged Brown made contact with an official.
"The ref didn’t do anything (to stop Cleveland)," said Brown, who didn’t remember touching the official. "Something triggered. After that, it was just a melee, I guess. In a game like that, I feel the refs have to come in and take control."
Kay said it was the Destroyers players who should have remained under control.
"A lot of things upset me," Kay said. "Turnovers upset me. Laziness upsets me. That’s what it is. We’ve got as good a talent on our football team as the other teams have that have beaten us, but those people have not been mentally lazy. We are."
With two of the Destroyers’ best defensive players out, the second half could have turned into a disaster. But the defense played inspired and held the Predators to two field goals in the final 30 minutes.
Columbus closed to 36-29 with six minutes left. On Orlando’s ensuing possession, quarterback Joe Hamilton was hit as he threw and the ball floated toward Destroyers defensive back B.J. Barre, but he dropped the ball, which was slightly behind him.
After that, Jay Taylor kicked a field goal to make it a 10-point cushion, all but ending Columbus’ chances. The Destroyers scored with 2.5 seconds left, but the onside kick failed.
Kaleo finished 22 of 36 for 230 yards and five touchdowns. The numbers were better than the performance.
"The line gave me great time tonight," Kaleo said. "I just didn’t get it done. If I don’t get it done, the offense isn’t going to get it done."
The attendance was announced as 11,551, at least a couple thousand of which dressed in blue upholstery and spent the game folded up.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

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Dispatch

4/12/06

DESTROYERS

Offensive doldrums frustrate QB Kaleo

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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The commercial now seems ironic.
There’s Columbus Destroyers quarterback John Kaleo, football in hand, game face firmly in place, promising "Fast-forward Football" in a widely shown promotional spot.
In Kaleo, it seemed, Columbus finally had the franchise quarterback so vital to a successful Arena Football League team. Gone would be the revolving door at quarterback that doomed the Destroyers’ first two seasons in Columbus. With 12 years of experience, including a 2003 AFL championship with the Tampa Bay Storm, Kaleo was signed to be the rock-solid foundation upon which the team could be built.
So far, it hasn’t quite worked out. Someone has hit the pause button on fast-forward football. Through 11 games, the offense ranks last in touchdowns, total offense and yards per play. Kaleo’s 14 interceptions are the most in the AFL.
After a loss Sunday to the Orlando Predators in which Columbus scored only 36 points and Kaleo threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, he didn’t try to hide his emotions.
"It’s probably the most frustrated I’ve been in 13 years in this league," he said.
That feeling hadn’t abated yesterday. With the Destroyers (5-6) on the verge of finding themselves on the wrong side of the playoff bubble heading into a home game Friday against the New York Dragons, time is running out.
"It hasn’t been a smooth year, to say the least," Kaleo said. "It’s just been a frustrating year because I haven’t been able to show the fans, community and management what I’m capable of doing. I haven’t been able to play at the level I’m used to playing."
Kaleo pointed the blame at himself first. He has made decisions he said are uncharacteristic, such as throwing a deep ball up for grabs Sunday for one of the interceptions.
"That’s not (the real) me," he said. "That’s just sheer stupidity and frustration."
It hasn’t helped that the Destroyers haven’t settled on an offensive specialist. Six different players have been tried at that crucial spot. On Sunday, Darcey Lane got his chance, only to be knocked out of the game on the second possession.
"If you look at my track record over the years, I’ve always had a great relationship with the OS," Kaleo said. "I’ve always had a guy I’ve fed the ball to and that guy has put up tremendous numbers. I haven’t had that guy this year. That’s not to say that guy isn’t on the team. It’s just that due to injuries, due to inconsistent play or whatever, it just hasn’t happened this year."
As a result, Kaleo hasn’t been able to develop the chemistry with his receivers needed to make an offense flow. That’s essential for someone like Kaleo, whose success is based on timing and accuracy, not arm strength.
"I’m not a drop-back, wait, wait and then try to gun it in quarterback," Kaleo said. "Everything has to be almost kind of like a dance, like a ballet. It’s got to be choreographed 1, 2, 3, throw, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, throw. That’s been a problem this year because we haven’t been in unison."
Coach Doug Kay acknowledged that Kaleo’s season has been disappointing. But Kay said he hasn’t seriously contemplated benching him.
"A quarterback in our league is put in such a pressure situation because he’s expected to score every time," Kay said. "We say the rules dictate it, and they do in essence. He knows I expect it.
I always set the bar high for all players. I set the bar high for John simply because he’s proven he can play at that level. He’s good at what he does. He hasn’t played as good as he is yet.
"I think John’s the right man. But he’s got to prove it, too.
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

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Dispatch

4/14/06

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Destroyers are facing win-or-else situation

Friday, April 14, 2006

Bill Rabinowitz
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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Two weeks ago, the Columbus Destroyers were looking good to make the Arena Football League playoffs.
With a 5-4 record, they would have qualified for the postseason if the playoffs started then.
But the Destroyers lost at Dallas 51-30 on April 1. That wasn’t a shock. The Desperados (9-2) have the best record in the league.
Then last week, the Destroyers’ offense sputtered again in a 39-36 home loss to Orlando.
Now, with the New York Dragons in town for tonight’s game in Nationwide Arena, the Destroyers (5-6) have little or no margin for error.
"The next five games are obviously must-wins," Destroyers quarterback John Kaleo said. "To control our own destiny, we’ve got to win the next five. If you lose one and win four, you’re leaving it in the hands of the tiebreaker."
The Destroyers’ situation wouldn’t be so precarious if they played in the American Conference. There, the Chicago Rush, with a 4-7 record, would make the playoffs as the sixth and final seed if the season ended now.
But the Destroyers are in the National Conference, where the competition for the playoffs is much tougher. The Destroyers have the second-worst record in their conference behind expansion Kansas City, an expansion team that beat Columbus two months ago.
But their situation is hardly hopeless. Three teams have 6-5 records and three are 7-4.
Destroyers coach Doug Kay said he doesn’t pay attention to other teams’ wins and losses and how they might affect his team’s playoff chances.
"All of our attention is on (tonight)," he said. "If we don’t beat New York, we’ll be hardpressed (to make the playoffs)."
Beating the Dragons would be a crucial first step. Columbus won at New York on March 3, so the Destroyers would have the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dragons with a victory tonight.
In the 65-54 win over the Dragons, the Destroyers scored 48 second-half points to rally from a 14-point deficit.
Kaleo had what Kay described as his best performance of the season against the Dragons. Kaleo threw for 305 yards and a season-high six touchdown passes, three of them to Carl Bond.
The Destroyers need to pick up their offense.
"If our offense gets going, we definitely can win the next five games," Kaleo said. "If the offense gets clicking and doing the things we’re capable of, hands down we’ll win the next five games. But that’s the question mark.
"Defensively, we’ll be able to create some stops and some turnovers and special teams will be able to hang (with opponents). But offensively if we can get it going, we can ride this wave a long way."
brabinowitz@dispatch.com

Friday, April 14, 2006