Post by Canton Cougar Fan on Mar 30, 2007 14:04:01 GMT -5
Olive says Legends won't be lackluster again
Friday, March 30, 2007
By Jim Thomas
Repository Sports Writer
The Canton Legends are experiencing growing pains. And aches and pains.
Losing players to the AFL2 and to injury has led to consecutive defeats for Canton after a 4-0 start.
Neither the losses on the field nor on the roster should prove fatal in their bid to repeat as American Indoor Football Association champions, Legends Head Coach Bobby Olive said.
"After looking at the film (of Saturday's 50-19 home defeat to Reading) and talking to the guys, I know what this team needs," Olive said. "We will never play another lackluster game like we did last week."
Olive said the shocking home rout was due to a combination of things. Canton has lost defensive lineman Ron Washburn and receiver Chris Archie to the AFL2 during the past three weeks. Archie's departure came just two days before the Reading game.
Rashan Hall, the heart and soul of the Legends defense, was out with an injured knee against Reading. Quarterback Kevin Mason played gingerly, and poorly, against the Express in part because of a bad back and partly because of a dearth of receivers.
Some of the problems began with the 39-36, last-second road loss at Lakeland (Fla.) three weeks ago, Olive said.
"That was a game we could have won," he said. "We didn't have a kicker. The guys invested a lot of effort into that game, and it hurt. It was our first loss (in 13 games). We were still in a daze for Reading."
It didn't help that the team had been off for two byes before the Express came to town.
"We don't practice on bye weeks," Olive said. "It's tough to maintain team chemistry when you have three byes in five weeks."
So Olive told his players to take this bye week to prepare for the April 6 game at Memorial Civic Center against the expansion Baltimore Blackbirds. Kickoff is 7:05 p.m.
"I want them to get their minds right," he said. "Looking back, I don't think we ever got over that Lakeland loss. Before we knew it, we were down two touchdowns to Reading."
The 19-point performance was the lowest offensive output in Canton's last 15 games. It also was the lowest since Mason joined the team 14 games ago.
Mason threw two interceptions against Reading and shifted to receiver in the second half when Scott McMullen came in. There is no quarterback controversy, Olive said.
"Mason will be our guy," he said. "I'll roll with Kevin. He took us to the title last year."
Reach Repository sports writer Jim Thomas at (330) 580-8336 or e-mail: jim.thomas@cantonrep.com
BALTIMORE BLACKBIRDS AT CANTON LEGENDS
April 6, 7:05 p.m.
Canton Memorial Civic Center
Friday, March 30, 2007
By Jim Thomas
Repository Sports Writer
The Canton Legends are experiencing growing pains. And aches and pains.
Losing players to the AFL2 and to injury has led to consecutive defeats for Canton after a 4-0 start.
Neither the losses on the field nor on the roster should prove fatal in their bid to repeat as American Indoor Football Association champions, Legends Head Coach Bobby Olive said.
"After looking at the film (of Saturday's 50-19 home defeat to Reading) and talking to the guys, I know what this team needs," Olive said. "We will never play another lackluster game like we did last week."
Olive said the shocking home rout was due to a combination of things. Canton has lost defensive lineman Ron Washburn and receiver Chris Archie to the AFL2 during the past three weeks. Archie's departure came just two days before the Reading game.
Rashan Hall, the heart and soul of the Legends defense, was out with an injured knee against Reading. Quarterback Kevin Mason played gingerly, and poorly, against the Express in part because of a bad back and partly because of a dearth of receivers.
Some of the problems began with the 39-36, last-second road loss at Lakeland (Fla.) three weeks ago, Olive said.
"That was a game we could have won," he said. "We didn't have a kicker. The guys invested a lot of effort into that game, and it hurt. It was our first loss (in 13 games). We were still in a daze for Reading."
It didn't help that the team had been off for two byes before the Express came to town.
"We don't practice on bye weeks," Olive said. "It's tough to maintain team chemistry when you have three byes in five weeks."
So Olive told his players to take this bye week to prepare for the April 6 game at Memorial Civic Center against the expansion Baltimore Blackbirds. Kickoff is 7:05 p.m.
"I want them to get their minds right," he said. "Looking back, I don't think we ever got over that Lakeland loss. Before we knew it, we were down two touchdowns to Reading."
The 19-point performance was the lowest offensive output in Canton's last 15 games. It also was the lowest since Mason joined the team 14 games ago.
Mason threw two interceptions against Reading and shifted to receiver in the second half when Scott McMullen came in. There is no quarterback controversy, Olive said.
"Mason will be our guy," he said. "I'll roll with Kevin. He took us to the title last year."
Reach Repository sports writer Jim Thomas at (330) 580-8336 or e-mail: jim.thomas@cantonrep.com
BALTIMORE BLACKBIRDS AT CANTON LEGENDS
April 6, 7:05 p.m.
Canton Memorial Civic Center
