Post by cavfan on Mar 23, 2009 16:07:29 GMT -5
By JACK NOWLIN
Star-Tribune staff writer
Monday, March 23, 2009 2:05 AM MDT
Dan Maciejczak likes his team's chances tonight against Utah Valley.
And with his entire starting offensive unit returning intact to face off against the expansion Thunder in the American Indoor Football Association season opener for both teams, it's easy to understand why.
The Cavs, the defending Western Conference champions, will once again rely on quarterback Matt Strand, do-everything back James Jones and a quartet of wide receivers to light up the scoreboard.
"I know the first couple of weeks [an expansion team] is kind of flying blind out there," Maciejczak said. "So I think it's a real advantage for us to have an experienced offense."
Strand, the reigning Player of the Year in the conference, threw for 83 touchdowns against only 12 interceptions in leading the Cavs to a 13-4 record. During one six-game stretch last season Strand had 37 touchdown passes and no picks.
"Matt has experience and his receivers have trust in him," Maciejczak said. "If a play breaks down and he has to scramble, he knows where his receivers will be.
"That's a big advantage for us."
Strand also has the advantage of either handing the ball off to Jones or throwing it to veterans B.J. Charlton, Dante Dudley, James Everage and A.J. Street.
Jones led the team in all-purpose yards and found his way into the end zone more than 30 times last season.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Charlton was the Cavs' most consistent receiver and Street (6-1, 190) emerged as one of Strand's favorite targets after joining the team late last season.
So while the offense figures to put points on the board -- the Cavs averaged 60.2 points per game last year -- Wyoming's success this season might hinge on how well its defense plays.
That's fine with Maciejczak.
"Defensively we're a lot younger," the third-year coach said. "But I think that youngness on our defense is something we were kind of missing [last year]. When we struggled a couple of games I think it was more that we weren't hustling to the ball.
"So I think some fresh blood is going to be good for us on our defense.
"And I think it's going to be fun for our fans just to see the young kids and watch them fly around and just play football."
Three of those newcomers played their high school football in Wyoming, which should also please the fans.
Defensive backs Tony Dill (Natrona County) and Beau Wendling (Rock Springs) and linebacker Zach Wheeler (Sheridan) will all be in the starting lineup tonight for the Cavs' revamped defense. Dill played collegiately at Black Hills State while both Wendling and Wheeler played at Chadron State.
"I've been impressed with how fast they picked up the [indoor] game," Maciejczak said. "They've got a great work ethic, they play with a high level of intensity and they all come from great programs."
Now it's just a matter of getting the defense to play with the same level of consistency as the offense, Maciejczak said.
While the Thunder are an expansion team, coach Chad DeGrenier was the starting quarterback for the Arizona franchise last season and Maciejczak expects Utah Valley to run a lot of the same sets that the Adrenaline used last year.
First and foremost, though, Maciejczak wants his team to execute its game plan.
"At this point we're more concerned about ourselves," he said. "We believe in our offense and its potency. So we want [Utah Valley] to adjust to us and what we do offensively."
n Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com.
Cavalry Tracker
TODAY: Wyoming at Utah Valley, 7 p.m.
LISTEN IN: Fans can catch an audio braodcast of the game at www.wyomingcavalry.com.
BACK FOR MORE: Record-setting quarterback Matt Strand, the reigning, Western Conference MVP, will once again lead the Cavs' offense.
HE SAID IT: "... I think it's a real advantage for us to have an experienced offense." -- Cavalry coach Dan Maciejczak.
HOME OPENER: Wyoming's first home game will be April 3 against the Ogden Knights. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Casper Events Center.
Star-Tribune staff writer
Monday, March 23, 2009 2:05 AM MDT
Dan Maciejczak likes his team's chances tonight against Utah Valley.
And with his entire starting offensive unit returning intact to face off against the expansion Thunder in the American Indoor Football Association season opener for both teams, it's easy to understand why.
The Cavs, the defending Western Conference champions, will once again rely on quarterback Matt Strand, do-everything back James Jones and a quartet of wide receivers to light up the scoreboard.
"I know the first couple of weeks [an expansion team] is kind of flying blind out there," Maciejczak said. "So I think it's a real advantage for us to have an experienced offense."
Strand, the reigning Player of the Year in the conference, threw for 83 touchdowns against only 12 interceptions in leading the Cavs to a 13-4 record. During one six-game stretch last season Strand had 37 touchdown passes and no picks.
"Matt has experience and his receivers have trust in him," Maciejczak said. "If a play breaks down and he has to scramble, he knows where his receivers will be.
"That's a big advantage for us."
Strand also has the advantage of either handing the ball off to Jones or throwing it to veterans B.J. Charlton, Dante Dudley, James Everage and A.J. Street.
Jones led the team in all-purpose yards and found his way into the end zone more than 30 times last season.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Charlton was the Cavs' most consistent receiver and Street (6-1, 190) emerged as one of Strand's favorite targets after joining the team late last season.
So while the offense figures to put points on the board -- the Cavs averaged 60.2 points per game last year -- Wyoming's success this season might hinge on how well its defense plays.
That's fine with Maciejczak.
"Defensively we're a lot younger," the third-year coach said. "But I think that youngness on our defense is something we were kind of missing [last year]. When we struggled a couple of games I think it was more that we weren't hustling to the ball.
"So I think some fresh blood is going to be good for us on our defense.
"And I think it's going to be fun for our fans just to see the young kids and watch them fly around and just play football."
Three of those newcomers played their high school football in Wyoming, which should also please the fans.
Defensive backs Tony Dill (Natrona County) and Beau Wendling (Rock Springs) and linebacker Zach Wheeler (Sheridan) will all be in the starting lineup tonight for the Cavs' revamped defense. Dill played collegiately at Black Hills State while both Wendling and Wheeler played at Chadron State.
"I've been impressed with how fast they picked up the [indoor] game," Maciejczak said. "They've got a great work ethic, they play with a high level of intensity and they all come from great programs."
Now it's just a matter of getting the defense to play with the same level of consistency as the offense, Maciejczak said.
While the Thunder are an expansion team, coach Chad DeGrenier was the starting quarterback for the Arizona franchise last season and Maciejczak expects Utah Valley to run a lot of the same sets that the Adrenaline used last year.
First and foremost, though, Maciejczak wants his team to execute its game plan.
"At this point we're more concerned about ourselves," he said. "We believe in our offense and its potency. So we want [Utah Valley] to adjust to us and what we do offensively."
n Contact sports reporter Jack Nowlin at (307) 266-0528 or jack.nowlin@trib.com.
Cavalry Tracker
TODAY: Wyoming at Utah Valley, 7 p.m.
LISTEN IN: Fans can catch an audio braodcast of the game at www.wyomingcavalry.com.
BACK FOR MORE: Record-setting quarterback Matt Strand, the reigning, Western Conference MVP, will once again lead the Cavs' offense.
HE SAID IT: "... I think it's a real advantage for us to have an experienced offense." -- Cavalry coach Dan Maciejczak.
HOME OPENER: Wyoming's first home game will be April 3 against the Ogden Knights. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at the Casper Events Center.