Post by Gene on Jul 2, 2009 6:58:35 GMT -5
Source: www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=146443
For Reading to claim elusive AIFA title, quarterback Rob Flowers will have to return to early-season form
By Brian Rippey
Reading Eagle
Some people are never satisfied.
Reading Express quarterback Rob Flowers has accounted for more touchdowns than any other player in the American Indoor Football Association, but he's far from pleased with his overall performance.
"There are some things I need to fix mechanically with my feet and my body," said Flowers, who played football at Muhlenberg and Kutztown University. "We'll be OK."
OK is quite an understatement for a guy who's thrown 70 touchdown passes and run for 15 scores. MVP could be the more operative letters.
"I haven't even thought of it," Flowers said. "I'd rather win a championship first."
Flowers and the Express (11-3) will try to take their first step toward what they hope will lead to an elusive championship at 7 tonight in the Sovereign Center against the Baltimore Mariners in the North Division championship game.
Flowers' numbers have been staggering during just his second year of indoor football. He has completed 279-of-465 (60 percent) passes for 3,226 yards. He has thrown 13 interceptions with five of those coming in a 59-44 loss to Baltimore in the second game of the season.
Flowers caught fire in the middle of the season. He completed better than 60 percent of his passes in six straight games, surpassing 70 percent twice. He threw 36 TD passes during that stretch, including a franchise-record eight in a win over Erie.
But Flowers' numbers have dropped since he completed 69.2 percent of his passes for 300 yards May 17 in a home win over Harrisburg.
"Players go through peaks and valleys," Express coach/general manager Bernie Nowotarski said. "The idea now is to get Rob going back. We're not panicking over it. He has a pretty good touchdown-to-interception ratio."
Flowers has made a major adjustment to his game from his first to second season. The 6-1, 230-pounder runs the ball a lot less than he did last year.
"Rob was a quarterback that ran," Nowotarski said. "Rob has turned into a quarterback that knows he can run. He's looking to throw first, run second. In his beginning stages of playing he didn't have the patience and want to wait to see a pattern clear, and he would run. Now he knows he can run, but he's a passer."
Flowers, who also played basketball at Muhlenberg, views himself more like a point guard. He wants to get the ball to his teammates so they can get into the end zone.
He has three of the top wide receivers in the league in four-year starter Carmelo Ocasio (109 catches, 1,238 yards, 26 TDs), Jeff Willis (86-1,077, 25) and Yardon Brantley (48, 555, 13).
"I don't like to run for the touchdowns," Flowers said. "It's my job to distribute the ball to everybody. When I see these guys score, that makes me feel good. I have to do a better job of getting these guys the football."
When he can't get rid of the ball, Flowers has shown he is still more than capable of making something happen with his legs. In Reading's last home game, Flowers thrilled the crowd, but not his coach, with a 31-yard scramble.
"I don't need to see him running 31 yards," Nowotarski said. "It is exciting for the fans, but it's not what we want to see."
All Flowers wants to see is three more wins that would earn the Express its first championship.
"I need to get back to where I'm more consistent," Flowers said. "I'm going to get there."
Contact Brian Rippey: 610-371-5070 or brippey@readingeagle.com.
