Crush Strive for Playoff Opportunity

As the 2008 season of arena football nears the playoffs, the Colorado Crush hold on to their hopes of returning to the ArenaBowl. The team has made the playoffs for five consecutive seasons and strives to make this the sixth. It has been a grueling battle against other teams in the division and Colorado has their work cut out for the remaining games. 

After the victory of the season opener, the team set out on the road ready to claim another W.  Unfortunately, the next three games would rattle the team, finding defeat in Dallas, Chicago, and New Orleans. The team wasn’t having trouble getting into the end zone, as they have yet to put up less than 36 points in any game this season.

The Crush has seen some devastating games, like the most recent defeat in San Jose against the Saber Cats 59-42. The team is making it into the end zone, yet not consistently enough. In four of this season’s losses, the team could have either tied or won games had the offense held on to the ball. Turnovers late in the fourth have contributed to the Crush’s 4-8 season. 

The team holds their heads high, knowing that they have more than time to make playoffs. If they can consistently win out the remaining games of regular season, the team has a shot of not only making playoffs, but could come in as the second place team in the American Central Division. Colorado is still ahead of both Grand Rapids and Kansas City. The team will have to shake off the season’s second three game losing streak if they hope to make it back to the ArenaBowl.

On a positive note, defensive back Rashad Floyd was named the Arena Football League’s player of the week early on in the season when the team faced the Cleveland Gladiators.  In this adrenaline filled game Floyd picked two passes in the fourth quarter when the team desperately needed to get some more points on the board. The offense turned those opportunities into 10 points. Still trailing, the team pressed on for their second victory in a row ending the first three-game losing-streak. 

Defensive lineman Aaron McConnell has had a breakout rookie season. Out of Pittsburg State University, he is currently fourth in the league in sacks and the record holder for sacks with the franchise. Head coach Mike Daily’s “full steam ahead” rushing defense seems to be making its mark.

Several receivers have had personal or team record breaking seasons. Brad Pyatt is 4th all time in Crush history with 31 career touchdown catches, 12 from this season.

Ben Nelson truly set the bar with his 70 career touchdowns, 23 attributed to the 2008 season. Nelson has also been named AFL’s player of the week back in week 6 with his 174 yard, 5 touchdown display.

However, when the Gladiators came to Denver, the team was unable to replicate the outcome.  Loosing to Utah, Cleveland, and San Jose the Crush sees a second loosing streak.     

The team is currently three games under .500 as they compete for one of six playoff positions in the American Conference.

Head coach Mike Daily knows the remaining games hold the teams’ destiny. 

“The combination of effort and execution is the best way to get over the top.” 

And Daily admits, “Turnovers have hurt us.” 

Knowledge from the beginning of the season should help them come out on top against the San Jose, who they have yet to defeat this season.