Rush's Calvin Defensive Player of Week
For the first time in weeks, a beleaguered, bewildered Rush secondary has a positive reference to take into a game.
When they play at Kansas City Saturday night, they'll do so with the season's best performance fresh in their minds. In last week's 62-27 rout of Georgia, they got a booster shot in the arm from new starter Jorrick Calvin, who recorded 8.5 tackles and two interceptions.
That performance was good enough to earn Calvin the Arena Football League's Riddell Defensive Player of the Week.
"I was actually surprised," Calvin said. "My mom had called me after seeing it on the league website and let me know right away. I try to go out every week and do my best and it's an honor to be recognized."
Calvin arrived just two days before the Georgia game, but looked like he'd known the scheme all season. He ended a Force drive late in the second quarter with an interception near the goal line, then picked off another R.J. Archer pass in the third quarter.
Calvin became the 13th different defensive back to suit up for a Rush secondary which has been shredded by most AFL quarterbacks, allowing nearly 300 passing yards per game. Injuries to mainstays like Vic Hall and Brian Lainhart have led to constant shuffling and an inconsistent pass rush hasn't helped.
But the Rush (8-5) is still in the hunt for a Western Conference playoff spot and will have a good chance for its first road win since March 31. Kansas City is a miserable 3-10, although it upset 9-5 San Jose last week.
"Everyone that's around (here) wants the same thing," Calvin said. "We want to win and we'll go at it with everything we have."
