Rattlers at midseason crossroads: What they need to do to save their 7th IFL season
The Rattlers have been 4-4 after eight games last year and in 2017, their first year in the Indoor Football League, transitioning from Arena ball.
Last year's team lost in the first round of the playoffs. The 2017 team ended up winning the remainder of their games, including the playoffs, culminating with 50-41 win over the host Sioux Falls Storm for the United Bowl championship.
Can the Rattlers repeat that kind of magic? How much will they have to change the roster at midseason in order to fix the problems that created a first half that has put them in fifth place, a spot out of the playoffs, in the Western Conference heading into Saturday's 6:05 p.m., game against the winless Duke City Gladiators?
The Rattlers signed linebacker Justin Shirk after a rough 0-2 start in 2017. He ended up being a key addition during the Rattlers' 10-0 run that capped the season. He was the United Bowl MVP. That team also had Arkeith Brown at safety. He was big in the Rattlers' AFL reign of three straight championships. They also had wide receiver Jamal Miles, defensive back Dillion Winfrey and offensive lineman Lamar Mady.
Those three still are with the Rattlers. But there are more concerns with this team moving forward than in 2017. Let's break down what the Rattlers need to do to make the playoffs and make a playoff run to a championship.
Get better on defensive front
Stopping mobile quarterbacks has to be the Rattlers' main priority. The problem, Guy sees it, is on the defensive line. He said new players have come in to battle for jobs on the defensive line, after last week's 68-52 loss to defending IFL champion Bay Area, a game in which the Rattlers allowed QB Daquan Neal and running back Shane Simpson go off for a combined 149 rushing yards and six TDs.
In 2017, the Rattlers' defensive front was its strength with the likes of Josh Gordon and Chris McAllister. Strong safety Adam Sauder ended up leading the team in tackles.
This Rattlers team hasn't been able to turnover the opponent nearly as much. Last week, Bay Area scored touchdowns on all nine of its possessions.
"We're definitely making some changes up front on the DL," Guy said. "Our standard is a lot higher than the product we've been putting on the field."
Overcoming adversity
The Rattlers have had more adversity with injuries than any previous team under Guy. Quarterback Dalton Sneed has only made three starts, missing one half of one, and is still getting used to new receivers. Isaiah Huston has been out with an injury. He was released to make room for other players, but he could return soon.
They signed former Northern Arizona Wranglers star Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman in the offseason after he caught a league-most 27 TD passes last season. But he never played a down for the Rattler, instead opting to play in the Canadian Football League.
Running back Shannon Brooks and Winfrey both missed games this season with injuries but both are back. Offensive lineman Chris Martinez suffered a season-ending injury.
The most consistent player this season has been kicker Dawson Evitts, who missed his first extra-point try last week.
"Nobody wants to hear any crybaby excuses," Guy said. "But we've had more adversity on and off the field than we have ever had this year. More than the public eye will ever know. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. We don't need any negative vampires around our culture.
"I may not do everything you want but I will listen and I'm fair."
Creating a 'Snake Pit'
The Rattlers' move from downtown Phoenix to Glendale has been a work in progress, trying to figure ways to create the "Snake Pit" that made Footprint Center so tough for opponents to win. In their history under Guy since 2008, it's been the toughest environment in the arena game with the noise levels through the roof, even if they don't sell out any longer. They're getting about 7,000 to 8,000 fans to Desert Diamond, but, for some reason, the buzz inside hasn't been the same. Some of that has to do with success. The Rattlers are 1-2 in their new home this year, having only one dominant performance this season, a 55-35 victory over Jacksonville on April 28. This will be only their second Saturday game at home this season. The other two were played on a Sunday mid-afternoon.
Having Rattler Nation to show out and show big important for this team to succeed with not another home game after Saturday until June 158 against Northern Arizona.
Keeping the right personnel
Guy calls the current state of the locker room and the organization "tight."
"We've never lost a good football player in this organization," he said. "If you're not here, it's because you were a cancer, lack of production or the league rules pushed you out."
Guy isn't concerned about the health of his team entering the second half of the season. He said they're starting to get healthy, "and you should see us improve week to week."
But the Rattlers will need to prove that against good teams with talented dual-threat QBs. They've lost twice to Bay Area, which is 7-1. They lost to Vegas, which is 7-1. And they lost to San Diego, which is 5-3.
They'll need to get a better read on these running quarterbacks, not get pushed around up front, and to be able to create turnovers. Then, they've got to start cashing in on offense by making teams pay and not let up.
It starts with 0-7 Duke City. The second half of the schedule is in the Rattlers' favor with the toughest games coming June 8 at San Diego, June 15 against 5-3 NAZ, June 22 at Vegas. They finish against Iowa, Tucson and San Diego, none of whom have a winning record. San Antonio is tied with the Rattlers for fifth place in the Western Conference at 4-4.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What the Rattlers need to do to save their season
