Rattlers' defense bails out struggling offense in win over Green Bay Blizzard

Coach Kevin Guy's patience is thinning in his second year in the Indoor Football League.

He benched his top offensive player and top defensive player on Sunday after lackluster performances in a loss at Iowa.

His rookie quarterback still needs to command the huddle. And special teams will have to get better.

Still, the Rattlers' defense, led by veteran backs Arkeith Brown and Allen "Bubba" Chapman, were able to keep the winless Green Bay Blizzard from rallying in the end in a 37-31 victory before 8,495 fans at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

Leading rusher Darrell Monroe and top tackler Justin Shirk did not play. Guy said Shirk did have a nagging injury, but he could have played. Both were the leaders in the Rattlers' IFL championship season last year.

"Last year is over," Guy said. "We're not riding the wave of last year. This is this year's team. There is a standard that we're looking for. We have to raise our game. Everybody that we play wants to knock the champs off. Everybody we play thinks that they're playing last year's team.

"I thought physically, we're there, but we're making too many mental mistakes. There are execution issues. There were a couple of times they whipped us up front today. Special teams was very aggravating. I think we gave up three blocks on extra points and field goals."

Kicker Sawyer Petre, who was key in the Rattlers' win at Sioux Falls for the title last season with clutch field goals down the stretch, could have put the game away with two minutes left, but his 30-yard field-goal try was blocked. He previously had two extra-point tries blocked.

Brown then broke up a pass with a minute left, and Chapman caught his second interception of the game with 53 seconds left to seal it.

Quarterback Jeff Ziemba, who didn't have a full training camp and was thrust into action early in the opener because of an injury to starter Verlon Reed, was 9 of 16 passing for 113 yards and a TD. It was his most productive game passing.

"We've got some growing to do as a team," Guy said. "But we have to get there in a hurry or we're going to have some tough games ahead of us."

Running back Shadrach Thornton, starting in place of leading rusher Monroe, had 88 yards and three touchdowns rushing on 19 carries. But his fumble in the first half still lingered in his mind.

"To be completely honest, the only stat that I'm concerned with tonight is my fumble," Thornton said. "Any time you've got the ball in your hand, you have a chance to be pivotal. I'm my biggest critic, my toughest coach."

When the Rattlers (2-1) had it at midfield, a fumble was knocked back to the 2 that was picked up by Sean Daniels for a Blizzard (0-4) touchdown early in the final quarter that cut the score to 27-24.

The Rattlers needed a Petre field goal with 5:29 left to give them a six-point lead.

They also needed a strip sack and fumble recovery by Justin Martin on quarterback Christian Lemay with 3:37 left at the Blizzard 19.

"We went for the field goal, because if they had gone down and scored, we would have needed a field goal to win it," Guy said. "Then we get a stop and have a chance to put them away. Then we get blocked again."

Guy said he is tired of teaching the same stuff repeatedly.

"We have to mentally get it," he said. "We did sit some guys this week because they didn't show up and play last week. There is a standard for playing for this team.

"We just have to get better offensively in a lot of areas. And I just feel like I'm accommodating quarterbacks who can't call plays. They come from these damn offenses where they signal them in from the sidelines. It's very frustrating. You've got to be able to command the huddle and call the plays. This whole system that I've had to go to this year, I'm frustrated with it and ready to just throw it out right now. I'm tired of screwing around with it."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.