Gladiators set to show off ‘O’

Adam Candee

Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 | 11:38 a.m.

(All times PST)

Feb. 6 at Colorado, 6 p.m.

Feb. 14 Los Angeles, noon

Feb. 22 at Grand Rapids, noon

Feb. 29 New Orleans, noon

March 7 at Georgia, 9 a.m.

March 14 Arizona, 3 p.m.

March 20 at San Jose, 7:30 p.m.

March 27 at Orlando, 4:30 p.m.

April 4 Chicago, 3 p.m.

April 10 at Arizona, 7 p.m.

April 18 BYE

April 25 Detroit, noon

May 2 Indiana, noon

May 8 at Philadelphia, 4:30 p.m.

May 16 San Jose, noon

May 22 at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m.

May 30 Columbus, 1 p.m.

Home games played at the Thomas & Mack Center. All games broadcast on KBAD 920-AM.

2 Dennison Robinson WR/DB

3 Maurice Bryant WR/LB

5 Jeroid Johnson DS

9 Cornelius Bonner WR/DB

10 Rod Robinson QB

12 T.J. Hill DS

13 Clint Dolezel QB

19 Jeremy Wilkinson WR/LB

20 Desmond Byrd OL/DL

21 Marvin Taylor DS

27 Frank Carter FB/LB

31 Phil Glover FB/LB

37 Jeremy Unertl WR/DB

40 Daron Alcorn K

54 Steve Konopka OL/DL

64 Rick Cunningham OL/DL

75 Joe Burch OL/DL

77 Steve Scifres OL/DL

82 Marcus Nash WR/LB

87 Furnell Hankton OL/DL

91 Cedric Pittman OL/DL

95 Rickie Simpkins OL/DL

97 John DeWitt OL/DL

99 Thaddeus Bullard OL/DL

The fantasy game of bringing in some of the Arena Football League's top offensive talent is over.

Now it is time to see if the Las Vegas Gladiators' offseason overhaul translates into success in their second season in the Valley. The Gladiators take on the Colorado Crush tonight at 6 p.m. in Denver against the team co-owned by former Broncos great John Elway.

As it did with Elway in the NFL, quarterback play determines the fortunes of most teams in arena football. Last season, Las Vegas struggled with the tandem of Jay McDonagh and Todd Hammel, both of whom are gone this year.

The Gladiators imported Clint Dolezel, one of the AFL's all-time top passers, from Grand Rapids to lead the offense. They eased Dolezel's transition by signing Terrill Shaw, the talented offensive specialist from Grand Rapids.

"I think Las Vegas has a good team," Colorado coach Mike Dailey said. "They are well coached and made some nice offseason moves with Clint Dolezel and Terrill Shaw."

But what will it all mean on the field? Dolezel himself feels that the Gladiators will not hit their stride until week five or six -- so does that mean the offense can not be judged until then?

Gladiators coach Frank Haege is just looking forward to having something more than game film and practice tapes to evaluate.

"It's hard to tell without playing any games," Haege said of his offense.

Still, bringing in a quarterback with 35 career 300-yard passing games who ranks 4th in career passing yardage with 24,425 yards is sure to boost an offense that compensated for its quarterbacks' inability to get the ball deep by planning a conservative throwing attack last season.

With Shaw ready to stretch the field and Dolezel able to get him the ball, Las Vegas could be able to score more efficiently. But a lot of new faces must become acquainted with each other in a hurry, as the Gladiators return just seven players from last season's squad that lost in the first round of the AFL playoffs.

"I feel good about (the team coming together)," Haege said. "We only had injury through training camp, so that's a blessing."

The Gladiators also get the break of playing outside the brutal Western Division tonight. Colorado struggled to a 2-14 record in its expansion year and the Crush, while slightly improved, is not among the ArenaBowl favorites.

Haege is nonetheless impressed by the improvements made by the Crush.

"They're going to be quality," Haege said. "Their line play is going to be 100 percent better and that was a lot of their problem last year."

Colorado also owns one of the best home-field advantages in the league. The Crush regularly sold out last season despite its shortcomings on the field. Another sellout is anticipated for tonight's opener.

"Playing in front of about 17,000 people is no easy thing," Haege said.

The Gladiators open their home schedule Saturday, Feb. 14 at noon against Los Angeles.