Friday, March 5, 2004 | 10:33 a.m.
Gladiators (2-2) at Georgia Force (2-2)
9 a.m., The Arena at Gwinnett TV: NBC (Ch. 3) Radio: KBAD 920-AM
After two what-if losses and a load of frustration, the Las Vegas Gladiators have recorded consecutive blowouts to restore the preseason hype that surrounded their offseason overhaul.
Now comes the first test of the second rejuvenation: Offensive specialist Terrill Shaw will miss at least the next two weeks -- and possibly more than a month -- with a strained gluteus suffered on the Gladiators' first play of last week's win over New Orleans.
The injury will require Las Vegas to do some lineup shuffling when it travels to Georgia for Sunday's contest. Marcus Nash moves to Shaw's offensive specialist spot and more pressure will fall on Cornelius Bonner, Maurice Bryant and Dennison Robinson.
Despite the loss of Shaw's speed and developed connection with quarterback Clint Dolezel, Haege feels his team showed last week that it can cover for an injury.
"We still feel like we're good," Haege said. "We have a good solid receiving corps still."
Nash, who provides a more physical presence than Shaw, caught 12 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown as Las Vegas posted 50 points against the VooDoo. Among Bonner, Bryant and Robinson, all have recorded a season of at least 52 receptions in the past two years.
Haege's main concern is that the loss of Shaw will set back the chemistry being developed by the offense.
The Gladiators have the league's third-ranked offense through the first month of the season, averaging 269.3 yards per game. They also appear to be curing last year's problem of dink-and-dunk offense, leading the league with a 7.2 yards per play average.
"They definitely are starting to click," Haege said.
The Las Vegas offense will ease into life without Shaw, one of the team's headline signings in the offseason. Georgia's defense, ranked first in the league last season, is the Arena Football League's worst through four weeks. The Force is allowing 55.8 points per game, but Haege is not yet putting much stock in statistics.
"It's so early to start ranking teams offensively and defensively," Haege said.
Haege is more concerned about Georgia's overtime win at Los Angeles last week. The Force offense is a high-powered one that will be the real challenge for the Gladiators, who are playing with more relaxed confidence now that they have evened their record.
"There's a little less tension and stress," Haege said. "Winning cures all ails."
And winning is predicated on defense for the Gladiators, who have allowed just 44 points in their past two games. That unit has undergone an in-season makeover with the addition of defensive specialist Marvin Taylor from Philadelphia, a move that led to last week's trade of Jeroid Johnson to Los Angeles for kicker Brian Gowins.
Taylor is matching up against opposing offensive specialists, and the results are excellent -- he is leading the league with three interceptions and is shutting down the opposition's main threat.
"It's been huge," Haege said. "Having that guy that can play the middle who's over 6-feet tall, you can't beat that."
Kickoff is scheduled for 9 a.m. Pacific time and the game will be televised on NBC.
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