Convincing victory renews confidence

Adam Candee

Tuesday, March 15, 2005 | 9:23 a.m.

Seven games into the season, the Gladiators earned their first decisive and convincing victory.

Coach Ron James said there is little mystery as to the timing of Las Vegas' breakout 63-34 win Saturday at Columbus. For the first time this year, James feels, the Gladiators fielded nearly the entire healthy lineup they planned to when the season started.

"This is what we have to expect ourselves to play like," James said.

Starting quarterback Clint Dolezel made his first start in five weeks and showed little effect from the broken middle finger on his passing hand suffered in the season opener against Los Angeles. Dolezel threw for 273 yards and five touchdowns on 21-of-29 passing and, not surprisingly, offensive specialist Marcus Nash caught all five scores.

Nash played as close to full strength on his balky knee as he has since injuring it at San Jose in the second week of the season. That means Saturday marked the first time all year that Dolezel and Nash played four healthy quarters together, and the results showed against the Destroyers (1-5).

"We put together about 80 percent of what we're capable of doing," James said, owing the final 20 percent to special teams play.

Possibly the most important statistic for the Gladiators was a zero in turnovers committed. Las Vegas (4-3) came into the game ranked last in the league in turnover margin, but now has some positive feeling to build from heading into Saturday's game at Arizona (1-6).

James felt the team rallied impressively from a crushing home defeat to Austin in which his mistake of not going for a late two-point conversion cost the team a chance to go to overtime. Gladiators owner Jim Ferraro spoke out on the error and some players seemed confused by the choice.

At a time when the players could have splintered, James said, they played their most complete game of the year to remain in the thick of the American Conference playoff chase.

"They showed their character," James said. "A lot of people doubted us after the (Austin) game. A lot of people were pointing fingers at different issues and it would have been easy for the team to do the same thing."

Nowhere is that more evident than in linebacker Frank Carter, who appropriately plays in the middle of the defense. Carter recorded two sacks at Columbus to push his league-leading total to nine, just four shy of the Arena Football League single-season record of 13. Carter also leads all linemen and linebackers with 17.5 tackles.

James said defensive coordinator Stan Davis has not changed anything in the team's scheme to emphasize Carter, but that the free-agent signing of lineman Wilky Bazile and last week's healthy return of Konopka from a strained groin are creating an outside pass rush that opens space for Carter on the direct route through center.

"We upgraded our pass rush on the edge," James said. "When the outside pass rush is coming well, they can't really bottle up the middle."

Linebacker Rodney Filer, who spells Carter in the pass-rushing spot, also has two sacks. Bazile and Konopka have both recorded a sack this year.