Friday, Jan. 27, 2006 | 8:14 a.m.
Las Vegas Gladiators head coach Ron James is approaching the team's fourth season in the Arena Football League with a new mantra: The more things remain the same, the more they change.
While stopping short of a total housecleaning, James and the Gladiators' front office made significant changes in both philosophy and personnel after the team posted its third consecutive 8-8 season last year (James' first as head coach).
A new-look Gladiators team opens the 2006 season on the road tonight against the Austin Wranglers with a team that features eight AFL rookies, a new quarterback and a new offensive scheme.
1. Off the schneid
It took only one 8-8 season with James at the helm to realize sweeping changes needed to be made.
"When it happens one year, you think 'OK,' " James said of the team's three consecutive break-even seasons. "When it happens two times, you think something else and when it happens three years in a row, it kind of becomes a trend."
To reverse that trend, James said he opted to bring in players with relatively little or no AFL experience "with a fresh outlook to the league."
2. Out with the old
After leading the franchise the past two seasons, quarterback Clint Dolezel signed with Dallas during the off-season and James has settled on Dolezel's backup last year, Craig Whelihan, as the starter.
"It's going to be very strange not to see Clint in uniform this year -- from both a coaching aspect and from a personal aspect," James said. "We're pleased that we've got somebody of (Whelihan's) caliber and ... we've tailored a system to him and the strengths not only of Craig but also (offensive specialist) Marcus Nash."
3. Familiar faces
Despite the rash of personnel changes, the Gladiators return their two most potent offensive threats in Nash and wide receiver/linebacker Coco Blalock.
Nash has led the AFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns during the past two seasons and is coming off a season in which he had 73 receptions for 851 yards and 13 touchdowns.
4. New(?) faces
Among the first-year Gladiators on the opening-day roster are four players from the developmental league known as af2, one from NFL Europe and three NFL veterans -- including former NFL bad-boy Alonzo Spellman.
James is confident that Spellman -- who once was arrested twice in the same day -- has been fully vetted by team officials. Since his legal troubles in 2002, the 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and is on medication.
5. Drive time
After three weeks of training camp and one scrimmage, James said he is eager to see his team finally play a game that counts.
"I'm really excited about getting this product on the field and seeing exactly what we've got," James said. "It's like having a new Corvette in the garage and you haven't taken it out for a spin yet.
"I think we've upgraded significantly in the line group -- we've got some bigger bodies in here -- and some more athletic players in the front group. I think this is a playoff-caliber team."
Brian Hilderbrand can be reached at 259-4089 or at [email protected].
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