Desperados 2004 Season-In-Review
July 6, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
Despite having some of the best individual performances in franchise history, the Desperados struggled through the most unproductive season in the franchise's short history. In posting a 6-10 mark, Dallas received one of the best all-around individual performances in the league by WR/DB Will Pettis. Pettis - who was named to the AFL's All-Arena second team and All-Ironman teams - finished the season as the only player in the AFL with more than 3,000 all-purpose yards (3,017) - more than 300 yards ahead of the next player. He ranked ninth in the league in catches (95), tied for 16th in receiving yards (1,076) while registering a career-high 37.5 tackles, a career-high eight passes defensed and an interception. Together with Jason Shelley and Bobby Sippio, Pettis was part of the only receiving trio in the league to each eclipse the 1,000-receiving yard mark, and the trio was one of only two trios to each record at least 75 receptions. Shelley helped re-write club record books by cathcing a club best 103 passes for a club record 1,304 yards. Sippio was one of the top rookies in the league, finishing first among rookies in touchdowns catches (32), second in receiving yards (1,218) and third in catches (75). His 16.2 yards-per-catch average led all receivers in the league.
On the defensive side of the ball, Jermaine Jones put together another solid season, recording a team record 74.5 tackles and a personal career-best four interceptions. Rookie lieman Colston Weatherington was named to the league's All-Rookie team after finishing the season eighth in the league with 5.5 sacks while recording 25.5 tackles, 7.5 tackles for losses, a team-high five pressures, five passes defensed and a club record five blocked kicks. As a group, the Desperados finished third in the league with 19 sacks.
The club was also, unfortunately, on the negative side of the record books, committing the second most penalties in league history (159) for the second most yards in league annals (965). The team also allowed a franchise-high 19 sacks and 19 interceptions.
The team did look to the future, however, re-signing three core players at the end of the season - Jones, Pettis and Shelley - while also re-inking lineman Corey Mayfield.
www.dallasdesperados.com
For breaking news, press releases, statistics and rosters, visit the official website of the Dallas Desperados, www.dallasdesperados.com. Updated regularly, www.dallasdesperados. com has the most extensive information on upcoming games. The Desperados website is also a great place to find information on players and coaches, order tickets for upcoming games and purchase Desperados merchandise.
HEAD COACH
Will McClay (7-11 -- 1st Year)
Will McClay was named Head Coach of the Dallas Desperados on Feb. 5 following the resignation of Joe Avezzano. McClay also served as the team's defensive coordinator, a position he has held since the team's inception in 2002. McClay spends his offseason woring in the Dallas Cowboys Player Personnel Department. Prior to coming to Dallas, he was the Assistant Director of Pro Scouting for the Jacksonville Jaguars (2001) and the player personnel director of the XFL's Orlando Rage (2001). He was the Grand Rapids Rampage's defensive coordinator/ director of player personnel from 1998-99, posting a 1- 1 record while serving as acting head coach in 1999 while head coach Michael Trigg served a league imposed suspension. McClay was the Anaheim Piranhas defensive coordinator/director of player personnel in 1997. He was defensive coordinator for the Florida Bobcats (1996) and the Milwaukee Mustangs (1995) after beginning his coaching career with the Detroit Drive (1993). He was a WR/DB for the Drive from 1989-92, helping them win three ArenaBowl titles in four trips.
CORE PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
As the 2004 season came to a close, the Desperados quickly worked to keep the core of their team together by re-signing DS Jermaine Jones - the club's career tackle and interception leader - WR/DB Will Pettis - a two-time second team All-Arena selection - and OS Jason Shelley - the team's single-season receptions and receiving yards record holder.
ALL-PURPOSE IRONMAN
WR/DB Will Pettis was one of the most explosive twoway players in the Arena Football League in 2004. His defensive prowess helped him establish career-highs in tackles (37.5) and pass deflections (eight) and his explosiveness as a receiver and kick returner give him the threat to score any time the ball was in his hands. These playmaking abilities allowed him to accumulate 3,017 all-purose yards this spring, making him the only player in the league with more than 3,000 all-purpose yards. He ranked first in kickoff return yards (1,750 - fifth best in league history), fifth in missed field goal return yards (135), tied for 16th in receiving yards (1,076) and tied for 51st in rushing yards (36). Below are the top five all-purpose yard gainers.
Player Yards Rush Rec. Kicks
Pettis (Dal.) ..........3,017 36 1,076 1,885
Robinson (Clb.) ......2,711 68 1,063 1,580
Bailey (N.O.) ..........2,340 1 1,364 975
Smith (G.R.) ..........2,333 -1 658 1,676
Cooper (Geo.)........2,265 12 1,089 1,162
STEPPING TO THE FOREFRONT
Jason Shelley -- who spent his first two years in Dallas as a WR/LB -- stepped out of the shadows to become one of the top receivers in the league this spring. After catching 69 passes for 794 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first two indoor seasons, Shelley caught 103 passes for 1,304 yards and 23 touchdowns. His reception and yardage totals both established new single-season club records and his touchdown receptions total is the fifth highest total in club history. In the process, he also set single-game career-highs in receptions (11 vs. New York, 5/1), receiving yards (125 vs. Tampa Bay, 5/30), receiving touchdowns (three vs. Philadelphia, 2/15 and vs. Tampa Bay, 5/30) and total touchdowns (four vs. Philadelphia, 2/15). Following is how Shelley ranked in league receiving categories:
Receptions
Player No. Yards Avg. Long TD
Nash (L.V.) ........154 1,771 11.5 45t 46
Fleming (Orl.) ....131 1,620 12.4 34t 33
Davis (Det.) ......127 1,557 12.3 48t 26
Jackson (L.A.) ..125 1,803 14.4 45t 44
Harrell (Col.) ......114 1,715 15.0 45t 43
Shelley (Dal.) ..103 1,304 12.7 45t 23
Burley (Ari.) ......103 1,201 11.7 45t 24
Molden (Chi) ....101 1,280 12.7 37 23
Pettis (Dal.) ........95 1,076 11.3 47t 20
Doxson (Car.)......94 1,142 12.1 41 23
Receiving Yards
Player No. Yards Avg. Long TD
Jackson (L.A.) ..125 1,803 14.4 45t 44
Nash (L.V.) ........154 1,771 11.5 45t 46
Harrell (Col.) ......114 1,715 15.0 45t 43
Fleming (Orl.) ....131 1,620 12.4 34t 33
Davis (Det.) ......127 1,557 12.3 48t 26
Bailey (N.O.) ......91 1,364 15.0 41 32
Shelley (Dal.) ..103 1,304 12.7 45t 23
Molden (Chi) ....101 1,280 12.7 37 23
Hundon (S.J.)......87 1,253 14.4 45 21
Sippio (Dal.) ........75 1,218 16.2 48t 32
ROOKIE PASS CATCHERS
Bobby Sippio made a name for himself in the Arena Football League during his rookie campaign for his ability to catch the ball and make big plays. Sippio finished his initial AFL season as the league leader among rookies in receiving touchdowns (32) and yards-per-catch (16.2) while ranking second in receiving yards (1,218) and third in receptions (75). His 16.2 yards-per-catch average was the highest in the AFL by more than a yard. He also ranked seventhin the league in scoring with a Desperados franchise record 200 points. Following is how Sippio compared with the league's top rookie pass catchers:
Player No. Yards Avg. Long TD
Molden (Chi.) ....101 1,280 12.7 37 23
Hines (Ind.) ........77 1,060 13.8 46t 20
Sippio (Dal.) ......75 1,218 16.2 48t 32
Fontaine (Aus.)....72 1,076 14.9 45t 21
Chiaverini (Aus.) ..60 676 11.3 34 15
Scott (Phi.) ..........56 720 12.9 41t 16
OFFENSIVE TRIO
Individually, Jason Shelley, Will Pettis and Bobby Sippio had career seasons catching the ball. Together, the trio was one of the top receiving threesomes in the Arena Football League. Compared to other teams three leading pass catchers, Shelley, Pettis and Sippio ranked near the top of the league in receptions (273), receiving yards (3,598), receiving touchdowns (75) and average yards-per-catch (13.18). They were also the only trio of receivers in the league to each accumulate more than 1,000 receiving yards on the year, and they were one of only two trios (Harrell, Marshall, McKenzie - Colorado) to each catch at least 75 passes. Following is how Dallas' trio compared to the rest of the league:
Team Trio Recs. Games
Las Vegas Nash, Bonner, Blalock 290 16
Colorado Harrell, McKnezie, Marshall 285 16
Dallas Shelley, Pettis, Sippio 273 16
Los Angeles Jackson, Ingram, Hopkins 258 16
Tampa Bay Solomon, Samuels, Toliver 237 16
Team Trio Rec. Yds. Games
Dallas Shelley, Pettis, Sippio 3,598 16
Colorado Harrell, Marshall, McKenzie 3,592 16
Las Vegas Nash, Bonner, Blalock 3,452 16
Los Angeles Jackson, Ingram, Hopkins 3,396 16
Detroit Davis, Russell, Bond 2,943 16
Team Trio Rec. TDs Games
Los Angeles Jackson, Ingram, Hopkins 79 16
Dallas Shelley, Pettis, Sippio 75 16
Las Vegas Nash, Bonner, Blalock 72 16
Colorado Harrell, Marshall, McKenzie 70 16
San Jose Hundon, Roe, Coleman 65 16
Team Trio Avg/Rec. Games
Columbus White, Robinson, Twyner 14.38 16
New York Holder, Anthony, DuPree 13.30 16
Dallas Shelley, Pettis, Shelley 13.18 16
Los Angeles Jackson, Ingram, Hopkins 13.16 16
San Jose Hundon, Roe, Coleman 13.16 16
SACK ATTACK
The Desperados defense stepped up its play this season, making stops at critical junctures of games. This timely success can be partly attributed to the play of Dallas' defensive front. The Desperados defensive line and linebackers got to opposing quarterbacks 19 times in 2004, with only two teams - Orlando, 35 and Chicago, 23 - posting more sacks than the Desperados. This sack charge was been led by rookie Colston Weatherington -- 5.5 sacks -- Ernest Allen -- 3.0 sacks -- Chad Pegues -- career-high 2.5 sacks -- and Duke Pettijohn - - career-high 2.5 sacks.
RUSHING AHEAD
The Dallas Desperados seem to have unearthed an aspect of the game that was missing their first two seasons in the league -- a running game. Dallas rushed for a club record 270 yards on 87 carries, an improvement over the previous team record by 124 yards (146 yards in 2002). The Desperados 3.1 rushing average is also better than either of their previous two seasons (2.1 - 2002, 1.4 - 2003), as are their 26 rushign touchdowns (21 - 2003, 14 - 2002). Following is a comparison of the Desperados rushing totals for each of their first three seasons in the league:
2004 2003 2002
Carries ................87 93 70
Yards ................270 129 146
Average. ............3.1 1.4 2.1
Long Rush ..........28t 21t 15t
TDs ....................26 21 14
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 6, 2004
- Desperados 2004 Season-In-Review - Dallas Desperados
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