Desperados Season-In-Review
June 11, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Dallas Desperados had their most successful, yet unfulfilling season in 2003, claiming it s first Central Division title with a 10-6 record and earning a No. 5 seed in the AFL s Drive to ArenaBowl XVII, but suffering an unexpected upset loss to Georgia in the first round of the playoffs. The early end to the season cast a shadow over an otherwise successful campaign.
New offensive coordinator Steve Thonn installed an offense that led the league with a 300.4 yards-pergame average while averaging 56.9 points-per-game (fifth best in the league). In the process, quarterback Jim Kubiak put together a career-year, setting league records for passing yards (4,762) and completion percentage (69.7) while setting career-best marks for yards, completion percentage, attempts (557), completions (388), touchdowns (97) and interceptions (17). Dallas also finished as the only team in the league to have two receivers catch at least 95 passes (Burks - 102, McCullough - 96 -- both career bests) and one of only five teams to have six players post at least 24 receptions (Burks, McCullough, Pettis - 69, Culver - 37, Shelley - 35, Leverson - 24). Despite playing in only eight games, rookie Ja Mar Toombs sparked the Dallas running game by averaging 3.3 yards every time he carried the ball.
On the defensive side of the ball, the charge was led by veteran lineman Tom Briggs, who led the league with a career-high 10.5 sacks. He also set new careerbest marks for tackles (43.5), quarterback pressures (eight) and forced fumbles (four) while tying his career high with three tackles for losses. His efforts helped the Desperados finish second in the league with a franchise best 27 sacks. Tim Martin contributed 3.5 sacks to that total while posting career-best numbers in tackles (22.5), tackles for losses (3.5), quarterbak pressures (eight), forced fumbles (three) and blocked kicks (three). Defensive specialist Jermaine Jones joined the team a month into the season and proceeded to post club records with 73.5 tackles and 18 passes defensed in 12 games. Backfield mate Tim Denton also established a new career-high with 55.5 tackles.
While several players had break-through seasons, none topped the all-around performance of rookie WR/DB Will Pettis. Pettis made his AFL debut and proceeded to lead the Desperados with a franchise record 1,562 all-purpose yards. He contributed 798 receiving yards (third on team), 640 kickoff return yards (first), 93 missed field goal return yards (first), 22 interception return yards (third) and nine rushing yards (fourth).
The re-writing of Dallas record books led to several individual accolades. Briggs was named AFL Lineman of the Year and to the All-Arena first team and All-Ironman team. Pettis garnered All-Rookie and All-Arena second team honors, as well as AFL Rookie of the Month for April. Kubiak was named All-Arena second-team while Jones and Toombs were both part of the AFLs All-Rookie team. Briggs, Kubiak, Burks, McCullough and Martin all were honored with weekly league awards during the season.
HEAD COACH
Joe Avezzano (17-13, 1-2 -- 2nd Year)
After establishing himself as one of the top assistant coaches in the NFL, Joe Avezzano made a name for himself last spring as an Arena Football League head coach. Avezzano led the expansion Desperados to a 7-7 regular season record and a trip to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. This success helped the club win the prestigious Commissioner s Award. Avezzano was the Dallas Cowboys special teams coach from 1991-2002, earning NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year honors three times. Before coming to Dallas, he coached collegiately at Texas A&M (1985-88), Oregon State (1980-84), Tennessee (1977-79), Pittsburgh (1973-76), Iowa State (1969-72) and Florida State (1968). He starred at guard for Florida State before being drafted by the Boston Patriots.
www.dallasdesperados.com
For breaking news, press releases, statistics and rosters, visit the official website of the Dallas Desperados, www.dallasdesperados.com. Updated daily, 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.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 11, 2003
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- Desperados Season-In-Review - Dallas Desperados
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