Quarterbacks Sharp in Scrimmage Contest
January 18, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. (Jan. 17, 2006) - It wasn't about winning and losing, it was about getting work for all the players in a live game setting.
With veteran linemen Joe Jacobs, Chuck Reed, Nikia Adderson and Dan Loney along with James Roe, Barry Wagner Tremain Mack and Omarr Smith dressed in civilian clothes on the sidelines, all of San Jose's younger players had the opportunity to impress the coaching staff in the team's only scrimmage game of the preseason.
"The outcome was irrelevant," said SaberCats head coach Darren Arbet. "We wanted to get all the guys in the game and see what they could do in a game situation."
Mission accomplished for Arbet and his staff.
The team scored a touchdown on every possession and did not commit a turnover in what was a crisp contest for a scrimmage game.
Quarterback Mark Grieb led the SaberCats to a score on their first possession before giving way to Stoney Case. Case tossed four scoring passes covering 24, 20, 16 and 7 yards while playing through the third quarter.
"It was good," Case said about his effort. "It was a game situation and a lot of things happened and it was nice to be out there. I had plenty of protection all game and I had to throw two balls away because nobody was open. Other than that our receivers were getting open for me and running good routes."
Case and rookie Chris Lewis are battling for the job of Grieb's backup. Their solid play didn't make the coaching staff's decision any easier.
"They both did great," Arbet said about the play of Case and Lewis. "Stoney has a great arm and there's a reason why he played six years in the NFL and there is a reason why Lewis started and did well at Stanford. I'm excited about both these guys."
Lewis played two possessions in the fourth quarter and drove the team to a pair of scores. He hooked up with Fred Coleman on a 40-yard scoring play for San Jose's final touchdown.
"I wanted to go out there and do what I've been learning the last few weeks," said Lewis.
Oh, by the way, the SaberCats outscored Grand Rapids 55-50. But who's counting?
(Note: No official stats were kept for the scrimmage game)
GRAND RAPIDS DS POLK INJURED
Rampage DS Jo Jo Polk was taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital after taking a knee to the helmet late in the third quarter.
Polk sustained the injury while attempting to make a tackle on San Jose FB Ja'Mar Toombs. Polk originally got to his feet before falling back to the turf where he lay motionless for several minutes.
The five-year AFL veteran was tended to by medical personnel and strapped to a backboard for precautionary reasons before being transported to Valley Medical Center for observation and tests. Polk was alert the entire time and had movement in all extremities.
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