San Jose entered 2013 with a new signal caller for the first time in over a decade after Mark Grieb announced his retirement. For the first month of the season Darren Arbet planned to rely on Aaron Garcia to lead the offense, but after 13 interceptions in four games a change was needed for a 2-2 team.
Russ Michna was signed at the beginning of week six and Garcia was traded to Orlando to set the new direction of the 'Cats offense. Michna came and fit right in, leading San Jose to a five-game winning streak that had them right in the mix in the west division for first place. His addition to the team not only improved the offense but also seemed to spark the defense, which ended up finishing the year in the top four of most statistical categories. San Jose entered Spokane with a 7-2 record, but saw their five-game win streak come to an end when they lost 75-45 in an ugly performance. The 'Cats split their next two games to enter a pivotal matchup with Arizona at 8-4. With the season hanging in the balance Russ Michna put on one of his best performances of the year to match a dominating performance from the pass rush and a big night by Clevan Thomas to pull of one of the surprises of the season, a 72-42 victory. San Jose road the momentum from the big win over their storied rivals and went on to win their next three games, which was capped off with a 78-20 demolition of Pittsburgh in week 17. The SaberCats split their last two home games of the regular season, closing it out with a 65-40 win vs. Chicago in week 19 to finish with a 13-5 record and easily claim the National Conference's second wild card spot. The finish setup a Conference Semifinal against Arizona for the second straight season.
The start of San Jose's dominant run in 2013 can be credited to the acquisition of Russ Michna, but the defense was the most cohesive of the three units. Clevan Thomas, Ken Fontenette, and J.C. Neal spearheaded the secondary, while Huey Whittaker and Francis Maka each had outstanding years in the middle of the defense. The front three also did a fantastic job in racking up 41 sacks, which was second in the AFL. The SaberCats also benefited from a career years by Jason Willis and Fred Williams in the pass game. The Sabercats entered the Snake Pit with the tools to upset Arizona, but came up just a little short. After failing to pickup a first down on the game's opening drive, Russ Michna kept the 'Cats in reach and with the playmaking of Clevan Thomas and Huey Whittaker, San Jose held a late third quarter lead. The chance of an upset rolled away in the fourth quarter on a red zone fumble, that happened on the second play of the period, and when a later kickoff took an unfavorable bounce of the rebound net and ended up being a Arizona net recovery. The SaberCats season ended at the hands of their long-time rivals in a disappointing 59-49 fashion.
The Good from 2013:
- 13 wins and a second consecutive playoff berth
- A 72-42 win vs. Arizona in week fourteen
- An 8-2 home record
- A 5-3 road record
- Clevan Thomas winning both AFL Defensive Player of the Year and AFL Defensive Back of the Year
- 6 All-Arena selections
PLAYER STATS
- Russ Michna 249-387, 3116 yds, 68 TD, 8 Int; 4 Rush TD (13 games)
- Jamarko Simmons 22 rush, 38 yds, 8 TD; 33 rec, 401 yds, 9 TD (10 games)
- Jabari Fletcher 6 sacks, 2 Fumb Rec, Int, safety; 21 rush, 45 yds, 9 TD (15 games)
- Jason Willis 123 rec, 1606 yds, 35 TD (18 games)
- Fred Williams 96 rec, 1207 yds, 21 TD; 45 kick-ret, 895 yds, 2 TD (13 games)
- Huey Whittaker 89 rec, 998 yds, 27 TD; 65.5 tackles, 6 Int, 2 FF, Fumb Rec, 5 Def TD (17 games)
- James Roe 12 rec, 135 yds, 5 TD (2 games)
- Clevan Thomas 74 tackles, 15 Int, FF, 2 Fumb Rec, 6 Def TD (18 games)
- Ken Fontenette 107 tackles, 3 Int, 2 Fumb Rec 2 Def TD (15 games)
- J.C. Neal 96.5 tackles, Int, 4 FF (18 games)
- Francis Maka 11.5 sacks, FF, Fumb Rec, 2 blocks (16 games)
- Jason Stewart 11 sacks, 3 FF, 4 Fumb Rec, Int (18 games)
- Terrance Carter 6.5 sacks, FF, 2 blocks, safety (13 games)
- Nich Pertuit 122-137 PAT, 3-5 FG (37) (18 games)
TEAM STATS
- Fourth scoring offense 57.4 ppg - Third scoring defense 48.7 ppg
- Best rush defense 14.9 ypg
- Fourth pass offense 268.6 ypg
- Sixth total offense 279.2 ypg
- Fourth best defense 240.6 ypg
- Second best total defense 255.5 ypg
- Fifth in pass efficiency 109.3
- Fourth best turnover margin +10
- Second best opposing passer efficiency 89.4
- Fifth in 3rd down conversions 50/102
- Allowed lowest 3rd down conversion rate (50/141)
- Second sacks with 41- Fourth red zone offense 76/90
- Fifth red zone defense 66/85
The Bad from 2013:- Getting swept by Spokane
- Losing to Arizona 73-47 in week three
- Getting eliminated by Arizona for the second straight season
PLAYER STATS
- Garcia's 13 interceptions in the first four games
- Jamarko Simmons' missing half the season with nagging injuries
TEAM STATS
- Second-worst rush offense, 10.6 ypg
- Third-worst opponents 4th down conversions at 53.3%
Final Take:
The SaberCats 2013 season got off to a slow start, but after Russ Michna joined the squad and things went in the right direction. Michna's presence fit smoothly with Jason Willis and Fred Williams, and the defense raised its level. Clevan Thomas put together a special season with 15 interceptions and six return touchdowns to lead the AFL in both categories and highlight a talented defense that recorded 41 sacks. Huey Whittaker spent significant amount of time on each side of the ball and that represented the old days of "Ironman Football." This year will go down as a successful campaign and if Darren Arbet chooses to keep this core together than the 'Cats should be poised for an Arena Bowl run next year.
2013 Finish: 13-6 (3-3 in West), Lost in Conference Semifinals
For more on the San Jose Sabercats:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflsbc/
http://thesanjosesabercats.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff-wild.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-midway-report-west.htmlhttp://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
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