First game, first win in the books for Marcus Coleman and the Tucson Sugar Skulls.
The Sugar Skulls beat the San Diego Strike Force 65-44 last weekend in Tucson鈥檚 Indoor Football League debut. Coleman and company now turn their focus to the Bismarck Bucks, who will visit Tucson Arena at 3 p.m. Sunday for the Sugar Skulls鈥 home opener.
Against San Diego, the Sugar Skulls posted 304 yards of total offense while the defense allowed just 38 net yards in the second half. Former University of Hawaii defensive back Dee Maggitt Jr. recorded two interceptions and a pass breakup, which was good enough to win the IFL Defensive Player of the Week award.
Tucson is currently tied for second in the IFL standings with the Sioux Falls Storm and the Iowa Barnstormers; the 蜜聊直播 Rattlers lead with a 2-0 record.
Coleman discussed the team鈥檚 start and looked ahead to this weekend on the 鈥淭ucson Sugar Skulls Coach鈥檚 Show鈥 on ESPN Tucson earlier this week.
People are also reading…
How did it feel to secure the first win of the season?
A: 鈥淚 think for us particularly after watching the film, we have something good in regards to the continuity of the team and the type of team we put together. I think the guys realized, although we didn鈥檛 put together our best game, we still played pretty good. I think it gives them an idea of something we鈥檝e been preaching since we got here with the expectations and the goals we鈥檙e trying to reach. Coming out of that game, guys knew we didn鈥檛 play our best, but we still have a lot of work to do. Unlike other professional sports, we don鈥檛 have preseason games to work out the kinks. For us, live action is working out the kinks; so we鈥檙e working out the kinks, winning games and keeping everything rolling at the same time. For the most part, the trip went well and the guys responded well to in-game adjustments. I鈥檓 pretty pleased overall to tell you the truth.鈥
After watching the game once again, what is a Marcus Coleman film session like?
A: 鈥淒epends on how the game went. It was pretty tamed today. I鈥檒l use that word. Pretty tamed. Coming out of that game, you get the W so you want to be happy about the W, however being the type of guy that I am, I wanted to have everything as perfect as possible and my other coaches are like that as well. There鈥檚 always something technically that you can work on. We usually ride them pretty hard whether you get the W or the L. That鈥檚 one of the things on par for the course. You still want them to enjoy the win and have confidence, but there鈥檚 a good balance of, 鈥榃e want to keep your confidence high, but I鈥檓 not going to completely tear you down so I鈥檒l just take some notches out of you. I鈥檓 gonna humble you a little bit, but I don鈥檛 want to break you down,鈥 so there鈥檚 a fine line in doing that. Today鈥檚 session was kind of like that.鈥
Along with your experience in the NFL, where does the win rank among experiences in San Diego?
A: 鈥淧robably first because it鈥檚 the first win as a head coach, first win as an organization, so right now it鈥檚 No. 1. Unfortunately I missed the pregame meal 鈥 thanks a lot, fellas 鈥 but we went to a Brazilian restaurant not far from the stadium, and it was great.鈥
Wide receiver Shaquan Curenton said offensive coordinator Hurtis Chinn鈥檚 offense is simple and easy to understand. What鈥檚 the benefit of having an offense like that?
A: 鈥淭he simpler you keep it, the easier it is for them to go out and play, and the only thing you work on is whatever you plan on running. And we saw that. Mike (Jones) scored three touchdowns, Shaquan scored three touchdowns. Coach Chinn has done a great job with the quarterbacks and the wide receivers in getting them to understand that. I don鈥檛 have to call crazy plays like 鈥楽pider 2-Y Banana.鈥 It鈥檚 鈥楾his is what we鈥檙e running, and this is the type of coverage you鈥檒l see. So if you see this coverage, this guy is open. If you see this coverage, this guy is open.鈥 And we may expect you to win one-on-one battles and at this level, you have to win those. He鈥檚 doing a great job of teaching them not just the plays, but the why. He explains to the guys, this is why we run this play and break it down for them. They鈥檝e bought in so far. After this game, it should only get better.鈥
Starting quarterback Matt Behrendt had two touchdowns in the first half, but Jake Medlock stepped in and finished the game. How were those two able to perform in those circumstances?
A: 鈥淭hose guys are like 1A and 1A-and-a-half if that鈥檚 even a thing. If you want to label it, 1A and 1B. Both of those guys are capable of starting in this league, and really any team to be quite honest with you. Skill sets are different. I think Matt is a slightly better runner than Jake, but Jake is a little bit better of a passer than Matt is. Both are very intelligent, high-IQ guys that understand how to read coverages. 鈥 To have two guys like that where one is a starter and the other is a backup, we don鈥檛 really look at it like that. We look at it as having two starters and depending on what the situation is in the game, we鈥檒l have one go in and if the situation changes, we鈥檒l have the other one go back in.鈥
What does it say about your defense allowing only 38 yards of total offense in the second half?
A: 鈥淭hat all goes back to me. You can play in the dirt all you want to between the (15-yard lines), but once you get in the red zone, that鈥檚 my area. That鈥檚 usually when I try to own you. You can do whatever it is in the middle of the field, but once you get into the red zone, now you鈥檙e playing in my yard. I picked up that philosophy in my first year in Iowa. I was always worried about stopping the ball all the time, but I was like: 鈥榊ou know what? You can do whatever you want to do out here. Once you get into the red zone, now you gotta come see me.鈥 鈥 Our guys understand that teams will score but the less points and less opportunities you give the offense even if they get down to the red zone, you鈥檒l win.鈥
How much more important is the home-opener than the season-opener?
A: 鈥淓verybody gets an opportunity to see us live and in person. It鈥檚 the first home game in team history, and we鈥檙e having people come out and see what we鈥檙e like in person. Not only see us, but see a game. You might get your favorite player in your lap depending on what the play is. There鈥檚 a lot going on, and I鈥檓 really looking forward to it, and I鈥檓 looking forward to us being home and putting on a good show in front of the hometown folks.鈥