Parilli Trying to Quickly Tune Up His Sputtering Team

Two weeks ago, the Piranhas were one of two undefeated Arena Football League teams and they appeared to be on their way to a division championship and possibly an undefeated season.

But going into Saturday’s game at Iowa, the Piranhas are in second place in the Western Division and on a two-game losing streak. The wheels are not exactly coming off, but they’re showing signs of wear.

Granted, Anaheim has lost to the two best teams in the league the last four years--Tampa Bay and Arizona--but the way the Piranhas lost has Coach Babe Parilli pulling out what hair he has left to pull.

“We’re self-destructing, no question,” Parilli said. “We’ve got a really good football team. When you know you’ve got a more physical team and you can wear your opponents down, then it really bothers you when you lose.”

In each of the two losses, the pattern has been the same. The Piranhas give their opponents an early lead, then come on strong in the end only to fall short.

The Piranhas’ 34-28 loss to Tampa Bay at the Pond was painful enough, but last week’s 48-45 heartbreaker to Arizona was devastating. Anaheim kicker Ian Howfield, who had been one of the team’s MVPs the first seven weeks, missed three field goals and an extra point, and the Piranhas were turned away twice without any points inside the five-yard line.

“We should have scored 70 points,” Parilli said.

But enough of the should-haves and could-haves. How does Anaheim correct the problem?

“We need to start being tougher in practice on discipline,” Parilli said. “You coach your mistakes.”

And the Piranhas’ most common mistake all season has been failing to score from inside their opponents’ five-yard line. Scoring inside the five is tough enough in the NFL, but in Arena Ball, it can be similar to solving a complicated physics problem.

The end zone is only eight yards long--seven in some arenas. The field is only 28 yards wide and the defense has the numbers advantage.

“You’re outmanned down there,” Parilli said. “If you run the ball to the fullback, you’re usually blocking three against five, because they’ve got their linebackers up. You’re trying to figure out how you can get a helmet on five guys and there’s very little real estate.”

So what’s the solution?

“I think we need to run the quarterback more,” Parilli said. “We haven’t done it much because of the chances of fumbling and injuries.”

And what does the quarterback think of Parilli’s logic?

“If that’s what it takes, to fake a counter and for me to run it in, then we should do it,” said Scooter Molander, the Piranhas’ quarterback. “We need to come away with something more down there.”

Molander didn’t run much at Tempe (Ariz.) Corona del Sol High or in college at Colorado State, but it seems he should have.

“What probably throws you off is the name ‘Scooter,’ ” he said. “I probably should run more. I’m not as swift as some of our receivers or backs, but I can run.”

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Molander can pass a little too. He has thrown for 1,950 yards and 28 touchdowns this season with only eight interceptions. A four-year veteran of the AFL, Molander said he might be having his best season.

“I think I’ve improved every year,” said Molander, who spent time in the Cleveland Browns camp after Colorado State. “I’m proud of that. But the offensive line has been a big key to my success this year.”

Molander has been sacked only three times in nine games and he is seventh in the AFL in passing with a rating of 102.0. Molander, 29, still has plenty of good years left, but he is already preparing for life after football.

During the off-season, he runs a quarterbacking school called “Personalized Quarterback Training.” Based in his hometown of Phoenix, Personalized Quarterback Training has recently expanded to Denver and Southern California.

“It’s mostly one-on-one work with high school kids,” he said. “I get together with their high school coach and talk about what the player needs to work on. The individual work is a lot better for kids than camps, because it’s more personal and there’s less pressure on the kids. I’ve found I can make a difference physically and mentally.”

Molander said his sessions not only help his students, but himself.

“It totally reminds me of my fundamentals and makes me evaluate all of what I’m doing during the off-season,” he said. “It keeps me focused. It’s nice to be able to give something back.”

Molander would like to give Anaheim an AFL title this season and even though the Piranhas are struggling, he said he hasn’t seen any panic yet.

“Everybody grouped up after the Arizona game,” he said. “Anthony Bridges [a receiver/defensive back] looked everybody in the eye and said, ‘We are not going to let this happen again.’ That made me feel good about this team.”

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One positive note to come out of last week’s loss to Arizona was that the Piranhas still have the tiebreaker advantage with the Rattlers should the teams end the season tied for the Western Division lead. Anaheim defeated Arizona, 48-44, on May 11, so the Piranhas have a one-point advantage over the Rattlers.