Stewart’s in a Big Rush

In the Arena Football League, it’s difficult for defensive linemen to compile impressive statistics because they are restricted by so many rules and the league’s penchant for the quick pass.

But Avenger rookie Jason Stewart, who began the 2005 NFL season playing for the Indianapolis Colts, is ready to change that.

In the Avengers’ season-opening victory over Arizona last week, Stewart made 2.5 tackles for loss, including his first career sack -- the only one in the game.

“I have no clue with what happened with me and the Colts,” said Stewart, who spent most of the 2004 season on the Colts’ practice squad but played for Indianapolis in the playoffs and a regular-season game in 2005 before being released. “The way I look at it, that’s all behind me now. Whatever it takes for me to be a better player and to help my team, that’s what I’m here to do.”

It’s not unusual for the former Fresno State standout to spend hours after an Avenger practice, working on drills.

“Right after I got released, I decided to play in the AFL because everyone else in the [NFL] had their rosters filled,” said Stewart, who was made expendable after the Colts picked up veteran Corey Simon from Philadelphia.

“I didn’t want to play any waiting game. I wanted to play football and try and make myself better. I figured if I was going to play in the Arena league, I would try and make it so whichever team signed me would have a good player.”

Against Arizona, Stewart and linemates Lonnie Ford, Isaac Hilton and Silas Demary spent most of the afternoon creating havoc for veteran quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, who was briefly knocked out of the game because of a shoulder injury in the second half.

“I’m having so much fun,” Stewart said. “You can pretty much get pressure on every play. The game is fast, hard and physical. ... There’s no word to describe how I feel about playing this game.”

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Although quarterback Brian Mann stepped up with a solid second-half performance against Arizona, Coach Ed Hodgkiss said he would keep the competition open and also might play Ryan Van Dyke at Philadelphia on Sunday.

“It’s going to be pretty much the same deal,” Hodgkiss said. “I’m going to start Brian Mann and if he plays well he could finish the game. If I feel that it would be good for him to sit down and take a breath like he did in the first game, we may do that again too. I’m just trying to keep it open because when I do name a guy he will be the guy. We will ride him for better or worse.”

Mann completed 10 of 27 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Van Dyke played most of the second quarter, completing six of 10 for 56 yards with one intercepted.

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The Avengers will face former teammate Tony Graziani for the first time Sunday. Graziani started at quarterback for three seasons and led the Avengers to the playoffs every year.