Fever ready to restart season after 3-week layoff

It’s been three weeks since the Tri-Cities Fever last played an Indoor Football League game.

It’s almost like starting the season over again.

But Fever coach Ryan Lingenfelder doesn’t see that as a problem, when his team (1-3) plays host to the Colorado Crush at 7 p.m. Friday in the Toyota Center.

“It would’ve been (a problem) if the guys had come back from the byes with a low effort and bad attitude,” said Lingenfelder. “But they didn’t. They’ve had five solid practices this week.”

He’s expecting a strong effort from his players against an 0-4 Crush squad, the last team in the league without a win.

But that record could be deceiving.

Colorado’s last game was a 58-55 loss to perennial league champ Sioux Falls on March 20.

“It’s a trap game for us,” said Lingenfelder. “They’ve signed five new players.”

The Fever coach said his team just needs to play its brand of football.

“Our offense needs to have no turnovers,” Lingenfelder said. “Our offense needs to score on 80 percent of its possessions. And on defense, we need to create turnovers. Our defense has to get six stops.”

To that effect, Lingenfelder and his staff spent the two bye weeks installing some new offensive plays and defensive schemes.

Defensively, Tri-Cities must stop Colorado WR Demarius Washington, the IFL’s top receiver.

“We have a game plan for him,” said Lingenfelder. “We’re gonna double-team him and force (Rashard Smith and Doug Williams) to make plays.”

Fever roster moves

Lingenfelder promised after his team’s last game — a 39-34 loss to Cedar Rapids on March 11 — that changes would be made to the roster.

He didn’t lie.

Cut were RB DaSean Martin, RB Jojo Snell, WR Jerome Lewis, DB Dontaivis Johnson and DL Marvin Martin Jr.

DL Maurice Chavis was placed on short-term injured reserve.

Activated from IR was DL Brandon Rankin and OL Christian Tausaga.

And the team recently signed RB Rob Brown, DB Aaron Ray and OL Jairus Spain.

WR Deejay Lester, who has been hurt and missed the last few games, is also ready to play.

Quick notes

Colorado released QB Dominique Blackman last week. The former Fever quarterback was signed by the Crush three weeks ago. … Sioux Falls, the defending IFL champion, suffered its first loss last weekend in a 60-57 victory by Cedar Rapids. Devin Ghafoor’s interception in the waning seconds sealed the victory for the Titans.

By the numbers

Washington is the go-to player for the Crush. The receiver ranks first in the IFL with 105.0 yards receiving a game, and his 10 TD catches rank best among league receivers. He’s second in scoring with 68 points. And he’s fourth in the IFL in all-purpose yardage with the 105.0 yards a game. … Fever kicker Steven Wakefield ranks fourth among league kickers with 36 points. … Tri-Cities’ Dee Maggitt is second in the IFL in return yardage, averaging 22.7 yards a return. Maggitt has three interceptions, which is tied for first in the league. Colorado’s Rashard Smith also has three picks. … Colorado’s leading tackler is Quinton Richardson, who has 20 tackles. Richardson played for the Fever two seasons ago. … LB Leon Jackson is the Fever’s leading tackler with 20.

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 8:51 PM with the headline "Fever ready to restart season after 3-week layoff."