Colorado Crush coach Mike Dailey’s appraisal that playoff experience is key to shaping the Arena Football League’s postseason picture seems to have merit.
The San Jose SaberCats and the Orlando Predators are former ArenaBowl champions, and the Chicago Rush reached the semifinals for the fourth straight year after beating the Crush 63-46 on Sunday at the Pepsi Center.
The Rush plays the SaberCats for the American Conference championship and the Predators will square off against the Dallas Desperados for the National Conference championship.
But Dailey contends the Desperados, who became only the second team in the league’s history to win 13 games in the regular season, could prove the exception.
Dailey said he believes Dallas’ addition of quarterback Clint Dolezel could make up for its playoff inexperience. Neither Dallas nor Chicago has won a league title.
“Clint Dolezel has been a championship quarterback when he played for Grand Rapids,” Dailey said. “There’s a lot of parity in this league, and any of the teams remaining have a chance to be world champions.”
Dolezel set a league record this season with 105 touchdown passes.
Week’s top players
Chicago’s DeJuan Alfonzo was selected AFL ironman of the week for his play against the Crush. He made seven catches for 64 yards and two touchdowns and recorded three tackles and two fumble recoveries, returning one 20 yards for a touchdown that put the Rush ahead 43-27 with 3:48 left in the third quarter.
San Jose’s Ben Nelson, the league’s rookie of the year, earned offensive player honors with six touchdowns, tying a single-game league playoff record. San Jose defeated Arizona 62-48.
Orlando’s Greg White was named defensive player of the week. He had 3 1/2 tackles, including two sacks, in the Predators’ 31-27 victory over Philadelphia.
Keeping busy
Dailey and the Crush coaching staff are scheduled to visit 28 NFL training camps this summer, including the Broncos’.
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
