Crush quarterback John Dutton expected there would be some surprises in the upcoming Arena Football League season because of all the rule changes, but he might not have expected his team’s roster to be such a surprise package.
When the final roster cuts were announced, Dutton learned his once-prized receiver corps would be missing Andy McCullough, Willis Marshall and Ahmad Hawkins, “The Birdman.”
But not all is lost for Dutton going into today’s season opener against Grand Rapids at 1 p.m. at the Pepsi Center.
“We still have No. 1,” Dutton said, referring to Damian Harrell, the AFL’s offensive player of the year the past two seasons. “We’ll be all right.”
The three departed receivers accounted for a combined 34 receiving touchdowns, while Marshall had seven rushing touchdowns and Hawkins one.
Besides Harrell, who scored 60 receiving touchdowns last season, Dutton has rookies Brad Pyatt and Willie Quinnie, and Robert Redd, who has been in the NFL the last two years. Redd has two years’ AFL experience.
The Rampage has beaten the Crush once in the past six meetings.
Coach Sparky McEwen returns with quarterback Chad Salisbury, who passed for 3,215 yards and 58 touchdowns last season. But the Rampage, a team that hasn’t been in the AFL playoffs since 2003, finished 5-11.
“It’s exciting to see what’s going to happen this year,” Dutton said of the rule changes. “Change is good. We’re still going to have ironman football, with some players still playing both ways. With the free substitution, some teams might go to more of a running attack.”
Dutton said he believes the Crush will stay about the same in terms of a game plan.
“We have the best receiver in the league and we have some great offensive linemen,” Dutton said. “Why would we change much just because of one rule change?”
Dutton also will be working with new offensive coordinator Chris Boden after Brian Partlow left to become the head coach at Austin.
Coach Mike Dailey called the rule changes a positive for the league.
“You want to have the best players on the field at any given moment,” Dailey said. “It creates the best game. Now a player really can concentrate on his natural position. That enhances the game.”
Grand Rapids Rampage vs. Colorado Crush
What: Arena Football League opener
When: 1 p.m. today
Where: Pepsi Center
TV/radio: FSN/KOA 850 AM
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
