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TAMPA - It wasn't the result he hoped for.
But one week after questioning his team's desire in a loss to New Orleans, coach Tim Marcum said he was pleased with the Storm's effort, including a spirited comeback in a 40-35 loss to New York on Sunday.
"We fought back, and I'm pleased with the way they did," Marcum said. "That's a doggone good football team out there. When I saw the way (New York) played San Jose (in a 64-50 win last week), I said, "That's one of the best teams in the league,' and we played with them at times."
The Storm fell behind 20-0 and trailed by 19 in the third quarter but came within 3 yards of a winning touchdown.
"To be in a position to win, that's all you can ask for," quarterback Pat O'Hara said. "We were in a position to win and came a couple inches short."
Said receiver/linebacker Lawrence Samuels, "We learned our lesson last week that we've got to keep on fighting through. I think the team responded real well being down."
GETTING DEFENSIVE: It went largely unnoticed during its struggles, but the Storm jumped from 14th to sixth in the league in total defense the past two weeks.
After allowing 126 points in consecutive losses to Georgia and Austin, Tampa Bay held Philadelphia and New Orleans to 64. Of those, 28 were special teams scores or interception returns. The insertion of Jonathan Ordway and Tramain Jones into the secondary and Nyle Wiren's three sacks in four weeks were among the reasons. The unit faced its toughest challenge in New York quarterback Aaron Garcia, who entered the game first in league history in touchdown passes (527), second in passing yards (28,001) and third in completions (2,181). But Garcia was limited to 130 passing yards, and only 27 of the Dragons' 40 points were scored on the defense.
FAMILIAR FACE: Former Storm coach Lary Kuharich is New York's offensive coordinator. Kuharich was Tampa Bay's coach from 1992-94, winning an ArenaBowl in 1993. WAKEUP CALL: The game was the second straight noon start for the Storm. The time change was made to accommodate NBC's coverage of the PGA tournament. STORM FLURRIES: Storm receiver/linebacker David Saunders left in the third quarter with bruised ribs. O'Hara stayed in the game despite sustaining a laceration to his left thumb. ... New York's Lincoln Dupree was named offensive player and ironman of the game. Jermaine Filer was defensive player of the game. ... Defensive specialist Del Lee, fullback/linebacker Andre Bowden and offensive/defensive lineman Evan Pilgrim were inactive.