Sports: Hard to improve on halfway to perfect

Hard to improve on halfway to perfect

By JOHN COTEY

The Storm is halfway through its quest to become the first unbeaten Arena Football team after Saturday's 58-51 win against Carolina.

Here's a midseason report card:

QUARTERBACK: John Kaleo threw what could have been two costly interceptions Saturday (resulting in 14 Carolina points), but regardless is the league's fifth-rated passer and second with 42 touchdown passes. The journeyman has found a home, and the Storm has found the quarterback who could return them to past glory. Since joining the Storm last season, he has led the team to 15 wins in 18 starts. The only knock against Kaleo might be his reliance on James Bowden, to whom he sometimes forces passes. Then again, Bowden's not a bad guy to force the ball too. Grade: B-plus.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Bowden has become arguably the most dangerous receiver in the league, and his kickoff returns routinely give the Storm the ball at midfield. Bowden leads the league in scoring, touchdowns (including three rushing) and all-purpose yards a game. Against Carolina he caught a team-record 15 passes. He is complemented by Bernard Edwards, Harvey Middleton and Sir Mawn Wilson, though combined the trio has two more catches and two fewer touchdowns than Bowden. Grade: A.

FULLBACKS: The Storm doesn't use its backs as much down close as in the past because Andre Bowden hasn't proven as effective near the goal line (though he has four scores) and Nyle Wiren is averaging 1.8 yards a carry. In fact, Kaleo had touchdown passes of 3, 4, 1, 5 and 4 yards Saturday, with the only running score coming when James Bowden carried it in from 7 yards out. The duo has been effective as pass blockers, however. Grade: C-plus.

OFFENSIVE/DEFENSIVE LINE: The line has 11 sacks (four by Rod Williams) and has allowed two. Six-foot-5, 320-pound Mel Agee even has two touchdown catches this season. The defensive line has played much better in the fourth quarter than it has in the first three, and pressured Carolina quarterback Fred McNair into one rushed throw before sacking him in overtime to end Saturday's victory. A big test will come this weekend for the offensive line when it faces Orlando's fierce pass rush, though it did well handling Nashville's James Baron earlier. Grade: B-plus.

LINEBACKERS: Edwards still can be effective on offense, but it is defensively where he has made a bigger impact. He leads all Arena linebackers with 52 tackles and has knocked away six passes. Wilson has been terrific, with three recovered fumbles, two returned for touchdowns. This is probably the Storm's deepest position, with Andre Bowden, Wiren, Devon McDonald and Darion Conner.Grade: B-plus.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: Even if they struggle early, the Storm DBs always seem to make a big play late in the game. Pierre Hixon was Ironman of the game Saturday, but only after getting beat repeatedly before recovering a late fumble. The backs let Carolina move the ball all night, and just twice did the Cobras have a third down where they needed more than 8 yards. Tommy Henry (having perhaps his best season) and Jamie Coleman rank 1-2 in passes defended, but have one interception combined. Like the rest of the defense, though, they play their best late in the game. Grade: B-minus.

KICKER: Mike Black has been a godsend to the Storm after a few years of kicking woes. His 43-yarder at the buzzer sent Saturday's game into overtime, he has recovered his own kickoff once, and he has missed just three extra points. Grade: A-minus.