
Programming Note: The SaberCats take on Utah Saturday at 6 p.m. on CSN Plus
Nick LainoCSNBayArea.comAfter an emotional, opening night OT victory against arch-rival Arizona, followed by an early bye week, the SaberCats hit the road to face a tough Utah Blaze team still trying to find its identity.The Western Division is made up of three teams that won six of the 24 ArenaBowl championships. Then theres the Utah Blaze, who were once viewed as the next team to hoist the Foster Trophy. With a solid defense and a hotshot quarterback as the foundation Utah is poised to be the Western Division's new elite team .Here is what to watch for Saturday night in Utah:Defense, defense, defense Last week vs. Iowa, the Blaze defense racked up eight sacks, forced four turnovers, and allowed only 220 total yards of offense. In its opener, San Jose played three quarters without defensive coordinator Cedric Walker after his flight was delayed returning from a family funeral. For the final quarter-and-change that he was on the bench, the 'Cats allowed only nine points, had a key interception that set up the go-ahead touchdown, and defended a two-point conversion in overtime to seal the victory. If that's the result for just having Walker on the field for that short period of time, the results could be even better for San Jose with him on the sidelines the entire game. Points will be at a premium Saturday night for sure.Touchdown TommyFor the second week in a row the 'Cats have to match up with another up-and-coming quarterback. Tommy Grady lead the AFL last season with 301.2 yards per game and was on pace to shatter AFL passing records until he suffered a season-ending injury in the season's final weeks. Utahs success depends on Grady to make smart decisions and not turn the ball over like he did in Week One, when he threw two key interceptions against San Antonio, extinguishing the Blazes chance of victory. Last man standingThe schedule-makers were not kind to San Jose. Each team gets two bye weeks during the 18-game schedule. Coming off this bye week, the SaberCats wont see another one until the final week of the season. That's 17 straight games without a break. Add that to this week's game at 4,327 feet above sea level in Salt Lake City and keeping fresh players on the field at all times will be important during this stretch. Here's where the SaberCats have an advantage, as they brought back strength and conditioning coach Fred Stephens. He was instrumental during the championship years in keeping San Jose fit and always fresh for the fourth quarter, while the other team was gasping for air. With such an elevation change, that extra gear could mean the difference between a win or a loss.Nick Laino is a tape operator for Comcast SportsNet Bay Area and the SaberCats PA Announcer.
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