Through five weeks, the San Diego Fleet were beginning to look like a serious contender for the AAF playoffs. They sat at the top of the Western Conference standings with a 3-2 record, tied with the first place San Antonio Commanders. Despite losing emerging quarterback Philip Nelson to a broken clavicle during their week four loss to the Memphis Express, the Fleet bounced back with a nail-biting win over the Salt Lake Stallions. But since that win, the Fleet are on a three-game losing streak, and look like a long shot to make the playoffs. What happened to Fleet? Why has their “ship” sunk?
A look at The Alliance standings midway through the season. pic.twitter.com/0pocTqt35L
— The Alliance (@TheAAF) March 11, 2019
The San Diego Fleet Ship Has Sunk
Injuries
In football, injuries are simply a part of the game. There is no denying that football is the most physical sport next to rugby and hockey. The month of March has not been nice to the Fleet. Early in March, the Fleet lost promising young quarterback Philip Nelson for four to six weeks, essentially the remainder of the season. Nelson finished the season completing 58 percent of his passes for 513 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. His numbers were not fantastic, but he was able to hold on to the ball for the most part in three starts.
Nelson to Nelson, second TD of the game! #SAvsSD pic.twitter.com/lRVH1AUFyr
— The Alliance (@TheAAF) February 25, 2019
Before this week’s game, the Fleet announced their leading rusher, Ja’Quan Gardner, and leading receiver, Dontez Ford, both have been sent to injured reserve, ending their seasons. Those three players alone accounted for almost half of the Fleet’s yards on offense. When the Fleet signed running back Bishop Sankey in week five, the emerging star Gardner saw his carries decrease tremendously. In weeks one through four, Gardner rushed for 289 of his 311 total rushing yards, and was also a major receiving threat. Ford was a major deep threat for the Fleet offense, averaging 29 yards per catch this season. The offense just does not look the same, which brings us to the next point.
.@D12Ford is gettin’ LOOSE! ⚓️? pic.twitter.com/xHxnPruLKG
— San Diego Fleet (@AAFFleet) March 18, 2019
.@_JGWentworth_32 went 83 yards for the longest TD in @TheAAF history!
Week 3 @DrinkAmethyst Play Of The Game | Happiness Is In What You Drink pic.twitter.com/9cpXRw0Z5X
— San Diego Fleet (@AAFFleet) February 27, 2019
Sub-Par Quarterback Play
Nothing quarterback Mike Bercovici has done this season convinced anyone he deserves to start. Not even his win against the Stallions where Bercovici threw a bomb to put them in field goal position to win the game, Bercovici never seemed to fit in head coach Mike Martz‘s system. When you have four more interceptions on the season than touchdowns, that is a major problem. In fact, Bercovici has thrown an interception in all five starts this season, throwing at least two interceptions in four of those five games.
You have to be critical when evaluating quarterbacks because the game usually rests on their shoulders. Too many Fleet drives stalled near the red zone and too many turnovers fell at the feet of Bercovici. It is surprising he has lasted this long with the revolving door of quarterbacks starting across the Alliance. Of quarterbacks who attempted over 100 passes this season, Bercovici has the worst completion percentage sitting at 51 percent. The next closest is Iron quarterback Luis Perez who is sitting at 53 percent.
Big INT coming right up.
? served by @Cjsmith_6 ? pic.twitter.com/Kf0ZFpeFm3
— Salt Lake Stallions (@aafstallions) March 31, 2019
Not all the blame can be put on his shoulders though. When receivers are dropping passes, there is nothing you can do as the quarterback. But decision-making can be controlled. Too many times Bercovici has under-thrown receivers or try to fit the ball into tight windows. A league-leading nine interceptions don’t come just from drops.
Last Word
The Fleet defense is being wasted on a sub-par offense. There is no getting around that fact. Damontre Moore has been an absolute terror to opposing teams, recording seven sacks, which is tied for most in the AAF. The defense forced two turnovers in their loss to the Stallions Saturday night, yet the offense could not make anything of the turnovers.
The Fleet sit in last place, with the Stallions holding the point edge over the Fleet. The Fleet’s chances of making the playoffs are not impossible, but highly unlikely, needing both the Hotshots and Stallions to lose next week. They also need to beat the best team in the Alliance, the Orlando Apollos. They’ll need more help from the Stallions, needing them to lose in week 10 and beating the Hotshots by more than 15.
In other words, the Fleet ship has sunk. One of the best crowd’s in the Alliance won’t even get to make an appearance in the playoffs.
