Playoff priority: Put pressure on, contain SaberCats QB Michna

The Rattlers’ pass rush will have to be at its best Sunday in the National Conference semifinal game against San Jose SaberCats quarterback Russ Michna, who is good at extending plays with his mobility.

The last time the teams met, a 72-42 SaberCats win in San Jose on June 22, the Rattlers weren’t able to keep Michna in the pocket, and he threw for nine touchdowns. He was not intercepted, completing 24 of 37 passes.

“We allowed him to extend plays the last time,” coach Kevin Guy said.

“We can’t allow him to extend plays. Our pass rush, we have to do a better job, there’s no question. We were not happy with the way we played defensively when we played them the last time.”

Late in the season, the SaberCats brought back James Roe, one of the greater receivers in their franchise history, after Freddie Williams got injured.

Williams burned the Rattlers with 10 catches for 121 yards and five touchdowns.

But the SaberCats have two other good receivers with Jason Willis and Huey Whittaker to go with Roe.

Rolling with it

For the second week in a row, the Rattlers’ Arkeith Brown fielded a kickoff off the end zone net and returned it for a touchdown.

Saturday at Iowa, however, Brown was grabbed by the face mask and brought down into the end zone.

He came out of it OK and says he is good to go for Sunday’s playoff game at US Airways Center.

“When I was trying to reach the ball in the end zone, I felt him grab my face mask,” Brown said. “I went with it and that took the strain off my neck. It was a little shock, but I was pretty much OK.”

With the game well in hand, Brown took a knee in the end zone on the final kickoff just to be safe for the playoffs.