Slaughter leaves struggles behind, focuses on playoffs
Pay no attention to the Chicago Slaughter's 7-8 record. According to running back Jarrett Payton, the season starts this week.
The Slaughter's journey to the second round of the Indoor Football League playoffs is one they probably didn't see coming at the season's start. The Slaughter lost its first three games by a combined 6 points and faced some adversity after an undefeated championship season last year in the Continental Indoor Football League.
Without last year's starting quarterback, Russ Michna, who left to rejoin the Chicago Rush, the Slaughter had some retooling to do.
"We have a 50 percent turnaround each year," said Slaughter general manager Alan Perkins. "We have a lot of new guys and we struggled early, but we're beginning to get (team chemistry) late."
The struggle of the regular season is something second-year Slaughter defensive back Dennison Robinson has seen before. Robinson, the 2008 Arena Football League Defensive Player of the Year, won the 2007 AFL championship with the Rush after the team went 7-9 in the regular season. Robinson, whom Perkins describes as a team leader, said the coaching staff was a big part of keeping the team focused.
"Coach (Steve) McMichael kept on telling us the season is a marathon," Robinson said. "He said keep playing hard. Anything can happen."
Robinson and the rest of him teammates kept working hard, while Perkins continued to look for talent and players who were there to win.
"We got rid of some guys that were here for themselves, not for the team," Robinson said. "(Perkins) brought in talented, good guys that are here to win."
One of the mid-season additions is Tavares Woodley. Woodley arrived in Chicago to play quarterback but due to an injury to Payton was asked to fill in at running back and defensive back.
The Slaughter upset the Central North Division champion Green Bay Blizzard 46-39 last week to earn a date with the Sioux Falls Storm (12-3) in South Dakota on Saturday night.
Another big reason for the recent success of the Slaughter is Payton. With a healthy Payton in the backfield, the team has its leader and a legitimate threat at running back.
"When (Payton) is not there, (the team) has a different attitude," said Perkins.
"(Payton) brings us together," said Woodley.
Payton and his teammates couldn't be more focused, and they know what they have to do.
"We're focused on us, not the other team," he said. "If we're sound on offense and defense and execute, we can beat anyone. It's all about how the season ends. The ups and downs make you stronger."