by At 2-5, the Columbus Aviators have reached a point of desperation as every game moving forward is a must win or their slim chance at the playoffs is completely done. The road ahead begins this weekend as they kick off back-to-back games with the 3-4 Birmingham Stallions. The task won’t be easy as the Stallions are a two-time USFL Champion and a team that has been playing much better as of late.
One of the reasons for their improvement is the addition of former Cleveland Browns Dorion Thompson Robinson at quarterback. We spoke with Columbus head coach Ted Ginn Jr who realizes the threat DTR can be, “we need to keep him in the pocket and push the pocket on him. You cannot just sit back and let him create like he excels at doing. He can take a game over with his legs and arm. He has pro style attributes and we have to prepare for that. He can dash you if you don’t keep him in the pocket. “
Ginn understands that at 2-5, they have backed themselves into a large whole and need the run the table to have any chance at the postseason. He touched on the importance of focus during this upcoming stretch, “This becomes playoff football right now, no matter what the record looks like. Everyone is fighting for that fourth spot, we just have to go out and control our destiny. We need to play well rounded football and execute the right way. “
Jalen Morton came off the bench a few times this past weekend in St. Louis and it helped Columbus move the ball. He is not surpassing Kalen McClendon as starting quarterback but does give the Aviators a valuable second option. Ginn touched on what Morton can do for them, “He is a great quarterback and we have been exploring ways to get him into the game at certain times in set packages. As we go into this game, he deserves to be able to get a couple more shots behind center after how well he played last week. You should be seeing more of him and we’re going to attack the way we have been attacking. He gives us more ways to be a threat. “
As mentioned, the three teams sitting in front of Columbus in the 4 seed are Dallas, Birmingham and Louisville. They play the Stallions the next two weeks straight and Louisville to close out the year. As for Dallas, Columbus split the season series with the, and the Renegades have lost 4 straight in the process.
The Stallions host the Aviators this Sunday at 1pm on Fox.
