Cheatwood cites injuries to bad roll of the dice

John Bassetti | Thunder Insider

It was good to have Tim Cheatwood weigh in on some issues recently.

Most importantly, the former Ohio State standout who plays defensive end for the Thunder revealed that his practice jersey number (94) is the opposite of his game jersey number (49).

Secondly, Cheatwood answered a nagging question in the minds of some as to why he was absent for the team’s second game.

Cheatwood, who has started in four of Mahoning Valley’s five games, said that he had a vacation planned a year in advance of the April 4 game against the Milwaukee Iron.

“There was nothing shady behind it,” he said. “The only thing shady was that I couldn’t disappoint my wife. We made arrangements to go to Las Vegas. Before I signed with the team or even before I knew I was going to be playing football, she made those plans. My wife has sacrificed a lot for me. I couldn’t back out.”

Who the heck are we to pry into such matters, anyway?

However, it would be nice to know how much he won — or lost.

Speaking of sacrifice, Cheatwood broached a topic that has a bearing on success, or a lesser form of it.

Considering the Thunder’s record of 1-4 and its 11-26 showing under recently fired coach Mike Hold, the team’s standing in the af2 may have something to do with a form of compensation or reward, as well as the unwanted visitor that lurks on turfs — injury.

“There’s a lot of things to blame,” Cheatwood said. “Right now, guys aren’t making plays,” he said of the No. 1 culprit.

Injuries, too, have been a contributor to Mahoning Valley’s overall malaise.

“We’ve got a lot of them,” he said of injuries to five starters in the first four weeks. “And they’re guys who are key parts of our team.”

In football, there’s 100 percent chance someone is going to get hurt. There’s not a team that goes through a season without it. Still, guys have to suck it up and make plays.”

He said it’s hard to get players to compete for what af2 players make — $200 a game, plus $50 for a win — and find a good player in the process.

“It was a deal to get the guys we have and now they’re out,” he said of noseman Carlos Spinner (broken leg), FB Wally Sonnie, TE Jason Lewis and WR Rob Carey (all ACL surgeries) and FB/LB Brenton Brady (broken hand).

“It’s pretty hard to get somebody of the same caliber to come in and take that same amount of money.”

He elaborated in other areas.

“The teams we went up against the last three games have veteran quarterbacks who are real good,” he said of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Tulsa, the latter of which the Thunder lost to twice.

W-B/Scranton and Tulsa were ranked 4-5, respectively, in the af2’s Week 5 top 16.

“They have been winning since the league started,” Cheatwood said.

Although he might be sounding off slightly, Cheatwood also is speaking as an outsider who — even as an af2 rookie — provides some insight about the professional indoor game.

“No one’s going to stay in one organization for 5 or 6 years for the kind of money we’re making. It’s hard to get guys to come back and sacrifice like they already have. So when you have injuries, it’s hard to find guys just as good to take their spot.”

He said some organizations do more.

“It isn’t fair, but it’s the reality of the business. They do more to get players in, like scout a little more and other things. That’s just how it is.”

Of Coach Hold, Cheatwood said that he was more laid back than Hold’s replacement, Brennen Booth.

“Coach Booth is more in-your-face, more energetic.”

Cheatwood said that both styles have their ups and downs.

“Sometimes, with Coach Hold, a guy might take advantage and not hold themselves accountable.

“With Coach Booth, he’s going to hold you accountable immediately and you’ll know what you’re doing wrong. Some guys need that, while others who are used to being treated like a pro, may respond differently.”

Cheatwood has 51‚Ñ2 tackles, including 11‚Ñ2 for loss and a sack.

For a defensive lineman in af2, high numbers are rare because the running game isn’t emphasized. Getting pressure on the quarterback is important and that statistic is usually registered on film, not paper.

XJohn Bassetti covers the Mahoning Valley Thunder for The Vindicator. Write him at bassetti@vindy.com.