Bryant will be rare 2-way player

Ironmen in the Arena Football League — players who see action on both offense and defense — will be the exception rather than the rule this year. It will be just like in the outdoor game and unlike the AFL of the past.

But the Utah Blaze's Orshawante Bryant will be an exception. He will start for the team at defensive back but will also see considerable time as a wide receiver.

"The way it's looking right now, I'm going to be playing more defense than offense, but more than likely I will still be playing on both sides of the ball during each game," said Bryant. "I love playing both ways and I want it to stay that way."

A year ago Bryant was the Blaze's second leading receiver, catching 90 passes for 1,039 yards and 11 touchdowns — one of which was the game-winner on the final play in Utah's victory in Los Angeles.

Defensively, Bryant was second on the team with two interceptions along with his personal career-best 58 tackles and five pass break ups.

Bryant, like most of his teammates, likes the direction the Blaze are headed. He feels Utah can be one of the best teams in the 19-team AFL.

"We're looking 10 times better than we were last year at this time," said Bryant. "We have some veterans in the secondary and the D-line this year, and that's crucial for us. We're looking good, we just have to put it all together."

LOSING A GOOD OMEN? Getting off to a good start to a new season by winning the season opener is essential to a strong season.

Or is it?

Blaze coach Danny White is one of the all-time best coaches in AFL history. Now in his 15th year, his teams have gone 128-64 in the regular season— for a 66.7 winning percentage.

But White's teams haven't been nearly as good in season openers. The Blaze won their first ever game last season in San Jose, but that improved White to just 6-8 (42.9 winning percentage) in season openers.

What's more, White has led five teams to ArenaBowls — in 1994, 1997, 2002, 2003 and 2004 — and in each of those seasons, his team lost its first game of the year. That's right, White's ArenaBowl teams are 0-5 in season openers.

So should the Blaze lose to the New Orleans VooDoo on Saturday night at EnergySolutions Arena, it may not be such a bad thing.