The Massachusetts Pirates dropped their fourth loss of the season but it is not all doom and gloom in the cove.
“We’re a confident bunch I definitely think that,” quarterback Sean Brackett said. “The record doesn’t really show the talent that we have obviously so we kinda know the caliber players that we have and a lot people play different at different times, environments like big-time games and have produced, we know any given Saturday we can win it’s just about putting our best foot forward and executing.
Brackett tossed three touchdowns to wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, which he says is a sign of better things to come.
“We’re getting better every week,” quarterback Sean Brackett said. “The chemistry is getting there with Devonn back in there, just the continuity with the receivers we have Mardy [Gilyard], Demetruce [McNeal] making some plays for us, we’re right there we’re working hard to get over the hump and we’re definitely making strides which is good to see.”
Brackett focused this past week on losing the gunslinger mentality that comes with careless interceptions. With the success he had not throwing any picks, the reigning National Arena League MVP credited his offensive line.
“Having [Thomas] Claiborne back, just having the center exchange and having no issues there, the line has been blocking great and doing a better job with their assignments and stuff like that,” Brackett said. “I’m feeling more comfortable and when I’m feeling comfortable and have time to throw, we’re one of the best offenses in the league, we’re one of the most exciting teams in the league.”
Brackett also admitted that the taking risks with his passing is an issue and believes mentally he has turned a corner.
“It was just me being too greedy, trying to make throws where there really wasn’t anything there,” Brackett said. “Trying to force the ball and things like that when I could have just checked it down, so that’s that gunslinger mentality that I have to keep checking up on, and always be able to dink and dunk, it doesn’t have to be a two-play drive.
This bye week, Brackett says what the team needs to work on can be simplified down to one word.
“We gotta be more disciplined,” Brackett said. “We gotta finish drives, we gotta finish games, I think it’s those times with those big situations that’s where we get a penalty, false start, personal foul and stuff like that.”
There is no sugarcoating it, the team is 1-4 and tied for last in the league. But all Brackett says the team needs to do is take it one step at at time.
“We just gotta take care of what we can control,” Brackett said. “If we can stop hurting ourselves [with mistakes] and we stay on schedule, I think we’ll be alright, we just gotta take care of that, fix those errors, move on and get better.”
