Kats Coach Pat Sperduto didn't wait long to begin the shake-up he promised following Saturday night's loss, which was Nashville's sixth in a row.
Seeking to solve a season-long offensive slump, Sperduto fired offensive coordinator Tres Sullivan yesterday.
The head coach also said he's planning to bring in a handful of players for tryouts next week, prior to Nashville's next game on March 26.'It's not a lot of fun being 1-6,'' Sperduto said. ''I've never been in this situation before and I don't plan on being in it again.''
Sperduto and the Kats are seeking to snap the franchise-high losing streak, which included last Saturday's 42-35 defeat at the hands of Colorado.
Nashville (1-6) has been held under 40 points in four of seven games this season and is averaging just over 40 points per game ? the second-lowest average in the Arena Football League.
Sperduto said he found himself disagreeing with the offensive philosophies of Sullivan, who was in his first season as an AFL coordinator after serving as receivers and special teams coach for New Orleans last year.
''Tres is a good coach, but for us, it wasn't the best fit,'' Sperduto said. ''I feel like you've got to use your players' strengths instead of trying to mold them around a system. If you try to force players into a scheme that doesn't work for them, it's just a recipe for failure.''
Attempts to reach Sullivan for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.
Sperduto said he grew frustrated two weekends ago in Chicago, when the Kats, trailing by two touchdowns later in the fourth quarter, moved slowly down the field. Nashville scored a touchdown as time expired, but lost 45-38.
In Saturday's loss, Sperduto had hoped to see new acquisition Travis McGriff used to open up the field more often.
He also wanted to see more carries from fullback/linebacker Dan Alexander, and fewer carries from quarterbacks Tony Zimmerman and Leon Murray.
''Very rarely do you want your quarterback, your marquee guy, to take unnecessary hits,'' Sperduto said. ''Why would you do that when you have a 260-pound guy back there? Dan's one of the better running backs in the league, and every time you give him the ball, it's a potential home run.''
Sperduto didn't name an immediate successor for Sullivan, and was uncertain whether he would sign a new coach or merely reshuffle the current responsibilities of the assistants. Sperduto said if the Kats had to play today, he would be calling the plays.
The Kats also released wide receiver/defensive back Gabe Amey yesterday.
Amey had 20 receptions ? tied for fourth on the team ? for 214 yards and two touchdowns, but had some crucial drops as well. He did not catch a pass in Saturday's loss.
Nashville hopes to have Murray back from knee surgery when it plays host to Arizona on March 26.
Seeking to solve a season-long offensive slump, Sperduto fired offensive coordinator Tres Sullivan yesterday.
The head coach also said he's planning to bring in a handful of players for tryouts next week, prior to Nashville's next game on March 26.'It's not a lot of fun being 1-6,'' Sperduto said. ''I've never been in this situation before and I don't plan on being in it again.''
Sperduto and the Kats are seeking to snap the franchise-high losing streak, which included last Saturday's 42-35 defeat at the hands of Colorado.
Nashville (1-6) has been held under 40 points in four of seven games this season and is averaging just over 40 points per game ? the second-lowest average in the Arena Football League.
Sperduto said he found himself disagreeing with the offensive philosophies of Sullivan, who was in his first season as an AFL coordinator after serving as receivers and special teams coach for New Orleans last year.
''Tres is a good coach, but for us, it wasn't the best fit,'' Sperduto said. ''I feel like you've got to use your players' strengths instead of trying to mold them around a system. If you try to force players into a scheme that doesn't work for them, it's just a recipe for failure.''
Attempts to reach Sullivan for comment yesterday were unsuccessful.
Sperduto said he grew frustrated two weekends ago in Chicago, when the Kats, trailing by two touchdowns later in the fourth quarter, moved slowly down the field. Nashville scored a touchdown as time expired, but lost 45-38.
In Saturday's loss, Sperduto had hoped to see new acquisition Travis McGriff used to open up the field more often.
He also wanted to see more carries from fullback/linebacker Dan Alexander, and fewer carries from quarterbacks Tony Zimmerman and Leon Murray.
''Very rarely do you want your quarterback, your marquee guy, to take unnecessary hits,'' Sperduto said. ''Why would you do that when you have a 260-pound guy back there? Dan's one of the better running backs in the league, and every time you give him the ball, it's a potential home run.''
Sperduto didn't name an immediate successor for Sullivan, and was uncertain whether he would sign a new coach or merely reshuffle the current responsibilities of the assistants. Sperduto said if the Kats had to play today, he would be calling the plays.
The Kats also released wide receiver/defensive back Gabe Amey yesterday.
Amey had 20 receptions ? tied for fourth on the team ? for 214 yards and two touchdowns, but had some crucial drops as well. He did not catch a pass in Saturday's loss.
Nashville hopes to have Murray back from knee surgery when it plays host to Arizona on March 26.
