WEST VALLEY CITY -- When the return of the Utah Blaze was announced earlier this year, the preseason roster was a continuation of the Utah Valley Thunder with numerous carryovers from the former American Indoor Football Association team.
Nine games into the relaunch, the struggling Arena Football League team has shifted into a revised version of another now defunct team -- the Boise Burn of af2.
When the 1-8 Blaze host the Tampa Bay Storm tonight at the Maverik Center, there will be no fewer than five former Burn players competing for the home team, including both quarterbacks.
Brandon Hampton has worked out, becoming one of the AFL's most exciting special team players. Taylor Tharp and Mark Thorson are filling in at quarterback until Brett Elliott returns from injury. It's been a desperate attempt at finding a core identity, and it hasn't worked.
It's actually gotten worse. Since Ron James took over from Ernesto Purnsley, the Blaze's defense has managed just three stops while the offense has given up more turnovers -- nine.
"Most of the issues we've addressed in the personnel side and we will continue to do that," James said. "It really isn't schemes. It isn't what their defense is doing, it's what we're doing to ourselves."
This week's roster tweaks included the addition of Kautai Olevao, a former Ute linebacker who played all three season in the Blaze's first incarnation. Also on board is defensive back Brandon Taylor.
Tampa Bay (6-3) is one of the AFL's most storied teams, with its coach Tim Marcum coming into Utah fresh off his 200th career coaching victory. Marcum has led three teams to Arena Bowl victories, and he's coached in 10 of the 22 title games.
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