Missing nine starters due to other work obligations, the Baltimore Blackbirds fell to 1-9 on the season after a 58-11 loss to the Montgomery Bears Saturday night in Alabama.
The Blackbirds fell behind early and quarterback Robbie Jenkins, signed late last month, found that he was “pressing,” according to Blackbirds head coach Chris Simpson.
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“He?s used to winning and he?s working with a young, inexperienced team,” Simpson said.
Simpson said he talked with the quarterback on the bus ride home, and Jenkins – who guided the Richmond Bandits to an American Indoor Football League title in 2005 – realized there was room to grow.
Ten weeks after starting their season with a 78-0 loss to the Reading Express, the Blackbirds will look for a far more competitive game against the Express next Monday at 1st Mariner Arena.
“They?ve been the best team in the league,” Simpson said of Reading. “I think we?re better athletically than we were when we played them last time.”
Simpson said that the large number of missing starters against Montgomery will not be something that will be repeated.
“That won?t happen next year,” Simpson said. “The commitment level has to change.”