Dorados not in panic mode

HIDALGO - If the Rio Grande Valley Dorados are in a panic after dropping three straight, they are doing a good job of not showing it.

In fact, Dorados coach Marty Hammond said he is nowhere near a panic state, mostly because no one in the Southwest Division seems to be head and shoulders better than anyone else.

Even after losing three in a row, a win over Corpus Christi this week and a Bossier-Shreveport loss to 5-0 Tulsa would give four of the five teams in district three losses.

Only the Texas Copperheads (0-5) have more than three losses. Austin (2-3) is on a bye this week.

"I told (assistant coach Cory Stone) that this is like the old NFC East, with everyone beating up on each other," Hammond said. "We are fortunate that after this week everyone one will have at least three loses."

Looking Back

The Dorados' coach said after reviewing film against Bossier-Shreveport he did not think the team played as bad as he thought once the game was over.

"We watched the film, and I pointed out all the things we did wrong," Hammond said. "We really didn't play that bad. The defense really improved. The linebackers, D-line and (defensive backs) really did a good job. The offensive line really didn't do that bad.

"What hurt us were the two dropped snaps. If we don't have those two turnovers, it could have been a different game. It seemed kind of bad after the game."

The team had only 199 yards passing against Bossier, and quarterback Travis Cole was 15-for-35 on the night.

Stepping up

One bright spot in an otherwise tough offensive night for the Dorados against Bossier-Shreveport on Saturday was receiver Anthony Chambers.

The receiving corps was without its top threat, Jermaine Carpenter, who missed Saturday's game with an ankle sprain. Carpenter (21 catches for 336 yards, eight touchdowns) is expected to miss this week's game.

Chambers stepped up with eight receptions for 134 yards and one touchdown, accounting for more than half of Cole's completions.

"(Chambers) did well," Hammond said. "He made some plays for us."

Chambers has 19 receptions and five touchdowns on the season.

An old friend

When RGV takes on Corpus Christi at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Dodge Arena, the Dorados will have to contend with return specialist Ivory McCann.

McCann hurt the Dorados when the teams played three weeks ago with a missed field goal for a TD return and a kickoff return for a TD.

McCann, a Texas Tech product, has 487 yards returning this season.

Peter Rasmussen covers the Rio Grande Valley Dorados for the Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448.