Head coach Clint Dolezel and QB Dan Raudabaugh have worked very well together this year. Photo by Todd Bauders/ contrastphotography.com

If the Soul continue their success, there are two areas to look at that made a difference between a team that finished 9-9 in 2014 and a team that is poised for a deep run in the playoffs this year.

Having a healthy and engaged linebacker Joe Goosby and the overall defense that has prospered after the acquisition of veteran linebacker Beau Bell.

The other is the chemistry between head coach Clint Dolezel and veteran quarterback Dan Raudabaugh.

Dolezel, an Arena League Hall of Fame quarterback who played 13 seasons in the AFL, winning the ArenaBowl in 2001 while with the Grand Rapids Rampage, said he agreed with both points.

“Beau Bell is a great addition,” Dolezel said after practice this week. “He’s the best linebacker in the league. The numbers might not be showing that right now but they will. He’s making everyone else better on our defense right now. His numbers will come and he is definitely our defensive leader over there.”

Bell, who came to the Soul after three seasons in Spokane and last season in Los Angeles, does not appear to be the type of player who looks for stats or puts on show after a big play.

He is like the defensive lineman who opens the gaps for the pass rushers to get the statistical notch in the belt. Bell has had as much to do with a teammate making tackle for loss, a sack or an interception as the player himself.

Bell has helped Goosby, teammates Dwayne Hollis and LaRico Stevenson plus the rest of the defense put up some standout statistics and play its best in years.

There are two ways to appreciate the contributions Bell makes for the Soul: Go to a game and isolate on him during the game…or watch film. Going to the game is certainly much more fun.

“You have to,” Dolezel said. “You have to see the impact he means for us. That’s right. If people pull up a stat sheet the next morning and didn’t go to the game, they might think he had a ho-hum game. He has changed the games a lot of times based on the things he does. His name may not come out in the paper that way but yeah, he makes a big difference.”

Dolezel also admitted the chemistry between himself and Raudabaugh is better than it was last year. There were injuries to the offensive line and on defense that led to the 10-loss season (including the playoff game) in 2014, their connection had seen better days.

The coach said the improvement came from both sides, including delegating some of his coaching responsibilities that may have held him back.

“Dan rededicated himself back to football this year,” Dolezel said. “He did a lot of things in the off season to get himself better. And it does help that I am over there with him more instead of having to mess with the defensive side this year. He came in focused and he’s playing well…and we really having hit stride yet over there. Once we start playing catch and making the easy plays easy, we’ll be tough to stop.”

Raudabaugh said with all the new faces this season including a new offensive line, he had no choice but to be more focused.

“We’ve got some new guys in this year so communication was going to be key, getting everyone on the same page,” said Raudabaugh, who is 105 of 161 (65.2) after four games with 1,250 yards, 29 touchdowns and just three interceptions. “And teaching everyone how we want to play Soul football. Coach Dolezel is the greatest to ever do it (in Arena Football), there’s no one else we want to be working with.

“With (Dolezel’s) competitive nature, and his will to win, and his in-depth knowledge of the game…it’s really been able to put us, as a team, in a successful situation. And we’re just trying to take advantage of it and prepare every week like champions.”

One of the newcomers is veteran receiver Marco Thomas. His view of the Soul’s 4-0 start is more wide spread.

“Everyone’s cares, everyone is committed, we’re well coached,” Thomas said after practice Wednesday. “And everyone has bought in to what is going on here. That’s what people are able to see…that people are committed to giving 100 percent.”

Thomas, who leads the team with 44 catches for 481 yards and nine touchdowns, says the chemistry between Dolezel and Raudabaugh is where the winning process starts.

“When a chemistry is right, the mindset is right, usually the ending is going to be right,” Thomas said. “And the progress if going to follow soon.
“That’s what meant when I said everyone is buying in to the process of what’s going on here,” Thomas continued. “It’s not something that is going on just with special teams or something that is going on with the offense or defense. It’s happening everywhere.”

The Soul will look to keep the winning streak and team chemistry alive again this weekend but back on the road.

The Soul (4-0) will travel to New Orleans (1-3) in Week 5 to take on the VooDoo on Sunday, April 26 at 4 p.m. EST at the Smoothie King Center. The game can be streamed on ESPN3.

Thomas noted the Soul have had a total of over 19,000 fans come out to the first two home games at the Wells Fargo Center. The attendance is decent but if it is to grow, the team must keep winning.

“Of course, you want the City to come out and support the team,” said Thomas, who paused for a second then smiled. “And when you’re winning, they’re going to come out and support. And that’s the focus…one game at a time. The City wants a winner, every City wants a winner and for us to be able to give that is awesome.”