Andy Hamilton

ahamilton@dmreg.com

Mike Hohensee summarized his team's quarterback quandary this week with one word: unknown.

It's unknown whether Iowa Barnstormers starter Carson Coffman or backup Brian Reader will be available Saturday night against the Cleveland Gladiators (7-0) after sustaining undisclosed injuries last week against Jacksonville.

It's unknown how quickly the Barnstormers (4-4) can mesh again with J.J. Raterink, the franchise's record-setting quarterback who arrived Wednesday after being acquired from Los Angeles in a three-way trade.

It's unknown who's going to be throwing passes Saturday night or who's going to be taking snaps the rest of the season.

"Just because your quarterbacks are unknown right now, that doesn't mean we forget how to run routes or block or tackle or cover or kick," Hohensee said. "No one else's game should be affected, at least as far as assignments go and ability to make a play."

Here are three angles to watch Saturday night when the Barnstormers play the division-leading Gladiators at 7 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.

1. Who's the passer? In a matter of 10 minutes last Saturday, the Barnstormers went from two healthy passers to a full-fledged scramble to find a quarterback. Coffman – acquired last fall in a deal that sent Raterink to Los Angeles – hobbled off the field early in the fourth quarter and Reader went down minutes later.

When the Barnstormers staff gathered on Sunday to begin tossing around quarterbacks who might be available, they kept coming back to Raterink, who broke every franchise single-season passing record in 2012.

"He just made the most sense," Hohensee said. "Anybody else we bring in here is like bringing somebody brand new to the sport in – at this point. There's a shortage of quarterbacks out there. There's a couple other teams that have already gone through this somewhat and there wouldn't have been a good new option coming in.

"J.J. knows our system, he's used to wearing the wristband, he knows my signals, he knows our cadence, he's played with (receivers Darius Reynolds and Marco Thomas). I don't think there would've been another option out there for us that was any better than this one."

As an added benefit, Raterink knows the Gladiators, too. He threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns last week in Los Angeles' 45-42 loss to Cleveland.

2. Defensive line: Every trade has its cost and Iowa had to give up nose guard James McClinton to get Raterink.

McClinton registered a sack against Jacksonville. Now he plays for the Sharks.

"I don't think he was a superstar statistically, but he did his job, he didn't make many mistakes," Hohensee said. "He was a trustworthy kid, a great kid and (Jacksonville) is getting a great young man. That's a sacrifice you have to make. I didn't want to flounder for two or three weeks figuring this (quarterback) situation out. I think we're too good, I think we're too close in the standings to take that chance."

3. Undefeated foe: Though Cleveland might not look like a dominant team on the stat sheet, the Gladiators and the Arizona Rattlers are the only squads in the league without a loss.

Cleveland is ninth in scoring (49.4 points per game) and 11th in total offense (260.9 yards per game) and six of its seven wins have come by 11 points or less, including a 54-47 victory on April 4 against Iowa.

The Gladiators have won with the league's top scoring defense (39.4 points per game).

"They've had some breaks, but they've played solid football," Hohensee said. "They're a good offensive football team. They're very good defensively. Their front guys put as much pressure on as anybody in the league at this point. Their secondary guys are physical, smart, take good angles and have good ball skills."