HIDALGO - With just three healthy defensive backs, the Rio Grande Valley Dorados are certainly hurting in their secondary.

The Dorados (3-1) will be without the services of Derrick Harris and Riley Swanson when they face the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz on Friday on the road. Harris is expected to be out two weeks after going down with a sprained left MCL in the third quarter of the Dorados' 77-50 win over the Sharks on Saturday when Corpus Christi's James Cardenas dove into his knee. Swanson missed Saturday's game and is still recovering from a right arm injury he suffered earlier in the year.

"We've got injuries," Dorados coach Marty Hammond said. "We're doing what we can. We're moving some personnel around and probably bring in some new guys and see what we've got."

RGV's secondary currently consists of Craig Turner, Nikkieda Rutland, who made his season debut last week against the Sharks, and Dahnel Singfield, who is battling through a minor injury. Hammond said that the team hopes to replenish its secondary soon with some experienced defensive backs.

"Free agents, guys that do have some game reps is the high priority of what we're trying to get," he said.

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

Derrick Harris is disappointed to be out of action with his knee injury, especially when it looked like the Dorados' secondary was beginning to click.

"We were just starting to get it rolling," Harris said. "I don't know. We just had a little adversity. That's all that is. But it's cool. Two weeks will be over before you know it."

Harris added that he's glad that his injury occurred early in the season with plenty of games left to play.
"It's a major blessing," he said. "I mean better now than later."

WHAT IF...VICK?

On Tuesday, the Albany Firebirds made an offer to fallen NFL star quarterback Michael Vick - a move that was revealed to be a publicity stunt as Firebirds owner Walter Robb later shared his disapproval of any such offer.
Hammond was surprised when he learned of the Albany's offer to Vick and said that it would be difficult to contain the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback if he suited up in the af2.

"It would be similar to the guy we're playing against this week (Oklahoma City's Robert Kent) as far as athletically," Hammond said. "They're both athletes and they can throw the ball. Yeah, it would be a challenge to keep (Vick) under wraps."

BY THE NUMBERS

Despite recording season lows in catches (seven), receiving yards (92) and touchdowns (one) last week against Corpus Christi, Dorados wideout Rod Windsor is still among the af2 leaders in the all receiving categories.

Windsor has 50 catches for 583 yards and 13 scores and leads the league in receptions per game at 12.5. He ranks second in receiving yards per game at 145.8 and his 13 touchdowns are tied for the fifth most in the league.

RGV Quarterback Nick Hill threw a career-best eight touchdowns against the Sharks, but also had career lows in passing yards (198) and completion percentage (57.8). Hill is tied for sixth in the league in passing touchdowns with 27 and ranks ninth in pass efficiency with a 118.4 rating.

Dorados defensive back and kick returner Craig Turner is averaging 7.5 tackles per contest, which is tied for third-best in the league.

Stephen K. Lee covers the Rio Grande Valley Dorados for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4442.