Not after Sunday's 38-19 loss to the Colorado Ice, a team from Fort Collins, Colo., that simply outplayed the Wild and chased most of the estimated 3,000 fans out of Sullivan Arena early.
"Just because you put on pads doesn't make you a professional," Johnson said. "It's what you do on the field."
The slumping Wild (0-4) are one of three winless teams in the 19-team Indoor Football League and have one of its worse offenses.
On Sunday, the Wild forced a season-best four turnovers, including three Johnnie Taylor interceptions, but none resulted into scores.
Colorado quarterback Justin Holland never allowed his blunders to stop the Ice (4-2) from winning their third straight game. He completed 15 of 24 passes for 184 yards and tossed three touchdown passes to help the Ice remain in second place in the Pacific Division of the IFL standings.
Holland's 31-yard touchdown pass to Justin Gallas with 7:26 left in the second quarter put the Ice ahead 17-0, a lead too big for the Wild to overcome. Holland connected with Gallas again on a 16-yard touchdown pass to give the Ice a 24-7 lead with 18 seconds before halftime.
Johnson blamed Alaska's scoring troubles on their lack of team discipline and trust.
He used defensive back Jay Williams as an example. The Ice faced third-and-10 on the Wild's 12 in the first quarter and Williams was so frustrated after dropping a would-be interception in the end zone that he kicked the ball into a referee. The official flagged him for a personal foul and it resulted in a first down and, eventually, an Ice field goal.
The mentality in the locker room, Johnson said, needs to change.
"It's going to be like a high school mentality," Johnson said. "We've gotta get them to count on each other because right now they're not."
The Wild roster is a melting pot of players from around the country. Some get thrown into the starting lineup without much practice.
Witness Damion Ward. Alaska's newest starting quarterback quit his job in Englewood, Calif., two weeks ago to play with the Wild.
He practiced with the team for less than a week before getting shoved into indoor football's most important position.
In Ward's first start Sunday, he completed 16 of 30 passes for 106 yards -- the most yards a Wild quarterback has thrown for in a game this season. Ward didn't throw a touchdown pass, but he didn't throw an interception either. He was also the first quarterback to play the entire game without getting pulled.
"I did okay," Ward said. "I didn't do great. It was all on the fly."
Ward is still adjusting to the indoor game. While in California, he played professional football in Los Angeles on outdoor fields. Last year, he played in the Intense Football League for the Fairbanks Grizzlies.
Playing in the Indoor Football League, Ward said, is a little different. Some of the rules aren't the same.
"It takes time to adjust going from the outdoor game to the indoor game," he said. "I just need to start studying more."
Find Kevin Klott online at adn.com/contact/kklott or call 257-4335.
Colorado 7 17 7 7 -- 38
Wild 0 7 6 6 -- 19
First Quarter
Colorado -- Holland 1 run (Stevens kick), 12:30.
Second Quarter
Colorado -- Stevens 21 FG, 14:56.
Colorado -- Gallas 31 pass from Holland (Stevens kick), 7:26.
Wild -- Ward 2 run (Tongate kick), 3:00.
Colorado -- Gallas 16 pass from Holland (Stevens kick), 0:18.
Third Quarter
Wild -- Mosley 5 run (kick failed), 12:01.
Colorado -- Sanders 13 pass from Holland (Holland kick), 7:47.
Fourth Quarter
Wild -- Mosley 2 run (pass failed), 8:29.
Colorado -- Washington 1 run (Holland kick), 7:56.
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