This year was the 26th season of the Arena Football League and was a another great one. Fourteen teams were in play this season, seven in each conference. From the end of March until Arena Bowl XXVI in Mid-August we saw many great catches, clutch plays, and exciting finishes that had us as fans sitting on the edge of our seats throughout it all. Each conference's playoff races were compelling and came down until the final week to be decided. We saw Philadelphia win the east division and the American Conference for the second straight year by defeating Jacksonville who won its fourth straight south division title. Chicago returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence by winning another central division crown. Orlando and Tampa Bay each ended postseason droughts of their own. Spokane and San Jose also made their returns to the postseason in the National Conference. The Arizona Rattlers officially established themselves as a destiny by winning a third straight west division crown, the National Conference for the third year in a row, and by winning a second straight Arena Bowl with their 48-39 victory in Arena Bowl XXVI that concluded an 18-3 season. This season provided 133 games and approximately 8,000 minutes of action that lasted all us Arena Football fans 22 weeks of enjoyment of the game known as the 50-yard indoor war. Now that the season has concluded its time to take a look at the final accolades.
- Arena Bowl XXVI Champions: Arizona Rattlers
- Arena Bowl MVP: Rod Windsor, Arizona Wide Receiver - 10 receptions for 145 yards and 2 TDs
Major 2013 Individual Awards:
- AFL MVP: Erik Meyer, Spokane Quarterback
- Russell Offensive Player of the Year: Erik Meyer, Spokane Quarterback
- Riddell Defensive Player of the Year: Clevan Thomas, San Jose Defensive Back
- Kicker of the Year: Garrett Lindholm, Arizona Kicker
- NET10 Rookie of the Year: Mario Urrutia, Utah Wide Receiver
- Cutters Wide Receiver of the Year: Adron Tennell, Spokane Wide Receiver
- NET10 Head Coach of the Year: Bob McMillen, Chicago
- J.Lewis Small Playmaker of the Year: Reggie Gray, Chicago Wide Receiver
All Arena Teams:
First Team Offense: First Team Defense:
- QB: Erik Meyer, Spokane - DE: Bryan Robinson, Philadelphia
- FB: Derrick Ross, Philadelphia - NG: Tim McGill, San Antonio
- WR: Joe Hills, Tampa Bay - DE: Joe Sykes, San Antonio
- WR: Tiger Jones, Philadelphia - MAC: Francis Maka, San Jose
- WR: Adron Tennell, Spokane - JACK: Jamar Ransom, San Antonio
- C: Brennen Carvalho, Philadelphia - DB: Virgil Gray, Arizona
- OL: Christian Johnson, Philadelphia - DB: Terrance Smith, Jacksonville
- OL: Rich Ranglin, San Jose - DB: Clevan Thomas, San Jose
- K: Garrett Lindholm, Arizona - KR: Terrance Sanders, Spokane
Second Team Offense: Second Team Defense:
- QB: Nick Davila, Arizona - DE: Mike Lewis, Iowa
- FB: Odie Armstrong, Arizona - NG: Jason Stewart, San Jose
- WR: Rod Windsor, Arizona - DE: Jerry Turner, Jacksonville
- WR: Reggie Gray, Chicago - MAC: Aaron Robbins, Jacksonville
- WR: Jeron Harvey, Jacksonville - JACK: Huey Whittaker, San Jose
- C: Billy Eisenhardt, Arizona - DB: Arkeith Brown, Arizona
- OL: Michael Huey, Arizona - DB: Rayshaun Kizer, Philadelphia
- OL: George Bussey, San Jose - DB: Fred Shaw, San Antonio
- K: Carlos Martinez, Philadelphia - KR: Dominic Jones, Orlando
For more on these awards:
http://www.arenafan.com/history/?histleague=1&page=awards
http://www.arenafootball.com/
The 2013 AFL season is in the books and the Arizona Rattlers have been crowned the Arena Bowl XXVI Champions! Thank You everyone for reading and hope you enjoyed all the action and analysis, see you in March 2014!
Saturday, August 24, 2013
2013 Review: Arizona Rattlers
The Arizona Rattlers began 2013 as the defending champs of Arena Football, and ended as the back-to-back champions. Arizona had one picture in mind and that was raising the Foster Trophy in mid-August for a second straight year.
The Rattlers started 2013 strong by winning their first three games by a combined 68 points. Their division rivals Spokane enjoyed a similar 3-0 start, setting up an early season marquee matchup. Arizona and Spokane traded blows for 30 minutes but the Shock pulled away in the third quarter to a 66-49 win, handing Arizona its first loss of the year. The snakes responded like you expect a champion by putting together a nine-game winning streak that featured dominating performances with an 83-40 and a 70-21 wins verse San Antonio, an 82-42 win vs. Orlando, and a 70-26 win vs. Iowa. The Rattlers avenged the week four loss at Spokane with an impressive 59-42 win in the Snake Pit that capped off the nine straight wins. Arizona's attempt at a tenth consecutive victory came up short in week fourteen when a trip to San Jose ended in an ugly 72-42 defeat. The Rattlers responded with back-to-back blowout wins by a combined 65 points to secure another west division crown and home field in the National Conference. All faithful of the desert had a quick panic when Chicago came into the Pit in week eighteen and upset their snakes in a game that Arizona committed seven turnovers. Once again, an experienced and proven team erased an worry with a dominant 84-45 win at Iowa to record their 15th win of the season and head into the playoffs on a solid steam of momentum.
Arizona's path to Arena Bowl XXVI was no easy one, as they had to defeat a pair of western rivals in order to make it to Orlando. In both the conference semifinals and conference championship. The semifinal game vs. San Jose was another compelling chapter among bitter rivals, but a pair of fourth-quarter stops by the Rattler defense secured a tight 59-49 win. It was a similar story in the conference championship against Spokane. The Rattlers trailed by as much as fourteen points in the first half, but used a late onside kick recovery to trim the deficit to four by halftime. Arizona then fed off the momentum to score 37 unanswered points, including a 20-0 margin in the third quarter that featured a pair of defensive stops to spur a 65-57 National Conference championship win. Arizona went through a pair of western rivals en route to a third consecutive appearance in the Arena Bowl. In Arena Bowl XXVI Arizona won a second straight championship by beating Philadelphia for the second year in a row, but this time it was much closer. The first half saw both sides trade blow for blow and the lone difference was a 18-yard field goal by Garrett Lindholm to give Arizona a 24-21 lead at the break. After each quarterback tossed a third quarter touchdown Arizona regained a 31-27 advantage midway through the period. The Rattlers created some space when Jeremy Kellem snagged an end zone interception on the ensuing Philadelphia drive and Nick Davila threw a twelve-yard touchdown to Rod Windsor that grew the lead to eleven early in the fourth. After each side traded a touchdown, Arizona recovered an onside kick with under four minutes to play. The Rattlers looked to have iced the game, but Windsor was hit and fumbled on a receiver sweep that quickly gave the ball back to the Soul with under a minute remaining. Once again the Rattler defense rose to the occasion by forcing a game-saving four-and-out that allowed Lindholm to secure a second straight championship with a 24-yard field goal. Arizona held on to win Arena Bowl XXVI by a final score of 48-39 to earn a second straight title and the franchise's fourth overall.
The Good from 2013:
- The AFL's best record of 18-3, 15-3 in the regular season
- A home record of 8-1, 10-1 with two playoff wins
- 4-2 division record
- A road record of 7-2
- A AFL-best nine-game win streak
- Winning a third straight west division and National Conference title
- Winning Arena Bowl XXVI
- Garrett Lindholm winning Kicker of the Year, Nick Davila being named the Al Lucas AFL Pulse Hero Award recipient, Joe Windham being named the Executive of the Year, and Omarr Smith being named the Assistant Coach of the Year
- Eight All Arena Selections
PLAYER STATS
- Nick Davila 353-541, 4847 yds, 110 TD, 15 Int; 6 rush TD (18 games)
- Odie Armostrong 72 rush, 171 yds, 25 TD; 13 rec, 190 yds, 2 TD (17 games)
- Rod Windsor 110 rec, 1590 yds, 42 TD (16 games)
- Kerry Reed 70 rec, 961 yds, 24 TD; Int FF, Fumb Rec, Def TD (18 games)
- Jared Perry 58 rec, 892 yds, 20 TD (14 games)
- Maurice Purify 51 rec, 740 yds, 9 TD (9 games)
- Tysson Poots 45 rec, 533 yds, 18 TD (8 games)
- Garrett Lindholm 158-167 PAT, 7-12 FG (47) (18 games)
- Virgil Gray 93 tackles, FF, Fumb Rec, 15 Int, 3 Def TD; Kick-ret TD (17 games)
- Marquis Floyd 81 tackles, 2 FF, 2 Fumb Rec, 9 Int, Def TD (16 games)
- Arkeith Brown 79.5 tackles, sack, 2 FF, Fumb Rec, 8 Int, 2 Def TD; 2 Kick-ret TD (18 games)
- Jeremy Kellem 74.5 tackles, FF, 6 Int, Def TD (17 games)
- Marcus Pittman 6.5 sacks, 2 FF, 4 Fumb Rec (16 games)
- Tyre Glasper 5 sacks, FF, 2 Fumb Rec, Def TD (18 games)
TEAM STATS
- Best scoring offense, 66.8 ppg
- Second scoring defense, allowed 48.1 ppg
- Second rush defense, allowed 15.4 ypg
- Second pass offense 292.3 ypg
- Second total offense 309.7 ypg
- Second pass efficiency 122.6
- Best turnover margin +33
- Best opponent pass efficiency 86.8
- Most first downs with 382
- Best 3rd down conversions 50/85
- Fourth in opponent 3rd down conversion 56/140
- Allowed third-fewest sacks with 16
- Sixth 4th down conversions 10/21
- Second 4th down conversions 19/61
- Second red zone offense 100/115
- Third red zone defense 57-76
The Bad from 2013:
- If you win a championship, not much went bad!
PLAYER STATS
- Injuries to Maurice Purify and Tysson Poots that limited their playing time in the regular season
TEAM STATS
- Second-worst pass defense, allpwed 293.3 ypg
- Second-worst total defense 308.7 ypg
- Tenth rushing offense 17.3 ypg
- Allowed second-most first downs 363
- Third-fewest with 19 sacks
Final Take:
The Arizona Rattlers did it! They successfully repeated as AFL champions with an Arena Bowl XXVI title to add to the trophy case. The Rattlers were without a doubt the best team in Arena Football for the second straight year and had the same happy ending in 2013.
2013 Finish: 18-3 (6-2 in West), West Division Champs, National Conference Champs, and Arena Bowl XXVI Champions
For more on the Arizona Rattlers:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflrtl/
http://azrattlers.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff-wild.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-midway-report-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-championship.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/arena-bowl-xxvi-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
The Rattlers started 2013 strong by winning their first three games by a combined 68 points. Their division rivals Spokane enjoyed a similar 3-0 start, setting up an early season marquee matchup. Arizona and Spokane traded blows for 30 minutes but the Shock pulled away in the third quarter to a 66-49 win, handing Arizona its first loss of the year. The snakes responded like you expect a champion by putting together a nine-game winning streak that featured dominating performances with an 83-40 and a 70-21 wins verse San Antonio, an 82-42 win vs. Orlando, and a 70-26 win vs. Iowa. The Rattlers avenged the week four loss at Spokane with an impressive 59-42 win in the Snake Pit that capped off the nine straight wins. Arizona's attempt at a tenth consecutive victory came up short in week fourteen when a trip to San Jose ended in an ugly 72-42 defeat. The Rattlers responded with back-to-back blowout wins by a combined 65 points to secure another west division crown and home field in the National Conference. All faithful of the desert had a quick panic when Chicago came into the Pit in week eighteen and upset their snakes in a game that Arizona committed seven turnovers. Once again, an experienced and proven team erased an worry with a dominant 84-45 win at Iowa to record their 15th win of the season and head into the playoffs on a solid steam of momentum.
Arizona's path to Arena Bowl XXVI was no easy one, as they had to defeat a pair of western rivals in order to make it to Orlando. In both the conference semifinals and conference championship. The semifinal game vs. San Jose was another compelling chapter among bitter rivals, but a pair of fourth-quarter stops by the Rattler defense secured a tight 59-49 win. It was a similar story in the conference championship against Spokane. The Rattlers trailed by as much as fourteen points in the first half, but used a late onside kick recovery to trim the deficit to four by halftime. Arizona then fed off the momentum to score 37 unanswered points, including a 20-0 margin in the third quarter that featured a pair of defensive stops to spur a 65-57 National Conference championship win. Arizona went through a pair of western rivals en route to a third consecutive appearance in the Arena Bowl. In Arena Bowl XXVI Arizona won a second straight championship by beating Philadelphia for the second year in a row, but this time it was much closer. The first half saw both sides trade blow for blow and the lone difference was a 18-yard field goal by Garrett Lindholm to give Arizona a 24-21 lead at the break. After each quarterback tossed a third quarter touchdown Arizona regained a 31-27 advantage midway through the period. The Rattlers created some space when Jeremy Kellem snagged an end zone interception on the ensuing Philadelphia drive and Nick Davila threw a twelve-yard touchdown to Rod Windsor that grew the lead to eleven early in the fourth. After each side traded a touchdown, Arizona recovered an onside kick with under four minutes to play. The Rattlers looked to have iced the game, but Windsor was hit and fumbled on a receiver sweep that quickly gave the ball back to the Soul with under a minute remaining. Once again the Rattler defense rose to the occasion by forcing a game-saving four-and-out that allowed Lindholm to secure a second straight championship with a 24-yard field goal. Arizona held on to win Arena Bowl XXVI by a final score of 48-39 to earn a second straight title and the franchise's fourth overall.
The Good from 2013:
- The AFL's best record of 18-3, 15-3 in the regular season
- A home record of 8-1, 10-1 with two playoff wins
- 4-2 division record
- A road record of 7-2
- A AFL-best nine-game win streak
- Winning a third straight west division and National Conference title
- Winning Arena Bowl XXVI
- Garrett Lindholm winning Kicker of the Year, Nick Davila being named the Al Lucas AFL Pulse Hero Award recipient, Joe Windham being named the Executive of the Year, and Omarr Smith being named the Assistant Coach of the Year
- Eight All Arena Selections
PLAYER STATS
- Nick Davila 353-541, 4847 yds, 110 TD, 15 Int; 6 rush TD (18 games)
- Odie Armostrong 72 rush, 171 yds, 25 TD; 13 rec, 190 yds, 2 TD (17 games)
- Rod Windsor 110 rec, 1590 yds, 42 TD (16 games)
- Kerry Reed 70 rec, 961 yds, 24 TD; Int FF, Fumb Rec, Def TD (18 games)
- Jared Perry 58 rec, 892 yds, 20 TD (14 games)
- Maurice Purify 51 rec, 740 yds, 9 TD (9 games)
- Tysson Poots 45 rec, 533 yds, 18 TD (8 games)
- Garrett Lindholm 158-167 PAT, 7-12 FG (47) (18 games)
- Virgil Gray 93 tackles, FF, Fumb Rec, 15 Int, 3 Def TD; Kick-ret TD (17 games)
- Marquis Floyd 81 tackles, 2 FF, 2 Fumb Rec, 9 Int, Def TD (16 games)
- Arkeith Brown 79.5 tackles, sack, 2 FF, Fumb Rec, 8 Int, 2 Def TD; 2 Kick-ret TD (18 games)
- Jeremy Kellem 74.5 tackles, FF, 6 Int, Def TD (17 games)
- Marcus Pittman 6.5 sacks, 2 FF, 4 Fumb Rec (16 games)
- Tyre Glasper 5 sacks, FF, 2 Fumb Rec, Def TD (18 games)
TEAM STATS
- Best scoring offense, 66.8 ppg
- Second scoring defense, allowed 48.1 ppg
- Second rush defense, allowed 15.4 ypg
- Second pass offense 292.3 ypg
- Second total offense 309.7 ypg
- Second pass efficiency 122.6
- Best turnover margin +33
- Best opponent pass efficiency 86.8
- Most first downs with 382
- Best 3rd down conversions 50/85
- Fourth in opponent 3rd down conversion 56/140
- Allowed third-fewest sacks with 16
- Sixth 4th down conversions 10/21
- Second 4th down conversions 19/61
- Second red zone offense 100/115
- Third red zone defense 57-76
The Bad from 2013:
- If you win a championship, not much went bad!
PLAYER STATS
- Injuries to Maurice Purify and Tysson Poots that limited their playing time in the regular season
TEAM STATS
- Second-worst pass defense, allpwed 293.3 ypg
- Second-worst total defense 308.7 ypg
- Tenth rushing offense 17.3 ypg
- Allowed second-most first downs 363
- Third-fewest with 19 sacks
Final Take:
The Arizona Rattlers did it! They successfully repeated as AFL champions with an Arena Bowl XXVI title to add to the trophy case. The Rattlers were without a doubt the best team in Arena Football for the second straight year and had the same happy ending in 2013.
2013 Finish: 18-3 (6-2 in West), West Division Champs, National Conference Champs, and Arena Bowl XXVI Champions
For more on the Arizona Rattlers:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflrtl/
http://azrattlers.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff-wild.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-midway-report-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-championship.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/arena-bowl-xxvi-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
2013 Review: Philadelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul entered this past season with one thing burned into their memories, an Arena Bowl XXV performance that saw them be blown out on national television. Philadelphia wanted to replace that heartbreak with the exact opposite image in 2013. With a roster comprised of mostly familiar faces the odds looked to be in Philadelphia's favor to at least return to Arena Football's biggest stage, but all did not start that way this year.
The Soul struggled to find a consistent level of play through the first half of the season. They began the year with a tough 66-52 loss at Arizona. The Soul responded with back-to-back road wins that had them coming home with a 2-1 record. Philadelphia's home opener looked to be an awesome homecoming with a struggling Cleveland team coming in, but things didn't go as planned as the Soul saw a three-score lead vanish and turn into a 64-57 overtime loss. Philadelphia couldn't afford to let the disappoint home start loom with, at the time, red-hot Jacksonville Sharks came to town the following week. The Soul once again suffered a tight defeat in their own building when Jacksonville escaped with a 55-53 victory. Philadelphia all of a sudden found themselves in a 2-3 hole on their way to Chicago, but the reigning American Conference champs made a statement to the entire league with a 72-41 thrashing of the Rush. The level of inconsistency hit the following week when the Soul failed to close out Pittsburgh in another tough home loss, 53-48, that put them back under .500 and 0-3 in Wells Fargo Center. The Soul would go on to earn their first home victory of the year in week nine when they defeated Orlando, and entered June with a 5-4 record after an impressive 73-55 win at Tampa Bay. In week eleven the Soul had a second crack at Arizona and found themselves with a fifteen-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. A run that saw the defending champions score 22 unanswered points in the final seven minutes stunned everyone in "Soul" blue and sent them back to .500 with a heartbreaking 64-57 loss. A game like that can make or break a team's season, and it looked that way when Philadelphia couldn't catch a break for three and a half quarters against New Orleans the following week. A Joe Goosby fumble recovery and an eleven-play scoring drive that Derrick Ross finished with a one-yard run highlighted a stretch of 17 unanswered points that squeaked out a 65-56 win for the Soul, and also turned their season in the right direction.
The inspiring comeback of week twelve started a string of seven straight wins that clinched Philadelphia its second straight east division championship and had them primed for another postseason run. The Soul only needed a win in week nineteen to lock up home field advantage, but a surprise 42-28 defeat at San Antonio ended those hopes, while snapping the win streak and raising questions of "if the team peaked to early" in all Soul supporters minds. How would Philadelphia respond in the conference semifinals against Orlando!? The Soul fell behind early, but a James Romain interception late in the first half setup a Carlos Martinez field goal that cut the margin to three by halftime. A back-and-forth battle ensued in the third quarter, but the Soul defense put on their best performance of the year when they held Orlando scoreless for the final twelve minutes of the game by making a pivotal goal-line stand and forcing a turnover to seal a 59-55 win. The dominance of the Philadelphia defense carried into the Shark Tank when the Soul forced three turnovers and built a 19-point halftime lead to set the tone early. Jacksonville never got closer than within thirteen points in the second half and Philadelphia earned a second consecutive trip to the Arena Bowl with a dominant 75-59 win. The Soul got their championship rematch with Arizona, but the third time wasn't the charm. The game was evenly played through the first half and Philadelphia took their first lead on Ryan McDaniel's touchdown reception on the opening drive of the third quarter. The game changed into Arizona's favor when Nick Davila led consecutive touchdown drives that sandwiched Dan Raudabaugh's second interception. Despite being on their heels for most of the fourth quarter the Soul's defense gave them a chance to win it at the end, but the offense was unable to gain a first down and as a result suffered a tough 48-39 loss. For the second year in a row Philadelphia has ended their season in heart break on Arena Football's biggest stage to Arizona.
The Good from 2013:
- Won second straight east division and American Conference titles, appeared in second straight Arena Bowl
- A road record of 7-2
- A seven-game win streak from week 12 to week 18
- Being named Arena Football's Support Staff of the Year and the Sports Medicine Program of the Year
- Brandon Mango winning Equipment Manager of the Year
- Seven All Arena selections
PLAYER STATS
- Dan Raudabaugh 390-573, 4699 yds, 96 TD, 14 Int (18 games)
- Derrick Ross 153 rush, 506 yds, 35 TD; 13 rec, 69 yds, 4 TD (18 games)
- Tiger Jones 150 rec, 2121 yds, 37 TD (18 games)
- Andrae Thurman 117 rec, 1197 yds, 17 Total TD (18 games)
- Ryan McDaniel 65 rec, 819 yds, 21 TD (12 games)
- Larry Brackins 27 rec, 243 yds, 15 TD; 2 Int; Kick-ret TD (14 games)
- Carlos Martinez 126-140 PAT, 6-7 FG (47) (18 games)
- Rayshaun Kizer 82 tackles, FF, 3 Fumb Rec, 9 Int, Def TD (18 games)
- LaRico Stevenson 74 tackles, 2 FF, 3 Fumb Rec, 7 Int, 2 Def TD (15 games)
- Joe Goosby 68.5 tackles, 2 sacks, FF, 3 Fumb Rec, 4 Int, 2 Def TD (18 games)
- James Romain 3 FF, 3 Int, Def TD (15 games)
- Brandon Perkins 4.5 sacks, Fumb Rec, Def TD (18 games)
- Bryan Robinson 41.5 tackles (17.5 TFL), 11 sacks, 2 FF (17 games)
TEAM STATS
- Third scoring offense 58.4 ppg
- Third rushing offense 30.9 ypg
- Best scoring defense, allowed 46.8 ppg
- Third rush defense, allowed 17.9 ypg
- Sixth pass offense 264.3 ypg
- Third total offense 295.2 ypg
- Eighth pass defense allowed 257.3 ypg
- Sixth total defense 275.3 ypg
- Third pass efficiency 119.8
- Sixth turnover margin +4
- Fourth opponent pass efficiency 96.5
- Third in 3rd down conversions 55/104
- Allowed fewest first downs 310
- Eighth in opponent 3rd down conversions 56/127
- Fifth with 31 sacks
- Allowed fewest sacks with 7
- Third 4th down conversions 20/35
- Best opponent 4th down conversions 16/53
- Fifth red zone offense 98/119
- Second red zone defense 75/102
The Bad from 2013:
- A 5-4 home record that started 0-3
- Home losses to Cleveland and Pittsburgh
- A 2-2 division record, Cleveland and Pittsburgh both finished 4-14
- An inconsistent first half of the season
- Losing in the Arena Bowl for the second straight year
PLAYER STATS
- Alvance Robinson's struggles to stay healthy this season
- Ryan McDaniel's struggles to stay healthy, but at a smaller scale than Robinson
TEAM STATS
- Ninth in first downs with 352
Final Take:
The Soul came in to 2013 with plans to return to the Arena Bowl, and despite an inconsistent start they were able to do so by winning nine out of ten games to reach Orlando. Philadelphia proved to still be one of the AFL's best teams in 2013 and even though they fell short again, still put together a season to remember.
2013 Finish: 14-7 (2-2 in East), East Division Champs, American Conference Champs, Lost Arena Bowl XXVI
For more on the Philadelphia Soul:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflsoul/
http://www.philadelphiasoul.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff-east.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis_29.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/05/2013-afl-season-midway-report.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-east.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-championship.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/arena-bowl-xxvi-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
-
The Soul struggled to find a consistent level of play through the first half of the season. They began the year with a tough 66-52 loss at Arizona. The Soul responded with back-to-back road wins that had them coming home with a 2-1 record. Philadelphia's home opener looked to be an awesome homecoming with a struggling Cleveland team coming in, but things didn't go as planned as the Soul saw a three-score lead vanish and turn into a 64-57 overtime loss. Philadelphia couldn't afford to let the disappoint home start loom with, at the time, red-hot Jacksonville Sharks came to town the following week. The Soul once again suffered a tight defeat in their own building when Jacksonville escaped with a 55-53 victory. Philadelphia all of a sudden found themselves in a 2-3 hole on their way to Chicago, but the reigning American Conference champs made a statement to the entire league with a 72-41 thrashing of the Rush. The level of inconsistency hit the following week when the Soul failed to close out Pittsburgh in another tough home loss, 53-48, that put them back under .500 and 0-3 in Wells Fargo Center. The Soul would go on to earn their first home victory of the year in week nine when they defeated Orlando, and entered June with a 5-4 record after an impressive 73-55 win at Tampa Bay. In week eleven the Soul had a second crack at Arizona and found themselves with a fifteen-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. A run that saw the defending champions score 22 unanswered points in the final seven minutes stunned everyone in "Soul" blue and sent them back to .500 with a heartbreaking 64-57 loss. A game like that can make or break a team's season, and it looked that way when Philadelphia couldn't catch a break for three and a half quarters against New Orleans the following week. A Joe Goosby fumble recovery and an eleven-play scoring drive that Derrick Ross finished with a one-yard run highlighted a stretch of 17 unanswered points that squeaked out a 65-56 win for the Soul, and also turned their season in the right direction.
The inspiring comeback of week twelve started a string of seven straight wins that clinched Philadelphia its second straight east division championship and had them primed for another postseason run. The Soul only needed a win in week nineteen to lock up home field advantage, but a surprise 42-28 defeat at San Antonio ended those hopes, while snapping the win streak and raising questions of "if the team peaked to early" in all Soul supporters minds. How would Philadelphia respond in the conference semifinals against Orlando!? The Soul fell behind early, but a James Romain interception late in the first half setup a Carlos Martinez field goal that cut the margin to three by halftime. A back-and-forth battle ensued in the third quarter, but the Soul defense put on their best performance of the year when they held Orlando scoreless for the final twelve minutes of the game by making a pivotal goal-line stand and forcing a turnover to seal a 59-55 win. The dominance of the Philadelphia defense carried into the Shark Tank when the Soul forced three turnovers and built a 19-point halftime lead to set the tone early. Jacksonville never got closer than within thirteen points in the second half and Philadelphia earned a second consecutive trip to the Arena Bowl with a dominant 75-59 win. The Soul got their championship rematch with Arizona, but the third time wasn't the charm. The game was evenly played through the first half and Philadelphia took their first lead on Ryan McDaniel's touchdown reception on the opening drive of the third quarter. The game changed into Arizona's favor when Nick Davila led consecutive touchdown drives that sandwiched Dan Raudabaugh's second interception. Despite being on their heels for most of the fourth quarter the Soul's defense gave them a chance to win it at the end, but the offense was unable to gain a first down and as a result suffered a tough 48-39 loss. For the second year in a row Philadelphia has ended their season in heart break on Arena Football's biggest stage to Arizona.
The Good from 2013:
- Won second straight east division and American Conference titles, appeared in second straight Arena Bowl
- A road record of 7-2
- A seven-game win streak from week 12 to week 18
- Being named Arena Football's Support Staff of the Year and the Sports Medicine Program of the Year
- Brandon Mango winning Equipment Manager of the Year
- Seven All Arena selections
PLAYER STATS
- Dan Raudabaugh 390-573, 4699 yds, 96 TD, 14 Int (18 games)
- Derrick Ross 153 rush, 506 yds, 35 TD; 13 rec, 69 yds, 4 TD (18 games)
- Tiger Jones 150 rec, 2121 yds, 37 TD (18 games)
- Andrae Thurman 117 rec, 1197 yds, 17 Total TD (18 games)
- Ryan McDaniel 65 rec, 819 yds, 21 TD (12 games)
- Larry Brackins 27 rec, 243 yds, 15 TD; 2 Int; Kick-ret TD (14 games)
- Carlos Martinez 126-140 PAT, 6-7 FG (47) (18 games)
- Rayshaun Kizer 82 tackles, FF, 3 Fumb Rec, 9 Int, Def TD (18 games)
- LaRico Stevenson 74 tackles, 2 FF, 3 Fumb Rec, 7 Int, 2 Def TD (15 games)
- Joe Goosby 68.5 tackles, 2 sacks, FF, 3 Fumb Rec, 4 Int, 2 Def TD (18 games)
- James Romain 3 FF, 3 Int, Def TD (15 games)
- Brandon Perkins 4.5 sacks, Fumb Rec, Def TD (18 games)
- Bryan Robinson 41.5 tackles (17.5 TFL), 11 sacks, 2 FF (17 games)
TEAM STATS
- Third scoring offense 58.4 ppg
- Third rushing offense 30.9 ypg
- Best scoring defense, allowed 46.8 ppg
- Third rush defense, allowed 17.9 ypg
- Sixth pass offense 264.3 ypg
- Third total offense 295.2 ypg
- Eighth pass defense allowed 257.3 ypg
- Sixth total defense 275.3 ypg
- Third pass efficiency 119.8
- Sixth turnover margin +4
- Fourth opponent pass efficiency 96.5
- Third in 3rd down conversions 55/104
- Allowed fewest first downs 310
- Eighth in opponent 3rd down conversions 56/127
- Fifth with 31 sacks
- Allowed fewest sacks with 7
- Third 4th down conversions 20/35
- Best opponent 4th down conversions 16/53
- Fifth red zone offense 98/119
- Second red zone defense 75/102
The Bad from 2013:
- A 5-4 home record that started 0-3
- Home losses to Cleveland and Pittsburgh
- A 2-2 division record, Cleveland and Pittsburgh both finished 4-14
- An inconsistent first half of the season
- Losing in the Arena Bowl for the second straight year
PLAYER STATS
- Alvance Robinson's struggles to stay healthy this season
- Ryan McDaniel's struggles to stay healthy, but at a smaller scale than Robinson
TEAM STATS
- Ninth in first downs with 352
Final Take:
The Soul came in to 2013 with plans to return to the Arena Bowl, and despite an inconsistent start they were able to do so by winning nine out of ten games to reach Orlando. Philadelphia proved to still be one of the AFL's best teams in 2013 and even though they fell short again, still put together a season to remember.
2013 Finish: 14-7 (2-2 in East), East Division Champs, American Conference Champs, Lost Arena Bowl XXVI
For more on the Philadelphia Soul:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflsoul/
http://www.philadelphiasoul.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff-east.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis_29.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/05/2013-afl-season-midway-report.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-east.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-championship.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/arena-bowl-xxvi-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
-
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Arena Bowl XXVI Recap
The 2013 Arena Football season is in the books, as Arena Bowl XXVI has come and passed. For the second straight season it was the Philadelphia Soul and the Arizona Rattlers who did battle on the game's biggest stage for its most glamorous prize.....the Foster Trophy. Were the Rattlers able to make it two in a row, or did the Soul even the score!?
Carlos Martinez kicked the ball deep to Arkeith Brown who made a twelve-yard return to begin Arena Bowl XXVI. Nick Davila led the Rattler offense onto the field and began the game's first drive with consecutive completions that quickly moved the ball to Philadelphia's ten-yard line. After back-to-back incompletions Arizona was faced with fourth and goal at the eight-yard line, but still managed to strike first when Davila found Maurice Purify across the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown. Dan Raudabaugh took over at his own five-yard line and got off to a great start. He completed all of his first three passes to Ryan McDaniel, highlighted by a fifteen-yard strike that tied the game at seven. Nick Davila looked to have picked up right where he left off with three completions to three different receivers to start Arizona's second possession, but an incompletion on first down setup second-and-goal at Philadelphia's eight-yard line. The Soul made the first game-changing play when Davila's pass sailed over Maurice Purify's head and bounced of the rebound nets into Rayshaun Kizer's arms. Dan Raudabaugh and Ryan McDaniel continued their early connection with two completions for 35 yards to quickly move the ball to Arizona's fifteen-yard line. The Rattlers made a quick adjustment that cooled off Raudabaugh, who threw back-to-back incompletions and then hit Andrae Thurman for a seven-yard gain on third down. On fourth-and-three Raudabaugh fired a pass into the end zone, but it was off target and Virgil Gray snatched an interceptions; retuning it to Arizona's 24-yard line. We went to the second quarter with each side having score a single touchdown and recording an interception. The pace picked up with the change of period as Rod Windsor began the quarter with a six-yard reception, then caught a 21-yard touchdown on the next play to give Arizona the lead back. Philadelphia tied the game with a six-play scoring drive that saw Tiger Jones make his first catch of the game and Ryan McDaniel haul in three more passes for 27 yards. Derrick Ross then plunged into the end zone for the game-tying touchdown on the next play. The Soul looked to be on their way to a second stop when a first-down incompletion and a sack setup third-and-fourteen, but Davila wouldn't have any of that when he found Maurice Purify on a crossing route and watched it turn into a 47-yard touchdown. The Soul kept their calm and once again responded with a seven-play, 33-yard drive that ended on Tiger Jones' nine-yard touchdown catch to retie the game with 52 seconds left in the first half. The Rattlers recovered Carlos Martinez's onside kick at Philadelphia's nine-yard line, but the Soul defense made a crucial stand to force Garrett Lindholm to attempt and make an eighteen-yard field goal. Dan Raudabaugh and the offense took the field at their own five with 26 seconds to work, but a one-yard completion to McDaniel and two incompletions quickly ended the threat of a last-second touchdown. Carlos Martinez was sent on to try a 59-yard field goal, but Attajj Hawthorne got a hand up and blocked it to give the Rattlers one final play inside the ten. On a play that could drastically change the ball game, the Soul caught a break when Davila's pass to Rod Windsor fell shy of the end zone and kept the score 24-21 at the intermission.
Philadelphia took its first lead of the game when Raudabaugh found Ryan McDaniel for a twelve-yard touchdown to cap off a seven-play drive to begin the third quarter. The Rattlers didn't trail for long as Kerry Reed brought in a 19-yard touchdown four plays later to put them back in front midway in the third. Arizona created some separation on the next series when Jeremy Kellem intercepted an end zone pass intended for McDaniel. Nick Davila directed a six-play, five-minute drive that gave the Rattlers a 38-27 lead on Rod Windsor's twelve-yard touchdown catch. Dan Raudabaugh responded with three quick completions, cutting the margin to five on a thirteen-yard touchdown to Tiger Jones with 11:31 left in the game; the extra point was missed. Arizona only needed three plays to answer back when Davila found Tysson Poots for a fourteen-yard score. The Soul had little room for error and Raudabaugh answered the call by completing five of six passes on the ensuing drive that setup another one-yard touchdown run by Derrick Ross with 3:34 remaining; Carlos Martinez missed his third extra point of the half that left the margin at six. Arizona recovered the ensuing onside kick and did a great job of running the clock down to the one-minute warning. This championship game took a drastic turn when on the first play inside the warning Rod Windsor got the ball on a receiver-sweep and as he turned the corner was hit which caused him to fumble the ball, giving Philadelphia a chance to steal this one at the end. All of a sudden the Soul where tasting a potential title, but after an eight-yard completion to Emery Sammons to start the drive Raudabaugh's next two passes fell to the ground and created a fourth-and-two with 41 seconds. On the play of the game Dan Raudabaugh quickly fired a pass to Tiger Jones, but Arkeith Brown laid the boom and knocked the ball harmlessly to the ground to force a championship-saving stop on downs. The Rattlers trimmed the clock down to 23 seconds and Garrett Lindholm drilled a championship-clinching 24-yard field goal to make the dream become a realization. The game and season ended when Tiger Jones caught a ten-yard pass and was tackled in-bounds, allowing the final seconds to tick off and strike zero and officially crowning Arizona as back-to-back Arena Football League champions.
The Arizona Rattlers survived a great game, that was on CBS, to win the franchise's fourth total and second straight championship in a thrilling 48-39 victory over Philadelphia for the second consecutive season. Rod Windsor earned Arena Bowl MVP honors with ten receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns. The Arena Bowl XXVI champions are the Arizona Rattlers.
Stat Leaders:
Philadelphia (14-7) - eliminated Arizona (18-3) - AB 26 Champs
Dan Raudabaugh 31-51, 306 yds, 4 TD, 2 Int Nick Davila 20-29, 315 yds, 6 TD, Int
Derrick Ross 4 rush, 23 yds, 2 TD Rod Windsor 10 rec, 145 yds, 2 TD
Ryan Mcdaniel 13 rec, 137 yds, 2 TD Maurice Purify 4 rec, 83 yds, 2 TD
Tiger Jones 8 rec, 73 yds, 2 TD Tysson Poots 3 rec, 50 yds, TD
Emery Sammons 7 rec, 53 yds Kerry Reed 19-yd TD rec
Rayshaun Kizer Int Jeremy Kellem 10 tackles, Int
Bryan Robinson/Ko Quaye 0.5 sack Virgil Gray 9.5 tackles, Int Attajj Hawthorne blocked FG
Garrett Lindholm 6-6 PAT, 2-2 FG (24)
The 2013 Arena Football season is officially in the books and it ended with the Arizona Rattlers going back-to-back and being crowned Arena Bowl XXVI Champions!
Carlos Martinez kicked the ball deep to Arkeith Brown who made a twelve-yard return to begin Arena Bowl XXVI. Nick Davila led the Rattler offense onto the field and began the game's first drive with consecutive completions that quickly moved the ball to Philadelphia's ten-yard line. After back-to-back incompletions Arizona was faced with fourth and goal at the eight-yard line, but still managed to strike first when Davila found Maurice Purify across the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown. Dan Raudabaugh took over at his own five-yard line and got off to a great start. He completed all of his first three passes to Ryan McDaniel, highlighted by a fifteen-yard strike that tied the game at seven. Nick Davila looked to have picked up right where he left off with three completions to three different receivers to start Arizona's second possession, but an incompletion on first down setup second-and-goal at Philadelphia's eight-yard line. The Soul made the first game-changing play when Davila's pass sailed over Maurice Purify's head and bounced of the rebound nets into Rayshaun Kizer's arms. Dan Raudabaugh and Ryan McDaniel continued their early connection with two completions for 35 yards to quickly move the ball to Arizona's fifteen-yard line. The Rattlers made a quick adjustment that cooled off Raudabaugh, who threw back-to-back incompletions and then hit Andrae Thurman for a seven-yard gain on third down. On fourth-and-three Raudabaugh fired a pass into the end zone, but it was off target and Virgil Gray snatched an interceptions; retuning it to Arizona's 24-yard line. We went to the second quarter with each side having score a single touchdown and recording an interception. The pace picked up with the change of period as Rod Windsor began the quarter with a six-yard reception, then caught a 21-yard touchdown on the next play to give Arizona the lead back. Philadelphia tied the game with a six-play scoring drive that saw Tiger Jones make his first catch of the game and Ryan McDaniel haul in three more passes for 27 yards. Derrick Ross then plunged into the end zone for the game-tying touchdown on the next play. The Soul looked to be on their way to a second stop when a first-down incompletion and a sack setup third-and-fourteen, but Davila wouldn't have any of that when he found Maurice Purify on a crossing route and watched it turn into a 47-yard touchdown. The Soul kept their calm and once again responded with a seven-play, 33-yard drive that ended on Tiger Jones' nine-yard touchdown catch to retie the game with 52 seconds left in the first half. The Rattlers recovered Carlos Martinez's onside kick at Philadelphia's nine-yard line, but the Soul defense made a crucial stand to force Garrett Lindholm to attempt and make an eighteen-yard field goal. Dan Raudabaugh and the offense took the field at their own five with 26 seconds to work, but a one-yard completion to McDaniel and two incompletions quickly ended the threat of a last-second touchdown. Carlos Martinez was sent on to try a 59-yard field goal, but Attajj Hawthorne got a hand up and blocked it to give the Rattlers one final play inside the ten. On a play that could drastically change the ball game, the Soul caught a break when Davila's pass to Rod Windsor fell shy of the end zone and kept the score 24-21 at the intermission.
Philadelphia took its first lead of the game when Raudabaugh found Ryan McDaniel for a twelve-yard touchdown to cap off a seven-play drive to begin the third quarter. The Rattlers didn't trail for long as Kerry Reed brought in a 19-yard touchdown four plays later to put them back in front midway in the third. Arizona created some separation on the next series when Jeremy Kellem intercepted an end zone pass intended for McDaniel. Nick Davila directed a six-play, five-minute drive that gave the Rattlers a 38-27 lead on Rod Windsor's twelve-yard touchdown catch. Dan Raudabaugh responded with three quick completions, cutting the margin to five on a thirteen-yard touchdown to Tiger Jones with 11:31 left in the game; the extra point was missed. Arizona only needed three plays to answer back when Davila found Tysson Poots for a fourteen-yard score. The Soul had little room for error and Raudabaugh answered the call by completing five of six passes on the ensuing drive that setup another one-yard touchdown run by Derrick Ross with 3:34 remaining; Carlos Martinez missed his third extra point of the half that left the margin at six. Arizona recovered the ensuing onside kick and did a great job of running the clock down to the one-minute warning. This championship game took a drastic turn when on the first play inside the warning Rod Windsor got the ball on a receiver-sweep and as he turned the corner was hit which caused him to fumble the ball, giving Philadelphia a chance to steal this one at the end. All of a sudden the Soul where tasting a potential title, but after an eight-yard completion to Emery Sammons to start the drive Raudabaugh's next two passes fell to the ground and created a fourth-and-two with 41 seconds. On the play of the game Dan Raudabaugh quickly fired a pass to Tiger Jones, but Arkeith Brown laid the boom and knocked the ball harmlessly to the ground to force a championship-saving stop on downs. The Rattlers trimmed the clock down to 23 seconds and Garrett Lindholm drilled a championship-clinching 24-yard field goal to make the dream become a realization. The game and season ended when Tiger Jones caught a ten-yard pass and was tackled in-bounds, allowing the final seconds to tick off and strike zero and officially crowning Arizona as back-to-back Arena Football League champions.
The Arizona Rattlers survived a great game, that was on CBS, to win the franchise's fourth total and second straight championship in a thrilling 48-39 victory over Philadelphia for the second consecutive season. Rod Windsor earned Arena Bowl MVP honors with ten receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns. The Arena Bowl XXVI champions are the Arizona Rattlers.
Stat Leaders:
Philadelphia (14-7) - eliminated Arizona (18-3) - AB 26 Champs
Dan Raudabaugh 31-51, 306 yds, 4 TD, 2 Int Nick Davila 20-29, 315 yds, 6 TD, Int
Derrick Ross 4 rush, 23 yds, 2 TD Rod Windsor 10 rec, 145 yds, 2 TD
Ryan Mcdaniel 13 rec, 137 yds, 2 TD Maurice Purify 4 rec, 83 yds, 2 TD
Tiger Jones 8 rec, 73 yds, 2 TD Tysson Poots 3 rec, 50 yds, TD
Emery Sammons 7 rec, 53 yds Kerry Reed 19-yd TD rec
Rayshaun Kizer Int Jeremy Kellem 10 tackles, Int
Bryan Robinson/Ko Quaye 0.5 sack Virgil Gray 9.5 tackles, Int Attajj Hawthorne blocked FG
Garrett Lindholm 6-6 PAT, 2-2 FG (24)
The 2013 Arena Football season is officially in the books and it ended with the Arizona Rattlers going back-to-back and being crowned Arena Bowl XXVI Champions!
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
2013 Review: Jacksonville Sharks
The Jacksonville Sharks have been one of the premier teams in Arena Football over the last couple of years and looked to remain at the top in 2013. Jacksonville's main goal for this past season wasn't to just win the division, it was to make an appearance in the Arena Bowl.
The Sharks returned most of their division-winning team from 2012, so as expected they didn't take much time to get rolling this season. Jacksonville came out of the gate with six consecutive wins that included a narrow 40-34 victory over Iowa in week five and a dramatic 55-53 win at Philadelphia the following week. Jacksonville's 6-0 start had them as the AFL's last unbeaten team, but a home game against Arizona gave them their toughest test of the year. The Sharks fell behind early and were unable to comeback, dropping their first game of the season 58-48 to Arizona in week seven. The loss sent Jacksonville a step back as they would lose their next two games to fall to 6-3 and have fans wondering if the strong start was a fluke. Jacksonville had to battle a slate of injuries throughout the season, but fought through it to erase any doubt.
With Bernard Morris at the helm, a relatively healthy receiving core, and one of the League's best defenses the Sharks responded by putting together three two-game winning streaks in the second half of the season. Jacksonville's solid run during the summer months of the year was good enough to clinch their fourth straight south division title and also earn home field advantage in this year's American Conference playoffs. In the conference semifinals the Sharks got off to a sluggish start that put them in a 22-point hole entering the fourth quarter, but led by Bernard Morris and the faithful of the Shark Tank they came back to outscore Tampa Bay 36-14 in the final period to escape with a 69-62 win. Jacksonville advanced to their third consecutive conference championship game and had a chance at redemption when Philadelphia also held on in their semifinal game to setup the rematch. Once again the Sharks got off to a sloppy start, but this time against a full-strength Philadelphia squad they weren't as fortunate. The Sharks fell behind by as much as 26 points by the second half and were unable to get closer than within fourteen points, having their season come to an end at the hands of Philadelphia for the second year in a row in a disappointing 75-59 loss. Despite another season falling short of the Arena Bowl, the Sharks enjoyed a successful 2013 that brought them a fourth straight south division crown.
The Good from 2013:
- A fourth straight south division championship
- A 6-0 division record
- A 6-3 home record
- A 6-3 road record
- Reaching their third consecutive American Conference Championship game
- Four All Arena selections
PLAYER STATS
- Bernard Morris 257-394, 2746 yds, 55 TD, 9 Int; 306 rush yds, 11 TD (15 games)
- Rendrick Taylor 49 rush, 173 yds, 10 TD (9 games)
- Jeron Harvey 146 rec, 1593 yds, 35 TD (18 games)
- Markee White 105 rec, 1133 yds, 19 TD (18 games)
- Jeff Hughley 82 rec, 889 yds, 15 TD; 32 rush yds, 5 TD; 59 kick-ret, 1095 yds, TD (13 games)
- London Crawford 23 rec, 243 yds, 6 TD (5 games)
- Shamar Graves 13 rec, 108 yds, TD (1 game)
- Terrance Smith 74.5 tackles, 4 Fumb Rec, 12 Int, Def TD (16 games)
- Micheaux Robinson 78 tackles, 4 Int, FF, 2 Def TD (17 games)
- Tracy Belton 94.5 tackles, 3 Int, 4 FF, 2 Fumb Rec, Def TD (18 games)
- Jamaal Fudge Sack, 5 FF, 6 Fumb Rec, 2 Int, 2 Fumb Rec, Def TD (10 games)
- Marco Capozzoli 109-128 PAT, 6-12 FG (34) (18 games)
- Sack Leaders: Jerry Turner (12), Aaron Robbins (9), Matt Marcorelle (8.5), Rashaad Duncan (6.5)
TEAM STATS
- Eighth scoring offense at 52.3 ppg
- Best rushing offense with 37.0 ypg
- Fourth scoring defense, allowing 49.1 ppg
- Eighth total offense with 279.1 ypg
- Second pass defense with 239.6 ypg
- Fourth total defense with 263.3 ypg
- Fifth turnover margin with +8
- Second in first downs, 374
- Fourth in 3rd down conversions at 50.8%
- Allowed 2nd-fewest first downs, 334
- Second-lowest opponent 3rd down conversions at 39/102
- Lead AFL with 45 sacks
- Sixth in sacks allowed with 22
- Fourth at 4th down conversions, 23/41
- Sixth red zone offense, 83/101
The Bad from 2013:
- Losing three straight games after a 6-0 start
- Being eliminated by Philadelphia for the second straight season
PLAYER STATS
- The minor injuries that cost Bernard Morris three games and Jeff Hughley four games
- The season-ending injury that Rendrick Taylor suffered in week nine
- Missing Bill Alford for part of the second half of the season because of injury
TEAM STATS
- Tenth rush defense at 23.7 ypg
- Tenth pass offense at 242.1 ypg
Final Take:
In 2013 the Sharks won their fourth consecutive south division championship and made a third straight appearance in the American Conference championship game. Bernard Morris showed flashes of elite playmaking ability, but at times was a little carless with the football and had too many turnovers. Jeron Harvey had another great season to headline a solid receiving core that also included Jeff Hughley and Markee White. Jacksonville's defense was atop the AFL all season, registering a League-best 45 sacks and ending the year with a +8 margin in turnovers. If the core of: Jerry Turner, Aaron Robbins, Matt Marcorelle, and Rashaad Duncan is kept together, they should continue to cause havoc against opposing offenses for the near future.
2013 Finish: 13-7 (7-0 in South), South Division Champions, lost in American Conference Championship game
For more on the Jacksonville Sharks:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflsrk/
http://www.jaxsharks.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff_23.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis_29.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-season-midway-report-south.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-championship.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
The Sharks returned most of their division-winning team from 2012, so as expected they didn't take much time to get rolling this season. Jacksonville came out of the gate with six consecutive wins that included a narrow 40-34 victory over Iowa in week five and a dramatic 55-53 win at Philadelphia the following week. Jacksonville's 6-0 start had them as the AFL's last unbeaten team, but a home game against Arizona gave them their toughest test of the year. The Sharks fell behind early and were unable to comeback, dropping their first game of the season 58-48 to Arizona in week seven. The loss sent Jacksonville a step back as they would lose their next two games to fall to 6-3 and have fans wondering if the strong start was a fluke. Jacksonville had to battle a slate of injuries throughout the season, but fought through it to erase any doubt.
With Bernard Morris at the helm, a relatively healthy receiving core, and one of the League's best defenses the Sharks responded by putting together three two-game winning streaks in the second half of the season. Jacksonville's solid run during the summer months of the year was good enough to clinch their fourth straight south division title and also earn home field advantage in this year's American Conference playoffs. In the conference semifinals the Sharks got off to a sluggish start that put them in a 22-point hole entering the fourth quarter, but led by Bernard Morris and the faithful of the Shark Tank they came back to outscore Tampa Bay 36-14 in the final period to escape with a 69-62 win. Jacksonville advanced to their third consecutive conference championship game and had a chance at redemption when Philadelphia also held on in their semifinal game to setup the rematch. Once again the Sharks got off to a sloppy start, but this time against a full-strength Philadelphia squad they weren't as fortunate. The Sharks fell behind by as much as 26 points by the second half and were unable to get closer than within fourteen points, having their season come to an end at the hands of Philadelphia for the second year in a row in a disappointing 75-59 loss. Despite another season falling short of the Arena Bowl, the Sharks enjoyed a successful 2013 that brought them a fourth straight south division crown.
The Good from 2013:
- A fourth straight south division championship
- A 6-0 division record
- A 6-3 home record
- A 6-3 road record
- Reaching their third consecutive American Conference Championship game
- Four All Arena selections
PLAYER STATS
- Bernard Morris 257-394, 2746 yds, 55 TD, 9 Int; 306 rush yds, 11 TD (15 games)
- Rendrick Taylor 49 rush, 173 yds, 10 TD (9 games)
- Jeron Harvey 146 rec, 1593 yds, 35 TD (18 games)
- Markee White 105 rec, 1133 yds, 19 TD (18 games)
- Jeff Hughley 82 rec, 889 yds, 15 TD; 32 rush yds, 5 TD; 59 kick-ret, 1095 yds, TD (13 games)
- London Crawford 23 rec, 243 yds, 6 TD (5 games)
- Shamar Graves 13 rec, 108 yds, TD (1 game)
- Terrance Smith 74.5 tackles, 4 Fumb Rec, 12 Int, Def TD (16 games)
- Micheaux Robinson 78 tackles, 4 Int, FF, 2 Def TD (17 games)
- Tracy Belton 94.5 tackles, 3 Int, 4 FF, 2 Fumb Rec, Def TD (18 games)
- Jamaal Fudge Sack, 5 FF, 6 Fumb Rec, 2 Int, 2 Fumb Rec, Def TD (10 games)
- Marco Capozzoli 109-128 PAT, 6-12 FG (34) (18 games)
- Sack Leaders: Jerry Turner (12), Aaron Robbins (9), Matt Marcorelle (8.5), Rashaad Duncan (6.5)
TEAM STATS
- Eighth scoring offense at 52.3 ppg
- Best rushing offense with 37.0 ypg
- Fourth scoring defense, allowing 49.1 ppg
- Eighth total offense with 279.1 ypg
- Second pass defense with 239.6 ypg
- Fourth total defense with 263.3 ypg
- Fifth turnover margin with +8
- Second in first downs, 374
- Fourth in 3rd down conversions at 50.8%
- Allowed 2nd-fewest first downs, 334
- Second-lowest opponent 3rd down conversions at 39/102
- Lead AFL with 45 sacks
- Sixth in sacks allowed with 22
- Fourth at 4th down conversions, 23/41
- Sixth red zone offense, 83/101
The Bad from 2013:
- Losing three straight games after a 6-0 start
- Being eliminated by Philadelphia for the second straight season
PLAYER STATS
- The minor injuries that cost Bernard Morris three games and Jeff Hughley four games
- The season-ending injury that Rendrick Taylor suffered in week nine
- Missing Bill Alford for part of the second half of the season because of injury
TEAM STATS
- Tenth rush defense at 23.7 ypg
- Tenth pass offense at 242.1 ypg
Final Take:
In 2013 the Sharks won their fourth consecutive south division championship and made a third straight appearance in the American Conference championship game. Bernard Morris showed flashes of elite playmaking ability, but at times was a little carless with the football and had too many turnovers. Jeron Harvey had another great season to headline a solid receiving core that also included Jeff Hughley and Markee White. Jacksonville's defense was atop the AFL all season, registering a League-best 45 sacks and ending the year with a +8 margin in turnovers. If the core of: Jerry Turner, Aaron Robbins, Matt Marcorelle, and Rashaad Duncan is kept together, they should continue to cause havoc against opposing offenses for the near future.
2013 Finish: 13-7 (7-0 in South), South Division Champions, lost in American Conference Championship game
For more on the Jacksonville Sharks:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflsrk/
http://www.jaxsharks.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff_23.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis_29.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-season-midway-report-south.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-championship.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
2013 Review: Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are one of Arena Football's proudest and iconic franchises. After reaching the postseason for 19 straight seasons, the Preds had fallen into the abyss and entered 2013 on a two-year playoff drought. Coming into the season Orlando issued a "winning season" guarantee to all season ticket holders, assuring a successful campaign or they would get their money back. It was no secret of the pressure to return to the playoffs, let alone being relevant once again. With the guidance of Doug Plank and a season-changing acquisition of one of the AFL's greatest signal callers....mission accomplished.
Orlando's 2013 season didn't start all that glamorous when Kyle Rowley struggled by throwing eleven interceptions in five games and the defense underperforming to AFL-worst levels that had the Preds sitting at the bottom with an 0-5 record. Doug Plank only knows how to win, so with that being said a change at quarterback was needed and he snatched the opportunity when it came calling to send Amarri Jackson to San Jose in exchange for Aaron Garcia. Kyle Rowley was released in favor of the 18th-year veteran. Aaron Garcia struggled in San Jose, but when he arrived in central Florida the greatest turned back on. He instantly improved the offense and led Orlando to their first two wins of the season in back-to-back weeks; highlighted by an incredible 21-point comeback in Deaf Valley where he threw eleven touchdown passes to beat Spokane 83-82 in week eight. The team was definitely in a better place than they were in the first month of the season, but Garcia's resurgence wasn't enough to overcome three losses by a combined 21 points that dropped the Preds to 2-8 entering week twelve. Just when it looked like any hope of returning to the postseason was dashed, the Predators made some key defensive cuts to bolster that side of the ball as best they could that late into the season.
All of a sudden, a few new faces on defense and a fully orchestrated offense with Aaron Garcia at the helm got hot and reeled off three consecutive wins in weeks twelve, thirteen, and fourteen to jump Orlando up from two games out of the playoff picture to entering July with a one-game lead for the American Conference's final wild card at 5-8. The late season magic wasn't enough for Orlando to pull off upsets of Jacksonville or Arizona, but thanks to the lack of depth in the conference still had them in playoff position despite having ten losses. The Predators won a must-win game against Iowa (55-41) in week 17, but put up a disappointing performance the following week in Cleveland that setup a play-in game with New Orleans in the regular season's final week. Aaron Garcia, T.T. Toliver, Maurice Williams, and Prechae Rodriguez were all unstoppable against New Orleans and gave their defense 71 points to defend; Cortez Stubbs, Tanner Varner and Prentice Purnell all anchored a great defensive effort that sent the Predators to the playoffs for the 20th time with a dominant 71-42 win. Orlando traveled to Philadelphia looking to pull off an upset in a conference semifinal matchup, but fell short 59-55. The Predators started strong and gained an early fourteen-point advantage, but where only able to take a three-point lead into halftime thanks in part to two scores by Philadelphia in the final 90 seconds of the first half. After trading touchdowns for the entire third quarter Orlando was held to just seven points in the final period, and failed to score in the remaining twelve minutes of the game to end their season.
The Good from 2013:
- Ending a two-year playoff drought and earning the franchise's 20th playoff appearance
- The potency of the offense with Aaron Garcia at quarterback
- Overcoming an 0-5 start to make the playoffs
- Finishing second in the South
- Dominic Jones earning Second-Team All Arena honors as a kick returner
PLAYER STATS
- Aaron Garcia 316-484, 4008 yds, 84 TD, 15 Int (13 games)
- Mykel Benson 38 rush, 89 yds, 10 TD; (7 games)
- T.T. Toliver 127 rec, 1659 yds, 29 TD (14 games)
- Prechae Rodriguez 119 rec, 1614 yds, 41 TD (17 games)
- Jason Geathers 94 rec, 1020 yds, 16 TD (17 games)
- Marcus Everett 41.5 tackles, sack, 4 Int, FF, 2 Fumb Rec, 3 Def TD (14 games)
- Tanner Varner 16 tackles, 3 Int, Fumb Rec, Def TD (3 games)
- Dominic James 91.5 tackles, 2 Int, FF, 3 Fumb Rec, Def TD; 89 kick-ret, 1795 yds, 4 TD (18 games)
- Anthony Shutt 41 tackles, Int, FF (6 games)
- Mark Lewis 116-134 PAT, 3-6 FG (23) (18 games)
- Prentice Purnell 5 sacks, FF, 2 Fumb Rec (13 games)
TEAM STATS
- Sixth scoring offense with 53.6 ppg
- Top pass offense at 299.3 ypg
- Top total offense at 311.8 ypg
- Sixth in pass efficiency with 108.4
- Allowed 3rd-fewest sacks 16
The Bad from 2013:
- A home record of 4-5
- A road record of 3-6
- An 0-5 start to the season
- Going 2-4 in the South
PLAYER STATS
- The 11 interceptions by Rowley in the first five games
- The drastic change in the secondary from Travis Coleman, Simeon Castille and Levy Brown
- The season-ending injury to Marcus Everett; would've been fun to watch him and Tanner Varner play side-by-side-----Varner was signed to fill the void left by Everett
TEAM STATS
- Third-worst 12.5 ypg
- Allowed third-most 57.3 ppg
- Tenth rush defense 23.7
- Ninth pass defense 257.9 ypg
- Ninth in total defense 281.6 ypg
- Tenth in turnover margin at (-12)
- Allowed the third-best opposing passer efficiency of 113.3
- Worst 3rd down conversion rate, 32/95
- Allowed the best 3rd down conversion rate of opponents at 51.7%
- 11th with 20 sacks
- Most penalized team in AFL, 153 penalties for 1091 yards
- 11th red zone defense, allowed 78/95 scores
Final Take:
The Predators entered the year with one goal, and that was to return to the playoffs. Mission accomplished Orlando, despite a final record of 7-12 the franchise ended a two-year drought and made it back to postseason play. If Aaron Garcia decides to return for a 19th season, let alone comeback to Orlando, and T.T. Toliver and Prechae Rodriguez also stay put then the Predators might have the AFL's most exciting offense in 2014. The major Achilles heel for Orlando this past season was their struggles on defense. Other than Dominic James, no one suited up for all 19 games because of injuries and lack underwhelming performance. The defense struggled to maintain a pass rush and also wasn't very good in coverage, it will be interesting to see who Doug Plank recruits for next year's squad. Overall 2013 was a success for the Predators because they were fun to watch and also made the franchise's 20th playoff appearance.
2013 Finish: 7-12 (2-4 in South), Lost in Conference Semifinals
For more on the Orlando Predators:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflprd/
http://www.orlandopredators.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff_23.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis_29.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-season-midway-report-south.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
Orlando's 2013 season didn't start all that glamorous when Kyle Rowley struggled by throwing eleven interceptions in five games and the defense underperforming to AFL-worst levels that had the Preds sitting at the bottom with an 0-5 record. Doug Plank only knows how to win, so with that being said a change at quarterback was needed and he snatched the opportunity when it came calling to send Amarri Jackson to San Jose in exchange for Aaron Garcia. Kyle Rowley was released in favor of the 18th-year veteran. Aaron Garcia struggled in San Jose, but when he arrived in central Florida the greatest turned back on. He instantly improved the offense and led Orlando to their first two wins of the season in back-to-back weeks; highlighted by an incredible 21-point comeback in Deaf Valley where he threw eleven touchdown passes to beat Spokane 83-82 in week eight. The team was definitely in a better place than they were in the first month of the season, but Garcia's resurgence wasn't enough to overcome three losses by a combined 21 points that dropped the Preds to 2-8 entering week twelve. Just when it looked like any hope of returning to the postseason was dashed, the Predators made some key defensive cuts to bolster that side of the ball as best they could that late into the season.
All of a sudden, a few new faces on defense and a fully orchestrated offense with Aaron Garcia at the helm got hot and reeled off three consecutive wins in weeks twelve, thirteen, and fourteen to jump Orlando up from two games out of the playoff picture to entering July with a one-game lead for the American Conference's final wild card at 5-8. The late season magic wasn't enough for Orlando to pull off upsets of Jacksonville or Arizona, but thanks to the lack of depth in the conference still had them in playoff position despite having ten losses. The Predators won a must-win game against Iowa (55-41) in week 17, but put up a disappointing performance the following week in Cleveland that setup a play-in game with New Orleans in the regular season's final week. Aaron Garcia, T.T. Toliver, Maurice Williams, and Prechae Rodriguez were all unstoppable against New Orleans and gave their defense 71 points to defend; Cortez Stubbs, Tanner Varner and Prentice Purnell all anchored a great defensive effort that sent the Predators to the playoffs for the 20th time with a dominant 71-42 win. Orlando traveled to Philadelphia looking to pull off an upset in a conference semifinal matchup, but fell short 59-55. The Predators started strong and gained an early fourteen-point advantage, but where only able to take a three-point lead into halftime thanks in part to two scores by Philadelphia in the final 90 seconds of the first half. After trading touchdowns for the entire third quarter Orlando was held to just seven points in the final period, and failed to score in the remaining twelve minutes of the game to end their season.
The Good from 2013:
- Ending a two-year playoff drought and earning the franchise's 20th playoff appearance
- The potency of the offense with Aaron Garcia at quarterback
- Overcoming an 0-5 start to make the playoffs
- Finishing second in the South
- Dominic Jones earning Second-Team All Arena honors as a kick returner
PLAYER STATS
- Aaron Garcia 316-484, 4008 yds, 84 TD, 15 Int (13 games)
- Mykel Benson 38 rush, 89 yds, 10 TD; (7 games)
- T.T. Toliver 127 rec, 1659 yds, 29 TD (14 games)
- Prechae Rodriguez 119 rec, 1614 yds, 41 TD (17 games)
- Jason Geathers 94 rec, 1020 yds, 16 TD (17 games)
- Marcus Everett 41.5 tackles, sack, 4 Int, FF, 2 Fumb Rec, 3 Def TD (14 games)
- Tanner Varner 16 tackles, 3 Int, Fumb Rec, Def TD (3 games)
- Dominic James 91.5 tackles, 2 Int, FF, 3 Fumb Rec, Def TD; 89 kick-ret, 1795 yds, 4 TD (18 games)
- Anthony Shutt 41 tackles, Int, FF (6 games)
- Mark Lewis 116-134 PAT, 3-6 FG (23) (18 games)
- Prentice Purnell 5 sacks, FF, 2 Fumb Rec (13 games)
TEAM STATS
- Sixth scoring offense with 53.6 ppg
- Top pass offense at 299.3 ypg
- Top total offense at 311.8 ypg
- Sixth in pass efficiency with 108.4
- Allowed 3rd-fewest sacks 16
The Bad from 2013:
- A home record of 4-5
- A road record of 3-6
- An 0-5 start to the season
- Going 2-4 in the South
PLAYER STATS
- The 11 interceptions by Rowley in the first five games
- The drastic change in the secondary from Travis Coleman, Simeon Castille and Levy Brown
- The season-ending injury to Marcus Everett; would've been fun to watch him and Tanner Varner play side-by-side-----Varner was signed to fill the void left by Everett
TEAM STATS
- Third-worst 12.5 ypg
- Allowed third-most 57.3 ppg
- Tenth rush defense 23.7
- Ninth pass defense 257.9 ypg
- Ninth in total defense 281.6 ypg
- Tenth in turnover margin at (-12)
- Allowed the third-best opposing passer efficiency of 113.3
- Worst 3rd down conversion rate, 32/95
- Allowed the best 3rd down conversion rate of opponents at 51.7%
- 11th with 20 sacks
- Most penalized team in AFL, 153 penalties for 1091 yards
- 11th red zone defense, allowed 78/95 scores
Final Take:
The Predators entered the year with one goal, and that was to return to the playoffs. Mission accomplished Orlando, despite a final record of 7-12 the franchise ended a two-year drought and made it back to postseason play. If Aaron Garcia decides to return for a 19th season, let alone comeback to Orlando, and T.T. Toliver and Prechae Rodriguez also stay put then the Predators might have the AFL's most exciting offense in 2014. The major Achilles heel for Orlando this past season was their struggles on defense. Other than Dominic James, no one suited up for all 19 games because of injuries and lack underwhelming performance. The defense struggled to maintain a pass rush and also wasn't very good in coverage, it will be interesting to see who Doug Plank recruits for next year's squad. Overall 2013 was a success for the Predators because they were fun to watch and also made the franchise's 20th playoff appearance.
2013 Finish: 7-12 (2-4 in South), Lost in Conference Semifinals
For more on the Orlando Predators:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflprd/
http://www.orlandopredators.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff_23.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis_29.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-season-midway-report-south.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
2013 Review: Tampa Bay Storm
The main goal of the 2013 season for the Tampa Bay Storm was not to just compete, but to end a two-year playoff drought. A few notable offseason acquisitions, the retirement of Stephen Wasil, and a youth movement created a scent of mystery for this year. A former AFL quarterback, Adrian McPherson was brought in to direct an offense headlined by Joe Hills. The Storm also retooled their defense with many young players in hopes of turning things in the right direction.
The Storm began the year with a disappointing 64-55 vs. Jacksonville in their opener, but responded by winning their next two games. Through the first part of the season Adrian McPherson dazzled with incredible runs, moves, and plays that had led Tampa Bay to a stretch where they won five of six games and entered week eight with a 5-2 record. The Storm's hot start was cooled in San Jose when a dominate pass rush had its way to neutralize McPherson's versatility and cruised to a 64-34 win. The Storm never regained their dominance from the first month and a half of the season, splitting their next three games after the loss in San Jose and then finishing the regular season with seven straight losses.
Tampa Bay entered June with a 6-4 record, and thanks to a last-second touchdown hookup by McPherson and Joe Hills in Iowa moved them to 7-4. This ended up being the Storm's final win in 2013 as injuries derailed the roster. Two weeks after the thrilling win, Adrian McPherson suffered what ended up being a season-ending leg injury in a week thirteen loss at New Orleans. This was the biggest of many injuries that plagued the Storm defense and turned the receiving core into a revolving door. By season's end the Storm that were 5-2 were a fraction of themselves by seasons' end with a 7-11 finish that earned them the final playoff spot in the American Conference. Despite all the struggles and new faces, Randy Hippeard did a solid job in taking over at quarterback until he was banged up in a week eighteen loss. Shane Boyd then started the final two games, both against Jacksonville. The Storm ended the regular season with a 52-44 loss at Jacksonville, but had a chance at redemption in the conference semifinals. Boyd had the Storm clicking on all cylinders through the first three quarters, and the defense made a few clutch plays to create a 22-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Everything pointed to a huge upset, but a dismal period that saw Jacksonville rattle off 36 points while holding Tampa Bay to just fourteen allowed the top seed to escape with a 69-62 win that ended the season for the Storm.
The Good from 2013:
- Adrian McPherson's MVP-caliber season through thirteen games
- What the team looked like when they were healthy
- A 5-4 road record
- Ending a two-year playoff drought
- Joe Hills being named to First-Team All Arena
PLAYER STATS
- Adrian McPherson 238-385, 3151 yds, 59 TD, 5 Int; 428 rush yds, 31 TD (13 games)
- Randy Hippeard 111-186, 1310 yds, 24 TD, 4 Int; 10 rush yds, 5 TD (10 games)
- Joe Hills 133 rec, 1861 yds, 42 TD (16 games)
- Michael Lindsey 73 rec, 820 yds, 12 TD; 90 kick-ret, 1537 yds, TD (17 games)
- Greg Ellingson 71 rec, 987 yds, 16 TD (10 games)
- Chris Davis 71 rec, 759 yds, 11 TD (14 games)
- Chris Smith 70.5 tackles, 8 Int (16 games)
- Jean fanor 66.5 tackles, 5 Int, 2 FF, 2 Fumb Rec, Def TD (17 games)
- De'Audra Dix 5 Int, Fumb Rec (7 games)
- Rashad Barksdale 70 tackles, 2 Int, FF, 3 Fumb Rec, Def TD (13 games)
- Vance Cuff 50 tackles, 2 Int, FF, Fumb Rec, Def TD (12 games)
- Juan Bongarra 91-106 PAT, 1-6 FG (29) (17 games)
- Sack Leaders: Pernell Phillips (5), Demarcus Tyler (5), Rodney Beamon (4)
- R.J. Roberts 27 tackles, 3 sack,s 2 FF, 3 Fumb Rec (10 games)
TEAM STATS
- Seventh scoring offense 53.3 ppg
- Fifth rushing offense 28.7 ypg
- Seventh pass offense 258.6 ypg
- Fifth total offense 287.2 ypg
- Seventh pass defense 257 ypg
- Eighth total defense 279.3 ypg
- Fourth pass effciency 112.9
- Third turnover margin +14
- Third red zone offense 81/94
- Fourth red zone defense 83/107
The Bad from 2013:
- Losing the last eight games of the season
- Losing to Jacksonville all three times
- A 2-4 division record
- A 2-7 home record
PLAYER STATS
- All the injuries that derailed both sides of the ball; mainly the season-ending injury to Adrian McPherson
- The loss of Greg Ellingson to the CFL in the first half of the year
TEAM STATS
- Ninth in scoring defense by allowing 54.4 ppg
- 11th in opponent passer efficiency of 108.2
- 11th in opponent 3rd down conversions at 48.9%
- Second-fewest sacks with 18
- Allowed 2nd-most sacks with 51
- Second-worst opponent 4th down conversions 19/35
Final Take:
Tampa Bay's 2013 season looked like a promising one until injuries derailed the team and forced key lineup changes. Adrian McPherson was on pace to capture this year's MVP, but with his season limited to thirteen games we were all deprived of his playmaking ability. Joe Hills continued his climb to the top class of receivers in the AFL, while some young defensive backs also made their name known across the league. Ultimately, this Storm team never gave regardless of who was able to suit up and accomplished their goal of returning to the playoffs.
2013 Finish: 7-12 (2-4 in South), Lost in Conference Semifinals
For more on the Tampa Bay Storm:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflstm/
http://www.tampabaystorm.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff_23.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis_29.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-season-midway-report-south.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
The Storm began the year with a disappointing 64-55 vs. Jacksonville in their opener, but responded by winning their next two games. Through the first part of the season Adrian McPherson dazzled with incredible runs, moves, and plays that had led Tampa Bay to a stretch where they won five of six games and entered week eight with a 5-2 record. The Storm's hot start was cooled in San Jose when a dominate pass rush had its way to neutralize McPherson's versatility and cruised to a 64-34 win. The Storm never regained their dominance from the first month and a half of the season, splitting their next three games after the loss in San Jose and then finishing the regular season with seven straight losses.
Tampa Bay entered June with a 6-4 record, and thanks to a last-second touchdown hookup by McPherson and Joe Hills in Iowa moved them to 7-4. This ended up being the Storm's final win in 2013 as injuries derailed the roster. Two weeks after the thrilling win, Adrian McPherson suffered what ended up being a season-ending leg injury in a week thirteen loss at New Orleans. This was the biggest of many injuries that plagued the Storm defense and turned the receiving core into a revolving door. By season's end the Storm that were 5-2 were a fraction of themselves by seasons' end with a 7-11 finish that earned them the final playoff spot in the American Conference. Despite all the struggles and new faces, Randy Hippeard did a solid job in taking over at quarterback until he was banged up in a week eighteen loss. Shane Boyd then started the final two games, both against Jacksonville. The Storm ended the regular season with a 52-44 loss at Jacksonville, but had a chance at redemption in the conference semifinals. Boyd had the Storm clicking on all cylinders through the first three quarters, and the defense made a few clutch plays to create a 22-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Everything pointed to a huge upset, but a dismal period that saw Jacksonville rattle off 36 points while holding Tampa Bay to just fourteen allowed the top seed to escape with a 69-62 win that ended the season for the Storm.
The Good from 2013:
- Adrian McPherson's MVP-caliber season through thirteen games
- What the team looked like when they were healthy
- A 5-4 road record
- Ending a two-year playoff drought
- Joe Hills being named to First-Team All Arena
PLAYER STATS
- Adrian McPherson 238-385, 3151 yds, 59 TD, 5 Int; 428 rush yds, 31 TD (13 games)
- Randy Hippeard 111-186, 1310 yds, 24 TD, 4 Int; 10 rush yds, 5 TD (10 games)
- Joe Hills 133 rec, 1861 yds, 42 TD (16 games)
- Michael Lindsey 73 rec, 820 yds, 12 TD; 90 kick-ret, 1537 yds, TD (17 games)
- Greg Ellingson 71 rec, 987 yds, 16 TD (10 games)
- Chris Davis 71 rec, 759 yds, 11 TD (14 games)
- Chris Smith 70.5 tackles, 8 Int (16 games)
- Jean fanor 66.5 tackles, 5 Int, 2 FF, 2 Fumb Rec, Def TD (17 games)
- De'Audra Dix 5 Int, Fumb Rec (7 games)
- Rashad Barksdale 70 tackles, 2 Int, FF, 3 Fumb Rec, Def TD (13 games)
- Vance Cuff 50 tackles, 2 Int, FF, Fumb Rec, Def TD (12 games)
- Juan Bongarra 91-106 PAT, 1-6 FG (29) (17 games)
- Sack Leaders: Pernell Phillips (5), Demarcus Tyler (5), Rodney Beamon (4)
- R.J. Roberts 27 tackles, 3 sack,s 2 FF, 3 Fumb Rec (10 games)
TEAM STATS
- Seventh scoring offense 53.3 ppg
- Fifth rushing offense 28.7 ypg
- Seventh pass offense 258.6 ypg
- Fifth total offense 287.2 ypg
- Seventh pass defense 257 ypg
- Eighth total defense 279.3 ypg
- Fourth pass effciency 112.9
- Third turnover margin +14
- Third red zone offense 81/94
- Fourth red zone defense 83/107
The Bad from 2013:
- Losing the last eight games of the season
- Losing to Jacksonville all three times
- A 2-4 division record
- A 2-7 home record
PLAYER STATS
- All the injuries that derailed both sides of the ball; mainly the season-ending injury to Adrian McPherson
- The loss of Greg Ellingson to the CFL in the first half of the year
TEAM STATS
- Ninth in scoring defense by allowing 54.4 ppg
- 11th in opponent passer efficiency of 108.2
- 11th in opponent 3rd down conversions at 48.9%
- Second-fewest sacks with 18
- Allowed 2nd-most sacks with 51
- Second-worst opponent 4th down conversions 19/35
Final Take:
Tampa Bay's 2013 season looked like a promising one until injuries derailed the team and forced key lineup changes. Adrian McPherson was on pace to capture this year's MVP, but with his season limited to thirteen games we were all deprived of his playmaking ability. Joe Hills continued his climb to the top class of receivers in the AFL, while some young defensive backs also made their name known across the league. Ultimately, this Storm team never gave regardless of who was able to suit up and accomplished their goal of returning to the playoffs.
2013 Finish: 7-12 (2-4 in South), Lost in Conference Semifinals
For more on the Tampa Bay Storm:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflstm/
http://www.tampabaystorm.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff_23.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis_29.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-season-midway-report-south.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
2013 Review: Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock came into 2013 with two things on their mind: return to the playoffs and contend for the division. The Shock accomplished both of these goals and put together the AFL's second-best record by going 14-4 in the regular season, and eventually reaching the conference championship.
Spokane's year got off to a great start by winning three straight games on the road. The Shock came home with all kinds of momentum and delighted their fans with a victory over the defending champs, 66-49 in week four. Spokane began the year 5-0, scored at least 66 points in each game, and looked like Arena Football's best team. The hot start cooled off two weeks later in Deaf Valley with a tough 70-62 loss to Tampa Bay. The hot start quickly cooled off after tough losses in Utah and a heartbreaking 83-82 slip up in the Valley against Orlando. All of a sudden Spokane was 5-3 and looked to be in a little rut.
Eventual League MVP, Erik Meyer regrouped the troops and righted the ship by leading Spokane to four straight wins to erase any doubt. Spokane's only loss in the second half of the season came in week thirteen when they traveled to Arizona and came up short in a 59-42 defeat. The Shock responded from the loss by capping off the regular season with five straight wins to head into the playoffs winning nine of ten games in the second half and a remarkable 14-4 record. Normally, fourteen wins would be good enough to earn you a division crown, but when you have the top team in the AFL sitting in your division, its only good enough for the top wild card spot. Spokane's fabulous 2013 season lived on with a 69-47 win in the conference semifinals over Chicago, that provided a great back-and-forth game for 57 minutes until Ruschard Dodd-Masters recorded a pair of interceptions and returned them both for touchdowns to secure the victory. Unfortunately for the faithful of the Valley, Spokane's run ended in a 65-57 defeat at the Snake Pit in the National Conference Championship. In the conference title game the Shock grabbed an early lead but a failed onside kick recovery and three dismal possessions in the third quarter dug too deep a hole, so deep that a quick 15 points in the final 90 seconds wasn't enough to save Spokane. Even though Spokane came as close as they did to reaching the Arena Bowl, the Shock had an amazing 2013 season. Erik Meyer easily established himself as an elite Arena quarterback, Adron Tennell cemented himself in the elite crop of receivers, and the defense has a great core in tact that features playmakers such as James Ruffin, Beau Bell, Terrance Sanders, and Paul Stephens. As long as Andy Olsen can keep this bunch together than the Shock should be at the top of the AFL for a while.
The Good from 2013:
- A home record of 7-2
- A road record of 7-2
- A pair of five-game win streaks and a four-game win streak
- The 66-49 win over Arizona in week four
- A season sweep of San Jose
- Returning to the playoffs and reaching the conference championship
- Erik Meyer winning AFL Offensive Player of the Year and AFL MVP
- Adron Tennell winning Wide Receiver of the Year
- Three first team All-Arena selections
PLAYER STATS
- Erik Meyer 403-591, 4667 yds, 112 TD, 11 Int; 120 rush yds, 15 TD (18 games)
- Arvell Nelson 16-20, 162 yds, 5 TD; 24 rush yds, 4 TD; 9 rec, 67 yds, 6 TD (17 games)
- Adron Tennell 156 rec, 1792 yds, 49 TD; 77 rush yds, 7 TD (18 games)
- Kamar Jorden 95 rec, 1087 yds, 26 TD (17 games)
- Brandon Thompkins 65 rec, 913 yds, 16 TD (11 games)
- Duane Brooks 35 rec, 316 yds, 6 TD (8 games)
- Terrance Sanders 101 tackles, 7 Int, FF, 2 Fumb Rec, 3 Def TD;96 kick-ret, 2265 yds, 6 TD (18 games)
- Paul Stephens 77.5 tackles, 12 Int, Fumb Rec, 4 Def TD (14 games)
- James Ruffin 22.5 tackles, 8 sacks, FF (17 games)
- Terence Moore 67 tackles, sack, 3 Int, 2 FF, 5 Fumb Rec, 4 Def TD (17 games)
- Beau Bell 70 tackles, 8.5 sacks, Int, 2 Fumb Rec, block (17 games)
- Terrence Taylor 7 sacks, Int, 7 FF, 3 Fumb Rec, 2 Def TD (17 games)
- Taylor Rowan 81-95 PAT, 1-2 FG (28) (10 games)
TEAM STATS
- Second scoring offense at 66.6 ppg
- Fifth pass offense at 264.4 ypg
- Seventh in total offense with 279.1 ypg
- Best in kick returns: 104 ret, 2335 yds (22.5 y/return), 8 TD
- Best pass efficiency with 123.8
- Second with a turnover margin of +32
- Fifth in opposing passer efficiency of 97.2
- Second 3rd down conversions at 55.4%
- Fourth with 33 sacks
- Allowed 2nd-fewest sacks with 14
- Second 4th down conversions, converting 17/29 attempts
- Best red zone offense, converting 89/99 attempts
The Bad from 2013:
- Following a 5-0 start with three straight losses
- An 83-82 loss vs. Orlando; even though this was one of the best games all season
PLAYER STATS
- Even injuries early in the season allowed Spokane to retool and improve their receiving core
- Small injuries also inspire the acquisition of Ruschard Dodd-Masters, who single-handedly sent Spokane to the conference championship
TEAM STATS
- Fourth-worst rush offense 14.7 ypg
- Last ranked pass defense 297.5 ypg
- Last in total defense 319.8 ypg
- Allowed most first downs 378
- Second-most penalized team 1071 yds, 59.5 ypg
- Second-worst red zone defense allowed 72/84
Final Take:
The Shock had a phenomenal 2013 season that landed many individual awards and accolades, along with a run to the conference championship. Erik Meyer earned League MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, while his top target Adron Tennell earned Wide Receiver of the Year honors. The Shock also brought Brandon Thompkins back in the middle of the season and got a solid ten games from him and found a playmaker in Kamar Jorden, who had a breakout rookie season. Even though Spokane's defensive numbers didn't impress, the Shock won their games by winning the turnover battle and making impromptu plays. Terrance Sanders is the AFL's top return man and Paul Stephens made interceptions in bunches. The only thing missing from this season was a trip to, let alone a win in the Arena Bowl for Spokane.
2013 Finish: 15-5 (4-2 in West), Lost in Conference Championship
For more on the Spokane Shock:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflshk/
http://www.spokaneshock.com/splash/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff-wild.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-midway-report-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-championship.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
Spokane's year got off to a great start by winning three straight games on the road. The Shock came home with all kinds of momentum and delighted their fans with a victory over the defending champs, 66-49 in week four. Spokane began the year 5-0, scored at least 66 points in each game, and looked like Arena Football's best team. The hot start cooled off two weeks later in Deaf Valley with a tough 70-62 loss to Tampa Bay. The hot start quickly cooled off after tough losses in Utah and a heartbreaking 83-82 slip up in the Valley against Orlando. All of a sudden Spokane was 5-3 and looked to be in a little rut.
Eventual League MVP, Erik Meyer regrouped the troops and righted the ship by leading Spokane to four straight wins to erase any doubt. Spokane's only loss in the second half of the season came in week thirteen when they traveled to Arizona and came up short in a 59-42 defeat. The Shock responded from the loss by capping off the regular season with five straight wins to head into the playoffs winning nine of ten games in the second half and a remarkable 14-4 record. Normally, fourteen wins would be good enough to earn you a division crown, but when you have the top team in the AFL sitting in your division, its only good enough for the top wild card spot. Spokane's fabulous 2013 season lived on with a 69-47 win in the conference semifinals over Chicago, that provided a great back-and-forth game for 57 minutes until Ruschard Dodd-Masters recorded a pair of interceptions and returned them both for touchdowns to secure the victory. Unfortunately for the faithful of the Valley, Spokane's run ended in a 65-57 defeat at the Snake Pit in the National Conference Championship. In the conference title game the Shock grabbed an early lead but a failed onside kick recovery and three dismal possessions in the third quarter dug too deep a hole, so deep that a quick 15 points in the final 90 seconds wasn't enough to save Spokane. Even though Spokane came as close as they did to reaching the Arena Bowl, the Shock had an amazing 2013 season. Erik Meyer easily established himself as an elite Arena quarterback, Adron Tennell cemented himself in the elite crop of receivers, and the defense has a great core in tact that features playmakers such as James Ruffin, Beau Bell, Terrance Sanders, and Paul Stephens. As long as Andy Olsen can keep this bunch together than the Shock should be at the top of the AFL for a while.
The Good from 2013:
- A home record of 7-2
- A road record of 7-2
- A pair of five-game win streaks and a four-game win streak
- The 66-49 win over Arizona in week four
- A season sweep of San Jose
- Returning to the playoffs and reaching the conference championship
- Erik Meyer winning AFL Offensive Player of the Year and AFL MVP
- Adron Tennell winning Wide Receiver of the Year
- Three first team All-Arena selections
PLAYER STATS
- Erik Meyer 403-591, 4667 yds, 112 TD, 11 Int; 120 rush yds, 15 TD (18 games)
- Arvell Nelson 16-20, 162 yds, 5 TD; 24 rush yds, 4 TD; 9 rec, 67 yds, 6 TD (17 games)
- Adron Tennell 156 rec, 1792 yds, 49 TD; 77 rush yds, 7 TD (18 games)
- Kamar Jorden 95 rec, 1087 yds, 26 TD (17 games)
- Brandon Thompkins 65 rec, 913 yds, 16 TD (11 games)
- Duane Brooks 35 rec, 316 yds, 6 TD (8 games)
- Terrance Sanders 101 tackles, 7 Int, FF, 2 Fumb Rec, 3 Def TD;96 kick-ret, 2265 yds, 6 TD (18 games)
- Paul Stephens 77.5 tackles, 12 Int, Fumb Rec, 4 Def TD (14 games)
- James Ruffin 22.5 tackles, 8 sacks, FF (17 games)
- Terence Moore 67 tackles, sack, 3 Int, 2 FF, 5 Fumb Rec, 4 Def TD (17 games)
- Beau Bell 70 tackles, 8.5 sacks, Int, 2 Fumb Rec, block (17 games)
- Terrence Taylor 7 sacks, Int, 7 FF, 3 Fumb Rec, 2 Def TD (17 games)
- Taylor Rowan 81-95 PAT, 1-2 FG (28) (10 games)
TEAM STATS
- Second scoring offense at 66.6 ppg
- Fifth pass offense at 264.4 ypg
- Seventh in total offense with 279.1 ypg
- Best in kick returns: 104 ret, 2335 yds (22.5 y/return), 8 TD
- Best pass efficiency with 123.8
- Second with a turnover margin of +32
- Fifth in opposing passer efficiency of 97.2
- Second 3rd down conversions at 55.4%
- Fourth with 33 sacks
- Allowed 2nd-fewest sacks with 14
- Second 4th down conversions, converting 17/29 attempts
- Best red zone offense, converting 89/99 attempts
The Bad from 2013:
- Following a 5-0 start with three straight losses
- An 83-82 loss vs. Orlando; even though this was one of the best games all season
PLAYER STATS
- Even injuries early in the season allowed Spokane to retool and improve their receiving core
- Small injuries also inspire the acquisition of Ruschard Dodd-Masters, who single-handedly sent Spokane to the conference championship
TEAM STATS
- Fourth-worst rush offense 14.7 ypg
- Last ranked pass defense 297.5 ypg
- Last in total defense 319.8 ypg
- Allowed most first downs 378
- Second-most penalized team 1071 yds, 59.5 ypg
- Second-worst red zone defense allowed 72/84
Final Take:
The Shock had a phenomenal 2013 season that landed many individual awards and accolades, along with a run to the conference championship. Erik Meyer earned League MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, while his top target Adron Tennell earned Wide Receiver of the Year honors. The Shock also brought Brandon Thompkins back in the middle of the season and got a solid ten games from him and found a playmaker in Kamar Jorden, who had a breakout rookie season. Even though Spokane's defensive numbers didn't impress, the Shock won their games by winning the turnover battle and making impromptu plays. Terrance Sanders is the AFL's top return man and Paul Stephens made interceptions in bunches. The only thing missing from this season was a trip to, let alone a win in the Arena Bowl for Spokane.
2013 Finish: 15-5 (4-2 in West), Lost in Conference Championship
For more on the Spokane Shock:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflshk/
http://www.spokaneshock.com/splash/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff-wild.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-midway-report-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-championship.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
Monday, August 19, 2013
2013 Review: San Jose SaberCats
San Jose entered 2013 with a new signal caller for the first time in over a decade after Mark Grieb announced his retirement. For the first month of the season Darren Arbet planned to rely on Aaron Garcia to lead the offense, but after 13 interceptions in four games a change was needed for a 2-2 team.
Russ Michna was signed at the beginning of week six and Garcia was traded to Orlando to set the new direction of the 'Cats offense. Michna came and fit right in, leading San Jose to a five-game winning streak that had them right in the mix in the west division for first place. His addition to the team not only improved the offense but also seemed to spark the defense, which ended up finishing the year in the top four of most statistical categories. San Jose entered Spokane with a 7-2 record, but saw their five-game win streak come to an end when they lost 75-45 in an ugly performance. The 'Cats split their next two games to enter a pivotal matchup with Arizona at 8-4. With the season hanging in the balance Russ Michna put on one of his best performances of the year to match a dominating performance from the pass rush and a big night by Clevan Thomas to pull of one of the surprises of the season, a 72-42 victory. San Jose road the momentum from the big win over their storied rivals and went on to win their next three games, which was capped off with a 78-20 demolition of Pittsburgh in week 17. The SaberCats split their last two home games of the regular season, closing it out with a 65-40 win vs. Chicago in week 19 to finish with a 13-5 record and easily claim the National Conference's second wild card spot. The finish setup a Conference Semifinal against Arizona for the second straight season.
The start of San Jose's dominant run in 2013 can be credited to the acquisition of Russ Michna, but the defense was the most cohesive of the three units. Clevan Thomas, Ken Fontenette, and J.C. Neal spearheaded the secondary, while Huey Whittaker and Francis Maka each had outstanding years in the middle of the defense. The front three also did a fantastic job in racking up 41 sacks, which was second in the AFL. The SaberCats also benefited from a career years by Jason Willis and Fred Williams in the pass game. The Sabercats entered the Snake Pit with the tools to upset Arizona, but came up just a little short. After failing to pickup a first down on the game's opening drive, Russ Michna kept the 'Cats in reach and with the playmaking of Clevan Thomas and Huey Whittaker, San Jose held a late third quarter lead. The chance of an upset rolled away in the fourth quarter on a red zone fumble, that happened on the second play of the period, and when a later kickoff took an unfavorable bounce of the rebound net and ended up being a Arizona net recovery. The SaberCats season ended at the hands of their long-time rivals in a disappointing 59-49 fashion.
The Good from 2013:
- 13 wins and a second consecutive playoff berth
- A 72-42 win vs. Arizona in week fourteen
- An 8-2 home record
- A 5-3 road record
- Clevan Thomas winning both AFL Defensive Player of the Year and AFL Defensive Back of the Year
- 6 All-Arena selections
PLAYER STATS
- Russ Michna 249-387, 3116 yds, 68 TD, 8 Int; 4 Rush TD (13 games)
- Jamarko Simmons 22 rush, 38 yds, 8 TD; 33 rec, 401 yds, 9 TD (10 games)
- Jabari Fletcher 6 sacks, 2 Fumb Rec, Int, safety; 21 rush, 45 yds, 9 TD (15 games)
- Jason Willis 123 rec, 1606 yds, 35 TD (18 games)
- Fred Williams 96 rec, 1207 yds, 21 TD; 45 kick-ret, 895 yds, 2 TD (13 games)
- Huey Whittaker 89 rec, 998 yds, 27 TD; 65.5 tackles, 6 Int, 2 FF, Fumb Rec, 5 Def TD (17 games)
- James Roe 12 rec, 135 yds, 5 TD (2 games)
- Clevan Thomas 74 tackles, 15 Int, FF, 2 Fumb Rec, 6 Def TD (18 games)
- Ken Fontenette 107 tackles, 3 Int, 2 Fumb Rec 2 Def TD (15 games)
- J.C. Neal 96.5 tackles, Int, 4 FF (18 games)
- Francis Maka 11.5 sacks, FF, Fumb Rec, 2 blocks (16 games)
- Jason Stewart 11 sacks, 3 FF, 4 Fumb Rec, Int (18 games)
- Terrance Carter 6.5 sacks, FF, 2 blocks, safety (13 games)
- Nich Pertuit 122-137 PAT, 3-5 FG (37) (18 games)
TEAM STATS
- Fourth scoring offense 57.4 ppg - Third scoring defense 48.7 ppg
- Best rush defense 14.9 ypg
- Fourth pass offense 268.6 ypg
- Sixth total offense 279.2 ypg
- Fourth best defense 240.6 ypg
- Second best total defense 255.5 ypg
- Fifth in pass efficiency 109.3
- Fourth best turnover margin +10
- Second best opposing passer efficiency 89.4
- Fifth in 3rd down conversions 50/102
- Allowed lowest 3rd down conversion rate (50/141)
- Second sacks with 41- Fourth red zone offense 76/90
- Fifth red zone defense 66/85
The Bad from 2013:- Getting swept by Spokane
- Losing to Arizona 73-47 in week three
- Getting eliminated by Arizona for the second straight season
PLAYER STATS
- Garcia's 13 interceptions in the first four games
- Jamarko Simmons' missing half the season with nagging injuries
TEAM STATS
- Second-worst rush offense, 10.6 ypg
- Third-worst opponents 4th down conversions at 53.3%
Final Take:
The SaberCats 2013 season got off to a slow start, but after Russ Michna joined the squad and things went in the right direction. Michna's presence fit smoothly with Jason Willis and Fred Williams, and the defense raised its level. Clevan Thomas put together a special season with 15 interceptions and six return touchdowns to lead the AFL in both categories and highlight a talented defense that recorded 41 sacks. Huey Whittaker spent significant amount of time on each side of the ball and that represented the old days of "Ironman Football." This year will go down as a successful campaign and if Darren Arbet chooses to keep this core together than the 'Cats should be poised for an Arena Bowl run next year.
2013 Finish: 13-6 (3-3 in West), Lost in Conference Semifinals
For more on the San Jose Sabercats:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflsbc/
http://thesanjosesabercats.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff-wild.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-midway-report-west.htmlhttp://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
Russ Michna was signed at the beginning of week six and Garcia was traded to Orlando to set the new direction of the 'Cats offense. Michna came and fit right in, leading San Jose to a five-game winning streak that had them right in the mix in the west division for first place. His addition to the team not only improved the offense but also seemed to spark the defense, which ended up finishing the year in the top four of most statistical categories. San Jose entered Spokane with a 7-2 record, but saw their five-game win streak come to an end when they lost 75-45 in an ugly performance. The 'Cats split their next two games to enter a pivotal matchup with Arizona at 8-4. With the season hanging in the balance Russ Michna put on one of his best performances of the year to match a dominating performance from the pass rush and a big night by Clevan Thomas to pull of one of the surprises of the season, a 72-42 victory. San Jose road the momentum from the big win over their storied rivals and went on to win their next three games, which was capped off with a 78-20 demolition of Pittsburgh in week 17. The SaberCats split their last two home games of the regular season, closing it out with a 65-40 win vs. Chicago in week 19 to finish with a 13-5 record and easily claim the National Conference's second wild card spot. The finish setup a Conference Semifinal against Arizona for the second straight season.
The start of San Jose's dominant run in 2013 can be credited to the acquisition of Russ Michna, but the defense was the most cohesive of the three units. Clevan Thomas, Ken Fontenette, and J.C. Neal spearheaded the secondary, while Huey Whittaker and Francis Maka each had outstanding years in the middle of the defense. The front three also did a fantastic job in racking up 41 sacks, which was second in the AFL. The SaberCats also benefited from a career years by Jason Willis and Fred Williams in the pass game. The Sabercats entered the Snake Pit with the tools to upset Arizona, but came up just a little short. After failing to pickup a first down on the game's opening drive, Russ Michna kept the 'Cats in reach and with the playmaking of Clevan Thomas and Huey Whittaker, San Jose held a late third quarter lead. The chance of an upset rolled away in the fourth quarter on a red zone fumble, that happened on the second play of the period, and when a later kickoff took an unfavorable bounce of the rebound net and ended up being a Arizona net recovery. The SaberCats season ended at the hands of their long-time rivals in a disappointing 59-49 fashion.
The Good from 2013:
- 13 wins and a second consecutive playoff berth
- A 72-42 win vs. Arizona in week fourteen
- An 8-2 home record
- A 5-3 road record
- Clevan Thomas winning both AFL Defensive Player of the Year and AFL Defensive Back of the Year
- 6 All-Arena selections
PLAYER STATS
- Russ Michna 249-387, 3116 yds, 68 TD, 8 Int; 4 Rush TD (13 games)
- Jamarko Simmons 22 rush, 38 yds, 8 TD; 33 rec, 401 yds, 9 TD (10 games)
- Jabari Fletcher 6 sacks, 2 Fumb Rec, Int, safety; 21 rush, 45 yds, 9 TD (15 games)
- Jason Willis 123 rec, 1606 yds, 35 TD (18 games)
- Fred Williams 96 rec, 1207 yds, 21 TD; 45 kick-ret, 895 yds, 2 TD (13 games)
- Huey Whittaker 89 rec, 998 yds, 27 TD; 65.5 tackles, 6 Int, 2 FF, Fumb Rec, 5 Def TD (17 games)
- James Roe 12 rec, 135 yds, 5 TD (2 games)
- Clevan Thomas 74 tackles, 15 Int, FF, 2 Fumb Rec, 6 Def TD (18 games)
- Ken Fontenette 107 tackles, 3 Int, 2 Fumb Rec 2 Def TD (15 games)
- J.C. Neal 96.5 tackles, Int, 4 FF (18 games)
- Francis Maka 11.5 sacks, FF, Fumb Rec, 2 blocks (16 games)
- Jason Stewart 11 sacks, 3 FF, 4 Fumb Rec, Int (18 games)
- Terrance Carter 6.5 sacks, FF, 2 blocks, safety (13 games)
- Nich Pertuit 122-137 PAT, 3-5 FG (37) (18 games)
TEAM STATS
- Fourth scoring offense 57.4 ppg - Third scoring defense 48.7 ppg
- Best rush defense 14.9 ypg
- Fourth pass offense 268.6 ypg
- Sixth total offense 279.2 ypg
- Fourth best defense 240.6 ypg
- Second best total defense 255.5 ypg
- Fifth in pass efficiency 109.3
- Fourth best turnover margin +10
- Second best opposing passer efficiency 89.4
- Fifth in 3rd down conversions 50/102
- Allowed lowest 3rd down conversion rate (50/141)
- Second sacks with 41- Fourth red zone offense 76/90
- Fifth red zone defense 66/85
The Bad from 2013:- Getting swept by Spokane
- Losing to Arizona 73-47 in week three
- Getting eliminated by Arizona for the second straight season
PLAYER STATS
- Garcia's 13 interceptions in the first four games
- Jamarko Simmons' missing half the season with nagging injuries
TEAM STATS
- Second-worst rush offense, 10.6 ypg
- Third-worst opponents 4th down conversions at 53.3%
Final Take:
The SaberCats 2013 season got off to a slow start, but after Russ Michna joined the squad and things went in the right direction. Michna's presence fit smoothly with Jason Willis and Fred Williams, and the defense raised its level. Clevan Thomas put together a special season with 15 interceptions and six return touchdowns to lead the AFL in both categories and highlight a talented defense that recorded 41 sacks. Huey Whittaker spent significant amount of time on each side of the ball and that represented the old days of "Ironman Football." This year will go down as a successful campaign and if Darren Arbet chooses to keep this core together than the 'Cats should be poised for an Arena Bowl run next year.
2013 Finish: 13-6 (3-3 in West), Lost in Conference Semifinals
For more on the San Jose Sabercats:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflsbc/
http://thesanjosesabercats.com/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff-wild.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-midway-report-west.htmlhttp://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-west.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
2013 Review: Chicago Rush
The Chicago Rush entered 2013 with desires to return to the postseason after missing the playoffs for the first time in franchise history in 2012. Amidst turmoil in the front office, being taken over by the League, and having to play eight home games in Rockford, Illinois the Rush overcame it all to win the central division and return to the postseason.
The Rush's 2013 campaign got off to a slow start when they dropped their first two games, both at home, by a combined score of 139-102. Things quickly turned in the right direction when Chicago reeled off four consecutive wins that were highlighted by a thrilling 64-63 overtime victory in Iowa. Entering week seven the Rush sat alone in first place with a 4-2 record and was riding a wave of momentum, but suddenly the tide calmed as they lost three in a row to fall to 4-5 and enter week ten in the middle of a three-team race for the central division. The inconsistency of the first half of the season fortunately vanished and turned into consistent playmaking from the defense and Carson Coffman establishing himself as an Arena Football quarterback, which allowed Chicago to win six of their nine games in the second half and finish with a ten-win season. During a 6-3 second half the Rush impressed with wins at Tampa Bay and Arizona in weeks fourteen and eighteen, and earned the franchise another central division crown via a greater point spread vs. common opponents than their San Antonio. The key reasons for the Rush's success came from Carson Coffman gaining a grip on the game, the emergence of Jared Jenkins, and of course having one of the most exciting players in the AFL, Reggie Gray as your "do it all" man. The defense also was sparked by Jorrick Calvin, Vic Hall, and Kelvin Morris who all made key plays night in and night out to earn game-changing stops.
Chicago's 10-8 record paired them with Spokane in a National Conference Semifinal matchup. Despite being a division champ the home-field issue forced the Rush on the road for the game. The hostile Spokane crowd was the least of Chicago's problems, as Jose Martinez was injured in the team's final walk through, as a result he did not play in the playoff game, and Coffman was unable to go because of a nagging shoulder injury. For 57 minutes it looked like the Rush might be able to overcome these obstacles and pull the upset, but Luke Drone's solid performance was marked up with a pair of pick-sixes by Ruschard Dodd-Masters that secured Spokane's spot in the conference championship and ended the Rush's season.
The Good from 2013:
- A 7-3 road record
- Pulling out two one-point victories on the road (Iowa in week six and Tampa Bay week 14)
- Fighting through all the ridiculous adversity to win the division and ten games
- Winning the Central Division
- Being the ONLY team to win in the Snake Pit this year (at Arizona) 63-42 in week 18
- Reggie Gray named as the J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Year
- Reggie Gray as the lone All Arena selection
-Bob McMillen being named AFL Coach of the Year
PLAYER STATS
- Carson Coffman 283-467, 3583 TD, 17 Int; 56 rush yds, 9 TD (16 games)
- J.J. Payne 76 rush, 161 yds, 13 TD; 14 rec, 143 yds, 2 TD (17 games)
- Reggie Gray 140 rec, 1978 yds, 46 TD; 20 pass yds, 2 TD; 50 kick-ret, 1145 yds, 3 TD (18 games)
- Jared Jenkins 81 rec, 936 yds, 22 TD (15 games)
- Rodney Wright 48 rec, 552 yds, 15 Total TD (8 games)
- Taurus Johnson 16 rec, 229 yds, 5 TD (8 games)
- Vic Hall 90.5 tackles, FF, 8 Int (16 games)
- Jorrick Calvin 94.5 tackles, 0.5 sack, 5 Int, 2 Fumb Rec, Def TD, Kick-ret TD (15 games)
- Kelvin Morris 39.5 tackles, sack, 2 Int, 2 Fumb Rec, 2 Def TD (18 games)
- Tyus Jackson 17 tackles, 6.5 sacks, Fumb Rec, Blocked PAT (17 games)
- Jose Martinez 119-132 PAT, 2-12 FG (27) (18 games)TEAM STATS
- Fifth in scoring offense with 54.1 ppg
- Second in kick returns: 2207 yards, 8 TD (20.8 y/return)
- Fourth in first downs with 359- Allowed the 6th-fewest sacks with 22
- Least-penalized team (113 penalties, 37.9 ypg)
- Best 4th down conversions 65% (26/40)
The Bad from 2013:
- All the ownership issues, being kicked out of Allstate Arena, and having the League take over operations
- A "home" record of 3-5
- The ugly rumors that the Rush will not play in 2014, and can possibly be on the move to Portland
PLAYER STATS
- The fact that Rodney Wright was limited to just eight games because of injury
- Having to see Jorrick Calvin suffer two major injuries this season; never would wish that on any player
TEAM STATS
- 8th by allowing 52.6 ppg
- 10th in total offense with 270.6 ypg
- 12th in pass defense by allowing 271.1 ypg
- 11th in total defense by allowing 294.2 ypg
- Fourth-worst 3rd down conversions 39.1%
- 9th with 24 sacks
- Third-worst red zone defense, opponents scored on 77/92 possessions
Final Take:
The Rush overcame many obstacles this season en route to winning the central division and returning to the playoffs. Chicago may not have an Arena Football team for next season, but if that's the case this year's team at least left one final positive for the Chicago Rush that we knew. Reggie Gray had a season that earned him Second-Team All Arena Offense and will keep him among the AFL's elite. Carson Coffman made major strides and the defense jelled in the last part of the season. It will be interesting in the coming weeks to see what is to become of the franchise, but to finish on a positive the Rush's 2013 season was a perfect demonstration of how to beat tough times and find success.
2013 Finish: 10-9 (2-2 in Central), Central Division Champs, Lost in Conference Semifinals
For more on the Chicago Rush:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflrush/
http://www.arenarush.com/home/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-midway-report-central.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-central.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
The Rush's 2013 campaign got off to a slow start when they dropped their first two games, both at home, by a combined score of 139-102. Things quickly turned in the right direction when Chicago reeled off four consecutive wins that were highlighted by a thrilling 64-63 overtime victory in Iowa. Entering week seven the Rush sat alone in first place with a 4-2 record and was riding a wave of momentum, but suddenly the tide calmed as they lost three in a row to fall to 4-5 and enter week ten in the middle of a three-team race for the central division. The inconsistency of the first half of the season fortunately vanished and turned into consistent playmaking from the defense and Carson Coffman establishing himself as an Arena Football quarterback, which allowed Chicago to win six of their nine games in the second half and finish with a ten-win season. During a 6-3 second half the Rush impressed with wins at Tampa Bay and Arizona in weeks fourteen and eighteen, and earned the franchise another central division crown via a greater point spread vs. common opponents than their San Antonio. The key reasons for the Rush's success came from Carson Coffman gaining a grip on the game, the emergence of Jared Jenkins, and of course having one of the most exciting players in the AFL, Reggie Gray as your "do it all" man. The defense also was sparked by Jorrick Calvin, Vic Hall, and Kelvin Morris who all made key plays night in and night out to earn game-changing stops.
Chicago's 10-8 record paired them with Spokane in a National Conference Semifinal matchup. Despite being a division champ the home-field issue forced the Rush on the road for the game. The hostile Spokane crowd was the least of Chicago's problems, as Jose Martinez was injured in the team's final walk through, as a result he did not play in the playoff game, and Coffman was unable to go because of a nagging shoulder injury. For 57 minutes it looked like the Rush might be able to overcome these obstacles and pull the upset, but Luke Drone's solid performance was marked up with a pair of pick-sixes by Ruschard Dodd-Masters that secured Spokane's spot in the conference championship and ended the Rush's season.
The Good from 2013:
- A 7-3 road record
- Pulling out two one-point victories on the road (Iowa in week six and Tampa Bay week 14)
- Fighting through all the ridiculous adversity to win the division and ten games
- Winning the Central Division
- Being the ONLY team to win in the Snake Pit this year (at Arizona) 63-42 in week 18
- Reggie Gray named as the J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Year
- Reggie Gray as the lone All Arena selection
-Bob McMillen being named AFL Coach of the Year
PLAYER STATS
- Carson Coffman 283-467, 3583 TD, 17 Int; 56 rush yds, 9 TD (16 games)
- J.J. Payne 76 rush, 161 yds, 13 TD; 14 rec, 143 yds, 2 TD (17 games)
- Reggie Gray 140 rec, 1978 yds, 46 TD; 20 pass yds, 2 TD; 50 kick-ret, 1145 yds, 3 TD (18 games)
- Jared Jenkins 81 rec, 936 yds, 22 TD (15 games)
- Rodney Wright 48 rec, 552 yds, 15 Total TD (8 games)
- Taurus Johnson 16 rec, 229 yds, 5 TD (8 games)
- Vic Hall 90.5 tackles, FF, 8 Int (16 games)
- Jorrick Calvin 94.5 tackles, 0.5 sack, 5 Int, 2 Fumb Rec, Def TD, Kick-ret TD (15 games)
- Kelvin Morris 39.5 tackles, sack, 2 Int, 2 Fumb Rec, 2 Def TD (18 games)
- Tyus Jackson 17 tackles, 6.5 sacks, Fumb Rec, Blocked PAT (17 games)
- Jose Martinez 119-132 PAT, 2-12 FG (27) (18 games)TEAM STATS
- Fifth in scoring offense with 54.1 ppg
- Second in kick returns: 2207 yards, 8 TD (20.8 y/return)
- Fourth in first downs with 359- Allowed the 6th-fewest sacks with 22
- Least-penalized team (113 penalties, 37.9 ypg)
- Best 4th down conversions 65% (26/40)
The Bad from 2013:
- All the ownership issues, being kicked out of Allstate Arena, and having the League take over operations
- A "home" record of 3-5
- The ugly rumors that the Rush will not play in 2014, and can possibly be on the move to Portland
PLAYER STATS
- The fact that Rodney Wright was limited to just eight games because of injury
- Having to see Jorrick Calvin suffer two major injuries this season; never would wish that on any player
TEAM STATS
- 8th by allowing 52.6 ppg
- 10th in total offense with 270.6 ypg
- 12th in pass defense by allowing 271.1 ypg
- 11th in total defense by allowing 294.2 ypg
- Fourth-worst 3rd down conversions 39.1%
- 9th with 24 sacks
- Third-worst red zone defense, opponents scored on 77/92 possessions
Final Take:
The Rush overcame many obstacles this season en route to winning the central division and returning to the playoffs. Chicago may not have an Arena Football team for next season, but if that's the case this year's team at least left one final positive for the Chicago Rush that we knew. Reggie Gray had a season that earned him Second-Team All Arena Offense and will keep him among the AFL's elite. Carson Coffman made major strides and the defense jelled in the last part of the season. It will be interesting in the coming weeks to see what is to become of the franchise, but to finish on a positive the Rush's 2013 season was a perfect demonstration of how to beat tough times and find success.
2013 Finish: 10-9 (2-2 in Central), Central Division Champs, Lost in Conference Semifinals
For more on the Chicago Rush:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflrush/
http://www.arenarush.com/home/
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/03/2013-arena-football-season-kickoff.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-afl-season-frist-quarter-anaylsis.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/06/2013-afl-midway-report-central.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/07/afl-turning-into-home-stretch-central.html
http://nicksblogofsports.blogspot.com/2013/08/afl-playoffs-conference-semifinals-recap.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Arena Bowl XXVI Preview
It's finally here, Arena Bowl XXVI is less than 48 hours away! After all the fun, high-flying action, and parody only two teams earned their tickets to Orlando. For the second year in a row it will be the Arizona Rattlers and the Philadelphia Soul battling for Arena Football's most glamorous prize, the James F. Foster trophy. Will the Soul avenge last year's loss, or will Arizona complete the repeat!?
Arena Bowl XXVI:
Arizona Rattlers vs. Philadelphia Soul - Saturday, August 17th at 1 p.m. EST on CBS
The Rattlers and Soul will do battle on Arena Football's biggest stage for the second consecutive year, with this championship game being held in Orlando. Both teams claimed their 2013 conference crown with dominating performances. The Soul forced a few early turnovers and recovered a key onside kick in the final of the first half which led to a commanding 40-21 halftime lead, that ended up being a 75-59 victory over Jacksonville to win their second straight American Conference title. Arizona hosted and won the National Conference championship for the third season in a row when they scored 37 unanswered points to turn an early 35-21 deficit into a 58-35 fourth quarter lead, and despite a late rally by Spokane held on to get the 65-57 win. This will be the fourth meeting between the two in a thirteen-month span, Arizona has won all three meetings which includes Arena Bowl XXV. Philadelphia and Arizona met two times during the regular season, both resulting in Rattler wins: 66-52 in week one and 64-57 in week eleven. Can the Soul finally break through, or will the Rattlers claim their second straight title, and fourth in team history!?
Keys to the Game:
Arizona:
- Protect Nick Davila, keep the pocket clean and don't allow Bryan Robinson or Brandon Perkins cause any havoc.
- Third Arena Bowl in as many years, use this experience and take the cease the moment.
- The "Big Three" of Virgil Gray, Marquis Floyd, and Arkeith Brown to make a difference and snag one or two of Dan Raudabaugh's passes.
- Jeremy Kellem who has been excellent at the jack all year, and has been a huge factor in these playoffs to pick up were he left off.
- Win in the trenches and don't allow Derrick Ross to get going.
- Avoid the early turnover, when this team has struggled this year, not very often, but when they have its because one turnover multiplies into two or three, play a clean game on offense.
Philadelphia:
- Your offensive line has only allowed seven sacks all season, don't change now.
- Dan Raudabaugh needs to prove on the AFL's big stage that he is an elite quarterback, no interceptions and a high completion percentage will do the trick.
- Derrick "the Boss" Ross needs to have a big day both rushing the ball and catching screen pass, a repeat of his four-touchdown performance in the conference championship would be huge.
- For Rayshaun Kizer, James Romain, and LaRico Stevenson to play their best game of the season and make a case as the AFL's best secondary.
- Bryan Robinson has been one of the top pass rushers in the League the last couple years, he will need to be a one-man wrecking crew up front.
- Force Arizona into an early turnover or stop on downs, another pick-six by Joe Goosby could come in handy (he had one in the week eleven loss).
Tale of the Tape:
Arizona Rattlers: 17-3 (6-2 West)
- West Division Champs
- Defeated San Jose in conference semifinals 59-49
- Defeated Spokane in conference championship 65-57
- 8-2 record since June
- Notable wins: season sweep of Philadelphia (wks. 1&11), @Jacksonville (wk.7), @Chicago (wk 9), Spokane (wk. 13), and season sweep of Orlando (wks. 6&16)
- Won in Orlando (84-56) in week 16
- 8th Arena Bowl appearance, third straight
- 3-time AFL Champion (Arena Bowls VIII, XI, and XXV)
- 3-4 record in Arena Bowl
Key Stats:
- Nick Davila 353-541, 4847 yds, 110 TD, 15 Int; 6 rush TD
- Odie Armstrong 72 rush, 171 yds, 25 TD; 13 rec, 190 yds, 2 TD
- Rod Windsor 110 rec, 1590 yds, 42 TD
- Kerry Reed 70 rec, 961 yds, 24 TD
- Maurice Purify 51 rec, 740 yds, 9 TD
- Tysson Poots 45 rec, 533 yds, 18 TD
- Virgil Gray 15 Int, 4 ret-TD, 93 tackles
- Arkeith Brown 8 Int, 4 ret-TD, 79.5 tackles, sack
- Marquis Floyd 9 Int, 1 ret-TD, 81 tackles
- Marcus Pittman leads team with 6.5 sacks
- Garrett Lindholm 7-12 FG, Long (47); 158-168 PAT
Playoff Stats:
- Nick Davila 45-77, 527 yds, 15 TD, Int
- Odie Armstrong 8 rush, 27 yds, TD; 2 rec, 26 yds, TD
- Rod Windsor 16 rec, 191 yds, 5 TD; 41 rush yds
- Tysson Poots 15 rec, 156 yds, 5 TD
- Maurice Purify 12 rec, 154 yds, 4 TD
- Arkeith Brown 6 kick-ret, 152 yds, TD
- Garrett Lindholm 16-17 PAT, 2-5 FG (26)
- Marquis Floyd 13 tackles
- Jeremy Kellem 8.5 tackles, Int, FF, FR
- Virgil Gray 6 tackles, Int
- Cliff Dukes 2 sacks
- Tyre Glasper sack
Philadelphia Soul: 14-6 (2-2 East)
- East Division Champs
- Defeated Orlando 59-55 in conference semifinals
- Defeated Jacksonville 75-59 in conference championship
- 9-2 record since June
- Notable wins: season sweep of Chicago (wks. 7&16), @ San Jose (wk. 18)
- Won in Orlando (61-33) in week three
- 3rd Arena Bowl appearance, second straight
- 1-time AFL Champion (Arena Bowl XXII)
- 1-1 record in Arena Bowl
Key Stats:
- Dan Raudabaugh 390-573, 4699 yds, 96 TD, 14 Int
- Derrick Ross 153 rush, 506 yds, 35 TD; 13 rec, 669 yds, 4 TD
- Tiger Jones 150 rec, 2121 yds, 37 TD
- Andrae Thurman 117 rec, 1197 yds, 16 TD
- Carlos Martinez 126-140 PAT; 6-7 FG, long 47
- Rayshaun Kizer 82 tackles, 9 Int, 1 ret- TD
- LaRico Stevenson 74 tackles, 7 Int, 2 Fumb-ret TD
- Bryan Robinson 11 sacks, 2 FF, 6 blocked kicks
- Joe Goosby 68.5 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 Int, 2 ret-TD
Playoff Stats:
- Dan Raudabaugh 42-61, 545 yds, 14 TD, 3 Int
- Derrick Ross 22 rush, 71 yds, 4 TD; 2 rec, 31 yds, 2 TD
- Andrae Thurman 12 rec, 131 yds, 3 TD
- Tiger Jones 11 rec, 125 yds, 2 TD
- Ryan McDaniel 7 rec, 88 yds, 2 TD
- Emery Sammons 6 rec, 117 yds, 2 TD
- Larry Brackins 3 rec, 38 yds, 3 TD
- LaRico Stevenson 12 tackles, 5 kick-ret, 91 yds
- Joe Goosby 12 tackles
- James Romain 11.5 tackles, 2 Int, Def TD
- Rayshaun Kizer 10.5 tackles, Int
- Brandon Perkins sack
- Bryan Robinson/Ko Quaye 0.5 sack
- Carlos Martinez 17-19 PAT, 1-1 FG (25)
Prediction: The final game of the 2013 Arena Football season promises to be a good one. The Soul and Rattlers are in Orlando to fight for the 26th Foster Trophy and the right to be called a champion. I see this year's game being much closer, but having the same result. It will be Arizona raising the trophy once again. Arizona 73, Philadelphia 62. MVP: Nick Davila.
Arena Bowl XXVI - Saturday, August 17th at 1 p.m. EST on CBS!
Arena Bowl XXVI:
Arizona Rattlers vs. Philadelphia Soul - Saturday, August 17th at 1 p.m. EST on CBS
The Rattlers and Soul will do battle on Arena Football's biggest stage for the second consecutive year, with this championship game being held in Orlando. Both teams claimed their 2013 conference crown with dominating performances. The Soul forced a few early turnovers and recovered a key onside kick in the final of the first half which led to a commanding 40-21 halftime lead, that ended up being a 75-59 victory over Jacksonville to win their second straight American Conference title. Arizona hosted and won the National Conference championship for the third season in a row when they scored 37 unanswered points to turn an early 35-21 deficit into a 58-35 fourth quarter lead, and despite a late rally by Spokane held on to get the 65-57 win. This will be the fourth meeting between the two in a thirteen-month span, Arizona has won all three meetings which includes Arena Bowl XXV. Philadelphia and Arizona met two times during the regular season, both resulting in Rattler wins: 66-52 in week one and 64-57 in week eleven. Can the Soul finally break through, or will the Rattlers claim their second straight title, and fourth in team history!?
Keys to the Game:
Arizona:
- Protect Nick Davila, keep the pocket clean and don't allow Bryan Robinson or Brandon Perkins cause any havoc.
- Third Arena Bowl in as many years, use this experience and take the cease the moment.
- The "Big Three" of Virgil Gray, Marquis Floyd, and Arkeith Brown to make a difference and snag one or two of Dan Raudabaugh's passes.
- Jeremy Kellem who has been excellent at the jack all year, and has been a huge factor in these playoffs to pick up were he left off.
- Win in the trenches and don't allow Derrick Ross to get going.
- Avoid the early turnover, when this team has struggled this year, not very often, but when they have its because one turnover multiplies into two or three, play a clean game on offense.
Philadelphia:
- Your offensive line has only allowed seven sacks all season, don't change now.
- Dan Raudabaugh needs to prove on the AFL's big stage that he is an elite quarterback, no interceptions and a high completion percentage will do the trick.
- Derrick "the Boss" Ross needs to have a big day both rushing the ball and catching screen pass, a repeat of his four-touchdown performance in the conference championship would be huge.
- For Rayshaun Kizer, James Romain, and LaRico Stevenson to play their best game of the season and make a case as the AFL's best secondary.
- Bryan Robinson has been one of the top pass rushers in the League the last couple years, he will need to be a one-man wrecking crew up front.
- Force Arizona into an early turnover or stop on downs, another pick-six by Joe Goosby could come in handy (he had one in the week eleven loss).
Tale of the Tape:
Arizona Rattlers: 17-3 (6-2 West)
- West Division Champs
- Defeated San Jose in conference semifinals 59-49
- Defeated Spokane in conference championship 65-57
- 8-2 record since June
- Notable wins: season sweep of Philadelphia (wks. 1&11), @Jacksonville (wk.7), @Chicago (wk 9), Spokane (wk. 13), and season sweep of Orlando (wks. 6&16)
- Won in Orlando (84-56) in week 16
- 8th Arena Bowl appearance, third straight
- 3-time AFL Champion (Arena Bowls VIII, XI, and XXV)
- 3-4 record in Arena Bowl
Key Stats:
- Nick Davila 353-541, 4847 yds, 110 TD, 15 Int; 6 rush TD
- Odie Armstrong 72 rush, 171 yds, 25 TD; 13 rec, 190 yds, 2 TD
- Rod Windsor 110 rec, 1590 yds, 42 TD
- Kerry Reed 70 rec, 961 yds, 24 TD
- Maurice Purify 51 rec, 740 yds, 9 TD
- Tysson Poots 45 rec, 533 yds, 18 TD
- Virgil Gray 15 Int, 4 ret-TD, 93 tackles
- Arkeith Brown 8 Int, 4 ret-TD, 79.5 tackles, sack
- Marquis Floyd 9 Int, 1 ret-TD, 81 tackles
- Marcus Pittman leads team with 6.5 sacks
- Garrett Lindholm 7-12 FG, Long (47); 158-168 PAT
Playoff Stats:
- Nick Davila 45-77, 527 yds, 15 TD, Int
- Odie Armstrong 8 rush, 27 yds, TD; 2 rec, 26 yds, TD
- Rod Windsor 16 rec, 191 yds, 5 TD; 41 rush yds
- Tysson Poots 15 rec, 156 yds, 5 TD
- Maurice Purify 12 rec, 154 yds, 4 TD
- Arkeith Brown 6 kick-ret, 152 yds, TD
- Garrett Lindholm 16-17 PAT, 2-5 FG (26)
- Marquis Floyd 13 tackles
- Jeremy Kellem 8.5 tackles, Int, FF, FR
- Virgil Gray 6 tackles, Int
- Cliff Dukes 2 sacks
- Tyre Glasper sack
Philadelphia Soul: 14-6 (2-2 East)
- East Division Champs
- Defeated Orlando 59-55 in conference semifinals
- Defeated Jacksonville 75-59 in conference championship
- 9-2 record since June
- Notable wins: season sweep of Chicago (wks. 7&16), @ San Jose (wk. 18)
- Won in Orlando (61-33) in week three
- 3rd Arena Bowl appearance, second straight
- 1-time AFL Champion (Arena Bowl XXII)
- 1-1 record in Arena Bowl
Key Stats:
- Dan Raudabaugh 390-573, 4699 yds, 96 TD, 14 Int
- Derrick Ross 153 rush, 506 yds, 35 TD; 13 rec, 669 yds, 4 TD
- Tiger Jones 150 rec, 2121 yds, 37 TD
- Andrae Thurman 117 rec, 1197 yds, 16 TD
- Carlos Martinez 126-140 PAT; 6-7 FG, long 47
- Rayshaun Kizer 82 tackles, 9 Int, 1 ret- TD
- LaRico Stevenson 74 tackles, 7 Int, 2 Fumb-ret TD
- Bryan Robinson 11 sacks, 2 FF, 6 blocked kicks
- Joe Goosby 68.5 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 Int, 2 ret-TD
Playoff Stats:
- Dan Raudabaugh 42-61, 545 yds, 14 TD, 3 Int
- Derrick Ross 22 rush, 71 yds, 4 TD; 2 rec, 31 yds, 2 TD
- Andrae Thurman 12 rec, 131 yds, 3 TD
- Tiger Jones 11 rec, 125 yds, 2 TD
- Ryan McDaniel 7 rec, 88 yds, 2 TD
- Emery Sammons 6 rec, 117 yds, 2 TD
- Larry Brackins 3 rec, 38 yds, 3 TD
- LaRico Stevenson 12 tackles, 5 kick-ret, 91 yds
- Joe Goosby 12 tackles
- James Romain 11.5 tackles, 2 Int, Def TD
- Rayshaun Kizer 10.5 tackles, Int
- Brandon Perkins sack
- Bryan Robinson/Ko Quaye 0.5 sack
- Carlos Martinez 17-19 PAT, 1-1 FG (25)
Prediction: The final game of the 2013 Arena Football season promises to be a good one. The Soul and Rattlers are in Orlando to fight for the 26th Foster Trophy and the right to be called a champion. I see this year's game being much closer, but having the same result. It will be Arizona raising the trophy once again. Arizona 73, Philadelphia 62. MVP: Nick Davila.
Arena Bowl XXVI - Saturday, August 17th at 1 p.m. EST on CBS!
Monday, August 12, 2013
AFL Playoffs: Conference Championship Recap
The AFL's final four entered the second week of August still with the hope of reaching Arena Bowl 26 in Orlando on August 17th. A pair of conference championships took the spotlight in week 21, who's going to Orlando!?
American Conference Championship:
Philadelphia Soul 75, Jacksonville Sharks 59
For the second year in a row the Sharks and Soul squared off for the American Conference crown. In their only meeting this season Jacksonville went on the road and won a nail-biter 55-53, would they be able to win in their own building!?
The start of this game was a sloppy one that saw Rayshaun Kizer pick off Bernard Morris at Philadelphia's one-yard line on the opening possession. Jacksonville's demoralizing defensive line got the stop right back when Matt Marcorelle knocked the ball out of Dan Raudabugh's hand on second-and-ten from the 24-yard line and Jerry Turner recovered. The Shark Tank erupted on the next play when Morris tossed a fifteen-yard touchdown to Jeron Harvey for the night's first points. Raudabaugh got Philadelphia on the board with a pair of completions on the following drive that was capped off on Derrick Ross's 22-yard screen-pass touchdown. Philadelphia grabbed its first lead of the game two plays later when Morris was intercepted by James Romain who returned it thirteen yards for a score. Bernard Morris continued his early struggles on the next drive when he misfired on three of four passes, resulting in a quick four-and-out. The Soul added to their lead when Larry Brackins was the recipient of a two-yard touchdown, taking a 20-7 advantage into the second quarter. Markee White and Tiger Jones traded touchdown catches on the first three possessions of the period, putting the Soul in the lead by six at the one-minute warning. The Sharks tried to get back one of Philadelphia's first-quarter stops with an onside kick, but were unable to when Marco Capozzoli's kick went out of play at the nine. Philadelphia only needed one play to score, a nine-yard screen pass to Derrick Ross moved the lead back to double digits. The game was already teetering to get away from the home guys, and they didn't get any closer when Carlos Martinez successfully executed an inside kick that Andrae Thurman recovered and returned 28 yards to Jacksonville's two-yard line with 49 seconds before the intermission. The score became 40-21 when Ross plunged into the end zone on a one-yard run three plays later. Bernard Morris completed a sixteen-yard pass to Markee White to get the ball to midfield, but came up empty on his next two throws and Capozzoli's field goal went wide left to keep the margin at 40-21 for halftime. The Soul began the second half with the ball and expanded their lead to 47-21 when Larry Brackins hauled in a sixteen-yard touchdown to cap off a five-play, three-minute scoring drive. Even though it was early in the third quarter, Jacksonville was in desperate need of a spark to savor any chance of another comeback on the Tank. In a four-minute span another postseason comeback looked realistic when Morris completed all four of his passes, highlighted by a fifteen-yard touchdown to Jeron Harvey, on a four-play, 40-yard drive and one play later Jerry Turner intercepted a tipped Raudabugh pass and returned it for a touchdown to cut the deficit in half with 6:23 to go in the third. Dan Raudabaugh responded with three straight completions on the ensuing four-play drive that put Philadelphia back up three scores on Ryan McDaniel's 20-yard touchdown. The margin was trimmed back to fourteen when Jeron Harvey caught a 24-yard touchdown at the end of the period. The Sharks began the final period down by two touchdowns and had their backs against the wall after another failed onside kick attempt, but the dreams of a comeback stayed alive when Micheaux Robinson intercepted Raudabaugh at his own seven-yard line. Just as quickly as the murmurs of a comeback were revived, they got crushed when Bernard Morris failed to complete a pass on three consecutive throws from the Philadelphia-20 that resulted in a turnover on downs. Dan Raudabaugh responded with a 23-yard pass to McDaniel on the next play that setup Derrick Ross for a seven-yard to push the lead back to 21 with 9:18 left. Markee White and Tiger Jones traded touchdown catches once again and with 3:30 remaining the Soul were still leading by a comfortable three-score margin. Bernard Morris tossed two final touchdowns of this 2013 season in the final minutes, but the Soul had already secured their second straight conference crown. The Soul took advantage of early mistakes by Jacksonville to grab a double digit lead and never looked back. Philadelphia returns to the Arena Bowl with a 75-59 win.
Stat Leaders:
Philadelphia (14-6) Jacksonville (13-7) - eliminated
Dan Raudabaugh 18-27, 220 yds, Bernard Morris 31-49, 416 yds, 8 TD, 2 Int
8 TD, 2 Int Markee White 14 rec, 188 yds, 4 TD
Derrick Ross 12 rush, 54 yds, 2 TD; Jeron Harvey 7 rec, 101 yds, 3 TD
2 rec, 31 yds, 2 TD Jeff Hughley 5 rec, 87 yds, TD
Ryan McDaniel 7 rec, 88 yds, 2 TD Matt Marcorelle sack, FF
Tiger Jones 6 rec, 68 yds, 2 TD Jerry Turner 0.5 sack, Fumb Rec, Int-ret TD
Larry Brackins 2 rec, 18 yds, 2 TD Micheaux Robinson Int
Rayshaun Kizer Int
James Romain Int-ret TD
National Conference Championship:
Arizona Rattlers 65, Spokane Shock 57
Arguably the best two teams in the league squared off for the National Conference crown in the desert when the Rattlers and Shock did battle for the third time in 2013 on CBS Sports Network. The defending champs looked to make a third straight appearance in Arena Football's biggest game, but would the west division foes be the road block to that hope!?
Erik Meyer hushed the people of the pit by leading a three-play drive that opened the scoring with his three-yard run. Nick Davila got his first chance and directed a seven-play, 45-yard drive that tied the game on Tysson Poots' twelve-yard touchdown. The game didn't stay tied for long as Meyer connected with Brandon Thompkins for a 45-yard score on Spokane's very next play. It appeared like we would have a shoot-out when Davila had the Rattlers at Spokane's eight-yard line in four plays, but the Shock defense made the first stand of the night by forcing three consecutive incompletions and then Jeremy Geathers made a fourth-down sack. The momentum was suddenly all in favor of the visitors when Meyer hit Adron Tennell for 21 yards and then went back to Thompkins for an eleven-yard touchdown in the next two plays. Nick Davila calmed the storm with three completions on a four-play scoring drive that ended on a fifteen-yard catch and run by Odie Armstrong. Erik Meyer kept the Shock rolling with a quick three-play drive that resulted in Brandon Thompkins' seventeen-yard touchdown. Through the first 21 minutes everything was going Spokane's way and the snakes had a dog-fight on their hands, but things changed before the intermission. The turning of the tide began when Arkeith Brown returned the kickoff after Thompkins's third touchdown 56 yards for a score, cutting the deficit to seven. Brandon Thompkins snagged his fourth touchdown of the half, and Tysson Poots hauled in an eleven-yard score to keep the margin at seven with 55 seconds left in the first half. The Rattlers recovered Garrett Lindholm's onside kick and put together an eight-play series that ended the half on Lindholm's 26-yard field goal. Arizona began the third quarter trailing by four, but a dominant fifteen minutes would change all that. After being sacked and staring at a fourth down and forever, Nick Davila found Maurice Purify for a 44-yard score that gave the snakes their first lead off the night. The Shock needed an answers, but came up empty when Meyer misfired on four straight passes from Arizona's 22-yard line. Arizona pushed the lead to nine on the next play when Rod Windsor was the recipient of a 28-yard touchdown. You could feel the game beginning to slip away for the Shock and if it didn't feel that way, it did after Thompkins fumbled a six-yard catch on Spokane's next play. Davila quickly cashed in fast on Purify's five-yard touchdown. Jeremy Kellem ended Spokane's next series and the third quarter with an interception. The Rattlers grew a sixteen-point lead into a 58-35 advantage when Tysson Poots caught a four-yard touchdown to begin the fourth. A game that got off to such a good start for the Shock had completely turned the opposite way during a span of 37 unanswered Arizona points at the 12:56 mark in the fourth quarter. Spokane scored its first points of the second half when Brandon Thompkins caught a seven-yard pass for his fifth touchdown of the night. Arizona recovered the ensuing onside kick and Rod Windsor hauled in a ten-yard score on the next play to keep the lead at 23 midway through the fourth. The victory looked to be safe for Arizona when a nine-play, five-and-half minute drive by the Shock failed to produce points and turned the ball over to the Rattlers with 3:16 to play. The Shock defense held tough and earned a stop with under a minute to left. Erik Meyer found Adron Tennell for a 30-yard touchdown on the next play to get Spokane within sixteen with only 45 seconds remaining. The Shock successfully recovered an onside kick and all of a sudden the people of the pit were cautiously hoping their team would hold on. A five-play, 41-second drive ended on a four-yard touchdown by Tennell, which was followed by a successful two-point conversion, but it deemed to be too little, too late as only four seconds remained. Arizona recovered the ensuing onside kick and Nick Davila threw one final pass into the stands to secure a 65-57 victory. Arizona survived a tough start and used a dominant third quarter that was jump-started with a momentous finish to the first half to win their third National Conference title in a row and keep the dream of a repeat alive.
Stat Leaders:
Spokane (15-5) - eliminated Arizona (17-3)
Erik Meyer 24-41, 344 yds, 7 TD, Nick Davila 24-42, 294 yds, 8 TD
Int; Rush TD Odie Armstrong 2 rec, 26 yds, TD; 13 rush yds
Brandon Thompkins 11 rec, 184 yds, 5 TD Rod Windsor 7 rec, 68 yds, 2 TD; 16 rush yds
Adron Tennell 11 rec, 125 yds, 2 TD Tysson Poots 9 rec, 96 yds, 3 TD
James Romain 1.5 sacks Maurice Purify 6 rec, 104 yds, 2 TD
Jeremy Geathers sack Cliff Dukes 2 sacks
Jeremy Kellem FF, Int
Arkeith Brown kick-ret TD
Two weeks and six excellent playoff games have narrowed the field down to the final two teams who will be facing off for the big prize in Orlando this coming Saturday, August 17th at 1 p.m. EST. For the second straight season, the Arizona Rattlers will face the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena Bowl.
Arena Bowl 26: Arizona Rattlers vs. Philadelphia Soul - Saturday, August 17th at 1 p.m. EST
For more on either of these two games, the Arena Football League, or the road to Arena Bowl 26 go to:
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/sched/afl-a-footbl-sched.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/arenabowl/
American Conference Championship:
Philadelphia Soul 75, Jacksonville Sharks 59
For the second year in a row the Sharks and Soul squared off for the American Conference crown. In their only meeting this season Jacksonville went on the road and won a nail-biter 55-53, would they be able to win in their own building!?
The start of this game was a sloppy one that saw Rayshaun Kizer pick off Bernard Morris at Philadelphia's one-yard line on the opening possession. Jacksonville's demoralizing defensive line got the stop right back when Matt Marcorelle knocked the ball out of Dan Raudabugh's hand on second-and-ten from the 24-yard line and Jerry Turner recovered. The Shark Tank erupted on the next play when Morris tossed a fifteen-yard touchdown to Jeron Harvey for the night's first points. Raudabaugh got Philadelphia on the board with a pair of completions on the following drive that was capped off on Derrick Ross's 22-yard screen-pass touchdown. Philadelphia grabbed its first lead of the game two plays later when Morris was intercepted by James Romain who returned it thirteen yards for a score. Bernard Morris continued his early struggles on the next drive when he misfired on three of four passes, resulting in a quick four-and-out. The Soul added to their lead when Larry Brackins was the recipient of a two-yard touchdown, taking a 20-7 advantage into the second quarter. Markee White and Tiger Jones traded touchdown catches on the first three possessions of the period, putting the Soul in the lead by six at the one-minute warning. The Sharks tried to get back one of Philadelphia's first-quarter stops with an onside kick, but were unable to when Marco Capozzoli's kick went out of play at the nine. Philadelphia only needed one play to score, a nine-yard screen pass to Derrick Ross moved the lead back to double digits. The game was already teetering to get away from the home guys, and they didn't get any closer when Carlos Martinez successfully executed an inside kick that Andrae Thurman recovered and returned 28 yards to Jacksonville's two-yard line with 49 seconds before the intermission. The score became 40-21 when Ross plunged into the end zone on a one-yard run three plays later. Bernard Morris completed a sixteen-yard pass to Markee White to get the ball to midfield, but came up empty on his next two throws and Capozzoli's field goal went wide left to keep the margin at 40-21 for halftime. The Soul began the second half with the ball and expanded their lead to 47-21 when Larry Brackins hauled in a sixteen-yard touchdown to cap off a five-play, three-minute scoring drive. Even though it was early in the third quarter, Jacksonville was in desperate need of a spark to savor any chance of another comeback on the Tank. In a four-minute span another postseason comeback looked realistic when Morris completed all four of his passes, highlighted by a fifteen-yard touchdown to Jeron Harvey, on a four-play, 40-yard drive and one play later Jerry Turner intercepted a tipped Raudabugh pass and returned it for a touchdown to cut the deficit in half with 6:23 to go in the third. Dan Raudabaugh responded with three straight completions on the ensuing four-play drive that put Philadelphia back up three scores on Ryan McDaniel's 20-yard touchdown. The margin was trimmed back to fourteen when Jeron Harvey caught a 24-yard touchdown at the end of the period. The Sharks began the final period down by two touchdowns and had their backs against the wall after another failed onside kick attempt, but the dreams of a comeback stayed alive when Micheaux Robinson intercepted Raudabaugh at his own seven-yard line. Just as quickly as the murmurs of a comeback were revived, they got crushed when Bernard Morris failed to complete a pass on three consecutive throws from the Philadelphia-20 that resulted in a turnover on downs. Dan Raudabaugh responded with a 23-yard pass to McDaniel on the next play that setup Derrick Ross for a seven-yard to push the lead back to 21 with 9:18 left. Markee White and Tiger Jones traded touchdown catches once again and with 3:30 remaining the Soul were still leading by a comfortable three-score margin. Bernard Morris tossed two final touchdowns of this 2013 season in the final minutes, but the Soul had already secured their second straight conference crown. The Soul took advantage of early mistakes by Jacksonville to grab a double digit lead and never looked back. Philadelphia returns to the Arena Bowl with a 75-59 win.
Stat Leaders:
Philadelphia (14-6) Jacksonville (13-7) - eliminated
Dan Raudabaugh 18-27, 220 yds, Bernard Morris 31-49, 416 yds, 8 TD, 2 Int
8 TD, 2 Int Markee White 14 rec, 188 yds, 4 TD
Derrick Ross 12 rush, 54 yds, 2 TD; Jeron Harvey 7 rec, 101 yds, 3 TD
2 rec, 31 yds, 2 TD Jeff Hughley 5 rec, 87 yds, TD
Ryan McDaniel 7 rec, 88 yds, 2 TD Matt Marcorelle sack, FF
Tiger Jones 6 rec, 68 yds, 2 TD Jerry Turner 0.5 sack, Fumb Rec, Int-ret TD
Larry Brackins 2 rec, 18 yds, 2 TD Micheaux Robinson Int
Rayshaun Kizer Int
James Romain Int-ret TD
National Conference Championship:
Arizona Rattlers 65, Spokane Shock 57
Arguably the best two teams in the league squared off for the National Conference crown in the desert when the Rattlers and Shock did battle for the third time in 2013 on CBS Sports Network. The defending champs looked to make a third straight appearance in Arena Football's biggest game, but would the west division foes be the road block to that hope!?
Erik Meyer hushed the people of the pit by leading a three-play drive that opened the scoring with his three-yard run. Nick Davila got his first chance and directed a seven-play, 45-yard drive that tied the game on Tysson Poots' twelve-yard touchdown. The game didn't stay tied for long as Meyer connected with Brandon Thompkins for a 45-yard score on Spokane's very next play. It appeared like we would have a shoot-out when Davila had the Rattlers at Spokane's eight-yard line in four plays, but the Shock defense made the first stand of the night by forcing three consecutive incompletions and then Jeremy Geathers made a fourth-down sack. The momentum was suddenly all in favor of the visitors when Meyer hit Adron Tennell for 21 yards and then went back to Thompkins for an eleven-yard touchdown in the next two plays. Nick Davila calmed the storm with three completions on a four-play scoring drive that ended on a fifteen-yard catch and run by Odie Armstrong. Erik Meyer kept the Shock rolling with a quick three-play drive that resulted in Brandon Thompkins' seventeen-yard touchdown. Through the first 21 minutes everything was going Spokane's way and the snakes had a dog-fight on their hands, but things changed before the intermission. The turning of the tide began when Arkeith Brown returned the kickoff after Thompkins's third touchdown 56 yards for a score, cutting the deficit to seven. Brandon Thompkins snagged his fourth touchdown of the half, and Tysson Poots hauled in an eleven-yard score to keep the margin at seven with 55 seconds left in the first half. The Rattlers recovered Garrett Lindholm's onside kick and put together an eight-play series that ended the half on Lindholm's 26-yard field goal. Arizona began the third quarter trailing by four, but a dominant fifteen minutes would change all that. After being sacked and staring at a fourth down and forever, Nick Davila found Maurice Purify for a 44-yard score that gave the snakes their first lead off the night. The Shock needed an answers, but came up empty when Meyer misfired on four straight passes from Arizona's 22-yard line. Arizona pushed the lead to nine on the next play when Rod Windsor was the recipient of a 28-yard touchdown. You could feel the game beginning to slip away for the Shock and if it didn't feel that way, it did after Thompkins fumbled a six-yard catch on Spokane's next play. Davila quickly cashed in fast on Purify's five-yard touchdown. Jeremy Kellem ended Spokane's next series and the third quarter with an interception. The Rattlers grew a sixteen-point lead into a 58-35 advantage when Tysson Poots caught a four-yard touchdown to begin the fourth. A game that got off to such a good start for the Shock had completely turned the opposite way during a span of 37 unanswered Arizona points at the 12:56 mark in the fourth quarter. Spokane scored its first points of the second half when Brandon Thompkins caught a seven-yard pass for his fifth touchdown of the night. Arizona recovered the ensuing onside kick and Rod Windsor hauled in a ten-yard score on the next play to keep the lead at 23 midway through the fourth. The victory looked to be safe for Arizona when a nine-play, five-and-half minute drive by the Shock failed to produce points and turned the ball over to the Rattlers with 3:16 to play. The Shock defense held tough and earned a stop with under a minute to left. Erik Meyer found Adron Tennell for a 30-yard touchdown on the next play to get Spokane within sixteen with only 45 seconds remaining. The Shock successfully recovered an onside kick and all of a sudden the people of the pit were cautiously hoping their team would hold on. A five-play, 41-second drive ended on a four-yard touchdown by Tennell, which was followed by a successful two-point conversion, but it deemed to be too little, too late as only four seconds remained. Arizona recovered the ensuing onside kick and Nick Davila threw one final pass into the stands to secure a 65-57 victory. Arizona survived a tough start and used a dominant third quarter that was jump-started with a momentous finish to the first half to win their third National Conference title in a row and keep the dream of a repeat alive.
Stat Leaders:
Spokane (15-5) - eliminated Arizona (17-3)
Erik Meyer 24-41, 344 yds, 7 TD, Nick Davila 24-42, 294 yds, 8 TD
Int; Rush TD Odie Armstrong 2 rec, 26 yds, TD; 13 rush yds
Brandon Thompkins 11 rec, 184 yds, 5 TD Rod Windsor 7 rec, 68 yds, 2 TD; 16 rush yds
Adron Tennell 11 rec, 125 yds, 2 TD Tysson Poots 9 rec, 96 yds, 3 TD
James Romain 1.5 sacks Maurice Purify 6 rec, 104 yds, 2 TD
Jeremy Geathers sack Cliff Dukes 2 sacks
Jeremy Kellem FF, Int
Arkeith Brown kick-ret TD
Two weeks and six excellent playoff games have narrowed the field down to the final two teams who will be facing off for the big prize in Orlando this coming Saturday, August 17th at 1 p.m. EST. For the second straight season, the Arizona Rattlers will face the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena Bowl.
Arena Bowl 26: Arizona Rattlers vs. Philadelphia Soul - Saturday, August 17th at 1 p.m. EST
For more on either of these two games, the Arena Football League, or the road to Arena Bowl 26 go to:
http://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/sched/afl-a-footbl-sched.html
http://www.arenafootball.com/arenabowl/
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