Coming into the season Cleveland was the youngest and least experienced team in the League. The youth of the Gladiators led to a rough 0-3 start that featured a trio of 17+ point losses to the 2013 campaign. Brian Zbydniewski had his best game of the year in an overtime comeback victory at Philadelphia in week five. A pair of 17+ point losses against the west and an embarrassing fourth-quarter collapse against Pittsburgh forced a quarterback change from Zbydniewski to Chris Dieker for the second half of the season.
When I looked at the Gladiators, they were a very youthful and inexperienced team. Steve Thonn made a few changes throughout the year to add depth; signing LaRoche Jackson and trading for Joe Phinisee, but it wasn't nearly enough to spark a playoff push. Chris Dieker got the whole second half of the season to start and showed potential with his dual-threat ability, but at the same time endured growing pains along with the rest of the offense.
Kris Cooke and Randy Cooling led the defensive line in the second half, each having solid seasons. With Chris Dieker at the helm the Glads were able to snap a seven-game losing streak and play to a 2-2 record in July to finish the year with a pair of home wins and a 4-14 record. Dominick Goodman and Thyron Lewis each had fantastic years and are to major pieces that this team needs to keep for next year.
The Good from 2013:
- Finishing July with two home wins.
- A thrilling, comeback 64-57 overtime-victory at Philadelphia in week five.
PLAYER STATS
- Chris Dieker 225-353, 2433 yds, 43 TD, 11 Int; 267 rush yds, 17 TD (13 games--9 starts)
- Derik Steiner 29 rush, 168 yds, 6 TD; 14 rec, 122 yds, TD (14 games)
- Dominick Goodman 147 rec, 1267 yds, 24 TD; 3 rush TD (17 games)
- Carlese Franklin 54 rec, 663 yds, 9 TD; 35 rush yds, TD; 46 kick-ret, 841 yds, TD (10 games)
- Thyron Lewis 97 rec, 1430 yds, 26 TD (18 games)
- Marrio Norman 49.5 tackles, 7 Int, FR, Def TD (12 games)
- LaRoche Jackson 85 tackles, 5 Int, 2 FF, 4 FR, Def TD (14 games)
- Joe Phinisee 45.5 tackles, 2 Int, 2 FF, FR, Def TD, Kick-ret TD (11 games)
- Randy Colling 23 tackles (5 TFL), 4 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR (16 games)
TEAM STATS
-2nd best rush offense (31.5 ypg)
The Bad from 2013:
- Five losses by 17+ points in the first six games.
- A seven-game losing streak from weeks nine to sixteen.
- 1-8 road record.
PLAYER STATS
- Brian Zbydniewski 178-310, 2001 yds, 34 TD, 14 Int; 35 rush yds, 6 TD (9 games--8 starts)
TEAM STATS
- 10th in scoring offense (47..1 ppg)
- Allowed 2nd most points (58.2 ppg)
- 12th in pass offense (241.7 ypg)
- 9th in total offense (273.2 ypg)
- 10th in total defense (286.7 ypg)
- 10th in pass defense (267.3 ypg)
- 10th in pass efficiency (93.2)
- 9th in turnover margin (-8)
- Allowed 2nd-worst opposing pass efficiency of (116.8)
- AFL-low 16 sacks
The Reason for a Losing Season:
The main reason why the Gladiators were as dismal as they were this year was the amount of youth on the roster. Yes, a few midseason acquisitions added experience, but it was not enough to make a significant change. Brian Zbydniewski is a solid AFL quarterback, but he is not a starter in the League and Cleveland found that out through the first half of the year. Chris Dieker showed flashes through the thirteen games he appeared in and with some more game-experience and time with Steve Thonn can become a pretty good quarterback. The defense struggled all season-long and a lack of a pass-rush caused the struggles. The Gladiators totaled a AFL-worst 16 sacks and as a result opposing quarterbacks had a 93.2 efficiency rating. The re-tooled secondary of Joe Phinisee, LaRoche Jackson, and Marrio Norman combined for 14 interceptions and four touchdowns; something positive heading into next year. Cleveland's struggles were caused mainly by the amount of youth on the team and lack of pass rush from the front-three.
2013 Finish: 4-14 (2-2 in East), second-last in the American Conference
For more on the Cleveland Gladiators:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflgld/
http://www.clevelandgladiators.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://www.arenafootball.com/sports/a-footbl/stats/2013/CONFSTAT.HTM
No comments:
Post a Comment