The Power entered 2013 with a promising lineup, but injuries and ineffective play of Jordan Jefferson put those hopes in jeopardy in the first half. Steven Sheffield was able to direct this team to a 3-6 record entering June, but inefficient play from Sheffield, Shane Austin, and Derek Cassidy ultimately derailed any hope of the franchise's first playoff berth.
Entering the year I looked at the Power and saw major improvements on defense with the additions on Alvin Ray Jackson and Sergio Gilliam and was also excited to see Shamar Graves added to the receiving core, but had my doubts about the choice of Jordan Jefferson as the week one starter. Jefferson struggled in the six games he played and with him at the helm the Power only won one game. Shamar Graves missed the first month of the season with an injury, but for whatever reason he didn't fit into Derek Stingley's plans and was released from the team by summer. Another glaring problem that Pittsburgh incurred this year was injuries to their receiving core; that forced Alvin Ray Jackson to even fill in in a couple games. P.J. Berry only suited up for the first six games and Perry Baker, in addition to Graves, suffered through nagging injuries that limited him to only six games.
By the start of May the starting job was turned over to Steven Sheffield who led the Power to two win in his first three starts, guiding them to a 3-6 record and a one-game lead in the chase for the second American Conference wild card heading into June. Things looked bright for Pittsburgh, but it quickly turned dark when a 70-48 loss to Jacksonville in week eleven started a seven-game losing streak that officially derailed any dreams of the franchise's first playoff berth. Shane Austin and Derek Cassidy split all of the July snaps, Austin started the last two games, to guide the Power to one final win in 2013; finishing off the franchise's worst final record of 4-14.
In the midst all of the losing, some of it really ugly, the bright spots can be found in Mike Washington putting together another fabulous season, the midseason signing of Julian Talley, and the defense who ranked first in a few team categories.
The Good from 2013:
- Entered June with a 3-6 record to lead the chase for the second A.C. wild card, won their first two division games, and only trailed Philadelphia by one game in the East.
- The 53-48 upset win at Philadelphia in week eight
- Scoring 27 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to come back and beat Cleveland in CONSOL Energy Center; snapping a long home losing streak.
PLAYER STATS
- Mike Washington 136 rec, 1595 yds, 36 TD; 3 rush TD (18 games)
- Julian Talley 74 rec, 821 yds, 17 TD (10 games)
- Tyrone Collins 46 rec, 473 yds, 5 TD (6 games)
- Sergio Gilliam 90 tackles, 8 Int, FF, 4 Def TD (18 games)
- Alvin Ray Jackson 70.5 tackles, sack, 3 Int, FF, 3 FR, Def TD; 10 rec, 130 yds, 2 TD (18 games)
- Chris LeFlore 68.5 tackles, 2 Int, 2 FF, 2 FR; 74 kick-ret, 1158 yds, 2 TD
- Gary Butler 41 tackles (7 TFL), 5 sacks, 3 FF, FR (16 games)
- Steven Sheffield 154-252, 1878 yds, 38 TD, 15 Int; 80 rush yds, 2 TD (9 games--8 starts)
TEAM STATS
-Top pass defense (226.5 ypg)
-Top total defense (254.9 ypg)
The Bad from 2013:
- Going 1-8 at home
-Losing the first two games, at home, by a combined score of 125-68.
- One of the worst losses in the AFL's history, 78-20 vs. San Jose in week seventeen on CBS Sports Network.
- A seven-game losing streak that spanned from week 11 to week 18.
- Going 1-8 in the second half of the season to cement the franchise's worst mark of 4-14.
PLAYER STATS
- Shane Austin 106-192, 1215 yds, 18 TD, 9 Int; 53 rush yds, 3 TD (11 games--2 starts)
- Jordan Jefferson 55.1 comp %, 1189 yds, 19 TD, 5 Int; 172 rush yds, 2 TD in 6 games
- P.J. Berry 24 rec, 329 yds, 4 TD; 34 kick-ret, 580 yds (6 games)
TEAM STATS
- Last in scoring offense (40.3 ppg)
- 11th in scoring defense (56.3 ppg)
- 2nd worst in rush defense (28.4 ypg)
- 11th in pass offense (241.8 ypg)
- 11th in total offense (265.6 ypg)
- Second worst pass efficiency (84.5)
- 2nd worst turnover margin (-23)
- Allowed opposing pass efficiency of (107.4)
- Allowed league worst 54 sacks
- One of worst conversion teams in AFL
- Worst red zone offense (44/66)
The Reason for a Losing Season:
The Power's main problem this year laid on the struggles of the offense. Steven Sheffield played well, but 15 interceptions in nine games is too many to be considered a proven starting quarterback in Arena Football. That being said, I do like what I saw from Steven Sheffield; especially his mobility, and feel he deserves a chance next year at being a starter in this league. The problems at quarterback where not the only issue with the Power offense. An inexperienced offensive line who allowed a league-worst 54 sacks and a receiving core that lacked consistency also played a key role in an offense that only managed to score 40.3 points per game and struggled majorly in the red zone. Despite the individual solid performances by a number of guys on the defense the unit as a whole was unimpressive this season, ranking near the bottom of the AFL in four key categories. One most also consider that the offensive struggles tended to result in shorter fields for opposing offenses, helping the Power rank first in pass and total defense; still probably would've been in at least top five regardless. The defense on a number of occasions this season did a great job in forcing third and fourth-and-longs, but were unable to turn them into defensive stops.
2013 Finish: 4-14 (2-2 in East), last in the American Conference
For more on the Pittsburgh Power:
http://www.arenafootball.com/
http://www.arenafootball.com/teams/aflpwr/
https://pittsburghpowerfootball.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
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