Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
NBA Lockout Update
Friday, October 7, 2011
Fantasy Football Week 5 Player Rankings
Quarterbacks
1. Aaron Rodgers GB (at ATL): How can you not put this guy at number one after what he did last week? Expect a big game in the dome.
2. Drew Brees NO (at CAR): Carolina’s defense has let up a number of big plays this season and Brees will definitely exploit some matchups with a full arsenal of receivers.
3. Michael Vick PHI (at BUF): In their first two home games this season (NE and OAK), Buffalo has let up over 300 passing yards. Vick should be able to put up the big plays against the mediocre Bills defense.
4. Phillip Rivers SD (at DEN): Denver has been putrid against the pass this season. With Denver doing a decent job against the pass, we should see Rivers try to take advantage of the weak Denver secondary.
5. Cam Newton CAR (vs NO): Newton has posted at least 30 fantasy points in three of the four games this season. New Orleans defense has not done a great job of stopping the big plays or points, so Newton should be able to find the endzone.
6. Matt Stafford DET (vs CHI): In the last three weeks, the Bears have let up at least 25 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Expect Stafford to keep it up at home on Monday night.
7. Tom Brady NE (vs NYJ): Even with the tough matchup against the Jets, Brady should be able to get his at home. Expect Brady to use the middle of the field a lot and keep the ball away from Revis and the outsides.
8. Matt Ryan ATL (vs GB): With Green Bay ranking last in pass defense and Atlanta being a much better team at home, I expect the Ryan to spread the ball around on Sunday night.
9. Eli Manning NYG (vs SEA): Manning has begun to develop more and more chemistry with his young receiving core. Expect a pretty good game against Seattle because the Seahawks have been surprisingly good against the run.
10. Ryan Fitzpatrick BUF (vs PHI): Fitzpatrick has played very well at home so far this season. They will have to keep up with Philly, so expect a shootout.
Sleeper: Mark Sanchez NYJ (at NE), Donovan McNabb MIN (vs ARI)
Running Backs
1. Arian Foster HOU (vs OAK): Oakland ranks 31st in the League in rushing defense and Houston is at home for this one. With Andre Johnson out, expect them to rely heavily on Foster.
2. Darren McFadden OAK (at HOU): McFadden has been the best fantasy running back thus far this season. If the Raiders want to win in Houston, they are going to need a big performance from him. Houston has looked good on defense this season but still are beatable.
3. Adrian Peterson MIN (vs ARI): Arizona has struggled letting up big plays a lot this season. Peterson should be able to put up impressive statistics with a desperate 0-4 Vikings team at home.
4. Fred Jackson BUF (vs PHI): Philadelphia ranks last in the League in rushing defense. With the inexperience of the Eagles linebackers, expect Jackson to find big holes and alleyways at home.
5. LeSean McCoy PHI (at BUF): Buffalo has not been able to stop very many teams this season. Expect McCoy to have a big game against the mediocre Bills defense.
6. Matt Forte CHI (at DET): Forte went nuts last week against the Carolina Panthers. With the Detroit Lions defensive front likely to get after Cutler, the Bears will look to get Forte big plays whether running or catching quick screen passes.
7. Ahmad Bradshaw NYG (vs SEA): The Seahawks have been fairly decent against the run this season. However, Bradshaw and the Giants offense have begun to click and Bradshaw has looked better and better as the weeks have gone on.
8. Ryan Matthews SD (at DEN): Denver has struggled defensively a lot this season. Matthews has been playing very well lately and will certainly get his against an awful Denver defense.
9. Maurice Jones-Drew JAC (vs CIN): Jones-Drew has yet to find his rhythm this season, but should be able to do fairly well against a weak Bengals front seven.
10. Beanie Wells ARI (at MIN): After posting 138 rushing yards and three touchdowns, Wells will look to keep the momentum going. Expect him to make a few big plays with the Vikings struggling defense and turf field.
11. Darren Sproles NO (at CAR): Sproles has been used a lot this season and has been very effective for the Saints. Expect him to make a difference in the rushing game, as well as the quick passes and screens that he will sure see.
12. Frank Gore SF (vs TB): Gore is slowly recovering from injuries. After an impressive week against Philadelphia, Gore should see the rock at least 20 times and may be able to break one or two.
13. Chris Johnson TEN (at PIT): Pittsburgh let up 170 rushing yards to the Texans last week and will be without James Harrison. We will see if Johnson will be able to finally breakout.
14. Michael Turner ATL (vs GB): The Packers defense has shown that they can be beaten throughout a game. They are more worried if you can stop them. Turner should do well at home on Sunday night.
15. Jahvid Best DET (vs CHI): Best will have his work cut out for him against a veteran linebacker core in Chicago. Expect him to be used quite a bit in the passing game as well on Monday night.
16. Joseph Addai IND (vs KC): Kansas City has struggled against the run this season and Addai has begun to find himself in the struggling Indy offense.
17. Cedric Benson CIN (at JAC)
18. LeGarrette Blount TB (at SF)
19. Mike Tolbert SD (at DEN)
20. Willis McGahee DEN (at SD)
21. Shonn Greene NYJ (at NE): Coach Rex Ryan said that he looks to get back to a “ground and pound” style of football. With the return of Mangold, expect the Jets to look to slow down the Patriots with a strong running game.
22. James Starks GB (at ATL)
Sleeper: Isaac Redman PIT (vs TEN), Marshawn Lynch SEA (at NYG)
Wide Receivers
1. Calvin Johnson DET (vs CHI): How can this guy not be number one every week at this point.
2. Larry Fitzgerald ARI (at MIN): Minnesota’s corners have struggled this season and Fitzgerald is a matchup that no one wants. Expect Fitzgerald to have a big game in the dome.
3. Greg Jennings GB (at ATL): Atlanta has allowed quite a few big plays in the passing game this season. With the Packers currently clicking on all cylinders, Jennings should find the end zone at least once with around 100 receiving yards.
4. Hakeem Nicks NYG (vs SEA): After suffering from injury in the first few weeks of the season, Nicks has slowly found his way as the number one option for the Giants. Manning and Nicks have a strong connection and should continue this week at home.
5. Wes Welker NE (vs NYJ): The Jets are a very good team on the perimeter with cornerbacks Revis and Cromartie. Expect Welker to work the middle of the field as the slot and carve up the Jets at home.
6. Roddy White ATL (vs GB): In order to keep up with the high powered Packers offense, White and Jones will need to make some big plays for the Falcons offense.
7. Steve Smith Car (vs NO): Smith has done a great job of finding the holes in the zone this season. The Saints are definitely capable of letting up a lot of points, so expect Smith to make a few big plays in this one.
8. Desean Jackson PHI (at BUF): Buffalo’s secondary has been a bit suspect this season and will surely get beat by Jackson down the field. Jackson is also fully healthy for once.
9. Mike Wallace PIT (vs TEN): The Titans defense has played very well this season, but Wallace is always good for one or two big plays down the field.
10. Vincent Jackson SD (at DEN): If Jackson plays, he should be able to post impressive numbers with a struggling defense in Denver. Denver is still recovering from injuries in the secondary.
11. Dwayne Bowe KC (at IND)
12. Stevie Johnson BUF (vs PHI)
13. Santonio Holmes NYJ (at NE)
14. Jeremy Maclin PHI (at BUF)
15. Brandon Lloyd DEN (vs SD)
16. Julio Jones ATL (vs GB)
17. Jordy Nelson GB (at ATL)
18. A.J. Green CIN (at JAC)
19. Mike Williams TB (at SF)
20. Percy Harvin MIN (vs ARI)
21. Sidney Rice SEA (at NYG)
22. Reggie Wayne IND (vs KC)
23. Eric Decker DEN (vs SD)
24. Lance Moore NO (at CAR)
25. Marques Colston NO (at CAR)
Sleeper: Plaxico Burress NYJ (at NE), Nate Washington TEN (at PIT)
Tight Ends
1. Jermichael Finley GB (at ATL): Finley has been an unbelievably difficult matchup for anyone who guards him this season. With his recent statistics, he has to be ranked at number one.
2. Jimmy Graham NO (at CAR): Graham has slowly become the number one passing option for Brees this season. He is a constant mismatch wherever he is on the field.
3. Rob Gronkowski NE (vs NYJ): Gronkowski has been one of Brady’s most reliable targets this season. He will have a tough matchup against the 3-4 defense of the Jets.
4. Owen Daniels HOU (vs OAK): With Andre Johnson out, expect more of the passing load to be put on Daniels.
5. Vernon Davis SF (vs TB): Davis has slowly gotten better and better this season. Tampa Bay has a fairly good defense, but Davis should be able to do damage at home.
6. Greg Olsen CAR (vs NO): Olsen has quickly become one of Newton’s favorite targets. New Orleans defense is definitely beatable and Olsen should be in line for a big game.
7. Dustin Keller NYJ (at NE): New England has struggled this season on defense and the Jets will look to get him involved early with Mayo and the middle of the Patriots defense banged up.
8. Brandon Pettigrew DET (vs CHI): Pettigrew is another matchup on the field for a lot of defensive players. He should be able to make some grabs against the Bears defense.
9. Tony Gonzalez ATL (vs GB): Gonzalez has been very effective this season and Green Bay has been suspect on defense. Gonzalez should do very well at home on Sunday night.
10. Jermaine Grisham CIN (at JAC): Grisham has slowly built a rapport with Andy Dalton. The Bengals are getting better on the offensive side of the ball and play a weak Jags defense.
11. Kellen Winslow TB (at SF)
12. Dallas Clark IND (vs KC)
13. Jared Cook TEN (at PIT)
14. Aaron Hernandez NE (vs NYJ)
15. Scott Chandler BUF (vs PHI)
16. Visanthe Shiancoe MIN (vs ARI)
Sleeper: Marcedes Lewis JAC (vs CIN), Randy McMichael SD (at DEN)
Defense/Special Teams
1. Detroit Lions (vs CHI)
2. New York Giants (vs SEA)
3. San Diego Chargers (at DEN)
4. Tennessee Titans (at PIT)
5. Cincinnati Bengals (at JAC)
6. San Francisco 49ers (vs TB)
7. Minnesota Vikings (vs ARI)
8. New Orleans Saints (at CAR)
9. Green Bay Packers (at ATL)
10. Chicago Bears (at DET)
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs TEN)
12. Philadelphia Eagles (at BUF)
Sleeper: Kansas City Chiefs (at IND), Houston Texans (vs OAK)
Kickers
1. Neil Rackers ARI (vs OAK)
2. Mason Crosby GB (at ATL)
3. Sebastian Janikowski OAK (at HOU)
4. Stephen Gostkowski NE (vs NYJ)
5. John Kasay NO (at CAR)
6. Jason Hanson DET (vs CHI)
7. Matt Bryant ATL (vs GB)
8. Robbie Gould CHI (at DET)
9. Nick Novak SD (at DEN)
10. Rian Lindell BUF (vs PHI)
Sleeper: Ryan Longwell MIN (vs ARI), Rob Bironas TEN (at PIT)
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
25 Years of Arena Football: Tribute to Year II
Heading into the 1988 AFL season, the main goal of the AFL was to continue to build and grow on the success from its inaugural season. The League not only tried to spread to new markets by expanding from four to six teams, but looked to boost exposure by increasing the schedule from a six-game to a 12-game regular season.
While Pittsburgh and Chicago remained in the League, Denver and Washington did not. However the addition of teams in big sports markets such as New York, New England, Los Angeles and Detroit set up an exciting encore season with a great opportunity to receive elevated of exposure. The AFL brand was also able to receive national attention with many games appearing on major television networks.
“I think it helped a lot having the six teams in 1988 in big sports markets. We were on ESPN at the time, when ESPN needed as much sports programming as they could get. The first color guy was Lee Corso,” former Detroit Drive Head Coach and AFL Hall of Famer Tim Marcum said.
Because Arena Football was receiving more coverage with an exciting brand of football, fans and attendance were beginning to rise as well. The fans were seeing how interactive the games were and how important playing at home really was.
“I think what the fans had to look forward to was the fast paced game and they didn’t have to worry about the weather. A lot of the time, you had a strong home field advantage because the crowd was rough on the opposing teams. At first, we basically sat in the stands with the fans. That was very interesting,” former Chicago Bruisers defensive back and AFL Hall of Famer Durwood Roquemore said.
The second season also gave fans an opportunity to see a more developed brand of football. Many players were returning to the arena field and had a better understanding of how to read and be successful with the style of play.
“In 1988, it was good football with good players. Just like anything that starts up, it gets better as time goes along. The players and coaches were getting better and learning the game in the second season. Arena Football was just a good product so it worked out,” former Chicago Bruisers head coach and AFL Hall of Famer Perry Moss said.
The major area that many players and coaches had to learn and adapt to was the quick style of play. Because of the decrease in field space, players also had to understand the new landscape and positioning.
“The ball definitely did come out a lot faster. I was very surprised at how fast it was. When you shorten it up to 50-yards and make it less wide, then it becomes a different game and took time to adjust to the rhythm and speed of the game. It became a game of angles and I tried to master the angles. When players ran out of room and the ball is coming, if you had the right angle, you would make a play. I studied and tried to master the angles,” Roquemore said.
Because it was still football, however, coaches did not feel the necessity to change from their old football coaching and teaching tendencies.
“It was football. It is a little bit condensed from the arena field to the outdoor field. However, it wasn’t very difficult to coach this style of game because the quarterback had to do the same things and blocking and tackling were pretty much the same. Throwing and catching were the same as well. It was mostly about adjusting to the fewer men and the smaller field,” Moss said.
The one year of experience also helped raise the level of talent across the League. Whether it was returning players or new players that had seen and become interested in the sport, the League was beginning to be filled with some outstanding individual performers. The 1988 season showcased a number of future Hall of Famers that put up impressive statistics during the year.
Chicago Bruisers rookie quarterback Ben Bennett earned MVP honors and a First Team All-Arena selection during the 1988 season after throwing for 2,304-yards and 49 touchdowns. Bennett led the Bruisers to ArenaBowl II and a 10-1-1 record during the regular season. Bennett would go onto throw for 267 touchdowns in the next nine seasons during his Hall of Fame career.
Other notable Hall of Famers that played for the Chicago Bruisers and earned First Team All-Arena honors included wide receiver and defensive back Carl Aikens Jr. and Roquemore. Aikens finished the 1988 season with 934 receiving yards and 21 touchdown receptions, while ranking third in the League in all-purpose yards with 1,147. Roquemore ended the year leading the League in interceptions with 11 and tackles with 83.5, 25.5 more then the next best. Bruisers wide receiver and defensive back Reggie Smith also posted a stellar season after leading the League in all-purpose yards with 1,267. Smith, also known as “The Super Gnat”, was the League’s most exciting kick-return specialist and recorded the first kickoff return for a touchdown in AFL history.
Detroit Drive wide receiver and defensive back Dwayne Dixon followed up his impressive rookie campaign in 1987 with an extraordinary season that earned him Ironman of the Year and a First Team All-Arena selection. Dixon led the League in a number of different statistical categories including receptions (79), receiving yards (1,007) and fumble recoveries (5). He also ranked second in the League in interceptions (6) and tackles (58.0).
Pittsburgh Gladiators defensive lineman Craig Walls also earned a First Team All-Arena selection after leading the League in sacks for the second consecutive season. Walls recorded 13 sacks in 1987 and followed it up in 1988 with 12.
The great level of talent all across the League also led to a fantastic finish. Going into ArenaBowl II, Chicago and Detroit were the clear cut powerhouses, ending the regular season with the only two records above .500. Chicago finished the regular season at 10-1-1 and looked like the favorites heading into the postseason.
“We knew what type of team we had. That year we became a pretty close knit group and we actually won our first ten games. The 1988 team was one of the most underrated seasons that I played in because there were some tremendous players. We had unbelievable coaches and a lot of veteran players. There were very few mistakes made,” Roquemore said.
The Detroit Drive finished with an impressive record of 9-3, with two losses coming from Chicago during the regular season. Head coach Tim Marcum was entering his second season in the AFL after winning ArenaBowl I with the Denver Dynamite. With all of his knowledge and previous experience, Marcum was able to lead the Drive to ArenaBowl II and a matchup with their rival, the Bruisers.
In front of a crowd of 15,018, the matchup between Chicago and Detroit in ArenaBowl II did not turn out to be the high powered scoring affair that many expected. Drive wide receiver and defensive back Steve Griffin had an incredible game after notching two interceptions, a fumble recovery and six receptions for 52-yards. The Bruisers were never able to gather momentum throughout and eventually fell 24-13.
Marcum recorded his second consecutive ArenaBowl championship and would quickly become known as the most successful Head Coach in AFL history. Marcum would eventually go onto win ArenaBowl III the following season and collect seven ArenaBowls in his AFL career, four more than any other coach.
“After winning the ArenaBowl in 1987 with Denver, it was almost kind of expected. We won the first three ArenaBowl’s which was very special. It was a great run in Detroit,” Marcum said.
At the conclusion of the 1988 AFL season, the League had a lot to look forward to. With the growing level of exposure and excitement from fans, the League was quickly gaining awareness around the country.
“The League was definitely growing in the right direction. No question about it. It was growing mainly because Arena Football is a good and entertaining game. The fans really enjoyed it and as the years have gone on, it has gotten better and been an excellent game for fans to watch and the players to play,” Moss said.
While Pittsburgh and Chicago remained in the League, Denver and Washington did not. However the addition of teams in big sports markets such as New York, New England, Los Angeles and Detroit set up an exciting encore season with a great opportunity to receive elevated of exposure. The AFL brand was also able to receive national attention with many games appearing on major television networks.
“I think it helped a lot having the six teams in 1988 in big sports markets. We were on ESPN at the time, when ESPN needed as much sports programming as they could get. The first color guy was Lee Corso,” former Detroit Drive Head Coach and AFL Hall of Famer Tim Marcum said.
Because Arena Football was receiving more coverage with an exciting brand of football, fans and attendance were beginning to rise as well. The fans were seeing how interactive the games were and how important playing at home really was.
“I think what the fans had to look forward to was the fast paced game and they didn’t have to worry about the weather. A lot of the time, you had a strong home field advantage because the crowd was rough on the opposing teams. At first, we basically sat in the stands with the fans. That was very interesting,” former Chicago Bruisers defensive back and AFL Hall of Famer Durwood Roquemore said.
The second season also gave fans an opportunity to see a more developed brand of football. Many players were returning to the arena field and had a better understanding of how to read and be successful with the style of play.
“In 1988, it was good football with good players. Just like anything that starts up, it gets better as time goes along. The players and coaches were getting better and learning the game in the second season. Arena Football was just a good product so it worked out,” former Chicago Bruisers head coach and AFL Hall of Famer Perry Moss said.
The major area that many players and coaches had to learn and adapt to was the quick style of play. Because of the decrease in field space, players also had to understand the new landscape and positioning.
“The ball definitely did come out a lot faster. I was very surprised at how fast it was. When you shorten it up to 50-yards and make it less wide, then it becomes a different game and took time to adjust to the rhythm and speed of the game. It became a game of angles and I tried to master the angles. When players ran out of room and the ball is coming, if you had the right angle, you would make a play. I studied and tried to master the angles,” Roquemore said.
Because it was still football, however, coaches did not feel the necessity to change from their old football coaching and teaching tendencies.
“It was football. It is a little bit condensed from the arena field to the outdoor field. However, it wasn’t very difficult to coach this style of game because the quarterback had to do the same things and blocking and tackling were pretty much the same. Throwing and catching were the same as well. It was mostly about adjusting to the fewer men and the smaller field,” Moss said.
The one year of experience also helped raise the level of talent across the League. Whether it was returning players or new players that had seen and become interested in the sport, the League was beginning to be filled with some outstanding individual performers. The 1988 season showcased a number of future Hall of Famers that put up impressive statistics during the year.
Chicago Bruisers rookie quarterback Ben Bennett earned MVP honors and a First Team All-Arena selection during the 1988 season after throwing for 2,304-yards and 49 touchdowns. Bennett led the Bruisers to ArenaBowl II and a 10-1-1 record during the regular season. Bennett would go onto throw for 267 touchdowns in the next nine seasons during his Hall of Fame career.
Other notable Hall of Famers that played for the Chicago Bruisers and earned First Team All-Arena honors included wide receiver and defensive back Carl Aikens Jr. and Roquemore. Aikens finished the 1988 season with 934 receiving yards and 21 touchdown receptions, while ranking third in the League in all-purpose yards with 1,147. Roquemore ended the year leading the League in interceptions with 11 and tackles with 83.5, 25.5 more then the next best. Bruisers wide receiver and defensive back Reggie Smith also posted a stellar season after leading the League in all-purpose yards with 1,267. Smith, also known as “The Super Gnat”, was the League’s most exciting kick-return specialist and recorded the first kickoff return for a touchdown in AFL history.
Detroit Drive wide receiver and defensive back Dwayne Dixon followed up his impressive rookie campaign in 1987 with an extraordinary season that earned him Ironman of the Year and a First Team All-Arena selection. Dixon led the League in a number of different statistical categories including receptions (79), receiving yards (1,007) and fumble recoveries (5). He also ranked second in the League in interceptions (6) and tackles (58.0).
Pittsburgh Gladiators defensive lineman Craig Walls also earned a First Team All-Arena selection after leading the League in sacks for the second consecutive season. Walls recorded 13 sacks in 1987 and followed it up in 1988 with 12.
The great level of talent all across the League also led to a fantastic finish. Going into ArenaBowl II, Chicago and Detroit were the clear cut powerhouses, ending the regular season with the only two records above .500. Chicago finished the regular season at 10-1-1 and looked like the favorites heading into the postseason.
“We knew what type of team we had. That year we became a pretty close knit group and we actually won our first ten games. The 1988 team was one of the most underrated seasons that I played in because there were some tremendous players. We had unbelievable coaches and a lot of veteran players. There were very few mistakes made,” Roquemore said.
The Detroit Drive finished with an impressive record of 9-3, with two losses coming from Chicago during the regular season. Head coach Tim Marcum was entering his second season in the AFL after winning ArenaBowl I with the Denver Dynamite. With all of his knowledge and previous experience, Marcum was able to lead the Drive to ArenaBowl II and a matchup with their rival, the Bruisers.
In front of a crowd of 15,018, the matchup between Chicago and Detroit in ArenaBowl II did not turn out to be the high powered scoring affair that many expected. Drive wide receiver and defensive back Steve Griffin had an incredible game after notching two interceptions, a fumble recovery and six receptions for 52-yards. The Bruisers were never able to gather momentum throughout and eventually fell 24-13.
Marcum recorded his second consecutive ArenaBowl championship and would quickly become known as the most successful Head Coach in AFL history. Marcum would eventually go onto win ArenaBowl III the following season and collect seven ArenaBowls in his AFL career, four more than any other coach.
“After winning the ArenaBowl in 1987 with Denver, it was almost kind of expected. We won the first three ArenaBowl’s which was very special. It was a great run in Detroit,” Marcum said.
At the conclusion of the 1988 AFL season, the League had a lot to look forward to. With the growing level of exposure and excitement from fans, the League was quickly gaining awareness around the country.
“The League was definitely growing in the right direction. No question about it. It was growing mainly because Arena Football is a good and entertaining game. The fans really enjoyed it and as the years have gone on, it has gotten better and been an excellent game for fans to watch and the players to play,” Moss said.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Cameron McGlenn Interview
In this edition of Beyond the Wall, we sat down with Iowa Barnstormers DB Cameron McGlenn. Yesterday, McGlenn was assinged to the Barnstormers during the AFL's three week Exclusive Period. McGlenn will be entering his sophomore season in the League and has already been making noise. During his rookie season, the defensive back led Iowa in numerous defensive categories including tackles, interceptions, fumble recoveries and pass breakups. McGlenn played in all 18 games for the Barnstormers and was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year.
EDITOR: How has the offseason been thus far?
CAMERON MCGLENN: It’s been pretty good. I am just trying to stay in shape and get ready for next season. That is my main focus.
ED: How do you stay in football shape during the offseason?
CM: Mostly I focus on endurance. I work out with friends. I will also go up to my High School and workout with them and go to their practices. I try to play football as much as I can.
ED: Any special workout routines?
CM: A lot of pushups, sit ups and running up hills.
ED: How long do you usually rest once the offseason starts?
CM: I usually use about two weeks to let my body heal and when I feel good, I get right back at it.
ED: How would you rate your performance from last season?
CM: I feel that I did pretty good, considering that it was my rookie season. I was still trying to learn the game and get used to the motions. But I think that I could have done a little bit better because at the end of the season, I felt that I fell off a little bit with the interceptions. I dropped too many. I know next season that I will do better.
ED: How do you feel you can improve this season?
CM: Just become smarter. I am a student of the game and will watch more film. I will be more prepared for my opponents.
ED: Was it a difficult transition learning the Arena style?
CM: The transition wasn’t that bad. Football is football. You have to tackle, catch, run, just like outside. I had to get used to the motion man because I played the middle. I had a smaller area to work in.
ED: Where are you living during the offseason?
CM: I just got back to North Carolina. I’ve been working out with the High School I graduated from and their secondary. I’ve been hanging around there, trying to be a positive influence to them. I’ve been trying to help them get ready for their future in college and everything.
ED: What do you like most about playing for the Barnstormers?
CM: The fans. We have the best fans in Arena Football. Everywhere we went for a road game didn’t compare to the fans in Iowa.
ED: What are your thoughts about the new hire in Head Coach Mike Hohensee?
CM: I just heard about it not too long ago. I don’t know him very well but I am very excited to get to meet him and play for him.
ED: Do you have any hobbies that you do during your free time?
CM: I spend time with my family and have fun. I love to listen to music and play the piano.
ED: What football teams do you root for?
CM: In college, I like Florida State and in the NFL, I root for the Dallas Cowboys.
ED: How did the tryout go with the Cleveland Browns?
CM: It went well. There were a few DBs from the AFL. They said that the roster was full, but if anything opened up, they would let us know and give us a call.
ED: Cameron, thanks for joining us today. Good luck the rest of the offseason.
EDITOR: How has the offseason been thus far?
CAMERON MCGLENN: It’s been pretty good. I am just trying to stay in shape and get ready for next season. That is my main focus.
ED: How do you stay in football shape during the offseason?
CM: Mostly I focus on endurance. I work out with friends. I will also go up to my High School and workout with them and go to their practices. I try to play football as much as I can.
ED: Any special workout routines?
CM: A lot of pushups, sit ups and running up hills.
ED: How long do you usually rest once the offseason starts?
CM: I usually use about two weeks to let my body heal and when I feel good, I get right back at it.
ED: How would you rate your performance from last season?
CM: I feel that I did pretty good, considering that it was my rookie season. I was still trying to learn the game and get used to the motions. But I think that I could have done a little bit better because at the end of the season, I felt that I fell off a little bit with the interceptions. I dropped too many. I know next season that I will do better.
ED: How do you feel you can improve this season?
CM: Just become smarter. I am a student of the game and will watch more film. I will be more prepared for my opponents.
ED: Was it a difficult transition learning the Arena style?
CM: The transition wasn’t that bad. Football is football. You have to tackle, catch, run, just like outside. I had to get used to the motion man because I played the middle. I had a smaller area to work in.
ED: Where are you living during the offseason?
CM: I just got back to North Carolina. I’ve been working out with the High School I graduated from and their secondary. I’ve been hanging around there, trying to be a positive influence to them. I’ve been trying to help them get ready for their future in college and everything.
ED: What do you like most about playing for the Barnstormers?
CM: The fans. We have the best fans in Arena Football. Everywhere we went for a road game didn’t compare to the fans in Iowa.
ED: What are your thoughts about the new hire in Head Coach Mike Hohensee?
CM: I just heard about it not too long ago. I don’t know him very well but I am very excited to get to meet him and play for him.
ED: Do you have any hobbies that you do during your free time?
CM: I spend time with my family and have fun. I love to listen to music and play the piano.
ED: What football teams do you root for?
CM: In college, I like Florida State and in the NFL, I root for the Dallas Cowboys.
ED: How did the tryout go with the Cleveland Browns?
CM: It went well. There were a few DBs from the AFL. They said that the roster was full, but if anything opened up, they would let us know and give us a call.
ED: Cameron, thanks for joining us today. Good luck the rest of the offseason.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Exclusive Period Begins for AFL Teams
The Arena Football League began its Exclusive Period yesterday, Monday September 5, 2011. For the next three weeks, AFL teams will have the opportunity to resign players from their 2011 squads. The Exclusive Period will be crucial to many team’s success in 2012. It will give them a chance to bring back players who have grown accustom to the arena style and to their respective teams system.
“This is a pivotal time for teams to bring back players they had last season to create familiarity on the roster,” AFL Director of Football Operations Joe Kleinsmith said.
“This is a pivotal time for teams to bring back players they had last season to create familiarity on the roster,” AFL Director of Football Operations Joe Kleinsmith said.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
BTW: Introducing Andy Olson, "The Young Gun"
For this edition of Beyond the Wall, AFL Communications sat down with new Spokane Shock Head Coach Andy Olson. Olson played in 29 regular season games for Spokane, helping the Shock capture the 2009 ArenaCup. Last season Olson served as the Offensive Coordinator for the Shock since Week 2. Spokane’s offense in 2011 was impressive under Olson, finishing the season ranked fifth in the AFL in average points per game scored with 58.8.
EDITOR: How did it feel when you found out that you were going to be the next Head Coach of the Spokane Shock?
ANDY OLSON: I was extremely excited when I found out. There really isn’t a better way of putting it. It’s an opportunity that I don’t think anyone in my shoes could pass up. It’s one of those things where it is a once in a lifetime chance for me. I jumped on it and did everything I could to make sure that I got the job; and here I am today.
ED: What was your childhood like growing up on a farm in Washington?
AO: Growing up on a farm definitely taught me a lot about hard work. I grew up on a dairy farm, so we were never in front of the TV. We were always outside working, playing around or doing other stuff outdoors. We were very happy. I had a very active childhood and once I got into my teen years, my parents started making me work on the farm. My family and I worked hard when I was growing up and had a lot of fun too. I definitely got a hard working attitude from growing up on a farm. Not many kids get an opportunity to grow up that way, and I am very thankful for it.
ED: In High School, you played and excelled in a number of sports including football, wrestling and soccer. What was that experience like? Which sport did you like playing the most?
AO: Obviously I loved football the most. I enjoyed pretty much every sport I ever played. I was one of those kids that tried to play as many sports as I could. Football was always my favorite though, because all of my brothers played and I idolized them. Football was just the most fun. I loved scoring touchdowns. It was one of those things where I continued to grow as a football player and opportunities started to come my way. I just tried to go from there.
ED: Going into your senior season you had a lot of scholarship offers. However, after a late season injury many of the offers were taken away. How tough was that experience?
AO: It was definitely disappointing. It is one of those things that you learn from. You just kind of have to take a beating sometimes, get up and keep working hard. The injury was very unfortunate and ill timed. But I ended up at a decent school and had a great time being there. I met my wife there and started a family, so I can’t complain about what happened.
ED: You then got an opportunity to play at Western Washington with your brother. What was that experience like?
AO: It was a very cool and comfortable situation for me. The school was a very good academic school as well, which is one thing that was really important to me. I really wanted to make sure that I got a decent education. The scholarship and not having to pay for school and classes was definitely nice too. Having my brother there and knowing the coaches gave me an upper hand on a lot of things. It was a real advantage for me and it ended up working out really well.
ED: You then went to the AFL and af2, playing with the Georgia Force and Spokane Shock. How did you get into the arena game?
AO: I loved playing Arena Football because I thought it was perfect for a receiver’s game. How can you not enjoy playing where you have a good chance of catching touchdowns in every single game? I had a blast playing. I found out about it and contacted my agent. He heard back, so I decided to give it a shot. I didn’t stay in Georgia very long and got an opportunity to play in Spokane for a two year tenure. I learned so much about the arena game in my time being in Spokane.
ED: How were you able to be successful as a receiver in the arena game? What are some of the things that you focused on?
AO: You have to get used to the speed of the game. That’s the biggest difference. There is not a whole lot of room to work with on the field for a wide receiver. You have to do what you would do on an outdoor field a lot faster. You have to hit areas quicker and understand the timing and how much time the quarterback has to throw the football. Once you understand that, it helps the receiver get into an area and make a move or get open in order to get up field. It’s all about timing. In Arena Football, the field is condensed, so everything has to happen very quickly and your decisions have to be fast. I understood the game very well and picked it up pretty quick. I knew how to get open.
ED: Earlier this season, you got hired as the Offensive Coordinator for the Shock. How did that come about?
AO: I got the job after a few weeks into last season. I heard that the offense was struggling and the team was unhappy with the production. I got a phone call from Rob Keefe and just talked about being a receivers coach and working my way into being an Offensive Coordinator. I got here and Rob really liked what I had to offer and agreed on pretty much everything that had to do with the offense. He gave me complete control of the offense. It was a great situation for me. I have loved being the Offensive Coordinator here and had a great time doing it. I hoped throughout the season that one day I would get the chance to be a Head Coach. It definitely happened a lot faster than I thought it would but I am very happy with where I am now.
ED: You have always had a reputation for being tough and giving 110 percent. Is that what you look for in recruiting players?
AO: I think one of the things that coaches have trouble with is recruiting players that have the heart that most other players don’t have. It is really hard to find, but I think that it is something that is few and far between now a days. Finding players who will grind every single play is what I look for. When its one minute left in the fourth quarter, they are the ones with the confidence and will to finish the game for you. I think that is definitely the type of player that I am going to try and recruit. You’re not going to get a team full of those guys, but finding these players is very important to a team’s success and the signing process.
ED: How much does it help being able to coach very close to your home and family?
AO: It’s nice. My parents are able to keep involved and come to a couple of games a year. It would obviously be a lot more difficult if they were across the state or the nation. It’s definitely convenient and Spokane has been great to me since I have been here. I hope to make this my home for a number of years and am looking forward to being around here for a while.
ED: What is it like playing in front of the Spokane crowd?
AO: It’s a blast. It’s also definitely a great recruiting tool. Having fans in the stadium is what we play for. If we didn’t have fans, it wouldn’t be very much fun. There aren’t many teams that get such a loyal fan base that will pack the stadium with 11,000 fans every game. It’s so loud in there. The fans are so good to us and we definitely feel that they are some of the best in the entire League. I have always been extremely happy with our fan production and it is so much more fun as a player when you have 10,000 people in the stands screaming their heads off for you every game. We feel that is our advantage and hopefully it continues.
ED: How would you describe yourself as a coach?
AO: I am a very controlled, yet aggressive coach. I think that being a Head Coach, I really want to get better in adapting to circumstances and the players. I don’t think there is one style that I want to have because I think it is important as a Head Coach to be able to adapt to different situations and the 24 players on the team. Being able to adapt to those individual players and change your style to fit them for their success is very important. I definitely want to be flexible and a fun coach, but still have a serious attitude and be able to get the most out of the players.
ED: What do you like to do for fun when you are not coaching?
AO: I love to go to the park with my kids. We love doing outdoor stuff. I love watching them play sports. When I do get a chance, I enjoy playing golf. Every once in a while I like to play some racquetball. I basically like doing anything that is outdoors. I might go camping with my family on the weekends. We love being outside and doing stuff outside together. I would pretty much say that all of my spare time is spent with them.
ED: Andy, thanks for joining us! Good luck this offseason and congratulations.
EDITOR: How did it feel when you found out that you were going to be the next Head Coach of the Spokane Shock?
ANDY OLSON: I was extremely excited when I found out. There really isn’t a better way of putting it. It’s an opportunity that I don’t think anyone in my shoes could pass up. It’s one of those things where it is a once in a lifetime chance for me. I jumped on it and did everything I could to make sure that I got the job; and here I am today.
ED: What was your childhood like growing up on a farm in Washington?
AO: Growing up on a farm definitely taught me a lot about hard work. I grew up on a dairy farm, so we were never in front of the TV. We were always outside working, playing around or doing other stuff outdoors. We were very happy. I had a very active childhood and once I got into my teen years, my parents started making me work on the farm. My family and I worked hard when I was growing up and had a lot of fun too. I definitely got a hard working attitude from growing up on a farm. Not many kids get an opportunity to grow up that way, and I am very thankful for it.
ED: In High School, you played and excelled in a number of sports including football, wrestling and soccer. What was that experience like? Which sport did you like playing the most?
AO: Obviously I loved football the most. I enjoyed pretty much every sport I ever played. I was one of those kids that tried to play as many sports as I could. Football was always my favorite though, because all of my brothers played and I idolized them. Football was just the most fun. I loved scoring touchdowns. It was one of those things where I continued to grow as a football player and opportunities started to come my way. I just tried to go from there.
ED: Going into your senior season you had a lot of scholarship offers. However, after a late season injury many of the offers were taken away. How tough was that experience?
AO: It was definitely disappointing. It is one of those things that you learn from. You just kind of have to take a beating sometimes, get up and keep working hard. The injury was very unfortunate and ill timed. But I ended up at a decent school and had a great time being there. I met my wife there and started a family, so I can’t complain about what happened.
ED: You then got an opportunity to play at Western Washington with your brother. What was that experience like?
AO: It was a very cool and comfortable situation for me. The school was a very good academic school as well, which is one thing that was really important to me. I really wanted to make sure that I got a decent education. The scholarship and not having to pay for school and classes was definitely nice too. Having my brother there and knowing the coaches gave me an upper hand on a lot of things. It was a real advantage for me and it ended up working out really well.
ED: You then went to the AFL and af2, playing with the Georgia Force and Spokane Shock. How did you get into the arena game?
AO: I loved playing Arena Football because I thought it was perfect for a receiver’s game. How can you not enjoy playing where you have a good chance of catching touchdowns in every single game? I had a blast playing. I found out about it and contacted my agent. He heard back, so I decided to give it a shot. I didn’t stay in Georgia very long and got an opportunity to play in Spokane for a two year tenure. I learned so much about the arena game in my time being in Spokane.
ED: How were you able to be successful as a receiver in the arena game? What are some of the things that you focused on?
AO: You have to get used to the speed of the game. That’s the biggest difference. There is not a whole lot of room to work with on the field for a wide receiver. You have to do what you would do on an outdoor field a lot faster. You have to hit areas quicker and understand the timing and how much time the quarterback has to throw the football. Once you understand that, it helps the receiver get into an area and make a move or get open in order to get up field. It’s all about timing. In Arena Football, the field is condensed, so everything has to happen very quickly and your decisions have to be fast. I understood the game very well and picked it up pretty quick. I knew how to get open.
ED: Earlier this season, you got hired as the Offensive Coordinator for the Shock. How did that come about?
AO: I got the job after a few weeks into last season. I heard that the offense was struggling and the team was unhappy with the production. I got a phone call from Rob Keefe and just talked about being a receivers coach and working my way into being an Offensive Coordinator. I got here and Rob really liked what I had to offer and agreed on pretty much everything that had to do with the offense. He gave me complete control of the offense. It was a great situation for me. I have loved being the Offensive Coordinator here and had a great time doing it. I hoped throughout the season that one day I would get the chance to be a Head Coach. It definitely happened a lot faster than I thought it would but I am very happy with where I am now.
ED: You have always had a reputation for being tough and giving 110 percent. Is that what you look for in recruiting players?
AO: I think one of the things that coaches have trouble with is recruiting players that have the heart that most other players don’t have. It is really hard to find, but I think that it is something that is few and far between now a days. Finding players who will grind every single play is what I look for. When its one minute left in the fourth quarter, they are the ones with the confidence and will to finish the game for you. I think that is definitely the type of player that I am going to try and recruit. You’re not going to get a team full of those guys, but finding these players is very important to a team’s success and the signing process.
ED: How much does it help being able to coach very close to your home and family?
AO: It’s nice. My parents are able to keep involved and come to a couple of games a year. It would obviously be a lot more difficult if they were across the state or the nation. It’s definitely convenient and Spokane has been great to me since I have been here. I hope to make this my home for a number of years and am looking forward to being around here for a while.
ED: What is it like playing in front of the Spokane crowd?
AO: It’s a blast. It’s also definitely a great recruiting tool. Having fans in the stadium is what we play for. If we didn’t have fans, it wouldn’t be very much fun. There aren’t many teams that get such a loyal fan base that will pack the stadium with 11,000 fans every game. It’s so loud in there. The fans are so good to us and we definitely feel that they are some of the best in the entire League. I have always been extremely happy with our fan production and it is so much more fun as a player when you have 10,000 people in the stands screaming their heads off for you every game. We feel that is our advantage and hopefully it continues.
ED: How would you describe yourself as a coach?
AO: I am a very controlled, yet aggressive coach. I think that being a Head Coach, I really want to get better in adapting to circumstances and the players. I don’t think there is one style that I want to have because I think it is important as a Head Coach to be able to adapt to different situations and the 24 players on the team. Being able to adapt to those individual players and change your style to fit them for their success is very important. I definitely want to be flexible and a fun coach, but still have a serious attitude and be able to get the most out of the players.
ED: What do you like to do for fun when you are not coaching?
AO: I love to go to the park with my kids. We love doing outdoor stuff. I love watching them play sports. When I do get a chance, I enjoy playing golf. Every once in a while I like to play some racquetball. I basically like doing anything that is outdoors. I might go camping with my family on the weekends. We love being outside and doing stuff outside together. I would pretty much say that all of my spare time is spent with them.
ED: Andy, thanks for joining us! Good luck this offseason and congratulations.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Arbet Credits Hall of Fame Career to Players
In any sport, the measuring barometer that defines a Head Coach is wins. Coaches like Bill Belichik, Vince Lombardi, John Wooden and Phil Jackson are considered the best in their respective leagues because of their ability to win and more importantly, do it consistently.
In many leagues, the ability to win at a constant level is a daunting task due to the high amount of changing parts within a team. However, certain coaches have the ability to produce a winning formula in different ways and options. These coaches are gifted and understand the game so well, that each season, no matter who is on the field, are successful.
In the AFL, only a handful of Head Coaches are able to boast about this winning ability. Only five Head Coaches have won more than 100 games in the AFL’s 24 year history. One of those Head Coaches is San Jose SaberCats Head Coach Darren Arbet. Arbet has dominated in the AFL as a Head Coach and focused on certain characteristics that make up a successful winning coach.
“You have to have dedication, hard work and being able to work and motivate people. Getting players to play as one is extremely important,” SaberCats Head Coach Darren Arbet said.
Arbet was recently selected to the 2011 Hall of Fame Class after notching 114 regular season wins in only 11 seasons in the AFL. In 2007, Arbet recorded his 100th win, in only 145 games. During his tenure as the Head Coach in San Jose, Arbet won double digit games in eight out of his 11 seasons, and nine straight (2000-2008) with a playoff appearance. Even with all of the success, Arbet accredits his accomplishments to the SaberCats, and more importantly the players.
“My success starts with the organization, ownership and the coaching staff. They give me everything I need to win here. We have had some tremendous players, with a couple of them going into the Hall of Fame. I am sure that there are a lot more that are going to get in. Players are the ones who win the football games and I have been fortunate to have some great players,” Arbet explained.
A major piece to a team’s success in the AFL is the strong need for a reliable quarterback. During his tenure in San Jose, Arbet was privileged to possess quarterbacks, like Mark Grieb, who were more than reliable for the SaberCats and made it smoother to find a winning mentality.
“Grieb is a tremendous human being. He is a great quarterback and one of the best to ever play in this League. I’ve been honored to also coach John Dutton, who played quarterback here and helped us a lot. We’ve been very lucky to have these guys,” Arbet said.
Along with all of his regular season success, Arbet has also been able to triumph when it matters most. Arbet owns the AFL’s best postseason winning percentage (.714) and led the SaberCats to three ArenaBowl championships in 2002, 2004 and 2007. After reaching these milestones, Arbet understands the difficult passage it takes to winning an ArenaBowl.
“You never get tired of standing up on that podium. That’s for sure. But it takes a lot of hard work. I think when you are standing up there, you look back at camp and all of those bumps in the road that you went through and see how the players overcame and stuck together throughout the season. There is no feeling like it,” Arbet said.
In 2011, Arbet and the SaberCats returned to the AFL after a two year hiatus. Unlike the previous nine seasons, San Jose struggled and did not reach the playoffs with a 7-11 record. The team battled to find consistency due to the high amount of injury and roster changes. Even with all of his past success, Arbet still feels the need to improve as a coach every season.
“I am going to have to get better going into next year. Any time that you coach, you have to look in the mirror. You have to find where you can get better and look back on the things that you did. Once you do that, you have to look at the things that you can correct and make better with some changes. It’s all about correcting on mistakes and seeing how we can make this organization better each year.”
Even with the struggles in 2011, Arbet is still regarded as one of the greatest coaches in AFL history. His constant success and remarkable team records throughout his coaching career is one of the most impressive AFL feats that may never happen again. Arbet is well deserving of his AFL Hall of Fame induction and will surely go down as one of the most successful coaches the League has ever seen.
In many leagues, the ability to win at a constant level is a daunting task due to the high amount of changing parts within a team. However, certain coaches have the ability to produce a winning formula in different ways and options. These coaches are gifted and understand the game so well, that each season, no matter who is on the field, are successful.
In the AFL, only a handful of Head Coaches are able to boast about this winning ability. Only five Head Coaches have won more than 100 games in the AFL’s 24 year history. One of those Head Coaches is San Jose SaberCats Head Coach Darren Arbet. Arbet has dominated in the AFL as a Head Coach and focused on certain characteristics that make up a successful winning coach.
“You have to have dedication, hard work and being able to work and motivate people. Getting players to play as one is extremely important,” SaberCats Head Coach Darren Arbet said.
Arbet was recently selected to the 2011 Hall of Fame Class after notching 114 regular season wins in only 11 seasons in the AFL. In 2007, Arbet recorded his 100th win, in only 145 games. During his tenure as the Head Coach in San Jose, Arbet won double digit games in eight out of his 11 seasons, and nine straight (2000-2008) with a playoff appearance. Even with all of the success, Arbet accredits his accomplishments to the SaberCats, and more importantly the players.
“My success starts with the organization, ownership and the coaching staff. They give me everything I need to win here. We have had some tremendous players, with a couple of them going into the Hall of Fame. I am sure that there are a lot more that are going to get in. Players are the ones who win the football games and I have been fortunate to have some great players,” Arbet explained.
A major piece to a team’s success in the AFL is the strong need for a reliable quarterback. During his tenure in San Jose, Arbet was privileged to possess quarterbacks, like Mark Grieb, who were more than reliable for the SaberCats and made it smoother to find a winning mentality.
“Grieb is a tremendous human being. He is a great quarterback and one of the best to ever play in this League. I’ve been honored to also coach John Dutton, who played quarterback here and helped us a lot. We’ve been very lucky to have these guys,” Arbet said.
Along with all of his regular season success, Arbet has also been able to triumph when it matters most. Arbet owns the AFL’s best postseason winning percentage (.714) and led the SaberCats to three ArenaBowl championships in 2002, 2004 and 2007. After reaching these milestones, Arbet understands the difficult passage it takes to winning an ArenaBowl.
“You never get tired of standing up on that podium. That’s for sure. But it takes a lot of hard work. I think when you are standing up there, you look back at camp and all of those bumps in the road that you went through and see how the players overcame and stuck together throughout the season. There is no feeling like it,” Arbet said.
In 2011, Arbet and the SaberCats returned to the AFL after a two year hiatus. Unlike the previous nine seasons, San Jose struggled and did not reach the playoffs with a 7-11 record. The team battled to find consistency due to the high amount of injury and roster changes. Even with all of his past success, Arbet still feels the need to improve as a coach every season.
“I am going to have to get better going into next year. Any time that you coach, you have to look in the mirror. You have to find where you can get better and look back on the things that you did. Once you do that, you have to look at the things that you can correct and make better with some changes. It’s all about correcting on mistakes and seeing how we can make this organization better each year.”
Even with the struggles in 2011, Arbet is still regarded as one of the greatest coaches in AFL history. His constant success and remarkable team records throughout his coaching career is one of the most impressive AFL feats that may never happen again. Arbet is well deserving of his AFL Hall of Fame induction and will surely go down as one of the most successful coaches the League has ever seen.
Friday, August 19, 2011
A Game Of Musical Chairs For AFL Coaches
Only a week into the offseason, the AFL already features a number of teams with coaching hiring and firings. Some changes were predictable after a tough 2011 campaign from teams like Philadelphia and New Orleans. Others have been a bit unexpected.
The Orlando Predators and Spokane Shock both reached the playoffs but took early exits after losses to the two eventual ArenaBowl representatives. Pat O’Hara and Rob Keefe were both in their second AFL season with their respective clubs. During their time there, both proved they had what it took to be successful in the League.
Spokane managed a 9-9 record and reached the playoffs for the second straight year, in a season that featured a number of key injuries and quarterback moves. In two seasons as Head Coach for the Spokane Shock in the AFL, Keefe recorded a 22-12 record and ArenaBowl title in 2010.
O’Hara posted an 11-7 record and helped Orlando reach the playoffs for the 19th consecutive year. During his two seasons as Head Coach with Orlando, O’Hara went 19-15 and 1-2 in the playoffs. However their front office decided to make a change.
“We’d like to thank Coach O’Hara for his professionalism and leadership over the past two years and all he’s done for the organization,” Predators Managing Partner Brett Bouchy said. “He’ll always be a part of the Orlando Predators, but we’ve decided that the time has come to move in a different direction.”
Due to Orlando’s consistent regular season success and Spokane’s recent accolades with an ArenaBowl title in 2010, the necessity for both teams will be to win and win quickly.
The Soul, Barnstormers and VooDoo, on the other hand, did not have the same success as the Predators and Shock this season. Philadelphia finished at 6-12 and last in the East Division. After winning the ArenaBowl Championship in 2008, the Soul came into the 2011 season with a lot of confidence. The team looked very exciting on paper heading into the season. The Soul also brought on one of the AFL’s most identifiable figures in Mike Hohensee. Hohensee has been involved with the League for 24 years and won 135 regular season games, the third most in AFL history. The team looked like they were headed for success. However, inconsistent play, injuries and costly turnovers occurred and pushed the team to its worst finish since their inaugural season in 2004. After an ArenaBowl championship in 2008, the desire to win is now expected in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia fan base and front office demand success and anything but a championship is unacceptable.
“We appreciate his efforts to help us get re-started and wish him well in the future. Now we begin our search for a new head coach with the goal of winning the ArenaBowl in 2012,” Soul co-majority owner Ron Jaworski said.
Because of Hohensee’s enormous amount of experience, whoever ends up replacing Hohensee will have some big shoes to fill.
Other foreseeable coaching moves came in Iowa and New Orleans. Both struggled this past season and have ended up hiring two of the dismissed coaches mentioned above. Iowa finished the season with a 5-13 record and lost legendary Head Coach John Gregory midway through the season. JT Smith took over and led them to 3-6 record in the final nine games. On Tuesday, Iowa decided to hire Soul Ex-Head Coach Hohensee. Hohensee became the Head Coach and Director of Football Operations for the Barnstormers and will look to rebound after a tough 2011 finish with the Soul.
New Orleans also hired a Head Coach that was let go by another team this offseason. The VooDoo ended this past season with a 3-15 record, which was the worst in team history. Derek Stingley was released midway through the season and replaced by Jon Norris. Both coaches lacked consistency, and once the season finished, a coaching change was anticipated. The VooDoo ended up hiring Predators ex-Head Coach Pat O’Hara last Monday. O’Hara made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons as Head Coach for Orlando, and will look to bring a winning attitude to the VooDoo organization.
The Predators hope to find success with new Head Coach Bret Munsey. Like O’Hara, Munsey has played and coached in the AFL. Munsey led the Philadelphia Soul to a 13-3 record and an ArenaBowl championship in 2008. With all of the success he has had in AFL, Munsey was at the top of Orlando’s list.
“It’s no secret that Bret Munsey was the hottest head coaching candidate on the market in the Arena Football League. He has a championship, and a winning record to back it up. It’s a testament to our fans and organization that we were able to land him,” Bouchy said.
As of today, two teams are currently in pursuit of a Head Coach. The 2010 ArenaBowl champions Spokane Shock and 2008 champions Philadelphia Soul will be looking for coaches who have had experience and proved they can win in the AFL. The Shock will also be looking for someone that they can trust and push them to a similar result from 2010. Whoever the Shock and Soul decide to go with, the AFL offseason has already featured a number of head coaching swaps and moves that will make for new and interesting looks in few different places.
The Orlando Predators and Spokane Shock both reached the playoffs but took early exits after losses to the two eventual ArenaBowl representatives. Pat O’Hara and Rob Keefe were both in their second AFL season with their respective clubs. During their time there, both proved they had what it took to be successful in the League.
Spokane managed a 9-9 record and reached the playoffs for the second straight year, in a season that featured a number of key injuries and quarterback moves. In two seasons as Head Coach for the Spokane Shock in the AFL, Keefe recorded a 22-12 record and ArenaBowl title in 2010.
O’Hara posted an 11-7 record and helped Orlando reach the playoffs for the 19th consecutive year. During his two seasons as Head Coach with Orlando, O’Hara went 19-15 and 1-2 in the playoffs. However their front office decided to make a change.
“We’d like to thank Coach O’Hara for his professionalism and leadership over the past two years and all he’s done for the organization,” Predators Managing Partner Brett Bouchy said. “He’ll always be a part of the Orlando Predators, but we’ve decided that the time has come to move in a different direction.”
Due to Orlando’s consistent regular season success and Spokane’s recent accolades with an ArenaBowl title in 2010, the necessity for both teams will be to win and win quickly.
The Soul, Barnstormers and VooDoo, on the other hand, did not have the same success as the Predators and Shock this season. Philadelphia finished at 6-12 and last in the East Division. After winning the ArenaBowl Championship in 2008, the Soul came into the 2011 season with a lot of confidence. The team looked very exciting on paper heading into the season. The Soul also brought on one of the AFL’s most identifiable figures in Mike Hohensee. Hohensee has been involved with the League for 24 years and won 135 regular season games, the third most in AFL history. The team looked like they were headed for success. However, inconsistent play, injuries and costly turnovers occurred and pushed the team to its worst finish since their inaugural season in 2004. After an ArenaBowl championship in 2008, the desire to win is now expected in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia fan base and front office demand success and anything but a championship is unacceptable.
“We appreciate his efforts to help us get re-started and wish him well in the future. Now we begin our search for a new head coach with the goal of winning the ArenaBowl in 2012,” Soul co-majority owner Ron Jaworski said.
Because of Hohensee’s enormous amount of experience, whoever ends up replacing Hohensee will have some big shoes to fill.
Other foreseeable coaching moves came in Iowa and New Orleans. Both struggled this past season and have ended up hiring two of the dismissed coaches mentioned above. Iowa finished the season with a 5-13 record and lost legendary Head Coach John Gregory midway through the season. JT Smith took over and led them to 3-6 record in the final nine games. On Tuesday, Iowa decided to hire Soul Ex-Head Coach Hohensee. Hohensee became the Head Coach and Director of Football Operations for the Barnstormers and will look to rebound after a tough 2011 finish with the Soul.
New Orleans also hired a Head Coach that was let go by another team this offseason. The VooDoo ended this past season with a 3-15 record, which was the worst in team history. Derek Stingley was released midway through the season and replaced by Jon Norris. Both coaches lacked consistency, and once the season finished, a coaching change was anticipated. The VooDoo ended up hiring Predators ex-Head Coach Pat O’Hara last Monday. O’Hara made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons as Head Coach for Orlando, and will look to bring a winning attitude to the VooDoo organization.
The Predators hope to find success with new Head Coach Bret Munsey. Like O’Hara, Munsey has played and coached in the AFL. Munsey led the Philadelphia Soul to a 13-3 record and an ArenaBowl championship in 2008. With all of the success he has had in AFL, Munsey was at the top of Orlando’s list.
“It’s no secret that Bret Munsey was the hottest head coaching candidate on the market in the Arena Football League. He has a championship, and a winning record to back it up. It’s a testament to our fans and organization that we were able to land him,” Bouchy said.
As of today, two teams are currently in pursuit of a Head Coach. The 2010 ArenaBowl champions Spokane Shock and 2008 champions Philadelphia Soul will be looking for coaches who have had experience and proved they can win in the AFL. The Shock will also be looking for someone that they can trust and push them to a similar result from 2010. Whoever the Shock and Soul decide to go with, the AFL offseason has already featured a number of head coaching swaps and moves that will make for new and interesting looks in few different places.
New York Yankees Season Report
The 2011 New York Yankees season has been a bit unexpected. Going into the season, many question surrounded the starting pitching and the age of veteran hitters. Many fans and critics believed CC Sabathia to be the only true ace in the Yankee rotation. Last season, starters AJ Burnett and Phil Hughes posted inconsistent numbers. Burnett ended last season with a 5.62 ERA, the worst in his MLB career. Constant questions surrounded Burnett heading into this season about whether or not he could command his pitches. Throughout his career, Burnett demonstrated that he has the talent to be an excellent pitcher in the League, but has been criticized for his lack control and location. Hughes also struggled with consistency during the 2010 season. Hughes managed to win 18 games, but struggled with command as well, posting a 4.19 ERA.
So far this season, the starting rotation has done good enough to get the job done. Veteran pitchers Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia have filled in nicely and been reliable starters for the Yankees. Colon and Garcia combine for 18 wins and both currently own sub-four ERA’s, which is remarkable for the two players age and output in previous seasons. On the opposite end, second year pitcher Ivan Nova has also made an impact, winning 12 games this season. All three pitchers have made their presence felt and provided consistent starts that have been more than enough for the powerful Yankee batters.
The Yankee bullpen has also been very impressive this season. With the recent addition of Rafael Soriano, the Yankees bullpen looks nearly unhittable, even without Joba Chamberlain. The emergence of David Robertson has made the Yankees very difficult to beat when they have a lead heading into the late innings. Robertson leads the team with a 1.27 ERA and has not let up a run since July 24. And of course, Mariano Rivera is at the end of the bullpen. Rivera currently owns a 2.30 ERA and has recorded 32 saves. The cutter is still extremely effective, but has looked a bit suspect during some outings this season.
Besides the pitching questions heading into the season, many concerns focused around the age of the core veteran sluggers on the Yankee squad. Stars like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez were consistently criticized because of their decreasing stats in the recent seasons. However with all of these concerns and issues, the 2011 season has been a nice surprise. Players stepped up in key moments and helped the Yankees to currently the best record in the American League.
One player who has stepped up in a major way this season is Curtis Granderson. Granderson is posting a MVP-caliber season, leading the League in runs with 111 and RBI’s with 95. His issue with left-handed pitching seems to have disappeared and transformed into one of the toughest outs in baseball. Robinson Cano is also putting together another strong season. Cano’s ability to hit any pitch and drive the ball to any part of the field makes him very difficult to get out. Cano is currently batting .306 with 21 homeruns. Along with Cano’s and Granderson’s incredible hitting statistics, the two men have also been playmakers with the glove. Both men are on pace to take home the Gold Glove at their respective positions.
Two players that have been nice additions to the Yankee lineup are catcher Russell Martin and shortstop Eduardo Nunez. Martin has been an All-Star for the Dodgers in the past, so his success was a bit expected. Nunez, on the other hand, has proven that he can be a major weapon and will hopefully be for years to come. With injuries from veteran players like Derek Jeter and ARod, Nunez has been a big contributor to the Yankees success and half game lead in the AL East.
Other Yankee players like Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher and Mark Texiera have all provided consistent statistics and are also big reasons for the Yankees second ranked scoring offense. All three guys are extremely difficult outs because of their abilities to make pitchers work and throw strikes.
If the Yankees want to make a deep playoff run this season, they will need consistent starting pitching. With the consistent Yankee bats and shutdown bullpen, the weight definitely shifts to the rotation. With CC being the only proven ace in the rotation, the Yankees will look for their starting pitchers to be efficient. They are not expecting them to go out there and pitch eight scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts. They need their rotation to get through around six innings with three earned runs for the Yankees to have a good chance of winning due to their high powered offense. It will definitely be tough once the Yankees reach the playoffs, where their facing teams like Boston and Philadelphia. Both teams have extremely effective offenses that make pitchers work. The Yankees can also use big performances from some veteran players, like Jorge Posada or Alex Rodriguez, who have been struggling or plagued with injury. If the Yankees can find consistency in these areas, the Yankees have a good shot of reaching the World Series.
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