For this edition of Beyond the Wall, we sat down with Pittsburgh Power wide receiver Jason Willis. Willis played his college ball at the University of Oregon. After his time there, he spent brief periods with the Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins. Willis joined the AFL in 2007 with the New York Dragons and moved to the Jacksonville Sharks in 2010. This season, Willis joined the Pittsburgh Power and is the most experienced receiver on the team. He has accumulated 85 receptions for 940-yards and 15 touchdowns and is a major reason for the team’s offensive success.
Editor: Even with all of the injury issues this season, how would evaluate your team’s performance thus far?
Jason Willis: I would definitely say that injuries have slowed down our progress and chemistry as a team. Offensively we are not where we want to be, but are starting to catch a nice rhythm. Bernard Morris is our starting quarterback and when he is at the helm, we are pretty much clicking on all cylinders. He also brings that running quarterback style to the table as well. On offense we haven’t put four full quarters together yet, but every game we make improvements. It is just a matter of time before the offense finally steps up. The defense has been carrying us all season, so I take my hat off to them.
ED: You guys are currently tied with Cleveland at 8-6 for the East Division lead. What is it going to take to make the playoffs this season?
JW: We definitely want to win out within the East Division. We beat Milwaukee, so now we have to beat Cleveland and Philadelphia. We just want to win out period. If we win out, we know we will be in the driver seat when the playoffs roll around. As long as we take care of business Friday at Orlando, then against Arizona, and our division games, we should be in a good position going into the playoffs.
ED: The Power hasn’t been on NFL Network since Week 1. Are you more excited or nervous going into the game?
JW: You are always nervous. I am always nervous playing the game of football. Playing on NFL Network definitely opens up exposure. Orlando is a great team and they always have a great crowd. With NFL Network being there as well, I know it is going to be even more intense. The rookies on the team who haven’t played are going to be in for it playing in that environment. A lot of guys who are trying to get to the next level and get noticed need to use this time to put their name out there in front of the whole League.
ED: How does it feel to be the veteran receiver on this Pittsburgh team? Do you like that role?
JW: I love it. This is actually my first time being a veteran receiver in this League. I played with Aaron Garcia in 2008 and with Jacksonville last season, but those teams had proven veteran receivers. This season, our receiving core is very young. Jerome Mathis, Mike Washington and a bunch of other guys are in their first season in the League. I tried to take them under my wing and show them how routes are different from the outdoor game. And when it is clutch time late in games, I try to get them to relax and treat it like practice. I try to show them to go out there and have fun. I try to tell them not be stressed because when you start stressing, you start to mess up. They call me Papa J because I am the oldest receiver. I try to be the backbone and help the other receivers be as successful as they can. I tell them to be calm and relaxed.
ED: Growing up in Los Angeles, what other sports did you play besides football?
JW: I ran track. I actually didn’t play football till High School. Track was my main thing and I also enjoyed playing basketball. When I got to High School, I started to love football. I played running back and safety during my time there. I didn’t play receiver until my sophomore year of college at Oregon. I am probably just now mastering being a receiver at 30 years old.
ED: After High School, you decided to go to the University of Oregon. What was that process like? Any other contenders in the mix like UCLA or USC?
JW: At Oregon, Keenan Howry and Samie Parker and I were called the triple threat and all went to high school in Los Angeles. USC and UCLA did not recruit any one of us. My first choice was actually Arizona State. I was supposed to go there as a safety. My second choice was Texas, but the top schools weren’t recruiting me at the time. Oregon was actually my fourth or fifth option, but a lot of things happen in the recruiting process. I actually walked on at Oregon. I had the academics to get in, so I got the opportunity to walk on and earn a scholarship after my second year.
ED: Playing in the Pac-10, you were able to play against teams like USC and UCLA. What was that experience like for you? Did you root for those teams growing up?
JW: I was a USC fan growing up. I always imagined myself playing on that field one day. When I did get recruited and went to Oregon, the first time I got to play in the Coliseum was a dream come true. My whole family was there. It was a little weird wearing a different color uniform, then the red and gold I always imagined myself in. I was just so thankful and blessed. I had to take a moment and just take a knee in the first quarter and realize how my dream had come true.
ED: After your college tenure, you made a few stops with the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks. What were those experiences like?
JW: It was awesome. In the NFL, the players are so fast and are the smartest. It is all about business. I learned a lot from the other receivers going into my rookie year with Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram. In my second year, I was given the privilege to play with Jerry Rice. Who better to learn from, than the best player at that position of all-time? I was able to learn so much during my time with him. At that level, there is no room to slack off. You have to be a professional about everything and everyday you have to be at the top of your game. Even the fourth and fifth receivers on NFL teams are still important and top of the line. It was definitely a great experience and taught me how to be a true professional. I hope that anybody who plays football and has those dreams of making it to the NFL will at least get the opportunity to go to training and get the experiences. Those times taught me so much on how to be an effective receiver.
ED: After your time in the NFL, you decided to go to New York to play with Dragons in 2008. How did you get into Arena Football? Any different techniques you had to change when you got here?
JW: In 2007, I didn’t know anything about Arena Football. My agent told me about it, so I decided to play in the middle of the season. I played about four of five games and realized that I was running routes like I was in the open outdoor field. Aaron Garcia had to really work with me to get my routes down. Kevin Swayne, Mike Horacek and Chris Anthony really helped me learn the arena style and route running. They also taught me about emotion and all of the other stuff that really helped me develop and be successful in this League. After that stint in 2007, I was blessed to get picked up by the Redskins. My first full season was in 2008 with the Dragons. I blew up after that.
ED: You played your last three AFL seasons with veteran quarterback Aaron Garcia. How was that experience?
JW: Garcia makes everything easy. He knows where you are going to be, before you even run your route. He knows the game perfectly. I am not taking anything away from Bernard Morris because he is a great quarterback, but Aaron does the best job making the game an extremely easy and smooth transition while you’re playing. He has all of the records in this League, so you know he really understands the game. Once he gets to know his receivers, their body language and tendencies, you are pretty much running routes on air.
ED: After living on the West Coast for a good portion of your life, you moved East and played in New York, Jacksonville and now Pittsburgh. What has the transition been like? Which do you prefer?
JW: One thing that I don’t like is the weather. It’s definitely a lot colder here. I am originally from Louisiana, so I am a southern boy. I love the heat. Jacksonville was definitely a place I could fit in to. Aaron Garcia is a run-and-shoot guy and a west coast offensive mind because he is from the West as well. So that was an easy transition. I met a lot of new guys from the East Coast and South, and it is just great exposure being around different people from across the country.
ED: How have you enjoyed playing in Pittsburgh this season?
JW: I love how Pittsburgh fans are hard-nosed. They expect you to go out there and be physical. They support you no matter what. We have had games where we win on the last play of the game, and the crowd has been awesome and the stands have been packed. We really have the support of the fans because it is a football town. When I walk around with a Power shirt, people will recognize it and say “hey”. I think no matter what sport you play in this city, they are going to support you till the end. We have one more home game and I hope that when the playoffs roll around, we can get home-field advantage and I expect a sold out crowd.
ED: What sports teams do you like?
JW: I am definitely a Saints fan. I grew up a Saints fan because my father and his side of the family are from Louisiana. Whenever the Saints played the Rams or the Raiders, I was always wearing the black and gold. I am a Lakers fan to a certain extent. I have always been a huge Saints fan all the way, 100 percent.
ED: Any other special hobbies or interests?
JW: I have always been a daredevil type. I love skydiving, bungee jumping, hunting and trying all of that kind of stuff. My father was a former LAPD officer, so I got into shooting at the range and things like that. I like to try different things. I am kind of an exhibitionist because I like to do it all. I am not a sit-at-home type of guy. If there is something that catches my eye, I am going to try it.
ED: Thanks for joining us today and good luck against Orlando tomorrow night!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Week 16 AFL Coaches' Poll
TULSA, OKLA. –The Jacksonville Sharks (13-1) remain in the top spot of the Week 16 Coaches’ Poll for the ninth consecutive week, following their 66-41 victory over the Tampa Bay Storm (6-8). Jacksonville earned its 13th consecutive victory and passed the 2002 San Jose SaberCats for the AFL single-season win streak record. Sharks wide receiver Jeff Hughley led the team with 13 receptions for 210-yards and six touchdowns in the win over Tampa Bay. The Sharks will face the San Jose SaberCats (5-9) on Saturday, July 1 at 10:30 p.m. EST. Jacksonville has already locked up home-field advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs.
The Arizona Rattlers (13-2) recorded five first place votes and remained in second place following their tight, 55-54, win over the Philadelphia Soul (5-10). Arizona quarterback Nick Davila completed a one-yard touchdown pass to John Booker with six seconds remaining to give the Rattlers the narrow one-point victory. Arizona notched six consecutive victories and holds a two and a half game lead over the Chicago Rush (10-4) in the National Conference. The Rattlers face the Spokane Shock (7-7) at home on Saturday, July 2 at 8:05 p.m. EST.
The Rush jumped back into the third spot of the Poll after a 58-48 victory over the Iowa Barnstormers (3-11). Chicago has won five of their last six games. The Rush face the Utah Blaze (7-7) on Friday, July 1 at 8:30 p.m. EST. With a win, the Rush will secure a playoff spot.
The Georgia Force (9-6) moved to fourth place in the Poll following their impressive road victory, 64-34, over the Orlando Predators (8-6). Force quarterback Brett Elliot shined in the victory, throwing for 320-yards and five touchdowns. The Force currently hold the third spot of the American Conference playoff race. Georgia has a bye in Week 17 and will host Chicago in Week 18.
The Dallas Vigilantes (8-5) remained in the fifth spot of the Poll for the third consecutive week, following a 55-48 win over the Tulsa Talons (6-8). The team has won three straight games and sits one game behind the Rush for the Central Division lead. The Vigilantes face the Philadelphia Soul on Saturday, July 2 at 8:30 p.m. EST at home.
The Orlando Predators (8-6) moved to sixth in the Poll after their home loss to the Georgia Force, 34-64. The Predators have lost three straight games. The team looks to get back on track against the Pittsburgh Power (8-6) on NFL Network’s “Arena Football Friday.” Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST. The Cleveland Gladiators (8-6) remained at seven in the Poll following their 82-21 victory over the SaberCats. The Gladiators face the Milwaukee Mustangs on Saturday, July 2 at 8:00 p.m. EST.
The Spokane Shock (7-7) entered the Coaches’ Poll after their 75-54 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo (2-12). The Shock won three consecutive games and are tied with Utah for the remaining playoff spot in the National Conference. Because Spokane lost earlier this season to Utah, the Blaze currently hold the fourth seed. Spokane looks to win their fourth straight game against the second-ranked Rattlers on Saturday night.
WEEK 16 COACHES’ POLL
The Arizona Rattlers (13-2) recorded five first place votes and remained in second place following their tight, 55-54, win over the Philadelphia Soul (5-10). Arizona quarterback Nick Davila completed a one-yard touchdown pass to John Booker with six seconds remaining to give the Rattlers the narrow one-point victory. Arizona notched six consecutive victories and holds a two and a half game lead over the Chicago Rush (10-4) in the National Conference. The Rattlers face the Spokane Shock (7-7) at home on Saturday, July 2 at 8:05 p.m. EST.
The Rush jumped back into the third spot of the Poll after a 58-48 victory over the Iowa Barnstormers (3-11). Chicago has won five of their last six games. The Rush face the Utah Blaze (7-7) on Friday, July 1 at 8:30 p.m. EST. With a win, the Rush will secure a playoff spot.
The Georgia Force (9-6) moved to fourth place in the Poll following their impressive road victory, 64-34, over the Orlando Predators (8-6). Force quarterback Brett Elliot shined in the victory, throwing for 320-yards and five touchdowns. The Force currently hold the third spot of the American Conference playoff race. Georgia has a bye in Week 17 and will host Chicago in Week 18.
The Dallas Vigilantes (8-5) remained in the fifth spot of the Poll for the third consecutive week, following a 55-48 win over the Tulsa Talons (6-8). The team has won three straight games and sits one game behind the Rush for the Central Division lead. The Vigilantes face the Philadelphia Soul on Saturday, July 2 at 8:30 p.m. EST at home.
The Orlando Predators (8-6) moved to sixth in the Poll after their home loss to the Georgia Force, 34-64. The Predators have lost three straight games. The team looks to get back on track against the Pittsburgh Power (8-6) on NFL Network’s “Arena Football Friday.” Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST. The Cleveland Gladiators (8-6) remained at seven in the Poll following their 82-21 victory over the SaberCats. The Gladiators face the Milwaukee Mustangs on Saturday, July 2 at 8:00 p.m. EST.
The Spokane Shock (7-7) entered the Coaches’ Poll after their 75-54 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo (2-12). The Shock won three consecutive games and are tied with Utah for the remaining playoff spot in the National Conference. Because Spokane lost earlier this season to Utah, the Blaze currently hold the fourth seed. Spokane looks to win their fourth straight game against the second-ranked Rattlers on Saturday night.
WEEK 16 COACHES’ POLL
RK | Team (1st place votes) | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
1 | Jacksonville Sharks (14) | 13-1 | 166 | 1 |
2 | Arizona Rattlers (4) | 13-2 | 157 | 2 |
3 | Chicago Rush | 10-4 | 127 | 4 |
4 | Georgia Force | 9-6 | 109 | 6 |
5 | Dallas Vigilantes | 9-5 | 101 | 5 |
6 | Orlando Predators | 8-6 | 95 | 3 |
7 | Cleveland Gladiators | 8-6 | 77 | 7 |
8 | Pittsburgh Power | 8-6 | 55 | 8 |
9 | Utah Blaze | 7-7 | 46 | 9 |
10 | Spokane Shock | 7-7 | 32 | -- |
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Beyond The Wall with Kansas City's Steve Wasil
For this edition of Beyond the Wall, we sat down with Kansas City Command’s new starting quarterback Steve Wasil. Wasil played two seasons in the af2 before joining the Alabama Vipers in 2010. After one start in Alabama, Wasil was picked up by Kansas City at the beginning of the 2011 AFL season. Wasil started his second AFL game last week against Cleveland completing 19-of-23 passes for 243 yards and five touchdowns in a winning effort. Wasil and the Kansas City Command face the Utah Blaze on NFL Network’s “Arena Football Friday”.
Editor: How did it feel to finally get a chance to start last week for Kansas City? How has the transition been to the starting role?
Steve Wasil: The transition has been very smooth. I have been here since day one of camp and a lot of players that I played with last Sunday are some of the guys that have been here since the beginning of camp as well. I’ve been working with them all season. Every week on offense we have broken down film, so nothing has really changed much. The only difference is that I actually played this past Sunday.
ED: You got a win against Cleveland in your first start with Kansas City. What was that like?
SW: It was pretty exciting. While the game was going on, I knew I had to stay even keeled. I knew I had to keep getting the ball to my receivers and let them do most of the work. I started one game last year for the Alabama Vipers, which I happened to lose, so this is my first victory in the AFL. It was really awesome. It was also Father’s Day and my mother and father were there, so it was very special.
ED: Your third start in the AFL is going to be on NFL Network against Tommy Grady and the Utah Blaze. How are the preparations coming this week? Any added pressure?
SW: We had a NFL Network game against Chicago earlier this season, so I kind of got exposed to what happens during those games. As a team, we have kept working the same way since the first day of camp. I know I just have to go out there and try to do the same things I have practiced every week. I need to get the football out quickly, find my receivers and let them do all the work.
ED: After growing up and playing high school football in Michigan, you were recruited by Albion College. How was your college career? Did it help playing close to home?
SW: I had a great time playing in college. I got the starting job in the third game of my sophomore year and ended up starting the rest of the time while I was there. It’s just like how it is here, where I knew players and was familiar with the coaches. I never tried to do too much when I was playing. I tried to get the ball to my receivers in spots where they could make plays. My receivers helped me out in Albion, like they are helping me here. Even when I played in New York in the af2, my parents traveled to all of the games. If it is in within 12 hours of driving distance, my parents are pretty good about making the trip.
ED: After you graduated, you decided to join the Albion College coaching staff in 2006. What was that experience like for you?
SW: When I coached at Albion I was actually coaching the receivers. I helped out with the quarterback from time to time. Sometimes the Head Coach didn’t really get through to the quarterback with his explanation, so I would try to help and describe how I thought of it. The biggest thing I learned as a coach was the amount of time and effort the coaches put in to football and preparing the team. When I was playing at Albion, we would have camp and practice all the time. I always thought the coaches were there an hour or two before the players got there, but that wasn’t the case. The coaches put a lot of time and effort into preparation. I learned a lot about discipline and responsibility when it comes to preparation and research. I definitely learned how to be a better quarterback and be focused and prepared each day.
ED: In 2010 you played for the first time in the AFL with the Alabama Vipers. How was that experience? Did it take a while for you to adapt to the arena style?
SW: I actually started in 2008 with the Texas Copperheads in Houston in the af2. I played af2 for two seasons, so I was exposed to the arena style game and rules. I had a pretty good grasp of the rules, angles and different coverages. When I went to Alabama in 2010, I actually came off shoulder surgery on my right labrum. That was the biggest adjustment for me because I didn’t have quite all of my arm strength. Coming in midseason was also a bit difficult. Everyone had been through seven or eight week of the season and training camp, and had already gelled as a unit. But it is like going to any other team because all the guys are pretty much the same. They just come in different shapes and sizes.
ED: Then you got picked up by Kansas City at the beginning of the 2011 AFL season. How did you find your way to KC? Did you know anything about the team before you moved here?
SW: I knew that they were the Kansas City Brigade before. I didn’t know anything at all about the actual city. In 2009, when I was in the af2 I played against Coach Danton Barto because we were in the same division. We actually faced his team, the Manchester Wolves, four times. So, he knew about me from the 2009 season. When I got released by the Alabama Vipers in the first week of June 2010, I gave Coach Barto a call about playing for him. He had a good feeling he was going to get a job in the AFL this season, and he ended up joining Kansas City. I called to congratulate him and he told me that he was going to bring myself and one or two other quarterbacks to compete for the starting job. I knew around October that I was going to be here in KC.
ED: Through the first 13 games, JJ Raterink was the starting quarterback and was putting up solid numbers. What was it like playing behind him?
SW: One thing that I learned from JJ was breaking down film and being very detailed with film study. He’s pretty good with the X’s and O’s and making sure people were in the right spots. The main thing that I picked up from him was putting in the time to study and have a good grasp of leading the team. I still try to go out there and play the same way I have played since High School. Sometimes I don’t do everything by the books, and may freelance a bit if I don’t see something clear. It gets difficult as a quarterback when you try to do too much. It gets easy when you find receivers and let them do the work. It gets very tricky when you are trying to make the big play by yourself.
ED: Growing up in Michigan, what sports teams did you root for?
SW: I am a Detroit guy at heart. I am a huge Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons and Lions fan. My mom went to Michigan State, so I cheer for the Spartans. I am actually a big Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan as well. When I was little I loved watching them on NBC.
ED: How do you like Kansas City? Anything you have found interesting?
SW: I like Kansas City a lot. One thing that I did notice is that when I first moved here I thought it was going to be a pretty big city. It definitely has a big city feel but at the same time, it is easy to get around and the traffic isn’t very bad. The people are very friendly. Growing up in Michigan, I am used to the Midwest lifestyle and personality. Everything you do is within 10 to 15 minutes away so it’s easy to get around.
ED: If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be?
SW: I would probably say relaxed. I don’t get too excited or too down about things. I just stay relaxed, even keeled and try to work through problems calmly.
ED: Thanks Steve for sitting down with us today! Good luck this weekend against Utah!
Editor: How did it feel to finally get a chance to start last week for Kansas City? How has the transition been to the starting role?
Steve Wasil: The transition has been very smooth. I have been here since day one of camp and a lot of players that I played with last Sunday are some of the guys that have been here since the beginning of camp as well. I’ve been working with them all season. Every week on offense we have broken down film, so nothing has really changed much. The only difference is that I actually played this past Sunday.
ED: You got a win against Cleveland in your first start with Kansas City. What was that like?
SW: It was pretty exciting. While the game was going on, I knew I had to stay even keeled. I knew I had to keep getting the ball to my receivers and let them do most of the work. I started one game last year for the Alabama Vipers, which I happened to lose, so this is my first victory in the AFL. It was really awesome. It was also Father’s Day and my mother and father were there, so it was very special.
ED: Your third start in the AFL is going to be on NFL Network against Tommy Grady and the Utah Blaze. How are the preparations coming this week? Any added pressure?
SW: We had a NFL Network game against Chicago earlier this season, so I kind of got exposed to what happens during those games. As a team, we have kept working the same way since the first day of camp. I know I just have to go out there and try to do the same things I have practiced every week. I need to get the football out quickly, find my receivers and let them do all the work.
ED: After growing up and playing high school football in Michigan, you were recruited by Albion College. How was your college career? Did it help playing close to home?
SW: I had a great time playing in college. I got the starting job in the third game of my sophomore year and ended up starting the rest of the time while I was there. It’s just like how it is here, where I knew players and was familiar with the coaches. I never tried to do too much when I was playing. I tried to get the ball to my receivers in spots where they could make plays. My receivers helped me out in Albion, like they are helping me here. Even when I played in New York in the af2, my parents traveled to all of the games. If it is in within 12 hours of driving distance, my parents are pretty good about making the trip.
ED: After you graduated, you decided to join the Albion College coaching staff in 2006. What was that experience like for you?
SW: When I coached at Albion I was actually coaching the receivers. I helped out with the quarterback from time to time. Sometimes the Head Coach didn’t really get through to the quarterback with his explanation, so I would try to help and describe how I thought of it. The biggest thing I learned as a coach was the amount of time and effort the coaches put in to football and preparing the team. When I was playing at Albion, we would have camp and practice all the time. I always thought the coaches were there an hour or two before the players got there, but that wasn’t the case. The coaches put a lot of time and effort into preparation. I learned a lot about discipline and responsibility when it comes to preparation and research. I definitely learned how to be a better quarterback and be focused and prepared each day.
ED: In 2010 you played for the first time in the AFL with the Alabama Vipers. How was that experience? Did it take a while for you to adapt to the arena style?
SW: I actually started in 2008 with the Texas Copperheads in Houston in the af2. I played af2 for two seasons, so I was exposed to the arena style game and rules. I had a pretty good grasp of the rules, angles and different coverages. When I went to Alabama in 2010, I actually came off shoulder surgery on my right labrum. That was the biggest adjustment for me because I didn’t have quite all of my arm strength. Coming in midseason was also a bit difficult. Everyone had been through seven or eight week of the season and training camp, and had already gelled as a unit. But it is like going to any other team because all the guys are pretty much the same. They just come in different shapes and sizes.
ED: Then you got picked up by Kansas City at the beginning of the 2011 AFL season. How did you find your way to KC? Did you know anything about the team before you moved here?
SW: I knew that they were the Kansas City Brigade before. I didn’t know anything at all about the actual city. In 2009, when I was in the af2 I played against Coach Danton Barto because we were in the same division. We actually faced his team, the Manchester Wolves, four times. So, he knew about me from the 2009 season. When I got released by the Alabama Vipers in the first week of June 2010, I gave Coach Barto a call about playing for him. He had a good feeling he was going to get a job in the AFL this season, and he ended up joining Kansas City. I called to congratulate him and he told me that he was going to bring myself and one or two other quarterbacks to compete for the starting job. I knew around October that I was going to be here in KC.
ED: Through the first 13 games, JJ Raterink was the starting quarterback and was putting up solid numbers. What was it like playing behind him?
SW: One thing that I learned from JJ was breaking down film and being very detailed with film study. He’s pretty good with the X’s and O’s and making sure people were in the right spots. The main thing that I picked up from him was putting in the time to study and have a good grasp of leading the team. I still try to go out there and play the same way I have played since High School. Sometimes I don’t do everything by the books, and may freelance a bit if I don’t see something clear. It gets difficult as a quarterback when you try to do too much. It gets easy when you find receivers and let them do the work. It gets very tricky when you are trying to make the big play by yourself.
ED: Growing up in Michigan, what sports teams did you root for?
SW: I am a Detroit guy at heart. I am a huge Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons and Lions fan. My mom went to Michigan State, so I cheer for the Spartans. I am actually a big Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan as well. When I was little I loved watching them on NBC.
ED: How do you like Kansas City? Anything you have found interesting?
SW: I like Kansas City a lot. One thing that I did notice is that when I first moved here I thought it was going to be a pretty big city. It definitely has a big city feel but at the same time, it is easy to get around and the traffic isn’t very bad. The people are very friendly. Growing up in Michigan, I am used to the Midwest lifestyle and personality. Everything you do is within 10 to 15 minutes away so it’s easy to get around.
ED: If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be?
SW: I would probably say relaxed. I don’t get too excited or too down about things. I just stay relaxed, even keeled and try to work through problems calmly.
ED: Thanks Steve for sitting down with us today! Good luck this weekend against Utah!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Week 15 AFL Coaches' Poll
TULSA, OKLA. –The Jacksonville Sharks (12-1) remain in the top spot of the Week 15 Coaches’ Poll for the eighth consecutive week, receiving 13 first place votes following their 62-47 playoff clinching victory over the Milwaukee Mustangs (4-9). Jacksonville earned its twelfth straight victory and is now tied with the 2002 San Jose SaberCats team for the AFL single-season win streak record. Sharks veteran quarterback Aaron Garcia threw for 307-yards and seven touchdowns in the win. The Sharks look to win their thirteenth straight game this week at home against the Tampa Bay Storm (6-7) on Saturday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m. EST. A win by the Sharks will also secure the number one seed in the American Conference.
The Arizona Rattlers (12-2) tallied five first place votes and remained in second place following their crucial home win over the San Jose SaberCats (5-8), 64-57. Arizona defensive back and kick returner Virgil Gray compiled 222 kickoff return yards and two touchdowns, earning Week 15 Ironman honors. Arizona has won five consecutive games and holds a two and a half game lead over the Chicago Rush (9-4) in the National Conference. Arizona now travels to play the Philadelphia Soul (5-9) in Week 16 on Saturday, June 25 at 7:05 p.m. EST.
The Orlando Predators (8-5) moved into the third spot of the Poll after a tough, 44-46, loss to division rival, Tampa Bay. The loss was their second in two consecutive games. The Predators look to get back on track as they host the Georgia Force (8-6) on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. EST. The winner of the game will hold the third spot in the American Conference playoff picture.
Chicago fell to fourth place in the Poll following their road loss to the Spokane Shock (6-7), 60-63. Rush quarterback Russ Michna was placed on Injured Reserve Tuesday after suffering an ankle injury at the end of the first half against the Shock. Newly acquired JJ Raterink and the Rush look to bounce back in Week 16 as they face the Iowa Barnstormers (3-10) on Sunday, June 26 at 4:00 p.m. EST.
The Dallas Vigilantes (8-5) remained in the fifth spot of the Poll, following a 65-55 win over the Iowa Barnstormers. Dallas quarterback Dan Raudabaugh had another phenomenal day, completing 16-of-26 passes for 254 yards and seven touchdowns. The Vigilantes now have an important Central Division matchup against the Tulsa Talons (6-7) on Saturday, June 25 at 8:00 p.m. EST.
The Cleveland Gladiators (7-6) moved down a spot to number seven in the Poll following their road loss to the Kansas City Command (5-9), 41-50, last week. Cleveland will face San Jose on Sunday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m. EST. The Pittsburgh Power (7-6) also dropped one spot in the Poll following a 40-81 loss to the Utah Blaze (6-7). The Power have lost back-to-back games for the second time this season. The Power head back home to face the Milwaukee Mustangs (4-9) on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
The Tampa Bay Storm entered the Coaches’ Poll for the first time since Week 1, after the 46-44 victory over Orlando. The Storm have won four out of their last five games. Tampa Bay will look to keep the momentum up as they head to Jacksonville to battle the top-ranked Sharks.
WEEK 15 COACHES’ POLL
The Arizona Rattlers (12-2) tallied five first place votes and remained in second place following their crucial home win over the San Jose SaberCats (5-8), 64-57. Arizona defensive back and kick returner Virgil Gray compiled 222 kickoff return yards and two touchdowns, earning Week 15 Ironman honors. Arizona has won five consecutive games and holds a two and a half game lead over the Chicago Rush (9-4) in the National Conference. Arizona now travels to play the Philadelphia Soul (5-9) in Week 16 on Saturday, June 25 at 7:05 p.m. EST.
The Orlando Predators (8-5) moved into the third spot of the Poll after a tough, 44-46, loss to division rival, Tampa Bay. The loss was their second in two consecutive games. The Predators look to get back on track as they host the Georgia Force (8-6) on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. EST. The winner of the game will hold the third spot in the American Conference playoff picture.
Chicago fell to fourth place in the Poll following their road loss to the Spokane Shock (6-7), 60-63. Rush quarterback Russ Michna was placed on Injured Reserve Tuesday after suffering an ankle injury at the end of the first half against the Shock. Newly acquired JJ Raterink and the Rush look to bounce back in Week 16 as they face the Iowa Barnstormers (3-10) on Sunday, June 26 at 4:00 p.m. EST.
The Dallas Vigilantes (8-5) remained in the fifth spot of the Poll, following a 65-55 win over the Iowa Barnstormers. Dallas quarterback Dan Raudabaugh had another phenomenal day, completing 16-of-26 passes for 254 yards and seven touchdowns. The Vigilantes now have an important Central Division matchup against the Tulsa Talons (6-7) on Saturday, June 25 at 8:00 p.m. EST.
The Cleveland Gladiators (7-6) moved down a spot to number seven in the Poll following their road loss to the Kansas City Command (5-9), 41-50, last week. Cleveland will face San Jose on Sunday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m. EST. The Pittsburgh Power (7-6) also dropped one spot in the Poll following a 40-81 loss to the Utah Blaze (6-7). The Power have lost back-to-back games for the second time this season. The Power head back home to face the Milwaukee Mustangs (4-9) on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
The Tampa Bay Storm entered the Coaches’ Poll for the first time since Week 1, after the 46-44 victory over Orlando. The Storm have won four out of their last five games. Tampa Bay will look to keep the momentum up as they head to Jacksonville to battle the top-ranked Sharks.
RK | Team (1st place votes) | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
1 | Jacksonville Sharks (13) | 12-1 | 166 | 1 |
2 | Arizona Rattlers (5) | 12-2 | 149 | 2 |
3 | Orlando Predators | 8-5 | 126 | 4 |
4 | Chicago Rush | 9-4 | 125 | 3 |
5 | Dallas Vigilantes | 8-5 | 100 | 5 |
6 | Georgia Force | 8-6 | 80 | 8 |
7 | Cleveland Gladiators | 7-6 | 68 | 6 |
8 | Pittsburgh Power | 7-6 | 56 | 7 |
9 | Utah Blaze | 6-7 | 32 | 9 |
10 | Tampa Bay Storm | 6-7 | 30 | -- |
Thursday, June 16, 2011
AFL Defensive Player of the Year Race
The Arena Football League has always been defined by deep offensive routes, quick scoring drives and high point totals. Like any sport, fans and critics of the AFL tend to become mesmerized by the offensive successes of the many talented quarterbacks and wide receivers.
That being said, AFL fans understand how important defense is to winning and how essential it is to become a truly balanced team. Defensive talents in the AFL may be overlooked because of the elevated amount of points scored. However, these defensive playmakers often make the difference between winning and losing. Many coaches and players will say how important defensive stops and turnovers are because of the back-and-forth style of play. One interception or a forced fumble may be the difference in a win and a loss. This season, big stops and key turnovers have been the deciding factor in many outcomes. Talented defensive players have stepped up in big moments with hard sacks, bone crushing hits and acrobatic interceptions. While this season has been filled with these moments from an assortment of defensive players across the League, certain players have posted consistently impressive numbers. These players have been extremely reliable and critical to their team’s success and constantly put fear in opposing offenses.
At the end of the AFL season, the defensive player who instills the most fear in opposing offenses with his vital plays and remarkable statistics will win the Riddell Defensive Player of the Year Award. This season, the race for Defensive Player of the Year is heating up. Like the Offensive Player of the Year Award where quarterbacks and receivers win every time, the Defensive Player of the Year Award has always been won by a defensive lineman or cornerback. Last season defensive lineman Gabe Nyenhuis won the award after posting an AFL-record 15.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles in Tulsa. In 2008, the award was won by Rush cornerback Dennison Robinson for intercepting a then AFL-record tying 13 balls. This season, cornerbacks and defensive lineman are again leading the race for the award.
The two front runners in the chase for the Riddell Defensive Player of the Year are Tampa Bay Storm defensive lineman Cliff Dukes and Chicago Rush rookie cornerback Vic Hall. While Dukes is on pace to beat Nyenhuis’s sack record, Hall already passed the previous interception mark of 13. Hall’s 14 interceptions in only 12 games of action is an incredible accomplishment and one of the top storylines of the 2011 AFL season. Hall also leads the League with 97 tackles and ranks second in pass breakups per game (3.0). Hall continues to be a consistent defensive weapon and playmaking threat for Chicago and has helped lead the team to a 9-3 record this season. Dukes has also caused defensive havoc this season, compiling a League-leading 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries thus far. He has been a handful, to say the least, for opposing offensive lines. The 6-foot-3, 280 pound Dukes has been relatively unblockable this season, racking up hits and hurries and leading a pass rush that has forced opposing quarterbacks into making poor decision. If both Hall and Dukes continue to pile on significant defensive statistics and beat AFL records, it will be very difficult to select one over the other.
But they aren’t the only defenders having standout seasons. Besides Hall, the AFL features a number of defensive backs who have been outstanding in the 2011 season. For the second straight year, Orlando cornerback Rayshaun Kizer has posted more than 10 interceptions. Now in his second year in the League, Kizer has become an important asset to the Orlando Predators defense. Besides his 12 interceptions, Kizer ranks seventh in the League in tackles per game (6.0) and sixth in pass breakups per game (1.9).
Another cornerback who is putting up impressive numbers is Micheaux Robinson of the Jacksonville Sharks. Robinson once again leads the team with seven interceptions this season. He is a defensive nightmare for quarterbacks because of his quick reaction and lockdown coverage.
Arizona’s Virgil Gray is another cornerback who has been a consistent defensive playmaker throughout the season. Gray leads Arizona’s sixth-ranked defense with seven interceptions this season. Along with his defensive numbers, Gray is very effective on special teams as well. Gray leads the League with a 23.0 kickoff return average and has recorded three touchdowns this season. He uses his lightning quick speed to smother receivers, while also being a major weapon in the return game.
But while the AFL features many exciting cornerbacks this season, Dukes isn’t the only defensive lineman worthy of consideration. Jacksonville Shark rookie defensive lineman Derrick Summers is disrupting offenses this season on the line, ranking second in the League with nine sacks and four forced fumbles. Summers has helped the Sharks defense to a League-leading 31 sacks in 2011. He consistently puts pressure on opposing offenses and is a big reason why Jacksonville is enjoying an 11-game winning streak. Another defensive lineman with notable stats this season is Kansas City Command’s Bryan Robinson. Robinson currently ranks second in the League in tackles for loss with 11, and fifth in sacks (7). Robinson also totaled three blocked kicks and one safety this season with KC.
With six weeks remaining in the season, one linebacker in particular has posted noteworthy statistics in the AFL and should be among the candidates for the Riddell Defensive Player of the Year award. Kansas City’s Tyus Jackson is having a fantastic season, which has always been known as the most difficult defensive position in the AFL to rack up statistics. Still, Jackson ranks third in the League with 7.5 sacks and has posted three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a safety in the 2011 AFL season. If Jackson can continue to put up huge numbers in the final six games of the season, he may become the first linebacker to win the award.
As the season winds down, and the competition for the award intensifies, the defensive player who can continue to make big plays will likely walk away the winner. Other cornerbacks like Tulsa’s JC Neal, Orlando’s Travis Coleman and Iowa’s Cameron McGlenn have posted incredible statistics this season and deserve consideration. Other notable defensive linemen with superb statistical seasons include Chicago’s Quartez Vickerson, Dallas’s James Bear and Utah’s Khreem Smith.
The race for the Riddell Defensive Player of the Year is extremely tight. Vic Hall and Cliff Dukes may be the favorites, but they’ll need to continue making big plays and causing havoc for opposing offenses to maintain the lead. Along with those two players, the race also features many other players capable of filling up the defensive stat sheet with eye-popping numbers. Hopefully, the last six weeks of the season will give us a clearer idea of who the ultimate, consistent defensive threat is of the 2011 AFL season.
That being said, AFL fans understand how important defense is to winning and how essential it is to become a truly balanced team. Defensive talents in the AFL may be overlooked because of the elevated amount of points scored. However, these defensive playmakers often make the difference between winning and losing. Many coaches and players will say how important defensive stops and turnovers are because of the back-and-forth style of play. One interception or a forced fumble may be the difference in a win and a loss. This season, big stops and key turnovers have been the deciding factor in many outcomes. Talented defensive players have stepped up in big moments with hard sacks, bone crushing hits and acrobatic interceptions. While this season has been filled with these moments from an assortment of defensive players across the League, certain players have posted consistently impressive numbers. These players have been extremely reliable and critical to their team’s success and constantly put fear in opposing offenses.
At the end of the AFL season, the defensive player who instills the most fear in opposing offenses with his vital plays and remarkable statistics will win the Riddell Defensive Player of the Year Award. This season, the race for Defensive Player of the Year is heating up. Like the Offensive Player of the Year Award where quarterbacks and receivers win every time, the Defensive Player of the Year Award has always been won by a defensive lineman or cornerback. Last season defensive lineman Gabe Nyenhuis won the award after posting an AFL-record 15.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles in Tulsa. In 2008, the award was won by Rush cornerback Dennison Robinson for intercepting a then AFL-record tying 13 balls. This season, cornerbacks and defensive lineman are again leading the race for the award.
The two front runners in the chase for the Riddell Defensive Player of the Year are Tampa Bay Storm defensive lineman Cliff Dukes and Chicago Rush rookie cornerback Vic Hall. While Dukes is on pace to beat Nyenhuis’s sack record, Hall already passed the previous interception mark of 13. Hall’s 14 interceptions in only 12 games of action is an incredible accomplishment and one of the top storylines of the 2011 AFL season. Hall also leads the League with 97 tackles and ranks second in pass breakups per game (3.0). Hall continues to be a consistent defensive weapon and playmaking threat for Chicago and has helped lead the team to a 9-3 record this season. Dukes has also caused defensive havoc this season, compiling a League-leading 11.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries thus far. He has been a handful, to say the least, for opposing offensive lines. The 6-foot-3, 280 pound Dukes has been relatively unblockable this season, racking up hits and hurries and leading a pass rush that has forced opposing quarterbacks into making poor decision. If both Hall and Dukes continue to pile on significant defensive statistics and beat AFL records, it will be very difficult to select one over the other.
But they aren’t the only defenders having standout seasons. Besides Hall, the AFL features a number of defensive backs who have been outstanding in the 2011 season. For the second straight year, Orlando cornerback Rayshaun Kizer has posted more than 10 interceptions. Now in his second year in the League, Kizer has become an important asset to the Orlando Predators defense. Besides his 12 interceptions, Kizer ranks seventh in the League in tackles per game (6.0) and sixth in pass breakups per game (1.9).
Another cornerback who is putting up impressive numbers is Micheaux Robinson of the Jacksonville Sharks. Robinson once again leads the team with seven interceptions this season. He is a defensive nightmare for quarterbacks because of his quick reaction and lockdown coverage.
Arizona’s Virgil Gray is another cornerback who has been a consistent defensive playmaker throughout the season. Gray leads Arizona’s sixth-ranked defense with seven interceptions this season. Along with his defensive numbers, Gray is very effective on special teams as well. Gray leads the League with a 23.0 kickoff return average and has recorded three touchdowns this season. He uses his lightning quick speed to smother receivers, while also being a major weapon in the return game.
But while the AFL features many exciting cornerbacks this season, Dukes isn’t the only defensive lineman worthy of consideration. Jacksonville Shark rookie defensive lineman Derrick Summers is disrupting offenses this season on the line, ranking second in the League with nine sacks and four forced fumbles. Summers has helped the Sharks defense to a League-leading 31 sacks in 2011. He consistently puts pressure on opposing offenses and is a big reason why Jacksonville is enjoying an 11-game winning streak. Another defensive lineman with notable stats this season is Kansas City Command’s Bryan Robinson. Robinson currently ranks second in the League in tackles for loss with 11, and fifth in sacks (7). Robinson also totaled three blocked kicks and one safety this season with KC.
With six weeks remaining in the season, one linebacker in particular has posted noteworthy statistics in the AFL and should be among the candidates for the Riddell Defensive Player of the Year award. Kansas City’s Tyus Jackson is having a fantastic season, which has always been known as the most difficult defensive position in the AFL to rack up statistics. Still, Jackson ranks third in the League with 7.5 sacks and has posted three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a safety in the 2011 AFL season. If Jackson can continue to put up huge numbers in the final six games of the season, he may become the first linebacker to win the award.
As the season winds down, and the competition for the award intensifies, the defensive player who can continue to make big plays will likely walk away the winner. Other cornerbacks like Tulsa’s JC Neal, Orlando’s Travis Coleman and Iowa’s Cameron McGlenn have posted incredible statistics this season and deserve consideration. Other notable defensive linemen with superb statistical seasons include Chicago’s Quartez Vickerson, Dallas’s James Bear and Utah’s Khreem Smith.
The race for the Riddell Defensive Player of the Year is extremely tight. Vic Hall and Cliff Dukes may be the favorites, but they’ll need to continue making big plays and causing havoc for opposing offenses to maintain the lead. Along with those two players, the race also features many other players capable of filling up the defensive stat sheet with eye-popping numbers. Hopefully, the last six weeks of the season will give us a clearer idea of who the ultimate, consistent defensive threat is of the 2011 AFL season.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Week 14 AFL Coaches' Poll
TULSA, OKLA. –The Jacksonville Sharks (11-1) remained in the top spot of the Week 14 Coaches’ Poll for the seventh consecutive week, receiving 14 first place votes following their tight 68-67 road victory over the Orlando Predators (8-4). Jacksonville earned its eleventh consecutive victory and stand one game away from reaching the AFL single-season win streak of 12. Sharks veteran quarterback Aaron Garcia completed 24-of-38 passes for 329-yards and eight touchdowns in the game. His performance earned him Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. The Sharks look to reach 12 consecutive wins as they host the Milwaukee Mustangs (4-8) on Saturday, June 18 at 7:00 p.m. EST.
The Arizona Rattlers (11-2) earned four first place votes and remained in second place following their win at home over the Iowa Barnstormers (3-9), 61-41. Arizona quarterback Nick Davila displayed his efficiency again, completing 70 percent of his passes and tossing seven touchdowns. Arizona won four consecutive games and hold a 1.5 game lead over the Chicago Rush (9-3) in the National Conference. The Rattlers host the San Jose SaberCats (5-7) in an important West Division matchup on Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 p.m. EST. In Week 9, the Rattlers defeated San Jose, 65-43.
Chicago moved into the third spot of the Poll after a bye in Week 14. The Rush have won four consecutive games this season and sit atop the Central Division standings. The Rush now head west to play the Spokane Shock (5-7) on Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 p.m. EST.
After a 67-68 loss to the top-ranked Sharks, the Predators fell one spot to fourth in the Poll. Orlando has won four out of their last six games, with both losses coming to the hands of Jacksonville. The Predators head to Tampa Bay to play the Storm (5-7) on NFL Network’s “Arena Football Friday” at 8:00 p.m. EST in the “War on I-4”.
The Dallas Vigilantes (7-5) moved up two spots in the Poll following a Week 14 bye. The Vigilantes face Central Division rival, Iowa on Saturday, June 18 at 8:05 p.m. EST. Dallas wide receiver’s DeAndrew Rubin and Anthony Jones combined for seven touchdown receptions and led the Vigilantes to a 71-57 win in their Week 9 meeting.
The Cleveland Gladiators (7-5) jumped up to number six in the Poll following their home victory over the Georgia Force (7-6), 62-48. Cleveland quarterback Kurt Rocco was nearly perfect as he completed 23-of-39 passes for 212 yards and six touchdowns. Cleveland will face the Kansas City Command (4-9) on Sunday, June 19 at 2:00 p.m. EST. The Pittsburgh Power (7-5) fell to seventh in the Poll following a 55-62 loss to the Tampa Bay Storm. The Power won four consecutive games before their loss to the Storm.
The Force dropped to number eight in the Poll following their road loss to the Gladiators, 48-62, last week. The loss puts them a half-game behind the fourth seed in the American Conference playoffs. The Utah Blaze (5-7) and the SaberCats rounded out the top ten for the second straight week. The Blaze lost to the Tulsa Talons, 51-81, while the SaberCats rested with a Week 14 bye. The Blaze host the Pittsburgh Power, while the SaberCats travel to face the second-ranked Rattlers.
The Arizona Rattlers (11-2) earned four first place votes and remained in second place following their win at home over the Iowa Barnstormers (3-9), 61-41. Arizona quarterback Nick Davila displayed his efficiency again, completing 70 percent of his passes and tossing seven touchdowns. Arizona won four consecutive games and hold a 1.5 game lead over the Chicago Rush (9-3) in the National Conference. The Rattlers host the San Jose SaberCats (5-7) in an important West Division matchup on Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 p.m. EST. In Week 9, the Rattlers defeated San Jose, 65-43.
Chicago moved into the third spot of the Poll after a bye in Week 14. The Rush have won four consecutive games this season and sit atop the Central Division standings. The Rush now head west to play the Spokane Shock (5-7) on Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 p.m. EST.
After a 67-68 loss to the top-ranked Sharks, the Predators fell one spot to fourth in the Poll. Orlando has won four out of their last six games, with both losses coming to the hands of Jacksonville. The Predators head to Tampa Bay to play the Storm (5-7) on NFL Network’s “Arena Football Friday” at 8:00 p.m. EST in the “War on I-4”.
The Dallas Vigilantes (7-5) moved up two spots in the Poll following a Week 14 bye. The Vigilantes face Central Division rival, Iowa on Saturday, June 18 at 8:05 p.m. EST. Dallas wide receiver’s DeAndrew Rubin and Anthony Jones combined for seven touchdown receptions and led the Vigilantes to a 71-57 win in their Week 9 meeting.
The Cleveland Gladiators (7-5) jumped up to number six in the Poll following their home victory over the Georgia Force (7-6), 62-48. Cleveland quarterback Kurt Rocco was nearly perfect as he completed 23-of-39 passes for 212 yards and six touchdowns. Cleveland will face the Kansas City Command (4-9) on Sunday, June 19 at 2:00 p.m. EST. The Pittsburgh Power (7-5) fell to seventh in the Poll following a 55-62 loss to the Tampa Bay Storm. The Power won four consecutive games before their loss to the Storm.
The Force dropped to number eight in the Poll following their road loss to the Gladiators, 48-62, last week. The loss puts them a half-game behind the fourth seed in the American Conference playoffs. The Utah Blaze (5-7) and the SaberCats rounded out the top ten for the second straight week. The Blaze lost to the Tulsa Talons, 51-81, while the SaberCats rested with a Week 14 bye. The Blaze host the Pittsburgh Power, while the SaberCats travel to face the second-ranked Rattlers.
-MORE-
WEEK 14 COACHES’ POLLRK | Team (1st place votes) | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
1 | Jacksonville Sharks (14) | 11-1 | 167 | 1 |
2 | Arizona Rattlers (4) | 11-2 | 147 | 2 |
3 | Chicago Rush | 9-3 | 134 | 4 |
4 | Orlando Predators | 8-4 | 125 | 3 |
5 | Dallas Vigilantes | 7-5 | 91 | 7 |
6 | Cleveland Gladiators | 7-5 | 87 | 8 |
7 | Pittsburgh Power | 7-5 | 82 | 5 |
8 | Georgia Force | 7-6 | 64 | 6 |
9 | Utah Blaze | 5-7 | 24 | 9 |
10 | San Jose SaberCats | 5-7 | 22 | 10 |
Monday, June 13, 2011
Tulsa Talons/ Utah Blaze Live Quotes
TULSA TALONS QUARTERBACK JUSTIN ALLGOOD
[On development with Tulsa team and receivers]
“It’s getting better and better every week. I am getting used to them and they are getting used to me. We just have to win a game this time and play four full quarters.”
[On importance of game]
“It’s a huge game. We are at home and Utah is one game ahead of us in the Wild Card. We need to take this game and put ourselves in good position for the playoffs.”
[On playing in Tulsa again]
“It’s great seeing all of these familiar faces. I am very comfortable here.”
[On getting a win tonight]
“Consistency is extremely important. At times we have been very good and other times been very bad. If we can knock out the bad stuff and play good the whole game, then we should be able to get the win.
TULSA TALONS LINEBACKER JAMAR RANSOM
[On slowing down Utah QB Tommy Grady]
“We definitely need to come out here and throw different looks at him. He likes to hold the ball a bit longer than most quarterbacks and he gets great results out of it. We have to throw him different looks and get pressure on him. If we do that, hopefully we can get in his head.”
[On importance of game]
“This game is huge. If we are really talking about getting into the playoff, then this is where it starts. This is a playoff game for us tonight. We have to play each game from here on out as if it is a playoff game. We just have to focus on going out and getting this win tonight.”
[On getting a win tonight]
“We need to be physical tonight. We have to go out there and lay some lumber on these guys. We want to get out there and put a lot of heat on them. If we can do that, we feel that we have a good chance to win. We will see how they react to our intensity tonight.
[On playing at home]
“Playing at home helps a lot. These last two games haven’t been too good for us. It’s always good to be back in front of our home fans. It’s great having their support, especially with the bye week. Everything is a bit slower, but we need to pick it up the pace and win some games. “
HALFTIME QUOTES
TULSA TALONS DEFENSIVE BACK JC NEAL
[On slowing down Utah in second half]
“We are going to have to continue to play hard. We’re going to have to adjust in the locker room and come out with a lot of intensity. We have had difficulty playing all four quarters, so we have to keep the intensity up. “
[On getting a win this week]
“We have to focus on playing all four quarters. We have to play consistent for the entire game and not lose focus.”
[On success in first half]
“I have to continue to focus on my craft. I have to read the ball and play smart. Our veterans on the team are perfectionist, so we have to come out in the second half and get after it.”
[On importance of game]
“It’s a really important game. This game is really big for playoff implications. We just have to finish strong and focus on winning each game the rest of the season.”
POSTGAME QUOTES
TULSA TALONS WR TROY MCBROOM
[On success tonight]
“There were some opportunities and one-on-one matchups I was able to take advantage of. I was very thankful that the offensive line protected Justin well. He threw some good balls out there and was able to take advantage of some matchups. He put us in good positions to make plays.”
[On importance of game]
“Every game is extremely important. In football, it is one week at a time. Tonight was very important; especially with the playoff race being tight. It was a very important win tonight. It was great for us to finally come together. We have gone through so many adjustments over the last six weeks. It was just great seeing it all come together for a full game. I think now we can use this momentum and make a serious playoff push.”
[On scoring 81 points tonight]
“We were very fortunate on opportunities tonight. We had a few onside returns and interceptions tonight which helped a lot. Special teams played a crucial part. Offensively, we played very efficient. We eliminated a lot of the mistakes and turnovers. Playing smart and putting up points is what it is all about in arena football. Scoring on every possession and forcing turnovers are so important. We did a great job of doing that tonight.”
[On finishing season strong]
“We have to do this ever y week. We have to be efficient and take advantage of opportunities, because you only get so many. We have to keep playing with this intensity and stay healthy. Hopefully if we can keep it up, we will be successful these last six weeks.”
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Week 13 AFL Coaches' Poll
TULSA, OKLA. –The Jacksonville Sharks (10-1) remained in the top spot of the Week 13 Coaches’ Poll for the sixth consecutive week, receiving 14 first place votes following their 62-55 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo (2-10). Jacksonville earned its tenth consecutive victory with the only loss coming from the Arizona Rattlers (10-2) in Week 1. Sharks wide receiver Jeron Harvey led the team with nine catches for 106 yards and three touchdowns in the win. The Sharks will travel to Orlando to face the Predators (8-3) in Week 14 on Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. EST. The two South Division teams met on April 30 in Jacksonville, where the Sharks won, 76-55.
The Rattlers earned four first place votes and remained in second place following their route on the road over the Utah Blaze (5-6), 72-37. Arizona forced Utah into five turnovers while Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila only attempted 13 passes. Arizona has won three consecutive games and holds a one-game lead over the Chicago Rush (9-3) in the National Conference. The Rattlers host the Iowa Barnstormers (3-8) in Week 14 on Saturday, June 11 at 8:05 p.m. EST.
Orlando moved into the third spot of the Poll after their 77-61 win over the Iowa Barnstormers. Predators quarterback Nick Hill completed 24-of-34 passes for 295 yards and eight touchdowns in the game. His stellar performance earned him a bid for National Guard MVP of the Week. The Predators have won four consecutive games and will host the Jacksonville Sharks on Saturday night.
The Chicago Rush fell one spot into fourth place following a 68-30 win over Central Division rival, Kansas City Command (4-8) on Saturday. Rush cornerback Vic Hall intercepted three passes and broke the single-season interception record with 14. The Rush have a bye in Week 14 and will travel to Spokane (4-7) in Week 15.
The Pittsburgh Power (7-4) moved up three spots in the Poll following their 35-32 home victory against the Cleveland Gladiators (6-5). The win moved the Power into first place in the East Division. The Power head to Tampa Bay to play the Storm (4-7) on Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
The Georgia Force (7-5) fell to number six in the Poll following their home victory over the Storm. Georgia has won back-to-back games three times this season but has yet to win three straight. The Force will travel to face the Cleveland Gladiators in Week 14. The game carries major playoff implications and is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, June 11. The Dallas Vigilantes (7-5) jumped to seventh in the Poll following a 70-57 win over the San Jose SaberCats (5-7). The Vigilantes have a bye in Week 14, before facing off against division rival, Iowa in Week 15.
The Gladiators dropped to number eight in the Poll following their road loss to the Power, 32-35, last week. The loss was Cleveland’s fourth straight road defeat of the season. The SaberCats rounded out the top ten for the second straight week, after their road loss to Dallas. San Jose has now lost five consecutive games. The SaberCats have a bye in Week 14 before heading to Arizona to face the second-ranked Rattlers on Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 p.m. EST.
WEEK 13 COACHES’ POLL
The Rattlers earned four first place votes and remained in second place following their route on the road over the Utah Blaze (5-6), 72-37. Arizona forced Utah into five turnovers while Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila only attempted 13 passes. Arizona has won three consecutive games and holds a one-game lead over the Chicago Rush (9-3) in the National Conference. The Rattlers host the Iowa Barnstormers (3-8) in Week 14 on Saturday, June 11 at 8:05 p.m. EST.
Orlando moved into the third spot of the Poll after their 77-61 win over the Iowa Barnstormers. Predators quarterback Nick Hill completed 24-of-34 passes for 295 yards and eight touchdowns in the game. His stellar performance earned him a bid for National Guard MVP of the Week. The Predators have won four consecutive games and will host the Jacksonville Sharks on Saturday night.
The Chicago Rush fell one spot into fourth place following a 68-30 win over Central Division rival, Kansas City Command (4-8) on Saturday. Rush cornerback Vic Hall intercepted three passes and broke the single-season interception record with 14. The Rush have a bye in Week 14 and will travel to Spokane (4-7) in Week 15.
The Pittsburgh Power (7-4) moved up three spots in the Poll following their 35-32 home victory against the Cleveland Gladiators (6-5). The win moved the Power into first place in the East Division. The Power head to Tampa Bay to play the Storm (4-7) on Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. EST.
The Georgia Force (7-5) fell to number six in the Poll following their home victory over the Storm. Georgia has won back-to-back games three times this season but has yet to win three straight. The Force will travel to face the Cleveland Gladiators in Week 14. The game carries major playoff implications and is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, June 11. The Dallas Vigilantes (7-5) jumped to seventh in the Poll following a 70-57 win over the San Jose SaberCats (5-7). The Vigilantes have a bye in Week 14, before facing off against division rival, Iowa in Week 15.
The Gladiators dropped to number eight in the Poll following their road loss to the Power, 32-35, last week. The loss was Cleveland’s fourth straight road defeat of the season. The SaberCats rounded out the top ten for the second straight week, after their road loss to Dallas. San Jose has now lost five consecutive games. The SaberCats have a bye in Week 14 before heading to Arizona to face the second-ranked Rattlers on Saturday, June 18 at 10:00 p.m. EST.
WEEK 13 COACHES’ POLL
RK | Team (1st place votes) | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
1 | Jacksonville Sharks (14) | 10-1 | 166 | 1 |
2 | Arizona Rattlers (4) | 10-2 | 148 | 2 |
3 | Orlando Predators | 8-3 | 130 | 4 |
4 | Chicago Rush | 9-3 | 128 | 3 |
5 | Pittsburgh Power | 7-4 | 99 | 8 |
6 | Georgia Force | 7-5 | 81 | 5 |
7 | Dallas Vigilantes | 7-5 | 75 | 9 |
8 | Cleveland Gladiators | 6-5 | 61 | 6 |
9 | Utah Blaze | 5-6 | 47 | 7 |
10 | San Jose SaberCats | 5-7 | 18 | 10 |
Raul Vijil Interview
For this edition of Beyond the Wall, AFL Communications sat down with Spokane Shock wide receiver Raul Vijil. Vijil played for the Shock since 2006 and is touted a face of the franchise. Vijil caught 33 touchdowns last season and helped Spokane capture the ArenaBowl title. This season, Vijil ranks second on the team with 715 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. Vijil and the Shock face the Philadelphia Soul on NFL Network’s “Arena Football Friday” on Friday night.
Editor: You didn’t start playing football till your senior year of High School. What sports did you play before that?
Raul Vijil: I played soccer. I really enjoyed being a soccer player. I started when I was really young and began to play competitively as a teenager. I played High School, club ball and in the Olympic Developmental Program which is where one or a couple of teams represent the state. I also enjoyed and played indoor soccer a lot when I was younger. Once I got to school, I joined basketball and played that here and there. I was very dedicated to the game of soccer until my senior year.
ED: What made you decide to play football? Why did you pick it up so late?
RV: My dad always encouraged me to play football. I was always hesitant because I had a niche for soccer. I had a lot of good friends playing football at the time and one of my best friends was the starting quarterback. He was a junior and he came up to me and told me to come out and give it shot. He told me to test it out and if I didn’t like it, then I wouldn’t have to play. I told him alright and I decided to try it out. I went to camp and realized that I didn’t know anything about it. They told me to run this way and run that way and catch the ball. I knew I could do it and was able to get more and more comfortable as I went on. I was fortunate to have some success early on.
ED: Did you pick up receiving quickly and how did you play your senior season?
RV: I played really well. My team went 14-0 and we won the State Championship. I started returning punts as well and I excelled at that. I was all over the place because I had good quickness and speed. I set the record for yards in the State Championship Game with 204. I started getting recruited by schools around the area. I didn’t get any calls from the big schools because I was only in my first year so I didn’t know exactly how the recruiting game worked.
ED: After your senior season, you got recruited by Eastern Washington. How did you play in your college career?
RV: It was very different that anything I had experienced before. I got to college and realized that everyone was fast now. Like I said, I didn’t know too much about football. I had to learn it in a short amount of time, while everyone else had been playing the game since they were little. It was definitely tough and I struggled early on. I questioned whether or not this is what I wanted to do. I thought I maybe could go somewhere and play college soccer. But I decided to stick with it and being close to home really helped. After my first couple years, I really began to enjoy and excel at it. Getting on the field and playing in games always helps. I enjoyed it very much after that.
ED: After you graduated, you signed with Spokane in 2006 and have been with them ever since. How has your time been with the Shock franchise?
RV: It’s been an unbelievable experience. The city of Spokane doesn’t really have many professional teams. We have the Seahawks but they are about four hours away and no NBA team. In 2006, I came over from Eastern Washington University, which is a quick 20-minute drive. I got picked up by the team and have had a lot of success here. We won the championship in 2006, lost in the playoffs in 2007, lost in the championship by a point in 2008, won the championship in 2009 with af2 and then won the AFL championship last season. I have enjoyed playing in Spokane and I hope they have enjoyed watching me play.
ED: In 2010, Spokane made the move to the AFL and won the championship. What was last season like?
RV: It was awesome. Right when I started with the arena game, my goal was to make it to the AFL. I actually had an opportunity to sign with the Utah Blaze after my 2008 season. However, I wasn’t able to sign because of the troubles in the League. It was tough during that time. But I am enjoying my time now playing in Spokane. I decided to stick with Spokane and then the League returned in 2010. Then Spokane joined the League, so it worked out great for me. Every athlete wants to play at the highest level possible and the AFL was that for me. I worked very hard in training and came out here on a mission to have success and was able to have that last season.
ED: You are now finishing up your undergraduate degree in Graphic Design. Where did you pick up Graphic Designing and what do you like about it?
RV: When I was in school, I changed my major around a few times. I always wanted to do something involving computers and was an artsy kind of guy. So I went to school and started learning the programs. I didn’t quite finish in 2006 and began playing with the Shock. Last year, I tore my ACL and MCL in Week 10 and figured that it would be a good time to finish. I went back to school and now my degree is going to be in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Graphic Design. It was something I was able to finish up a bit quicker than strictly in Graphic Design. I am not exactly sure what I am going to do with that afterwards but I enjoy doing side projects for myself and my family. Right now, I am a performance coach because I love working with people and kids.
ED: Last season, you and quarterback Kyle Rowley made interesting player posters. What made you guys want to do that?
RV: Rowley is exactly like myself. He’s actually a lot better with Graphic Design because he went to Brown and got a degree in art. Being in Spokane for a little while now, we built a name for ourselves. We tried to market ourselves a little bit and we felt that what better way than to make a cool poster. We felt that it would sell well and wasn’t too expensive to make. We came up with a design of me holding up my hands in the shape of a “V”, for Vijil. The Spokane fans were the ones who actually started that for me. Every time I make a catch or a touchdown, everyone will throw their “V” up. That is where we came up with the idea for the posters and it turned out really well.
ED: What do you like to do fun in Spokane?
RV: There are a lot of lakes around here. During the summer time, it gets to around 90 to 100 degrees, so we like to get out on the boat and do a lot of outdoor stuff. I enjoy a lot of typical stuff. I love movies, going out, eating good food, playing sports and hanging with the family. Having my family being from Washington and seeing them is great.
ED: Any other cool hobbies or talents?
RV: I really enjoy spending time with people so being a sports performance coach is great. I get to see these kids come in at a young age and see them develop into really good athletes. To see them move to colleges and succeed is really rewarding to see. I really have a passion and enjoy doing that. Other than that, I am a huge movie fan. I enjoy seeing the huge blockbusters and love to watch good movies.
ED: Thanks for joining us today and good luck tomorrow against Philadelphia!
Editor: You didn’t start playing football till your senior year of High School. What sports did you play before that?
Raul Vijil: I played soccer. I really enjoyed being a soccer player. I started when I was really young and began to play competitively as a teenager. I played High School, club ball and in the Olympic Developmental Program which is where one or a couple of teams represent the state. I also enjoyed and played indoor soccer a lot when I was younger. Once I got to school, I joined basketball and played that here and there. I was very dedicated to the game of soccer until my senior year.
ED: What made you decide to play football? Why did you pick it up so late?
RV: My dad always encouraged me to play football. I was always hesitant because I had a niche for soccer. I had a lot of good friends playing football at the time and one of my best friends was the starting quarterback. He was a junior and he came up to me and told me to come out and give it shot. He told me to test it out and if I didn’t like it, then I wouldn’t have to play. I told him alright and I decided to try it out. I went to camp and realized that I didn’t know anything about it. They told me to run this way and run that way and catch the ball. I knew I could do it and was able to get more and more comfortable as I went on. I was fortunate to have some success early on.
ED: Did you pick up receiving quickly and how did you play your senior season?
RV: I played really well. My team went 14-0 and we won the State Championship. I started returning punts as well and I excelled at that. I was all over the place because I had good quickness and speed. I set the record for yards in the State Championship Game with 204. I started getting recruited by schools around the area. I didn’t get any calls from the big schools because I was only in my first year so I didn’t know exactly how the recruiting game worked.
ED: After your senior season, you got recruited by Eastern Washington. How did you play in your college career?
RV: It was very different that anything I had experienced before. I got to college and realized that everyone was fast now. Like I said, I didn’t know too much about football. I had to learn it in a short amount of time, while everyone else had been playing the game since they were little. It was definitely tough and I struggled early on. I questioned whether or not this is what I wanted to do. I thought I maybe could go somewhere and play college soccer. But I decided to stick with it and being close to home really helped. After my first couple years, I really began to enjoy and excel at it. Getting on the field and playing in games always helps. I enjoyed it very much after that.
ED: After you graduated, you signed with Spokane in 2006 and have been with them ever since. How has your time been with the Shock franchise?
RV: It’s been an unbelievable experience. The city of Spokane doesn’t really have many professional teams. We have the Seahawks but they are about four hours away and no NBA team. In 2006, I came over from Eastern Washington University, which is a quick 20-minute drive. I got picked up by the team and have had a lot of success here. We won the championship in 2006, lost in the playoffs in 2007, lost in the championship by a point in 2008, won the championship in 2009 with af2 and then won the AFL championship last season. I have enjoyed playing in Spokane and I hope they have enjoyed watching me play.
ED: In 2010, Spokane made the move to the AFL and won the championship. What was last season like?
RV: It was awesome. Right when I started with the arena game, my goal was to make it to the AFL. I actually had an opportunity to sign with the Utah Blaze after my 2008 season. However, I wasn’t able to sign because of the troubles in the League. It was tough during that time. But I am enjoying my time now playing in Spokane. I decided to stick with Spokane and then the League returned in 2010. Then Spokane joined the League, so it worked out great for me. Every athlete wants to play at the highest level possible and the AFL was that for me. I worked very hard in training and came out here on a mission to have success and was able to have that last season.
ED: You are now finishing up your undergraduate degree in Graphic Design. Where did you pick up Graphic Designing and what do you like about it?
RV: When I was in school, I changed my major around a few times. I always wanted to do something involving computers and was an artsy kind of guy. So I went to school and started learning the programs. I didn’t quite finish in 2006 and began playing with the Shock. Last year, I tore my ACL and MCL in Week 10 and figured that it would be a good time to finish. I went back to school and now my degree is going to be in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Graphic Design. It was something I was able to finish up a bit quicker than strictly in Graphic Design. I am not exactly sure what I am going to do with that afterwards but I enjoy doing side projects for myself and my family. Right now, I am a performance coach because I love working with people and kids.
ED: Last season, you and quarterback Kyle Rowley made interesting player posters. What made you guys want to do that?
RV: Rowley is exactly like myself. He’s actually a lot better with Graphic Design because he went to Brown and got a degree in art. Being in Spokane for a little while now, we built a name for ourselves. We tried to market ourselves a little bit and we felt that what better way than to make a cool poster. We felt that it would sell well and wasn’t too expensive to make. We came up with a design of me holding up my hands in the shape of a “V”, for Vijil. The Spokane fans were the ones who actually started that for me. Every time I make a catch or a touchdown, everyone will throw their “V” up. That is where we came up with the idea for the posters and it turned out really well.
ED: What do you like to do fun in Spokane?
RV: There are a lot of lakes around here. During the summer time, it gets to around 90 to 100 degrees, so we like to get out on the boat and do a lot of outdoor stuff. I enjoy a lot of typical stuff. I love movies, going out, eating good food, playing sports and hanging with the family. Having my family being from Washington and seeing them is great.
ED: Any other cool hobbies or talents?
RV: I really enjoy spending time with people so being a sports performance coach is great. I get to see these kids come in at a young age and see them develop into really good athletes. To see them move to colleges and succeed is really rewarding to see. I really have a passion and enjoy doing that. Other than that, I am a huge movie fan. I enjoy seeing the huge blockbusters and love to watch good movies.
ED: Thanks for joining us today and good luck tomorrow against Philadelphia!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
USC Lost 2004 National Tite
The University of Southern California lost their 2004 BCS National Championship on Monday, due to violations by running back Reggie Bush. Bush and the Trojans continue to get punished for the infractions he and his family committed nearly seven years ago. Now, the Trojans have lost 30 scholarships’s, forfeited their right to play in a BCS game, lost Bush’s Heisman and lastly, lost their National Championship. To me, the punishment that the NCAA decided to use was very harsh. I believe some action needed to be taken, but not to this extent.
During the 2004 college football season, Reggie Bush began to become a household name. During his amazing junior season, Bush would accept a limousine ride that would end up being very costly. His parents also made mistakes, as they would accept flights, suits and other nice luxuries from a supposable trusted agent. These violations are the major reasons for the punishments being given to USC and Bush.
I feel that these dumb choices by the Bush family are being taken way too harshly by the NCAA. The NCAA should use these severe punishments only if the college program is getting an unfair advantage when it comes to recruiting and game play. USC gained no advantage on the field during these stupid mistakes by Bush and USC. Bush had already signed with USC and was in the peak of his college domination. If the NCAA found out that USC paid Bush to play for them or bet on games, then it would be an entirely different story. These infractions did not give USC any added advantage during either the 2004 or 2005 seasons. USC would have had the same coaches with the same player personnel during those years. The university would still have been one of the greatest football teams in college football history whether or not Bush and his family accepted the benefits. I understand that these are the rules, but to forfeit a championship that was won by a phenomenal team is dumb. Punishing an entire team for the mistake of one player does not make sense.
Like other college superstars, the major concern is whether or not the player in question should have been ineligible. I understand that having Reggie Bush changed the dynamic of the USC offense. But to punish an entire team for playing together and winning a championship seems to be too severe. If we had found out that multiple colleges were in a bidding war over Bush to attend their college then he and USC should have received the strictest punishments. It seems to me, that the Bush family was an extremely tough place and had nowhere else to turn. In no way am I supporting the Bush family for what they did, but in no way helped did it help the USC football team go undefeated.
In the end, I think USC will be fine in the long run because of their great football program and rich tradition. Pete Carroll snuck out of USC after being a powerhouse for nearly a decade. However, now we know that Carroll did not run a tight enough ship and should be the true person blamed. Because Carroll dipped out, the NCAA had no one to put all the blame on. The only people that the NCAA could punish were USC and Bush. The NCAA felt that they were cheated and needed someone to punish. But it is the inconsistency that makes the punishments a bit harsh. These issues seem to going on everywhere from Ohio State to nearly every SEC school. The NCAA must use the same guidelines for each team and not pick on random institutions to make examples out of.
Monday, June 6, 2011
AFL Offensive Player of the Year Race
With nearly 65 percent of the AFL season in the books, the race for Offensive Player of the Year is beginning to pan out. With the innovation of the 18-game schedule, several AFL records will be broken. The two extra games, however, will also give us an opportunity to separate the men from the boys in the 2011 AFL season.
Last season, quarterback Chris Greisen of the Milwaukee Iron won the Russell Offensive Player of the Year Award after tossing for 5,146-yards, an AFL record. He posted 107 passing touchdowns and led Milwaukee to an 11-5 record. During his three seasons as a starting quarterback in the AFL, Greisen became one of the more dominant passers, throwing for 15,115-yards and 324 touchdowns. However because Greisen received a great deal of exposure in the AFL, he would not get an opportunity to repeat this season. In late December, Greisen signed a deal to play for the Dallas Cowboys and forgo the 2011 AFL year. This season, the field for the Offensive Player of the Year Award has featured a number of players with impressive statistics thus far.
With the arena game being predominantly focused around passing, the obvious place to find potential Offensive Player of the Year candidates is the quarterback position. This season, quarterbacks around the League have been lighting up the scoreboard with quick drives and big plays. While some quarterbacks are ranked higher in the touchdown and passing yards categories, other passers have excelled in precision and efficiency.
The quarterback who has put up the most eye-popping statistics thus far has been Utah Blaze quarterback Tommy Grady. Grady leads the League in passing touchdowns (78) in only 11 games of work this season. That means he is averaging a little more than seven touchdowns per game. If Grady continues this pace, he will reach 127 touchdown passes and break Greisen’s AFL record of 117 passing touchdowns in a single season. Grady is also leading the League in passing yards per game with 298.3. If Grady continues that pace as well, he will reach nearly 5,350 passing yards and break Greisen’s passing yards record of 5,146 yards in the last week of the season. It will be interesting to see if Grady can continue on this impressive run, while also finding a way to win games too. Even with Grady piling up monster statistics, the Blaze are currently 5-6 and on a two game losing skid. Grady has a good chance of winning the Award at the end of the season if he can continue to make big plays while also leading the team to victories.
Another quarterback who is having a strong statistical season thus far is Orlando’s Nick Hill. Hill is having a terrific year, currently leading the Predators with an 8-3 record. While Hill is second in the League in passing yards per game (294.9), he is thriving in the run game as well. Hill ranks second in the League in rushing yards (322) and is atop the League with 5.0-yards per rush average. Because of his dual threat ability, Hill ranks first in the League in total offense with 324.2 total yards per game. So far this season, Hill has done a wonderful job leading the Predators offense and leaving opposing defenses uncomfortable.
While some quarterbacks put up big touchdowns and total yards, others have featured incredible pass efficiency and completion numbers. These players have done a phenomenal job protecting the football while playing with consistency. Jacksonville Sharks veteran quarterback Aaron Garcia and Arizona Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila are posting stellar season’s with smart, effective play and a strong ability to put the ball where only their playmakers can make plays. Garcia and Davila lead the League with an identical 113.6 pass efficiency rating and a completion percentage of 71.3. Because of these players ability to rarely make mistakes, both the Sharks (10-1) and Rattlers (10-2) are at the top of the League standings in their respective conferences. Many coaches and players will tell you that the most crucial aspect of winning in the AFL is winning the turnover battle and playing smart and consistent football. These two quarterbacks are perfect examples of how successful an AFL team can be with efficient and precise leaders. While these players have done a phenomenal job this season with precision and accuracy, both passers are also scoring points. Davila currently ranks third in the League in touchdowns (71), while Garcia is in fourth with 66. If both quarterbacks continue to put up impressive and efficient statistics while dominating the League, it will be extremely difficult to pick one over the other.
The wide receiver position has also featured players with miraculous numbers this season. For quarterbacks to be successful in the AFL, the urgency to get the ball out quickly and find explosive receivers is very important. Before Greisen won in 2010, the Offensive Player of the Year Award was won by a wide receiver for six straight seasons.
One player who is a perfect example is New Orleans VooDoo wide receiver PJ Berry. This season, Berry has not only been phenomenal in the receiving game, but in the return game as well. While Berry ranks second in the League in receptions with 111, he also leads the League in kickoff return with 1,391-yards and four touchdowns. Throughout the season, Berry has consistently led the League in all-purpose yards and has notched 215.2-yards per game. Berry has consistently made big plays this season and is on pace to beat Antonio Chatman’s single season all-purpose record of 3,669-yards.
While Berry is stealing the show in the Big Easy, other receivers across the League have been posting solid statistical numbers too. Vigilante’s wide receiver Anthony “Tiger” Jones is having a notable season in Dallas and currently ranks atop nearly every major receiving statistical category. Jones is fourth in the League in receptions (102), third in reception yards (1,354) and seventh in touchdown receptions (27). Jones has been a crucial part of the Vigilantes offensive success this season. Dallas quarterback Dan Raudabaugh has done a wonderful job finding Jones in space and giving him an opportunity to make plays.
Arizona’s Rod Windsor is another receiver having a remarkable campaign in 2011. In 2010, Windsor set AFL records with 193 receptions and 2,372 receiving yards in his rookie season. Even with the two additional games, no receiver is on pace to rewrite these records. Windsor leads the League with 111 receptions and ranks second with 1,372 receiving yards. For the second straight season, Windsor has been the go-to-guy for Davila and the Rattlers offense. The combination of Davila and Windsor has become one of the most explosive and exciting tandems in the League.
Although there may be clear cut frontrunners for the Russell Offensive Player of the Year Award, other players are still in the running. Quarterbacks like the Command’s JJ Raterink and the Force’s Brett Elliot have posted impressive seasons leading their respective offenses to a great deal of success. Elliot has formed Georgia into a serious offensive juggernaut and currently sits second in touchdown passes with 74. Raterink has also been lighting it up through the air and currently leads the League in passing yards this season with 3,501-yards. Others such as Rush receiver Reggie Gray, Soul wideout Donovan Morgan and Force wide receiver Maurice Purify have been vital parts of their respective teams. Like Berry, Gray has been explosive in the receiving game and the return game as well. Gray currently ranks third in the League in touchdown receptions (30) while also returning two kickoffs. Morgan, on the other hand, has been successful with the receiving game. Morgan leads the League with a 15.9-yard per catch and 1,497 receiving yards this season. During his time in the AFL, Morgan has been a consistent threat because of his big play ability and dominating physical stature. Purify has also done most of his work in the receiving aspect of the game this season. In only his rookie season, Purify leads the League in touchdown receptions with 36. Purify is doing a great job this season adapting to the arena style and has built a strong rapport with Elliot.
The race for Russell Offensive Player of the Year is panning out to be an interesting one. The last seven weeks of the season will give us a much better idea of who can physically and mentally get through the full-grind of the new 18-game schedule. The candidate who continues to be consistent and well prepared each week will be the player that most likely holds the trophy come the end of the season.
Last season, quarterback Chris Greisen of the Milwaukee Iron won the Russell Offensive Player of the Year Award after tossing for 5,146-yards, an AFL record. He posted 107 passing touchdowns and led Milwaukee to an 11-5 record. During his three seasons as a starting quarterback in the AFL, Greisen became one of the more dominant passers, throwing for 15,115-yards and 324 touchdowns. However because Greisen received a great deal of exposure in the AFL, he would not get an opportunity to repeat this season. In late December, Greisen signed a deal to play for the Dallas Cowboys and forgo the 2011 AFL year. This season, the field for the Offensive Player of the Year Award has featured a number of players with impressive statistics thus far.
With the arena game being predominantly focused around passing, the obvious place to find potential Offensive Player of the Year candidates is the quarterback position. This season, quarterbacks around the League have been lighting up the scoreboard with quick drives and big plays. While some quarterbacks are ranked higher in the touchdown and passing yards categories, other passers have excelled in precision and efficiency.
The quarterback who has put up the most eye-popping statistics thus far has been Utah Blaze quarterback Tommy Grady. Grady leads the League in passing touchdowns (78) in only 11 games of work this season. That means he is averaging a little more than seven touchdowns per game. If Grady continues this pace, he will reach 127 touchdown passes and break Greisen’s AFL record of 117 passing touchdowns in a single season. Grady is also leading the League in passing yards per game with 298.3. If Grady continues that pace as well, he will reach nearly 5,350 passing yards and break Greisen’s passing yards record of 5,146 yards in the last week of the season. It will be interesting to see if Grady can continue on this impressive run, while also finding a way to win games too. Even with Grady piling up monster statistics, the Blaze are currently 5-6 and on a two game losing skid. Grady has a good chance of winning the Award at the end of the season if he can continue to make big plays while also leading the team to victories.
Another quarterback who is having a strong statistical season thus far is Orlando’s Nick Hill. Hill is having a terrific year, currently leading the Predators with an 8-3 record. While Hill is second in the League in passing yards per game (294.9), he is thriving in the run game as well. Hill ranks second in the League in rushing yards (322) and is atop the League with 5.0-yards per rush average. Because of his dual threat ability, Hill ranks first in the League in total offense with 324.2 total yards per game. So far this season, Hill has done a wonderful job leading the Predators offense and leaving opposing defenses uncomfortable.
While some quarterbacks put up big touchdowns and total yards, others have featured incredible pass efficiency and completion numbers. These players have done a phenomenal job protecting the football while playing with consistency. Jacksonville Sharks veteran quarterback Aaron Garcia and Arizona Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila are posting stellar season’s with smart, effective play and a strong ability to put the ball where only their playmakers can make plays. Garcia and Davila lead the League with an identical 113.6 pass efficiency rating and a completion percentage of 71.3. Because of these players ability to rarely make mistakes, both the Sharks (10-1) and Rattlers (10-2) are at the top of the League standings in their respective conferences. Many coaches and players will tell you that the most crucial aspect of winning in the AFL is winning the turnover battle and playing smart and consistent football. These two quarterbacks are perfect examples of how successful an AFL team can be with efficient and precise leaders. While these players have done a phenomenal job this season with precision and accuracy, both passers are also scoring points. Davila currently ranks third in the League in touchdowns (71), while Garcia is in fourth with 66. If both quarterbacks continue to put up impressive and efficient statistics while dominating the League, it will be extremely difficult to pick one over the other.
The wide receiver position has also featured players with miraculous numbers this season. For quarterbacks to be successful in the AFL, the urgency to get the ball out quickly and find explosive receivers is very important. Before Greisen won in 2010, the Offensive Player of the Year Award was won by a wide receiver for six straight seasons.
One player who is a perfect example is New Orleans VooDoo wide receiver PJ Berry. This season, Berry has not only been phenomenal in the receiving game, but in the return game as well. While Berry ranks second in the League in receptions with 111, he also leads the League in kickoff return with 1,391-yards and four touchdowns. Throughout the season, Berry has consistently led the League in all-purpose yards and has notched 215.2-yards per game. Berry has consistently made big plays this season and is on pace to beat Antonio Chatman’s single season all-purpose record of 3,669-yards.
While Berry is stealing the show in the Big Easy, other receivers across the League have been posting solid statistical numbers too. Vigilante’s wide receiver Anthony “Tiger” Jones is having a notable season in Dallas and currently ranks atop nearly every major receiving statistical category. Jones is fourth in the League in receptions (102), third in reception yards (1,354) and seventh in touchdown receptions (27). Jones has been a crucial part of the Vigilantes offensive success this season. Dallas quarterback Dan Raudabaugh has done a wonderful job finding Jones in space and giving him an opportunity to make plays.
Arizona’s Rod Windsor is another receiver having a remarkable campaign in 2011. In 2010, Windsor set AFL records with 193 receptions and 2,372 receiving yards in his rookie season. Even with the two additional games, no receiver is on pace to rewrite these records. Windsor leads the League with 111 receptions and ranks second with 1,372 receiving yards. For the second straight season, Windsor has been the go-to-guy for Davila and the Rattlers offense. The combination of Davila and Windsor has become one of the most explosive and exciting tandems in the League.
Although there may be clear cut frontrunners for the Russell Offensive Player of the Year Award, other players are still in the running. Quarterbacks like the Command’s JJ Raterink and the Force’s Brett Elliot have posted impressive seasons leading their respective offenses to a great deal of success. Elliot has formed Georgia into a serious offensive juggernaut and currently sits second in touchdown passes with 74. Raterink has also been lighting it up through the air and currently leads the League in passing yards this season with 3,501-yards. Others such as Rush receiver Reggie Gray, Soul wideout Donovan Morgan and Force wide receiver Maurice Purify have been vital parts of their respective teams. Like Berry, Gray has been explosive in the receiving game and the return game as well. Gray currently ranks third in the League in touchdown receptions (30) while also returning two kickoffs. Morgan, on the other hand, has been successful with the receiving game. Morgan leads the League with a 15.9-yard per catch and 1,497 receiving yards this season. During his time in the AFL, Morgan has been a consistent threat because of his big play ability and dominating physical stature. Purify has also done most of his work in the receiving aspect of the game this season. In only his rookie season, Purify leads the League in touchdown receptions with 36. Purify is doing a great job this season adapting to the arena style and has built a strong rapport with Elliot.
The race for Russell Offensive Player of the Year is panning out to be an interesting one. The last seven weeks of the season will give us a much better idea of who can physically and mentally get through the full-grind of the new 18-game schedule. The candidate who continues to be consistent and well prepared each week will be the player that most likely holds the trophy come the end of the season.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Georgia Jumps Five Places in Coaches' Poll
TULSA, OKLA. –The Jacksonville Sharks (9-1) remained in the top spot of the Week 12 Coaches’ Poll for the fifth consecutive week, receiving 15 first place votes following a bye week. Jacksonville has won nine consecutive games, with the only loss coming from the second-ranked Arizona Rattlers (9-2) in Week 1. The Sharks get back to work in Week 13 against South Division rival New Orleans VooDoo (2-9) on NFL Network’s “Arena Football Friday”. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST.
The Rattlers earned two first place votes and remained in second place following a home victory over the Cleveland Gladiators (6-4). Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila was nearly perfect in the game, completing 25-of-30 passes for 263-yards and eight touchdowns. His performance earned him a bid for the National Guard MVP. The Rattlers hold a one-game lead over the Chicago Rush (8-3) in the National Conference. Arizona will travel to division rival Utah Blaze (5-5) on Saturday, June 4 at 9:00 p.m. EST. The Rattlers won the previous matchup, 67-61, this season in Week 7.
The Rush remained in the third spot of the Poll after their tight 49-48 win over Central Division rival, Tulsa (4-7). Rush quarterback Russ Michna ran a quarterback sneak for a touchdown to tie the game as time expired. Chicago Rush kicker Chris Gould booted the extra point and secured the narrow one-point victory. The Rush will play their third straight division game this week against the Kansas City Command (4-7), who defeated them at home in Week 7. The game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, June 4.
Orlando (7-3) remained in fourth place, following a 35-30 win over the Milwaukee Mustangs (3-7) on Saturday. The Predators sit two games behind number-one ranked Jacksonville in the American Conference. The Predators look for their fourth consecutive victory this week against the Iowa Barnstormers (3-7).
The Georgia Force (6-5) jumped five spots in the Poll following their 55-49 road victory against the San Jose SaberCats (5-6). The win put the Force on the verge of the playoff picture in the American Conference. The Force has an important division matchup this week at home against the Tampa Bay Storm (4-6) on Saturday, June 4 at 7:35 p.m. EST.
The Gladiators fell to number six in the Poll following their road loss to second-ranked Arizona. The Gladiators have lost two of their last three games after starting the season at 5-2. Cleveland now travels to face the Pittsburgh Power (6-4) in Week 13 for the lead in the East Division. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, June 4.The Utah Blaze (5-5) remained in the seventh spot in the Poll following a 48-50 loss to the Iowa Barnstormers on NFL Network. The Blaze look to get back on track against the Arizona Rattlers at home on Saturday night.
Pittsburgh moved up one spot in the Poll following a 76-75 victory over ninth-ranked Dallas Vigilantes (6-5). Dallas quarterback Dan Raudabaugh went 28-of-36 for 433 yards and 10 touchdowns, winning the Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week Award in the loss. The Power have now won three consecutive games, while Dallas has lost three straight. The Vigilantes host the San Jose SaberCats on Saturday, June 4 at 8:30 p.m. EST.
WEEK 12 COACHES’ POLL
The Rattlers earned two first place votes and remained in second place following a home victory over the Cleveland Gladiators (6-4). Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila was nearly perfect in the game, completing 25-of-30 passes for 263-yards and eight touchdowns. His performance earned him a bid for the National Guard MVP. The Rattlers hold a one-game lead over the Chicago Rush (8-3) in the National Conference. Arizona will travel to division rival Utah Blaze (5-5) on Saturday, June 4 at 9:00 p.m. EST. The Rattlers won the previous matchup, 67-61, this season in Week 7.
The Rush remained in the third spot of the Poll after their tight 49-48 win over Central Division rival, Tulsa (4-7). Rush quarterback Russ Michna ran a quarterback sneak for a touchdown to tie the game as time expired. Chicago Rush kicker Chris Gould booted the extra point and secured the narrow one-point victory. The Rush will play their third straight division game this week against the Kansas City Command (4-7), who defeated them at home in Week 7. The game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, June 4.
Orlando (7-3) remained in fourth place, following a 35-30 win over the Milwaukee Mustangs (3-7) on Saturday. The Predators sit two games behind number-one ranked Jacksonville in the American Conference. The Predators look for their fourth consecutive victory this week against the Iowa Barnstormers (3-7).
The Georgia Force (6-5) jumped five spots in the Poll following their 55-49 road victory against the San Jose SaberCats (5-6). The win put the Force on the verge of the playoff picture in the American Conference. The Force has an important division matchup this week at home against the Tampa Bay Storm (4-6) on Saturday, June 4 at 7:35 p.m. EST.
The Gladiators fell to number six in the Poll following their road loss to second-ranked Arizona. The Gladiators have lost two of their last three games after starting the season at 5-2. Cleveland now travels to face the Pittsburgh Power (6-4) in Week 13 for the lead in the East Division. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST on Saturday, June 4.The Utah Blaze (5-5) remained in the seventh spot in the Poll following a 48-50 loss to the Iowa Barnstormers on NFL Network. The Blaze look to get back on track against the Arizona Rattlers at home on Saturday night.
Pittsburgh moved up one spot in the Poll following a 76-75 victory over ninth-ranked Dallas Vigilantes (6-5). Dallas quarterback Dan Raudabaugh went 28-of-36 for 433 yards and 10 touchdowns, winning the Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week Award in the loss. The Power have now won three consecutive games, while Dallas has lost three straight. The Vigilantes host the San Jose SaberCats on Saturday, June 4 at 8:30 p.m. EST.
WEEK 12 COACHES’ POLL
RK | Team (1st place votes) | W-L | Pts | Last Week |
1 | Jacksonville Sharks (15) | 9-1 | 167 | 1 |
2 | Arizona Rattlers (2) | 9-2 | 155 | 2 |
3 | Chicago Rush | 8-3 | 128 | 3 |
4 | Orlando Predators | 7-3 | 126 | 4 |
5 | Georgia Force (1) | 6-5 | 87 | 10 |
6 | Cleveland Gladiators | 6-4 | 72 | 5 |
7 | Utah Blaze | 5-5 | 68 | 7 |
8 | Pittsburgh Power | 6-4 | 67 | 9 |
9 | Dallas Vigilantes | 6-5 | 61 | 6 |
10 | San Jose SaberCats | 5-6 | 36 | 8 |
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
18-Game Schedule Leaves Playoff Picture Wide Open
By EVAN VLADEM (Contributor ROSS APFEL)
05/31/2011 6:41 PM
Dallas, TX - While Week 13 in most football leagues is the tail end of the season and the playoff picture begins to pan out, the AFL is different. On August 30, 2010, Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz and the AFL announced the expansion from a 16-game schedule to 18-games.
“There has never been a better time for the Arena Football League,” Kurz said of the announcement. “It’s an enhancement; it’s an opportunity for us to have our brand of football in our markets for the fans. “
As a potential move to an 18-game schedule in the NFL caused uproar, the extension seems to be favored in Arena Football.
On Saturday, a case study was conducted on two teams in the playoff hunt, the Pittsburgh Power, then 5-4, vs. the Dallas Vigilantes, then 6-4, inside the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Tx.
After falling two straight games, the Vigilantes looked to rebound against a surging Pittsburgh franchise.
“We are looking to bring intensity to the game,” fiery defensive lineman Dusty Bear said. “We are hungry for this.”
Dallas needed a victory to put the team one game outside of first place in the Central Division. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, needed the win and a Cleveland loss to put them atop the American Conference’s Eastern Division.
“The season is just now ramping up,” Dallas wide receiver DeAndrew Rubin said.
The additional two-games leaves the playoff picture wide open.
“I’m glad we have two extra games,” Dallas defensive end and 11-year veteran Kelvin Kinney said. “That’s two extra wins. It’s a long season. It’s not a race; it’s a marathon.”
With the season being dubbed a “marathon,” issues about player’s health boiled before the season. Once the season kicked off, the concern turned positive.
“The good thing about the 18-game schedule is dealing with injuries,” Vigilantes center Greg Ryan said. “I went down with an injury against Tampa Bay. With there being so many games, you don’t lose out on the majority of the season. Injured players can recover and come back. They can still keep their team in playoff contention. If you loose a key player for two or three games, it would be significant with the short schedule. That isn’t the case with the 18-game schedule.”
The Power faced a similar predicament and was forced to start three quarterbacks this season. On March 19, starting quarterback Bernard Morris went down with an injury. Pittsburgh shuffled between Anthony Morrelli and Kevin McCabe and lost three of their next five games before Morris returned on May 7.
“I think the two extra games give us a better chance to gel,” Power Head Coach Chris Siegried said. “The main thing is managing injuries through the long season. Being banged up early in the season definitely gives a chance to come out strong in the second half.”
Still, though, the extra games add wear and tear on player’s bodies.
“With the little ‘ouchies’ and ‘booboos,’ you have to get yourself well for the next week. You deal with it. Everybody signed up for this game, it’s not like they begged us to play. We signed contracts for 18-weeks. You have to get your body ready for the 18-game season,” Kinney said.
Players are also finding that the additional two games is an opportunity to gain more exposure.
“Young players in this League want to go to the next level,” Bear said. “You want to play as many games as possible. Those guys can get film. The 18-game schedule is a great thing for player stats and to showcase what they have.”
Saturday’s shootout was an opportunity to do just that. In a back-and-fourth barnburner, both teams scored on nearly every possession. Dallas quarterback Dan Raudabaugh finished with 433-yards and 10 touchdowns while Morris compiled 280-yards and seven touchdowns. Dallas only stopped Pittsburgh on one possession. Pittsburgh stopped Dallas on three, including the missed field goal that cost Dallas the game as time expired. Pittsburgh went on to win, 76-75, which moved their record to 6-4. For his stellar performance, Raudabaugh was awarded Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week in the loss.
“There is no question that we are still in the mix,” Dallas Head Coach Clint Dolezel said after his team moved to 6-5. “We have to play some better football or else it’s going to be a long season.”
A long season, indeed. Already in Week 13, Dallas still has seven games remaining. Pittsburgh has eight.
05/31/2011 6:41 PM
Dallas, TX - While Week 13 in most football leagues is the tail end of the season and the playoff picture begins to pan out, the AFL is different. On August 30, 2010, Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz and the AFL announced the expansion from a 16-game schedule to 18-games.
“There has never been a better time for the Arena Football League,” Kurz said of the announcement. “It’s an enhancement; it’s an opportunity for us to have our brand of football in our markets for the fans. “
As a potential move to an 18-game schedule in the NFL caused uproar, the extension seems to be favored in Arena Football.
On Saturday, a case study was conducted on two teams in the playoff hunt, the Pittsburgh Power, then 5-4, vs. the Dallas Vigilantes, then 6-4, inside the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Tx.
After falling two straight games, the Vigilantes looked to rebound against a surging Pittsburgh franchise.
“We are looking to bring intensity to the game,” fiery defensive lineman Dusty Bear said. “We are hungry for this.”
Dallas needed a victory to put the team one game outside of first place in the Central Division. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, needed the win and a Cleveland loss to put them atop the American Conference’s Eastern Division.
“The season is just now ramping up,” Dallas wide receiver DeAndrew Rubin said.
The additional two-games leaves the playoff picture wide open.
“I’m glad we have two extra games,” Dallas defensive end and 11-year veteran Kelvin Kinney said. “That’s two extra wins. It’s a long season. It’s not a race; it’s a marathon.”
With the season being dubbed a “marathon,” issues about player’s health boiled before the season. Once the season kicked off, the concern turned positive.
“The good thing about the 18-game schedule is dealing with injuries,” Vigilantes center Greg Ryan said. “I went down with an injury against Tampa Bay. With there being so many games, you don’t lose out on the majority of the season. Injured players can recover and come back. They can still keep their team in playoff contention. If you loose a key player for two or three games, it would be significant with the short schedule. That isn’t the case with the 18-game schedule.”
The Power faced a similar predicament and was forced to start three quarterbacks this season. On March 19, starting quarterback Bernard Morris went down with an injury. Pittsburgh shuffled between Anthony Morrelli and Kevin McCabe and lost three of their next five games before Morris returned on May 7.
“I think the two extra games give us a better chance to gel,” Power Head Coach Chris Siegried said. “The main thing is managing injuries through the long season. Being banged up early in the season definitely gives a chance to come out strong in the second half.”
Still, though, the extra games add wear and tear on player’s bodies.
“With the little ‘ouchies’ and ‘booboos,’ you have to get yourself well for the next week. You deal with it. Everybody signed up for this game, it’s not like they begged us to play. We signed contracts for 18-weeks. You have to get your body ready for the 18-game season,” Kinney said.
Players are also finding that the additional two games is an opportunity to gain more exposure.
“Young players in this League want to go to the next level,” Bear said. “You want to play as many games as possible. Those guys can get film. The 18-game schedule is a great thing for player stats and to showcase what they have.”
Saturday’s shootout was an opportunity to do just that. In a back-and-fourth barnburner, both teams scored on nearly every possession. Dallas quarterback Dan Raudabaugh finished with 433-yards and 10 touchdowns while Morris compiled 280-yards and seven touchdowns. Dallas only stopped Pittsburgh on one possession. Pittsburgh stopped Dallas on three, including the missed field goal that cost Dallas the game as time expired. Pittsburgh went on to win, 76-75, which moved their record to 6-4. For his stellar performance, Raudabaugh was awarded Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week in the loss.
“There is no question that we are still in the mix,” Dallas Head Coach Clint Dolezel said after his team moved to 6-5. “We have to play some better football or else it’s going to be a long season.”
A long season, indeed. Already in Week 13, Dallas still has seven games remaining. Pittsburgh has eight.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)