Arena Football League Playoff Wild Card Round Preview

The playoffs are about to start with this week's wild card round and here is what to expect from each team.

1. Arizona Rattlers - Before the start of the season, the franchise promised to refund all season ticket holders if they failed to make the playoffs. The fans are more than happy to not receive any money and the performance of the Rattlers has been a pleasant surprise. In the first few weeks, quarterback Lang Campbell was injured and Jeff Smoker has done a superb job at filling the role. The offensive line struggled in the first half of the year, but the pass protection and bolcking ability has really improved as Arizona has been on a winning streak during the past two months. The Rattlers have not allowed many sacks in recent games and Smoker has been able to drop back in the pocket. His accuracy has improved because of the blocking and because of the better communication between him and his receivers. Arizona has had oppotunities to complete longer passes and test the man-to-man coverage of opposing secondaries. The receivers have decent but not great speed, but they know exactly where to run during routes and do not drop passes. The Rattlers will need to take chances on offense to win games and they are willing to do that. On defense, the defensive linemen have created pressure on the quarterback, disrupting the rhythm of the passing game, although this has not resulted in sacks. The tackling is okay, but can be sloppy at times. The Rattlers are prone to making a solid tackle on one play, then allowing ten or twenty yards after the catch on the next play. The secondary is average and are not quite at the level where they can put away an opponent when the opportunity presents itself. The Rattlers strength on defense is their ability to play as a unit and possess excellent communication skills. The unity and sacrrifice to help others is definitely there. Smoker will not go down without a fight and with the home field advantage in the first round combined with the momentum from ending the season on a winning streak, Arizona may hang around in the playoffs longer than expected.

2. Chicago Rush - They are the class of the American Conference and the team that nobody wants to play. The Rush have showcased impressive wins throughout the season, defeating San Jose, Dallas, Colorado and Arizona. Chicago may be the most balanced team in the league, they have two capable quarterbacks in Russ Michna and Sherdrick Bonner, a legendary receiver in Damian Harrell, a strong tight end in Robert Boss, a powerful fullback in Dan Alexander and a punishing defense. They can beat a team in any way, on offense, defense or special teams. Chicago has very strong pass protection and explosive receivers, leading to a consistent passing game. At times, the Rush like to mix up their play calling by executing toss or power rushing plays with Alexander. During the playoffs, they will be aggressive on offense and attempt a lot of deep passes. The pace of the game will also be quickened, to wear out the opponent and to pick up an early lead at home. Chicago will have home field advantage all the way to the ArenaBowl, so expect them to use the crowd to gain momentum. Although the Rush can produce sacks and quarterback scrambles, they are even better at pass coverage. The linebackers all tackle well and have the ability to create fumbles. The secondary is lead by an experienced group of players, so they understand the different formatuons and plays that are thrown at them. The know that little things like having the positioning advantage when jumping to defend a pass or knowing when to break off coverage from a receiver is the difference between a significant gain and an incomplete pass. Chicago will be rested with a first round bye and should win the divisional game without too much trouble. That will present them with another chance in the conference championship game, where they lost last year, and a rematch with the San Jose Sabercats is likely. This is the hurdle that must be overcome for the Rush to advance to the ArenaBowl.

3. Cleveland Gladiators - This team has pretty much come out of nowhere and completely changed their image after going through several losing years. The Gladiators were terrible in Las Vegas and the new location has apparently improved their on-field performance. Fans have rallied around the team and have basked in the glory of their recent success. They are ready to host a playoff game and will do their best to give Cleveland any possible advantage in their games. Raymond Philyaw is a very experienced quarterback, having played for many teams during his career. He has good throwing mechanics and arm strength and when he plays with consistency, the Gladiators offense is extremely tough to defend against. Robert Redd and Otis Amey bring speed to the receiving unit and their clutch hands will bring in a bunch of receptions during the playoffs. The Gladiators have gone from being out of sync on offense to being a legitimate force whenever they take the field. The defense is still shaky and susceptible to allowing a lot of points. In some games, they hold opponents to under 50 points, other times they surrender over 60. The tackling is actually a little above average and Cleveland does not allow a high amount of additional yards after receptions. The problem is in defending intermediate and deep passes, the defensive backs are still struggling to recognize pass patterns and put themslves in good positions during coverage. Often, they are out of position and take bad angles in defending a deep pass. With the strong home field advantage against Orlando in the wild card round, the Gladiators have a decent chance of winning and moving on to the divisional round. To do that it will require a consistent performance on offense, most likely scoring 60 or more points, and forcing Orlando to score on lengthy possessions in terms of time and plays. They will need to make Orlando slowly march down the field by relying on short passes and third down conversions.

4. Colorado Crush - They have not been playing well and have lost five out of their last seven games. With the exception of the last matchup against a weak Kansas City squad, the defense has had some difficulties. It seems they can never put together a complete effort and during certain plays show little energy. John Dutton is an excellent quarterback and possesses amazing accuracy. Incompletions and off target passes are a disappointment to the offense and the coaches because Dutton has the talent to accurately complete any throw. He has won an ArenaBowl and played in important games. The Crush receivers are capable of having a huge performance, and the trio of Ben Nelson, Willie Quinnie, and Chad Owens is a dangerous combination. All three players have speed, intelligence and toughness, those qualities are necessary to be a top contributor in this league. Statistically, the offensive line is one of the best at protection since they rank near the top of the standings in sacks allowed. The Crush are not particularly talented when it comes to defensive linemen so quarterback pressure will not be what makes the difference for them. They will need to force incompletions and third down attempts by preventing long gains and playing tight coverage. When the defensive backs are on top of their game, they are effective at limiting scoring. The Crush are an average team at red zone defense but creating a few stops near the goal line will go a long way in making the matchup a likely victory. Since Utah is heavily dependent upon their offense and much more successful at home, turning this matchup into one with lengthy drives and a low amount of possessions may help the Crush. This approach will also work in later rounds if they do advance. Avoiding silly mistakes such as unforced turnovers and bad throws is something Colorado must do to emerge victorious.

5. Dallas Desperados - The Desperados had a great season but because the National Conference is so challenging, they are only the third seed and will host a wild card game. Late season losses to Philadelphia and Chicago show that there is room for improvement and work needs to be done if Dallas wants to win a championship. At quarterback, Clint Dolezel is one of the best in the league, he calls his own plays and has solid accuracy and mental toughness. Dolezel is someone who can motivate his teammates to push their limits and go the extra mile to pick up a win. Will Pettis, Anthony Armstrong and Bobby Perry are receivers who can be counted on for consistent gains. Dallas is a team that can execute plays and score in close games and they are good at coming from behind for a win. Josh Bush is an exciting kick returner who occasionally catches a few passes. With all of the experience on offense, a score on every possession is almost expected. The defense has been able to create a disruptive pass rush all season and it should continue into the playoffs. The linemen have good size and are smart enough to know how to move and block past the offensive line. The secondary plays great coverage and forces a lot of long yardage situations. A defensive stop is something Dallas uses to close out a game or drastically change momentum when they are trailing. Dallas can be relied upon to win the wild card round and probably the divisional round as well. A likely apperance in the conference championship game may match them up against Philadelphia, and they will have to win a road game to advance to the ArenaBowl. Last year the Desperados faltered under the pressure of being the top seed, now that they are a little under the radar, things may be a little different.

6. Georgia Force - The Force have won seven out of their last eight games to close the season and despite a loss in the final game to San Jose, they are still the hottest team in the league. When a team hits its stride and it playing well in all areas, they can be nearly unbeatable. The offense has been spectacular for most of the year and Chris Greisen is delivering passes where they need to be. Receivers are getting plenty of opportunities for easy catches because the passes are so perfectly thrown. The Force are just going down the field and picking up first downs until they eventually score. Troy Bergeron, Carl Morris and Tiger Jones have been the primary receivers on the team and in recent games, Georgia has really increased their yards after the catch. Bergeron and Morris have good hands and game intelligence, while the speed of Jones have turned him from an unknown player to a serious threat to opposing defenses. The defensive line has been getting into the backfield and affecting the play of quarterbacks. In games against New Orleans and Columbus they were exceptional, forcing the quarterback to scramble the entire game. That type of effort will win close games in the playoffs. The secondary has a bend but don't break approach where they allow short completions in order to prevent the deep pass. They want to make offenses take whatever is given to them in coverage. The late winning streak has given Georgia a first round bye. Their divisional opener may see them face Dallas in a very difficult matchup. Last year the Force excelled on offense but came up short in the postseason. If the Force don't want to make an early playoff exit, they will have to perform with the same intensity and effort that was displayed during the last eight weeks.

7. Grand Rapids Rampage - They had an inconsistent season but are in the playoffs by playing in a weak American Conference and winning their last two games. Both the offense and defense have shown potential during some games,only to have a bad performance in the next outing. James MacPherson is a young quarterback who is still in the developmental process. He has improved since opening week but still makes bad throws under pressure. MacPherson is energetic and has the desire to win, but his skills and mechanics will continue to be worked with. Kenny Higgins and Cole Magner are the two best receivers on the team, and while they are capable of catching a long pass, most of their yardage comes on shorter completions. Higgins is clearly the go-to player near the end zone as he has 39 touchdown receptions. The Rampage do not have a significant rushing game as MacPherson leads the team in rushing yards, all of quarterback scrambles. The Rampage defense is still strugling because of their inexperience. The pass rush has been non-existent in many games and the only things that have really improved are the run defense and tackling on short passes. Grand Rapids will have dififculty in stopping the passing attack of Arizona, and will likely see a lot of long passes. To counter this, the Rampage will have to be especially strong on offense and put on a lot of points. They will have to win high scoring shootouts to advance and it will involve scoring close to 70 points or more for the victory. Grand Rapids has a tough matchup with Arizona who also has some momentum heading into the playoffs and the winner of that game is the one that can bring more energy and make more defensive stops.

8. New York Dragons - The Dragons has a tough stretch to end the season and besides defeats to Philadelphia and Dallas in the last two games, they also lost a great receiver in Jason Willis. After being injured in the game against Philadelphia, he will be unable to play for the entire playoffs. Aaron Garcia has turned this season into one with many positive memories and he is definitely the leader on the team. His playmaking ability, consistency and toughness are reasons for the Dragons to have extra motivation. The Dragons encountered some problems when playing the premier teams in the league, being held under 50 points against Philadelphia, Dallas, Cleveland and Arizona. They have potential in their receivers and Chris Anthony and Kevin Swayne are productive each and every game. New York has gotten better in converting third downs and that has lead to more points and victories. The defense can be great if they play with energy and are committed the entire game. The pass rush is excellent at times and the Dragons have forced their share of turnovers. The pass coverage is average and not the strongest part of the defense. New York does have a decent red zone defense and that will be very useful in the postseason. The team is fortunate to make the playoffs after having an up and down season and will need to make the most of their chances against Dallas. The Dragons have lost both matchups aginast the Desperados, but each was decided by two points, so their is the opportunity for a surprise victory. If the Dragons can somehow pull out a win, then anything will be possible for the remainder of the postseason, but advancing to the next round is an extremely challenging task.

9. Orlando Predators - Orlando has lost three of their last four games to end the season and although they are once again in the playoffs, momentum is not on their side. The Predators will travel to a hostile environment when they face Cleveland in the wild card round and a victory is certainly not guaranteed. Shane Stafford is a veteran quarterback who can complete any pass but he will need to demonstrate that ability for the Predators to get any results. Stafford can throw the deep passes accurately and is a good communicator with his teammates. T.T Toliver has emerged as a star receiver this year and is at the top of the league in many offensive categories. Kevin Nickerson complements the offense well with his solid catching ability and willingness to run deep routes to create scoring chances. Both will be relied upon to carry the offense and if one of them has a poor game, the season might be over for the Predators. The defense is not as strong as in past years due to the weaker secondary. The tackling is still very physical and usually consistent. The Predators are still good at stopping the run on short yardage situations and although the pass rush has slightly dropped off it has the potential to disrupt an offense. Orlando's defensive strengths are in tackling and forcing long drives. If the secondary doesn't get beat on deep routes, they likely will win games. The Predators have put much more emphasis on the offense and while it has been productive for most of the season, the defense needs to make some stops or at least force the opposition into short completions. If Orlando can force opponents to run a ball control offense, they may match the success of past teams by playing in the later rounds of the postseason.

10. Philadelphia Soul - The soul have home field advantage thoughout the playoffs and in the well balanced National Conference, it makes a huge difference. Philadelphia has shown the ability to defeat great teams as they recorded wins over Dallas, Cleveland, San Jose, Chicago, and New York. They started the season with nine consecutive wins and for awhile the offense was unstoppable. Matt D'Orazio and Tony Graziani are two superb quarterbacks and both will probably receive playing time in the upcoming games. Each can read coverages and decide what to do to make the most out of a play. The Soul rarely turn the ball over on offense. Larry Brackins and Chris Jackson are able to take over a game as receivers and make big contributions for the offense in alomst every game. Fullback Wes Ours is dependable near the goal line and will gain yards with ease. Philadelphia can score so quickly on offense and can just take an opponent out of a game in a matter of minutes. The defense is also balanced with a nice pass rush and good downfield coverage. The Soul can force a quarterback to constantly scramble and it disrupts any continuity on the offensive end. Opposing receivers find it difficult to catch passes when the coverage is so tight and their gains always seem to be limited. The Soul will want to jump out to early leads at home and try to control the game from beginning to end. It doesn't appear that scoring will be any problem with so much talent and so many ways to move the ball. The Soul should be able to win the divisional game against either Orlando or Cleveland and that will set up a conference championship game against Georgia or Dallas, two serious contenders for an ArenaBowl title. Philadelphia was regarded as the best team in the regular season, we will see if it holds true in the playoffs.

11. San Jose Sabercats - After a slow start, the Sabercats appeared to have regained their form from last year's championship team. San Jose closed out the regular season with six straight victories and have earned a first round bye. Mark Grieb is having another productive season and is playing with way more confidence than in the first few weeks. He is showcasing all of his talent and using his experience to guide his team to wins. Cleannord Saintil, Rodney Wright and James Roe all had over 1,000 receiving yards on the year and that type of production should continue to be seen in the playoffs. All three of them also had 25 touchdown receptions or more so the offense is very balanced. The offensive line is giving Grieb additional time in the pocket and that allows for a high completion rate. On defense, the quarterback pressure has really intensified during the winning streak and the amount of sacks and quarterback hits have increased. The tackling has improved from the beginning of the year, especially on short passes and near the goal line. San Jose plays well as a team because each player is willing to do their part to improve the overall performance. The Sabercats have arguably the strongest home field advantage in the league and they will host at least one game, possible two depending on the winners from each round. San Jose is expected to win their home game in the divisional round and advance to the conference championship where they may face their rival in the Chicago Rush. Whoever the Sabercats face in the playoffs, it is certain they will give their best effort and not go down without a fight. San Jose has the ability to repeat as champions, but it will require consistency in all aspects of the game.

12. Utah Blaze - The Blaze lost their first nine games and it appeared to be certain they would miss the playoffs. With six wins in the last seven games, the second half of the season was the exact opposite and the Blaze even have the opportunity to host a first round game. Joe Germaine and the Utah offense were among the best in the league despite all of the struggles. Germaine finished near the top in passing touchdowns and yards, but the wins show the team effort from all players. Utah has three receivers with more than 1500 yards in J.J McKelvey, Huey Whittaker and Aaron Boone. The offensive production is evenly split among them and it forces defenses to have to cover all three receivers and that is very difficult to do. Utah has a very high completion percentage due to Germaine's accuracy and the solid hands and intelligence of the receivers. The defense is a weakness but it has improved in the final four weeks. The Blaze have held their last four opponents to 56 points or less after allowing well over 60 points for much of the season. The defense appears to be more committed since the players know that creating stops is necessary to win playoff games. If Utah can be just an average defense, they will have a great chance at winning a postseason game and pulling out another surprise for everyone. At home, Utah is very energetic and the offense is able to find their rhythm and it leads to consistent scoring drives. The Blaze had no problem scoring against Colorado in the regular season home game where they put up 71 points. Utah should have confidence based on that performance and their victories to close out the last seven weeks, and a first round win is still a possibility.

By Chad Fukoka
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer

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