Arena Football League Week 11 Preview

Orlando vs Cleveland

The Predators have already proven they are a legitimate contender for an ArenaBowl championship and now they are building on their recent success and looking to better themselves for the postseason. Orlando demonstrated their physical defense and speedy offense in a 61-35 win over San Jose. Kenny McEntyre returned two interceptions for touchdowns and the Predators held San Jose to only 7 first half points. Coach Gruden was estatic about the performance, saying" The defense played great and of course Kenny McEntyre made plays. When you get pressure on the quarterback and defensive backs are playing good, you're going to have good defense." Although Shane Stafford threw for only two touchdowns, Orlando scored three times on defense and once on a kickoff return. T.T Toliver has been an exceptionally good receiver this year and he had 125 receiving yards in the win. The Predators travel to Cleveland in what is expected to be a physical and closely contested game, and Cleveland is coming off a shocking victory over Philadelphia.

Orlando on offense: The Predators have gained a lot of confidence this season, which has become obvious by the longer completions and quick scores that regularly happen when they have the ball. Shane Stafford has been encouraged by the coaching staff and his receivers to use longer crossing and post routes during games. This means the offense has the approval to take chances and go for the quick score if a receiver is open. Stafford has been accurate with short passes in previous years but now he has developed the timing and accuracy needed for the deep passes. T.T Toliver has become the primary receiver and a challenge for defensive backs to cover. Ron Johnson and Chas Gessner are new to the AFL but have shown their ability to produce solid performances each week. Orlando will take a lot of chances and try to jump out to an early lead because they know scoring will depend on their execution and consistency. They should be able to convert most possessions into touchdowns, but Cleveland is a difficult place to play in, and any type of momentum can create an uphill battle for the Predators.

Orlando on defense: They are improving on defense because they have started to pressure the quarterback and force more turnovers. The defensive line is playing with additional energy and is more physical and determined. Both the jack and mac linebackers have been covering their spots on the field and are assisting the defensive backs with pass coverage by tackling receivers before they can gain extra yards after the catch. Since a pass rush and solid tackling is present, defensive backs are able to play solid man to man coverage without worrying about keeping receivers in front of them or trying to hard to cut off routes. The secondary knows that the other defenders are doing their job and in the right position, so they can put tight coverage on receivers without having to take additional risks, such as jumping routes at the wrong time. The defense is having fun and players are leading by example and helping each other. Orlando needs to come out with energy because they are in a hostile arena and can't afford to fall behind if they want to win the game.

Cleveland did what was previously considered nearly impossible, by defeating the Philadelphia Soul, 67-55. The Gladiators trailed 34-27 at halftime, but scored twice early in the third quarter and never gave up the lead. Cleveland showcased a well-balanced offense, Marlion Jackson rushed for four touchdowns and Raymond Philyaw completed 25 passes for 290 yards and 5 touchdowns. Robert Redd and Otis Amey both had more than 100 receiving yards and Amey also had four touchdown receptions. The struglling Gladiators defense forced 5 defensive stops against a powerful Philadelphia offense. Cleveland has found their stride on offense, but the defense still needs more enthusiasm and toughness. The Gladiators have to avoid a letdown because although they have a winning record, every game is crucial for playoff positioning in the second half of the season.

Cleveland on offense: Raymond Philyaw has gotten better with his accuracy and he is putting balls right into receivers' hands, where they will have an opportunity to gain additional yards. This is a sharp contrast from about three to five weeks ago, when he used to throw a lot of incompletions and passes were too high or low. Now receivers don't have to make as many adjustments that would slow them down. Rober Redd and Otis Amey are both speedy and able to catch balls that are out of position. Both are good for 100 yards and multiple scores each game. Cleveland has been converting more third and fourth downs to keep possessions alive and that will wear out defenders late in the game. Cleveland will want to score quickly and often, to keep Orlando's offense off the field and to gain energy and momentum from their home crowd.

Cleveland on defense: The weakness is allowing big plays that bail out offenses and set up easy scores. Cleveland doesn't allow a high amount of completions or yards but they can't stop offenses from picking up first downs. The Gladiators let other teams change the flow of the game, by giving up scores before the end of a half or surrendering big plays in long yardage situations. Too often with a few seconds in a quarter or in third and long the Gladiators will allow a deep completion that sets up a touchdown. The defensive line has been inconsistent with their pass rush and rush defense. The secondary isn't losing receivers in coverage but still gives up long gains. Cleveland has made small improvements, but it will be a step by step process to be a force against tough opponents. Aganist Orlando, there will be some points allowed.

Prediction: Orlando 63, Cleveland 58

New Orleans vs. Tampa Bay

The VooDoo look to rebound after an unexpeted loss at Georgia, 66-39. A shaky first half that included two turnovers and inconsistent offensive play resulted in a 19-point defecit which only increased through the third and fourth quarters. Danny Wimprine was off target, completing half of his passes and throwing two interceptions. He was forced out of the pocket on numerous plays and could not find his receivers, who were smothered on nearly every route. The usually enthusiastic and sharp defense appeared lost and confused when covering routes and allowed a season high 66 points. New Orleans overwhelmed Tampa Bay in the first matchup, but now the Storm are looking for revenge at home. Both teams have above average offenses so whoever has the better pass rush and red zone defense will emerge victorious.

New Orleans on offense: The VooDoo have a good mixture of deep passes and short routes and they utilize them effectively. On first downs and when backed up in their own territory, long post routes to the end zone are common, as they are trying to catch the defense out of position. New Orleans is also able to complete a shorter route to pick up first downs or when close to the goal line. The opposing defense will have to be prepared for both options and they can't focus on taking away a certain aspect of the VooDoo offense. New Orleans is mutli-dimensional and they possess three or four receivers that can be relied on each game. Danny Wimrpine has good throwing mechanics and game intelligence and he can never be shut down, only contained at best. The VooDoo will test the Storm secondary with deep passes and a few quick scores can be expected. They won't have two bad games in a row and a 60-point performance is likely.

New Orleans on defense: In the last game, the pass rush was non-existent and the quarterback was comfortable in the pocket. New Orleans has a fast defensive line and they are more than capable of forcing the quarterback to scramble. They will have to do this to put offenses out of rhythm and to make receivers adjust their routes and lose their timing. When the VooDoo create a solid pass rush, receivers have to run shorter routes to make sure the quarterback releases the ball in time. This leads to short gains and when opponents get close to the goal line, it becomes difficult to score. Teams with great scoring defense also possess great red zone and third down defense. New Orleans sometimes fits that profile, but they also have a couple moments where they allow easy scores. I feel the VooDoo will play with energy and should force about four defensive stops.

Tampa Bay has the second worst record in the National Conference and they dropped a close game to the Chicago Rush, 51-46. The Storm never trailed by more than two touchdowns but their comeback attempt fell short as they cut the lead to five but could not recover an onside kick with less than a minute to go. Brett Dietz threw for 290 yards but the Storm were stopped a few times in Chicago territory and failed to reach 50 points. Tampa Bay had 14 penalties and several of them prevented first downs or lead to eventual turnovers. Lawrence Samuels had another solid game on both sides of the ball, catching 9 passes for 100 yards and 2 scores and making a few tackles on defense. Throughout the season, the Storm have come close to winning but could not make the clutch plays when it mattered and this was just another example. Tapma Bay will try to split the season series with New Orleans and will need a better defensive effort after allowing 77 points in the first matchup.

Tampa Bay on offense: The Storm have not been able to put together consistent drives, but there is a lot of potential for many of the players. Brett Dietz has all of the intangibles, such as experience, mental and physical toughness, and poise. He has a strong arm and can complete the iming routes that are necessary to score in this league. The Storm have smart receivers but they sometimes lack the speed to get open on longer routes. Tampa Bay is best when running a ball control offense filled with short passes. At home, they score a little more with the support and motivation from the crowd. The Storm should utilize comeback and crossing routes to give receivers added confidence and to try to figure out the tough and complex Voodoo defense. Tampa Bay will need to score close to 60 points to win this game and that will be a difficult task.

Tampa Bay on defense: This unit has shown some bright spots, as they have made a few defensive stops during games, but they struggle late in games. The Storm have contained opponents in the first half many times, but they also let teams take the lead in the second half. The defensive line can get tired and the pass rush becomes ineffective. The Storm are traditionally a very physical team, but this season they have not been tackling as well and it leads to more first downs. In this matchup, Tampa Bay needs to generate a good pass rush to frustrate Danny Wimprine and prevent long completions. They can still allow completions but can't afford to give up too many additional yards. The Strom will be okay if they allow five and ten yard gains, they just can't let a short pass turn into a twenty yard gain or a touchdown. At home, a good offense might be the best defense, if the Storm scores on the offensive end, then the defense will be able to play under less pressure.

Prediction: Tampa Bay 62, New Orleans 56

Colorado vs Utah

The Crush have always had a good offense, but their defense has rarely played at the same level. In their 63-28 victory over Grand Rapids, Colorado showcased an excellent defensive effort, forcing 6 stops on 2 fumbles and 4 turnovers on downs. The Crush limilted Grand Rapids to 7 second half points and 189 total yards in the game. Colorado allowed 4 out of 13 third and fourth down conversions, so they were able to get the Rampage off the field pretty quickly. John Dutton is in the top three in many passing statistics and he had another strong outing, throwing for 318 yards and 5 touchdowns. Willie Quinnie and aaron Hosack both had 10 receptions for Colorado and combined for over 200 yards and 4 scores. The Crush should have no problem on offense, but stopping an explosive Utah team will be a challenge. In what is likely to be a high scoring matchup, the team with one more stop will win.

Colorado on offense: John Dutton is considered to be one of the premier quarterbacks in the AFL, and he has backed up that statement with his amazing season. Dutton can be counted on to lead the Crush to 60 or more points in nearly every game, and if they don't reach that scoring mark, they will always be in position for a win. The Crush have 5 capable receivers, Willie Quinnie and Ben Nelson carry most of the load and average around 10 completions and 100 yards per game. They consistently pick up first downs and score in the red zone. Brad Pyatt is a nice receiver to throw to in short yardage situations and to pick up positive gains. He is also a solid receiver in goal line situations because of his size. Chad Owens is speedy and dangerous on kickoffs but can also get open on routes because defenses don't see him as a legitimate threat on offense. All those weapons on offense along with Aaron Hosack who comes in as a backup privide plenty of scoring opportunities for Colorado. In this game, the Crush should complete a lot of deep passes and will not be stopped more than a couple of times. They will probably score well over their season average and frustrate the weak Blaze defense.

Colorado on defense: The Crush played very well in their last game because of solid tackling and forcing their opponent into tough passing situations, such as second or third and long. Besides the two turnovers, the Crush forced four turnovers on downs and allowed less than 200 yards. Colorado only gave up short gains and set themselves up for chances to make stops on third and fourth down. The secondary also played tight coverage on receivers and didn't allow them to get a step ahead on routes. If Colorado is able to take away the primary options on routes and prevent long gains, they will have a chance to stop Utah. Creating a pass rush may be difficult because the Crush are undersized on the defensive line but the linebackers and defensive backs are still capable of tackling well. Colorado plays a team that has just won its first game so they need to avoid being lazy entering this matchup.

The Blaze finally got a win to lift their spirits, but realistically they are out of the playoff picture at this point in the season. Joe Germaine continued to pick apart defenses as he threw for 8 touchdowns and 337 yards. He also completed 24 of 30 passes. "It was great to see our guys fight for four quarters. Everyone just kept playing and stayed up the whole game," said coach Danny White. Huey Whittaker, JJ McKelvey, and Aaron Boone combined for 315 yards and 7 touchdowns. Utah forced 4 defensive stops and the 50 points allowed was their season best. Utah will need to score in the 60's to have a chance to win and they should be more energetic at home after coming off their first victory.

Utah on offense: This is the greatest strength on this team and the Blaze have been consistent. Joe Germaine will not be stopped and he is determined to improve this offense. Germaine wants a touchdown on every possession and Utah has been scoring almost every time they have the ball. The trio of Whittaker, McKelvey, and Boone have already combined for 66 receiving touchdowns and are the foundation of this offense. They are quick, durable, and possess good hands. They can be relied on to catch balls that are thrown in their direction. Utah can run a wide variety of routes in their offense and it allows them to make adjustments after each possession or play. The Blaze will have to keep scoring because this game might be one of those where each teams scores on every possession and whoever has the ball last wins.

Utah on defense: The Blaze improved in their last game because the defensive line created some pressure on the quarterback and although it wasn't consistent, it was enough to disrupt the offense. Utah has still been allowing big plays and quick scores and that has to stop if they want to win more games. Colorado has a shaky offensive line so if the linemen can create pressure, then it will cause problems for Dutton and the Crush receivers. Utah has made small improvements in tackling and limiting yards after the catch. The secondary is a big weakness and players won't get better in one game. The best hope for the secondary is having them stay in front of the receivers, so Colorado won't gain extra yards after completions, and hopefully the Blaze can cause third down attempts for Colorado. If that happens, there is a chance for defensive stops, although the Crush can pick up yards in tough situations.

Prediction: Colorado 77, Utah 70

By Chad Fukoka
ProFootball-fans.com Staff Writer

> Check out Chad's Arena Football Rules & AFL Basics article & follow all of the AFL news & articles at Pro Football Fans. Also, see how your team is doing in the 2008 Arena Football League standings as AFL teams continue to battle for a chance to play in Arena Bowl XXII!