Post by David on Apr 27, 2017 11:59:49 GMT -8
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles at Spokane Empire
What: The Screaming Eagles look to end a 6 game losing streak while the Empire look to build on their lead in the Intense Conference.
When: Sunday, April 30, 4 p.m. (PST)
Where: Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, WA
Empire Media: Radio - ESPN 700 AM/105.3 FM
National Media: Stream - YouTube
This Season: March 13 - Empire 41, Screaming Eagles 35; March 24 - Empire 53, Screaming Eagles 36
Series History: Spokane leads series 2-0 (1-0 in Spokane)
Note: Including his days as Head Coach of the Portland Thunder, Matthew Sauk is 0-5 all-time against the Spokane Shock/Empire
HELPFUL LINKS
Indoor Football League Rules
Indoor Football League Schedule and Results - 2017 Season
2017 Spokane Empire Schedule
Spokane Empire - Vital Statistics
2017 Salt Lake Screaming Eagles Schedule
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles - Vital Statistics
IFL Franchise Index
The Screaming Eagles are 1-7 overall, 1-3 on the road and 1-6 in conference play. Salt Lake is coming off a 30-49 road loss to the Nebraska Danger on April 22. They are averaging 41.5 points per game (6th in IFL) and are allowing 53.2 points per game (9th). The Screaming Eagles are fifth in the Intense Conference.
The Empire are 6-2 overall, 3-1 at home and 5-1 in conference play. Spokane is coming off a 60-51 road win over the Arizona Rattlers on April 22. They are averaging 48.2 points per game (4th) and are allowing 39.1 points per game (4th). The Empire are first in the Intense Conference.
BREAKDOWN
Total Yards per Game - Screaming Eagles 237.8; Empire 229.2
Pass Yards per Game - Screaming Eagles 177.8; Empire 148.6
Rush Yards per Game - Screaming Eagles 60.0; Empire 80.6
3rd Down Conversion - Screaming Eagles 39.7%; Empire 40.7%
4th Down Conversion - Screaming Eagles 53.8%; Empire 61.5%
Total Tackles - Screaming Eagles 272; Empire 349
Tackles for Loss - Screaming Eagles 18; Empire 41
Total Sacks - Screaming Eagles 5; Empire 19
Fumble Recoveries - Screaming Eagles 1; Empire 6
Interceptions - Screaming Eagles 9; Empire 9
SALT LAKE SCREAMING EAGLES
Screaming Eagles QB Verlon Reed (image credit: Melissa Majchrzak / Slate.com)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Verlon Reed (QB/WR)
3 - Don Unamba (DB)
4 - Brock Lutes (WR/DB)
5 - Jesse Scroggins (QB)
6 - Ed Burns (DB)
7 - Chris Robinson (WR)
11 - James Calhoun (DB)
12 - Rashard Greene (DB)
14 - Kelvin Lee (DB)
16 - Rob Marshall (RB)
21 - Juwan Dotson (WR)
52 - Michael Ward (DL)
53 - Sisale Hautau (DL)
56 - Steven Gurrola (OL)
75 - Bradley Wilcox (OL)
84 - Devin Mahina (WR)
93 - Seante Williams (DL)
96 - Ben Compton (DL)
N/A - Delric Ellington (WR)
N/A - Viliseni Fauonuku (DL)
N/A - Jerome McElroy (LB)
N/A - Royce Roxas (OL)
N/A - Josh Wilson (K)
Matthew Sauk - Head Coach
The Fans - Offensive Coordinator(s)
Sergio Gilliam - Co-Defensive Coordinator
Kevin Bello - Co-Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coach
Jaren Skinner - Offensive and Defensive Line Coach
Ron McBride - Special Assistant to the Head Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Verlon Reed 1,412
Passing TDs - Verlon Reed 30
Passing INTs - Verlon Reed 8
Rushing Yards - Verlon Reed 369
Rushing TDs - Verlon Reed 9
Receptions - Devin Mahina 37
Receiving Yards - *Cy Strahm 395
Receiving TDs - Devin Mahina 8
Tackles (Solo) - Don Unamba 25
Sacks - Ben Compton 2.0
Interceptions - Don Unamba 4
KO Return Ave - *Devon Price 16.9
KO Return TDs - James Calhoun 1
*Not on Active Roster
Note: Roster information is subject to change and is presented here as a basic guide for following the game. Roster information is gathered from the IFL and the team's official websites.
SPOKANE EMPIRE
Empire DB John Hardy-Tuliau (image credit: Ben Moffat / AZCentral.com)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Samuel Charles (WR)
2 - Bryan Pray (WR)
5 - Tyree Robinson (DB)
6 - Robert Brown (DB)
7 - Mulku Kalokoh (RB/KR)
8 - Andrew Jackson (LB)
10 - Devonn Brown (WR)
11 - Charles Dowdell (QB)
13 - Pasquale Vacchio (LB)
16 - Aaron Wilmer (QB)
18 - Trevor Kennedy (OS)
19 - Craig Peterson (K)
22 - Adrian James (DB)
33 - John Hardy-Tuliau (DB)
41 - Toney Hurd Jr. (DB)
47 - Nick Haag (LB)
55 - Bill Vavau (OL)
70 - Jonah Austin (OL)
74 - Darren Pinnock (OL)
75 - Myniya Smith (OL)
91 - O.J. Mau (DL)
93 - J.D. Griggs (DL)
99 - Harold Love III (DL)
N/A - Orlandus Harris Sr. (WR)
N/A - Qua Cox (DB)
Adam Shackleford - Head Coach
Cleveland Pratt - Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams
Anthony Payton - Assistant Coach
Marquise Liverpool - Assistant Coach
Marshall Hart - Line Coach
Joshua Artis - Assistant Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Charles Dowdell 1,244
Passing TDs - Charles Dowdell 30
Passing INTs - Charles Dowdell 10
Rushing Yards - Charles Dowdell 313
Rushing TDs - Charles Dowdell 7
Receptions - Bryan Pray 28
Receiving Yards - Bryan Pray 333
Receiving TDs - Bryan Pray 10
Tackles (Solo) - Pasquale Vacchio 21
Sacks - J.D. Griggs 7.5
Interceptions - John Hardy-Tuliau/Pasquale Vacchio 3
KO Return Ave - Mulku Kalokoh 17.8
KO Return TDs - Trevor Kennedy 1
*Not on Active Roster
Note: Roster information is subject to change and is presented here as a basic guide for following the game. Roster information is gathered from the IFL and the team's official websites.
HEIDI'S TAKE
SALT LAKE:
The Screaming Eagles are a team in flux. They came on the scene with an innovative format to allow fans to call plays. It's been a fascinating thing to watch, and it has never really been done before at the indoor level.
Per reports, the Screaming Eagles will fold at the end of this season, making their legacy that one just one year. With that, it should be said that all of those rumors are yet to be incompletely substantiated.
There has been success. Under the Project FANchise mobile App, fans called the two-point conversion which led to the team's lone win, a 42-41 triumph over the Colorado Crush in Week 2. Largely though, fans have called long passing plays on short-yardage situations and, they have voted heavily for the two-point conversion on an overly large number of plays.
There have been bright spots on the field. Verlon Reed, who some thought heading into training camp would be the backup to fellow camp-mate Jeremy Johnson, has thrived. Johnson was released during camp.
Reed, playing in his first indoor/arena season, has excelled. He is one of the best in the IFL in most passing categories. He can throw the ball and he can use his legs to extend a play. Where the Screaming Eagles go for the rest of the season will be as far as Reed takes them. He definitely has a career in football, whether it be in the IFL, or competing for a position in the Canadian Football League or even the NFL. He played both quarterback and wide receiver in college at Ohio St. and Findlay.
Reed is second in the IFL in passing per game at 176.5 yards. He is also tied for second with 30 touchdown passes (with Charles McCullum of the Wichita Falls Nighthawks). He also is second in the IFL with 46.1 rushing yards per game and fourth in rushing touchdowns with nine. Reed was named IFL Offensive player of the Week for Week 2 for his heroics in leading the Screaming Eagles to their first win of the season.
With 1,412 passing yards and a 63.4 percent completion rate, Reed has proven himself to be capable; The glaring stat is that he only has a 5.9 yards per attempt average. In the NFL, 7.5 yards per attempt is considered successful. Reed's rushing stats are remarkable. He has done a tremendous job all season of running the appropriate-sounding “read option.” he has 369 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Impressive? Yes, but he needs some help.
In short, Reed needs a lot of help. Cy Strahm, a wide receiver who also started the season as the team's kicker, was put on season ending injured reserve on April 18. That is a huge hit to the Screaming Eagles.
Former BYU tight end Devin Mahina becomes the team's main receiving target. He has 37 receptions for 353 yards per game and eight touchdowns. Mahina is averaging 44.1 yards per game. After having been injured earlier in the season Juwan Dotson is back, and has made an impact. Though he did not find the end zone last week against the Danger, he still had four receptions for 42 yards.
The new receiver on the block is Devon Price. In last week's game, he caught a team-high five passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. That is a sizable punch, after having caught six passes for 54 yards in his previous four games with the Screaming Eagles.
Don Unamba leads the Screaming Eagles in defensive categories such as total tackles (40), interceptions (four). Four other players each have an interception and the Screaming Eagles have a fumble recovery. This is a squad who can force a turnover at any given time.
James Calhoun is a quality return man, but he has only returned five kicks for an average of 22.8 yards and returned one of those for a touchdown.
The Screaming Eagles have to get hungry. They have to be hungry. Head coach Matthew Sauk will need to bring his team around, to motivate them and to keep up the fight.
At this point, they are fighting for a matter of pride. A win would fulfill that.
Player to Watch: Verlon Reed (QB)
DAVID'S TAKE
SPOKANE:
After a 60-51 statement win against the Arizona Rattlers, accomplished in one of the toughest venues in arena/indoor football, the Spokane Empire return home with a swagger regarding their standing in the Intense Conference. The Empire will look to ride that high when they hit the road next week to take on the 6-time defending champion Sioux Falls Storm. However, before Spokane can look forward to that inter-conference battle, they have a Sunday afternoon date against the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles.
The Screaming Eagles are in a free fall; after an impressive 1-1 start to the season, Salt Lake has dropped six consecutive games. However, despite playing a team with the second worst record in the IFL, the Empire will not be taking their opponent lightly. In four of their six losses, Salt Lake has lost by 13 points or less, including a disappointing 33-39 loss to the Wichita Falls Nighthawks. In their two losses to Spokane, Salt Lake managed to keep pace with the Empire, but critical mistakes have cost them.
Coming off of a performance in which he threw for 204 yards, 6 touchdowns and no interceptions, QB Charles Dowdell looks to maintain that momentum against Salt Lake. In two games against the Screaming Eagles, Dowdell has seen his shares of ups and downs, throwing 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions against a defensive secondary that ranks ninth in the IFL in pass defense (166.6 yards/game). He has seen success in the ground game in the previous two matchups, rushing for a combined 90 yards and 2 scores. Dowdell has been fortunate to stay upright against a Screaming Eagles defensive line that has struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. If Dowdell can find the time in the pocket, he'll find the time to locate his receivers and pick apart Salt Lake's defensive backfield.
Taking advantage of Salt Lake's passing defense will draw the focus of WR Bryan Pray, who has been on a roll the past three weeks. After only catching a single pass for 17 yards against Salt Lake on March 24th, Pray has tallied 156 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. With 333 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, Pray will look to score his first touchdown against the Screaming Eagles - the only team who has kept him out of the endzone this season. Should Salt Lake focus on Pray, look for potentially big games from Devonn Brown (26 receptions, 309 yards, 8 TDs) and Samuel Charles (15 receptions, 211 yards, 5 TDs). The Empire's passing attack could be better in this game, as RBs Trevor Kennedy (8 receptions, 118 yards, 3 TDs) and Mulkoh Kalokoh (6 receptions, 72 yards, TD) will both be active. Neither running back was active at the same time when Spokane previously played Salt Lake, which could spell along day for their defensive backfield.
Should Spokane find success in the passing game, look for the Empire's talented rushing offense to join the party. The Screaming Eagles's rush defense ranks last in the IFL, giving up a league worst 846 total rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns this season. Trevor Kennedy (146 yards, 5 TDs) and Mulkoh Kalokoh (147 yards, 5 TDs) could be in for a big day. Kennedy torched Salt Lake in the first game, rushing for 101 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Kalokoh had his best rushing game of the season in the second game, rushing for 56 yards and 2 touchdowns. Add in the success of the read-option with Dowdell, and Salt Lake's defense might be leaving Spokane Arena with footprints across their facemasks.
The challenge on defense will be how to contain the playcalling of the Screaming Eagle fans. The team's most dangerous weapon, QB Verlon Reed, is one of the most difficult quarterbacks to contain in the IFL. Reed has been the team's most effective weapon, throwing for 1,412 yards this season and 30 touchdowns, both the second highest in the IFL. He's also the league's second leading rusher with 369 yards, which also happens to lead all Salt Lake rushers. Reed has had success against Spokane's talented defensive backfield, throwing for 281 yards, 9 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the prior two meetings. The Empire have been one of the few teams to contain Reed, holding him to 46 total rushing yards and keeping him out of the endzone.
Despite the dominance in the passing game, and Reed's effectiveness in running the football, the Screaming Eagles' play calling fans have shown a dislike for running the football. The team's leading running backs, Zavier Steward and Breon Allen, aren't on the active roster and have a combined 45 total rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. It makes the offense very one dimensional, which means Spokane's defensive backfields will have to prepare for a a night of mostly passing plays. DB John Hardy-Tuliau (26 solo tackles, 3 INTs, 3 pass breakups) looks to continue his impressive first season in the IFL, especially against Salt Lake's top wide receiver, Devin Mahina (37 receptions, 353 yards, 8 TDS). DBs Robert Brown (24 solo tackles, 2 INTS, 9 pass breakups), Tyree Robinson (25 solo tackles, 1 INT, 4 pass breakups) and Adrian James (6 solo tackles, 3 pass breakups) will look to shut down the passing lanes for the Screaming Eagles' receivers, while LB Pasquale Vacchio (29 solo tackles, 3 interceptions) will patrol the middle of the field to limit Salt Lake into short yardage passing situations.
Containing Verlon Reed will be up to the task of LB Nick Haag (16 solo tackles, 4.0 sacks, 5 tackles for loss). JD Griggs (7.5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss), Andrew Jackson (28 solo tackles, 3.0 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, will look to put pressure on Reed while Harold Love III (7 total tackles, 1.0 sacks) will clog the middle to force Reed to the outside.
The Empire must take this game seriously and not think too far ahead to Sioux Falls. If Spokane can stay focused, it should be another victory for the defending Intense Conference Champs.
Player to Watch: John Hardy-Tuliau (DB)
QUOTABLE
Empire HC Adam Shackleford on playing against the Rattlers last Saturday.
"When you play the Arizona Rattlers, you play a branded team."
Empire LB Pasquale Vacchio's declaration prior to the Saturday night game vs Arizona.
"We know who we are, but the whole league is going to find out on Saturday."
Empire LB Andrew Jackson on playing defensive end.
"It was frustrating at first. It's all new to me. But it's a blessing. To be out there and learn a new position, all I can do is perfect my craft and get better every week."
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
IFL SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
April 28 - Cedar Rapids Titans (1-8) at Nebraska Danger (5-4), 5:05 p.m.
April 29 - Colorado Crush (2-6) at Iowa Barnstormers (6-2), 5:05 p.m.
April 29 - Sioux Falls Storm (8-0) at Wichita Falls Nighthawks (7-2), 5:05 p.m.
April 29 - Green Bay Blizzard (2-7) at Arizona Rattlers (4-4), 6 p.m.
EXTRA
Screaming Eagles DC Sergio Gilliam with the Spokane Shock (image credit: Ethan Miller / Getty Images)
Last week, we took at look at Nick Davila, the Arizona Rattlers' Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers Coach. Davila, well known for his 7 outstanding seasons as QB of the Rattlers, got his start with the Spokane Shock under Head Coach Adam Shackleford.
This week's Extra will take a quick look at Sergio Gilliam, the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles Co-Defensive Coordinator who was former defensive back in the Arena Football League.
Gilliam broke into the sport of arena/indoor football as a member of the Spokane Shock in 2008. HHe got off to a fast start to his rookie season by recording three interceptions in his first two games of the season, earning af2 Defensive Player of the Week honors in each week. He finished the season with 50.5 total tackles, 41 passes defended, 25 pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. Most noteworthy was his 16 interceptions, an af2 single season record. As a result of his record breaking season, he was named the af2 Rookie of the Year and First Team All-af2. His outstanding rookie campaign contributed to the Shock's 15-1 season, which fell short in ArenaBowl IX as Spokane was upset by the Tennessee Valley Vipers 56-55 in overtime.
Like many members of the 2008 Shock team, Gilliam returned in 2009 to take care of unfinished business. He recorded 13 interceptions, 53 total tackles, 16 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, and 2 fumble recoveries as the Shock would storm out to another 15-1 record, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 74-27 in ArenaCup X.
With the formation of the new AFL in 2010, Gilliam signed with the Arizona Rattlers as a free agent, joining teammates Nick Davila, DL Johnie Kirton, OL Kyle Young, OL John Booker, and FB/LB Kelvin Morris. He played in 5 games with the Rattlers before finishing the season with the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz. He finished the season with a combined 3 interceptions, 30 tackles, 11 assists, 8 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries.
In 2011, Gilliam signed with the Kansas City Command (formerly Kansas City Brigade). In two seasons with Kansas City, Gilliam would lead the team in interceptions in each season. As a member of the Command, Gilliam recorded a total of 15 interceptions, 134 tackles, 32 assists, 26 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery. In 2012, he returned his first career AFL defensive touchdown.
From 2013-2014, Gilliam was a member of the Pittsburgh Power. In two seasons with Pittsburgh, he registered 11 interceptions, 129 tackles, 44 assists, 37 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble. The 2013 season was his best in the AFL, as his 8 interceptions, 20 pass breakups and 77 solo tackles were both career highs.
Gilliam would return to Spokane during the 2015 season, registering 2 interceptions, 55 tackles, 12 assists, 7 pass breakups and 2 fumble recoveries.
When Spokane moved to the IFL after the 2015 season, Gilliam signed with the Portland Steel. He led all Steel defenders with 48 solo tackles and 5 interceptions. He also registered 9 pass breakups, 14 passes defended and a forced fumble.