Post by DiamondThief on Apr 30, 2016 13:20:45 GMT -8
Portland Steel at Arizona Rattlers
What: The Steel travel to the desert to face the Rattlers.
When: Friday, April 30 at 6 p.m. (PT).
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena; Phoenix, Arizona.
Regional Media: Radio - 750 The Game (AM).
National Media: TV - CBS Sports Network.
This season: April 1 - Steel at Rattlers 80, Steel 28. June 11 - Steel at Rattlers.
Series History: Regular Season - Rattlers lead 6-0 (3-0 away). Playoffs - Rattlers lead 1-0 (1-0 at home)..
Note: These teams met in this year's season opener, with the Rattlers winning 80-28 in Portland.
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HELPFUL LINKS
Arena Football League Schedule and Results 2016
Portland Steel Schedule 2016
Portland Steel Season Preview 2016
SUMMARY
The Steel are in 0-3, 0-2 on the road and 0-1 in conference play. They are coming off an 70-32 road loss to the Philadelphia Soul on April 17. They are averaging 37.7 points per game (7th in the AFL) and are allowing 67.7 points per game (8th).
The Rattlers are 4-0, 1-0 at home and 2-0 in conference play. They are coming off a 75-68 road win over the Jacksonville Sharks on April 23. They are averaging 71.0 points per game (1st in the AFL) and are allowing 37.8 points per game (1st)
BREAKDOWN
First Downs per game - Steel 12.3; Rattlers 23.2.
Yards per Game - Steel 268.3; Rattlers 289.5.
3rd Down Conversion - Steel 37.5%; Rattlers 69.6%.
4th Down Conversion - Steel 61.1%; Rattlers 33.3%.
Total Tackles - Steel 62; Rattlers 129.
Tackles for Loss - Steel 6; Rattlers 113.
Total Sacks - Steel 3.0; Rattlers 10.
Fum Rec - Steel 2, Rattlers 5.
Interceptions - Steel 0, Rattlers 7.
Had Intercepted - Steel 5, Rattlers 2.
Note that the Steel have played three games, while the Rattlers have played four.
PORTLAND STEEL
Steel QB Darron Thomas (photo courtesy The Portland Tribune)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
3 - Rashaad Carter (WR)
4 - Mike McMillan (DB)
5 - Tom Gilson (WR)
6 - Jared Perry (WR)
7 - Kasey Peters (QB)
8 - Terrence Mitchell (DB)
9 - Sergio Gilliam (DB)
10 - Darron Thomas (QB)
11 - Dexter Davis (JLB)
12 - Tyrone Goard (WR)
13 - Danny Southwick (QB)
17 - Ernesto Lacayo (K)
20 - Bryce Peila (DB)
21 - Tim Shelley (DB)
23 - Reggie Wilson (DE)
59 - Viseisio Salt Jr. (OL)
36 - Bryson Kelly (NG)
64 - Jarien Moreland (OL)
66 - Deveric Gallington (FB)
72 - Duke Robinson (OL)
77 - Kevin Myers (C)
79 - John Collins (C)
91 - Brandon Sesay (DE)
99 - Robert Hayes (MLB)
Ron James - Head Coach
Will Mulder - Defensive Coordinator
Anthony Payton - Offensive Coordinator
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 AFL's official website, which is not updated on a consistent basis. Updates will be provided here as soon as they become available.
ARIZONA RATTLERS
Rattlers WR Rod Windsor (photo courtesy foxsports.com)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Rod Windsor (WR)
3 - Maurice Purify (WR)
4 - K.J. Morton (DB)
5 - Markus Smith (DB)
7 - Kenny Spencer (K)
8 - Shane Boyd (QB)
9 - Mykel Benson (FB)
10 - Nick Davila (QB)
11 - Arkeith Brown (DB)
14 - Al Phillips (DB)
15 - Kerry Reed (WR)
24 - Allen Chapman (DB)
31 - Chris McAllister (DE)
32 - Damien Borel (DE)
36 - Luis Vasquez (DE)
52 - Michael Simons (OL)
55 - Lamar Mady (OL)
70 - Jordan Mudge (OL)
72 - Dionte Savage (OL)
77 - Anttaj Hawthorne (NG)
81 - Chase Deadder (WR)
88 - Anthony Amos (WR)
93 - Luis Vasquez (DE)
94 - Tyre Glasper (MLB)
96 - Dimetrio Tyson (DL)
Kevin Guy - Head Coach
Kani Kauahi - Assistant Head Coach
Dave Ewart - Defensive Coordinator
Siaha Burley - Offensive Coordinator
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 AFL's official website, which is not updated on a consistent basis. Updates will be provided here as soon as they become available.
ANGI'S TAKES
STEEL
Some organizations have a "Star Wars" game night promotion. This week, the Steel might want to try a "Back to the Future" promotion. The franchise's first quarterback is back in a Portland uniform for the first time in nearly a year, replacing the now-departed Danny Southwick. Thomas had a rough start to his AFL career with the expansion Portland Thunder in 2014, but seemed to have turned a corner before going down to a leg injury in week 9 of the 2015 season. Make no mistake, this will once again be Thomas' team, as the Steel look for their first win of the season, and first win ever over the Rattlers. Whether Thomas possesses the tools to hold down the position for the team, or if this is simply a publicity stunt to bring in the former Oregon Duck in order to fill seats remains to be seen. Tom Gilson has been the most consistent Steel receiver thus far in 2016, snagging 30 passes for 299 yards and 4 touchdowns (12, 128 and 1 respectively in week 1 against the Rattlers). Jared Perry is a nice compliment, with 23 catches, 287 yards and 5 touchdowns (8, 117 and 1 respectively against the Rattlers). With Jabin Sambrano being place on inactive reserve, it will be up to either Rashaad Carter or Tyrone Goard to emerge as the number three receiver. John Collins is solid at center, but the offensive line has struggled to protect the quarterback, so the Steel traded for Duke Robinson. The defensive line has struggled to get to the quarterback, but will look to change that this week. The Steel's defense has yet to record an interception this season. They will need to play nasty and be opportunistic, and disrupt a potent Rattlers offense. That, and cutting down on penalties, are the keys to the game for the Steel to be competitive in this game. Player to Watch: Darron Thomas (QB). Wild Card: Rashaad Carter (WR).
RATTLERS
Say what you will about the widespread reports of Rattlers players being paid under the table, this team is a veteran unit and will only get stronger as the season goes along. What you have with this team are experienced players who have been lining up alongside of each other for several years. It all starts with Nick Davila, a.k.a the Latin Laser. He has lost a bit of a step, but is still one of the better receivers in the league. He is completing 72.1 percent of his passes en route to 951 yards and an AFL third-best 25 touchdowns (heading into this week) against just 2 interceptions. He went a modest 10-16 for 119 yards and 5 scores in a week 1 against the Steel in a game where he was never really tested. Rod Windsor leads the receiving corps. He caught 7 passes for 86 yards and 4 scores in the Rattlers' week 1 win over the Steel. He leads the AFL in all major receiving categories; receptions with 48, yards with 543 and touchdowns 15. He is an explosive receiver who knows how to get open. Chase Deadder, Kerry Reed and Maurice Purify are all excellent complements to Windsor in the receiving corps. Mykel Benson leads the AFL with 9 touchdown rushes and is always a threat in goal line situations. The Rattlers defense is stout, scoring four defensive touchdowns Damien Borel had two fumble recoveries and a pair of sacks in that game. Dimitrio Tyson and Luis Vasquez each had two sacks, while Arkeith Brown and Reed each intercepted a Southwick pass in that meeting. There is not a lot to question on the field when it comes to the Rattlers. The key for Arizona to win is simply to run their offense and protect the football. Player to Watch: Nick Davila. Wild Card: Rod Windsor (WR).
QUOTABLE
Steel head coach/general manager Ron James
“We are excited to add Darron to our team. Darron possesses a unique skill set at the quarterback position. He has played at a high level in college and is intent on becoming a consistent quarterback.”
Coach James
“He’s still basically like a rookie in this league, but he’s set up for this game, and for a lot of AFL quarterbacks, the third year is the biggest one. It usually takes them three years to mature and understand this game.”
Coach James
“We gave Danny Southwick every opportunity as a starter to prove he could play within our system. It comes down to productivity. For whatever reasons, it was time to make a change. You can either sit back and take the safe route or you can look at developing a young quarterback who can only get better and hasn’t reached his ceiling.”
Coach James
“We want to get better each week. We don’t want to revert. And I think in some ways we reverted in our last game (at Philadelphia). We got off to a slow start, for whatever reasons — a couple weeks of long travel, the time zones included.
But in a case like this, you have to do one of two things in this league — either change personnel or change scheme. I feel like our scheme is sound.”
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
AFL GAMES THIS WEEK
April 29 - Orlando Predators at Cleveland Gladiators, 4 p.m.
May 1 - Jacksonville Sharks at Tampa Bay Storm, 11 a.m.
May 2 - Philadelphia Soul at Los Angeles KISS, 7 p.m. (Univision)
All games available for streaming on ESPN3/WatchESPN
NOTE
During Portland's first-ever AFL playoff game, on August 3, 2014 against the Rattlers, Kyle Rowley started at quarterback for the team. Due to injuries, then-head coach Matthew Sauk elected to start Darron Thomas at jack linebacker. Thomas recorded 3 tackles and intercepted this Nick Davila pass and ran it back 23 yards for the pick-6. The Rattlers would hold on to win the game, 52-48.
(Photo courtesy ESPN3/SCtoC)
EXTRA
The Steel will be looking to give Ron James his first win as head coach, during his birthday week. James' birthday falls on April 28.
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Graphic courtesy of David.
