Post by DiamondThief on May 3, 2016 19:32:03 GMT -8
Portland Steel vs. Los Angeles KISS
What: The Steel are in Southern California for a "home" game against the KISS.
When: Monday, May 9 at 7 p.m. (PT).
Where: Honda Center; Anaheim, California.
Regional Media: Radio - 750 The Game (AM).
National Media: Stream - ESPN3/WatchESPN.
This season: May 28 - Steel at KISS. August 1 - KISS at Steel.
Series History: Regular Season - Series tied, 3-3; each team is 3-0 at home.
Note: This game was originally scheduled for Saturday, May 7 at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter, but was changed by the league to to a conflict with game 3 of the Portland Trail Blazers' NBA Western Conference Semifinal series against the Golden St. Warriors.
Forum: To comment, please login or register.
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, 0-3 on the road and 0-2 in conference play. They are coming off a 61-28 road loss to the Arizona Rattlers on April 30. They are averaging 32.8 points per game (7th in the AFL) and are allowing 67.8 points per game (8th).
The KISS are 2-3 overall, 1-2 at home and 1-1 in conference play. They are coming off a 56-33 home loss to the Philadelphia Soul on May 2. They are averaging 42.4 points per game (1st in the AFL) and are allowing 49.8 points per game (4th).
BREAKDOWN
First Downs per game - Steel 17.0; KISS 18.2.
Yards per Game - Steel 267.5; KISS 257.8.
3rd Down Conversion - Steel 34.1%; KISS 44.7%.
4th Down Conversion - Steel 42.3%; KISS 52.6%.
Total Tackles - Steel 76; KISS 170.
Tackles for Loss - Steel 6; KISS 7.
Total Sacks - Steel 4; Rattlers 5.
Fum Rec - Steel 2, KISS 5.
Interceptions - Steel 0, KISS 7.
Had Intercepted - Steel 6, KISS 9.
Note that the Steel have played four games, while the KISS have played five.
PORTLAND STEEL
Steel DB Mike McMillan (photo courtesy Christopher OertelllThe 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)
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)
Arness Ikner (DB)
Christian Wise (DB)
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.
LOS ANGELES KISS
KISS QB Nathan Stanley. (photo courtesy youtube)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Donovan Morgan (WR)
3 - Freb Obi (DB)
4 - D.J. Stephens (WR)
5 - Brandon Collins (WR)
6 - Josh Victorian (DB)
7 - Rayshaun Kizer (DB)
8 - Clevan Thomas (DB)
9 - Dan Buckner (WR)
10 - Nathan Stanley (QB)
10 - Kevin Goessling (K)
16 - Pete Thomas (QB)
17 - Rodney Fritz (DE)
31 - John Martinez (OL)
34 - Rory Nixon (FB)
51 - Jamil Merrell (DL)
54 - Kody Afusia (OL)
55 - Marcus Pittman (DE)
56 - Derrick Summers (DE)
64 - Sam Tupua (OL)
70 - Colin Madison (OL)
71 - Shannon Tevega (OL)
75 - Cornelius Dixon (OL)
92 - Gustave Benthin (NG)
Winston Wright (DB)
Omarr Smith - Head Coach
Walt Houseman - Defensive Coordinator
Daniel Frazer - Director of Player Personnel
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
After a week of waiting, QB Darron Thomas is expected to make his first start of 2015. Thomas signed with the Steel on April 25, but was not medically cleared to play until April 29. Without a single practice under his belt, he served as the backup to Kasey Peters last week. The good news is, the roles will be reversed and the former Oregon Duck will take large portions of two years of experience in a Portland uniform to lead the Steel on to the field for this match up against the KISS. Thomas was the second player signed by the team in October 2013 (the first was OL Max Jean-Gilles). The Steel will look to Thomas to put up more than the 21 points that Peters' offense engineered last week. Jared Perry and Tom 'Gilson have been the favored targets for Steel quarterbacks this season, going for 344 yards and 5 touchdowns, and 315 yards and 4 touchdowns, respectively this season. Tyrone Goard was Peters' go-to receiver last week, catching 7 balls for 49 yards and 3 scores last week in the team's 68-21 loss to the Rattlers last week. Former Spokane Shock wideout Rashaad Carter could fit into the mix as well. The Steel's rushing game has been anemic, as they have gained just 41 yards on the year with no single player gaining more than 15 yards in four games. Defensive back Mike McMillan leads the Steel with 12.5 tackles and a forced fumble. Sergio Gilliam who has 12 tackles of his own, will be called upon to help cover a talented group of KISS receivers. Dexter Davis, Brandon Sesay and Reggie Wilson have all recorded a sack on the young season. The key for the Steel will be to create turnovers. They rank second-to-last in turnover differential at minus-eight. The defense has been strong at forcing opponents into fourth-down situations, but has surrendered more than their share of firsts in those instances. In the AFL, a turnover on downs is just as valuable as an actual turnover. The Steel will need to win those situations in order to give themselves an opportunity to win this game. Player to Watch: Darron Thomas (QB). Wild Card: Tyrone Goard (WR).
KISS
L.A. brought in some strong talent over the off season and the results have been mixed. Several expect the KISS to be one of the stronger teams in the National Conference; perhaps even good enough to earn second place behind the Arizona Rattlers. They stand there now, but are only a game ahead of the Cleveland Gladiators and two games ahead of the Steel. After playing understudy for a pair of seasons to Russ Michna and Erik Meyer while with the now-defunct San Jose Sabercats, QB Nathan Stanley has the opportunity to lead his own team. He has completed 113 of his 197 passes for 1,224 yards, 21 touchdowns and a league-leading 9 interceptions. His 197 pass attempts lead the AFL. Stanley averages nearly 2 interceptions a game, which could open up the possibility for the Steel to pick up their first of the season. Wide receiver D.J. Stephens paces the KISS with 38 receptions for 431 yards and 5 touchdowns. Donovan Morgan has returned for his third season with the KISS and leads the team with 11 touchdown receptions to go with his 29 receptions and 379 yards. Morgan also has rushed for 2 touchdowns. Brandon Collins rounds out the receiving corps with 30 catches for 296 yards and 4 scores. Unlike the Steel, the KISS have put together a decent ground attack. They are averaging nearly 17 yards per game, and have scored 8 touchdowns along the way; led by FB Rory Nixon's 4 scores. Rayshaun Kizer and Fred Obui have each recorded interceptions for the KISS, Obi leads the team with 25.5 total tackles, while Kizer has added 22. Defensive lineman Derrick Summers has recovered a pair of sacks. The KISS are primed to make a run. They have a legitimate chance to make a run. They will be looking to use the Steel as a springboard to begin that run.. Player to Watch: D.J. Stephens (WR). Wild Card: Donovan Morgan (WR).
QUOTABLE
Steel head coach/general manager Ron James
“We just continue to injure ourselves, and until we can stop that on the offensive side, we’re going to be involved in some lopsided scores.”
Coach James
““It’s all about getting better and playing better football. We changed some personnel, and I think we got better in certain areas, but we still have not addressed the turnover situation and being a lot more methodical on offense. Until that changes, we’re going to be up against it.
We’ve got to get better quickly.”
KISS Head Coach Omarr Smith
“In this game if you turn the ball over, you lose games; especially against good teams that are talented and well coached. We have to be better on offense, we have to take care of the ball and we have to find ways to get the ball in the end zone. That’s something we need to get corrected.”
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
AFL GAMES THIS WEEK
May 6 - Jacksonville Sharks (2-3) at Cleveland Gladiators (1-4), 4 p.m.*
May 7 - Arizona Rattlers (5-0) at Orlando Predators (5-0), 4:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
May 9 - Tampa Bay Storm (0-4) at Philadelphia Soul (4-1), 5 p.m. (Univision)
* Game is available for streaming on ESPN3/WatchESPN
NOTE
The KISS are one of three current AFL teams against which the Steel have at least a .500 record. Updated as of May 3..
(Graphic courtesy SCtoC)
EXTRA
The last time Steel QB Darron Thomas wore a Portland uniform against the KISS was on May 16, 1015 at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. It was Thomas' first start of the 2015 season. We will not tell you the result, but you can watch the entire game here.
To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register.