Post by DiamondThief on May 19, 2016 19:36:35 GMT -8
Portland Steel at Jacksonville Sharks
What: The Steel make their way to Central Florida to face the Sharks.
When: Saturday, May 21 at 4 p.m. (PT).
Where: Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena; Jacksonville, Florida.
Regional Media: Radio - 750 The Game (AM).
National Media: Stream - ESPN3/WatchESPN.
This season: July 16 - Sharks at Steel.
Series History: Regular Season - Steel lead series 2-0 (1-0 on the road).
Note: This game matches the past two quarterbacks which lost the ArenaBowl; Shane Austin (Cleveland Gladiators in ArenaBowl XXVII) and Tommy Grady (Jacksonville Sharks in ArenaBowl XXVIII).
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 0-6, 0-5 on the road and 0-3 in inter-conference play. They are coming off a 55-48 overtime road loss to the Cleveland Gladiators on May 9. They are averaging 34.3 points per game and are allowing 65.3 points per game. The Steel are fourth in the National Conference.
The Sharks are 2-4 overall, 0-2 at home and 0-2 in inter-conference play. They are coming off a 41-40 road loss to the Cleveland Gladiators on May 7. They are averaging 49.2 points per game and are allowing 51.8 points per game. The Sharks are third in the National Conference.
BREAKDOWN
First Downs per game - Steel 19.7; Sharks 22.0
Yards per Game - Steel 278.0; Sharks 323.0.
3rd Down Conversion - Steel 39%; Sharks 47%
4th Down Conversion - Steel 42%; Sharks 52%
Total Tackles - Steel 112; Sharks 193
Tackles for Loss - Steel 10; Sharks 5
Total Sacks - Steel 7; Sharks 5
Fum Rec - Steel 3; Sharks 3
Interceptions - Steel 3; Sharks 7
Had Intercepted - Steel 15; Sharks 3
Note that both teams have played six games.
PORTLAND STEEL
Steel WR Tom Gilson (photo courtesy The Portland Tribune)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Darron Thomas (QB)
2 - Arness Ikner (DB)
3 - Rashaad Carter (WR)
4 - Mike McMillan (DB)
5 - Tom Gilson (WR)
6 - Jared Perry (WR)
9 - Sergio Gilliam (DB)
10 - Shane Austin (QB)
11 - Dexter Davis (JLB)
12 - Tyrone Goard (WR)
13 - Christian Wise (DB)
17 - Ernesto Lacayo (K)
20 - Bryce Peila (DB)
21 - Tim Shelley (DB)
23 - Reggie Wilson (DE)
59 - Viseisio Salt Jr. (OL)
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)
Jabin Sambrano (WR)
Ron James - Head Coach
Will Mulder - Defensive Coordinator
Anthony Payton - Offensive Coordinator
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - *Danny Southwick 742
Passing TDs - *Danny Southwick 13
Passing Ints - Darron Thomas/*Danny Southwick 5
Rushing Yards - Shane Austin 22
Rushing TDs - *Bryson Kelly 2
Receptions - Tom Gilson 58
Receiving Yards - Tom Gilson 553
Receiving TDs - Tom Gilson 8
Tackles - Mike McMillan 21
Sacks - Brandon Sesay 2.5
Interceptions - Mike McMillan/Sergio Gilliam/Christian Wise 1
KO Return Ave. - *Terrence Mitchell 15.6
KO Return TDs - *Terrence Mitchell 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 AFL's official website, which is not updated on a consistent basis. Updates will be provided here as soon as they become available.
JACKSONVILLE SHARKS
Sharks QB Tommy Grady. (photo courtesy jacksonville.com)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Micheaux Robinson (DB)
3 - David Hyland (DB)
4 - Tommy Grady (QB)
6 - LaRoche Jackson (DB)
7 - Marco Capozzoli (K)
9 - Roger Jackson (WR)
10 - Sean Brackett (QB)
11 - Anthony Jones (WR)
12 - Anthony DeGrate (DE)
14 - Jamar Howard (WR)
15 - Prechae Rodriquez (WR)
17 - Alvin Ray Jackson (JLB)
20 - Antron Dillon (DE)
21 - Greg Reid (DB)
33 - Mark Weivoda (NG)
39 - Derrick Ross (FB)
42 - Laith Wallschleger (DL)
55 - Dexter Jackson (MLB)
58 - Khreem Smith (DL)
62 - Raymond McNeil (C)
68 - Ryan Cave (OL)
72 - Cornelius Lewis (OL)
81 - Joe Hills (WR)
99 - Jason Holman (C)
Les Moss - Head Coach
Brian Ferguson - Assistant Head Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Tommy Grady 1783
Passing TDs - Tommy Grady 32
Passing Ints - Tommy Grady 3
Rushing Yards - Derrick Ross 148
Rushing TDs - Derrick Ross 10
Receptions - Joe Hills 60
Receiving Yards - Joe Hills 792
Receiving TDs - Joe Hills 18
Tackles - Greg Reid 44.5
Sacks - Dexter Jackson/Khreem Smith 2
Interceptions - LaRoche Jackson/Greg Reid 3
KO Return Ave. - David Hyland 12.0
KO Return TDs - none
* 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 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
There may be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. The Steel were just one penalty affected extra point away from pulling out the win on Monday against the Cleveland Gladiators. Forget about the four turnovers. Forget about the 20-point deficit. Forget about an untimely infraction at the end of regulation. What we have is the most fight this team has put up this season. The 55-48 overtime loss to the Gladiators was certainly a heart breaker. There is a new vibe with the Steel and that starts with the installation of Shane Austin at quarterback. The former University of Hawaii star completed his first nine passes, including a pair of touchdown passes to Tom Gilson in the first quarter. He finished the game completing 36/56 passes for 363 yards and 6 touchdowns. He showed some rust in the middle quarters, throwing 4 interceptions, but that is only bound to improve. The most impressive part of his performance was the rally from 20 points down in the fourth quarter to tie the game on a five-yard pass from Austin to Tyrone Goard on the last play in regulation. Then, in celebration, Goard took off his helmet which resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The infraction knocked the Steel back 10 yards for the extra point attempt. In arena/indoor football kicking, 10 yards might as well be a mile. Ernesto Lacayo, who had made all six of his extra point tries to that point, kicked the ball wide left. The result was overtime in which the Gladiators prevailed. There are no such things as moral victories in sports, but this performance should give the Steel some optimism. Gilson caught 16 passes for 160 yards (Portland franchise records) to go along with his 2 touchdowns. Goard nearly duplicated Gilson's performance with 14 catches for 136 yards. He also had two of his three touchdown grabs in the fourth quarter. The Steel suffered some injuries in its receiving corps, losing Terrence Mitchell for what appears to be the long term, and Jared Perry, who is likely to miss at least the game against the Sharks. Portland's defense came up big in the fourth quarter as Sergio Gilliam and Christian Wise both intercepted passes to set up Steel scoring drives. Reggie Wilson and Brandon Sesay are becoming a formidable duo on the defensive line. It is an old story, but it the Steel are to beat the Sharks, it will come down to cutting down on penalties and eliminating turnovers. Player to Watch: Shane Austin (QB). Wild Card: Christian Wise (WR/DB).
SHARKS
Jacksonville did not expect to start its season at 2-4. There is no question the Sharks have talent. They possess one of the best passers in the AFL and he best running back in the AFL. They have the leader in receiving yards per game. They are the defending American Conference champions. Something seems to be missing as they look to return to the ArenaBowl. Tommy Grady leads the team, having completed 154 or his 232 passes for 1,783 yards and 32 touchdowns. He has thrown just 3 interceptions. Grady is a 6'7" passer who towers over even his offensive line. He is capable of using the tools around him to put up points in a hurry. Derrick Ross has been the top AFL fullback for a few years now, and with numbers like 156 yards and 10 touchdowns, it's pretty easy to see why. He can create nightmares for opposing defenses and is a load to stop. Joe Hills' 132.0 receiving yards per game leads the league. On the season, Hills has caught 60 passes for 792 yards and a league-high 18 touchdowns. If that were not enough, Anthony "Tiger" Jones comes in at 46 catches, 579 yards and 8 touchdowns of his own. Roger Jackson is the third receiver with 268 receiving yards and 3 scores. Former Portland receiver Jamar Howard, who was traded to Jacksonville three weeks ago for offensive lineman Duke Robinson, is listed on the active roster (according to the AFL's official site), so he may see some action in this one. Defensive back Greg Reid is the jack of all trades for the Sharks, leading the defense in total tackles (44.5), passes broken up (8), passes defended (11) and is tied for the lead in interceptions (3). He leads a decent defensive backfield which hopes to be opportunistic against the Steel. Fellow defensive back LaRoche Jackson has 33 tackles and 3 picks of his own. David Hyland has recorded 32 sacks and a fumble recovery. Former Portland defensive lineman Antron Dillon is on the active roster and, like Howard, could see some time for the Sharks. Linebacker Dexter Jackson has a pair of sacks on the season, as does defensive lineman Khreem Snith. The Sharks will need to get down to some basics and play sound, fundamental football and they should find themselves with an opportunity to come away with the win. Player to Watch: Tommy Grady (QB). Wild Card: Joe Hills (WR).
SCtoC STATISTICAL PROJECTED FINAL
Gladiators 57, Steel 43
QUOTABLE
Steel head coach/general manager Ron James
“Shane looked sharp. I was confident he could give us a lift (against the Gladiators), and he did. He gives us a leadership factor and the experience at the position we haven't had this season,"
James on making progress
“Last week, it started to look more like an arena game — offenses are supposed to score 50 points or more, and it’s supposed to be more like possession for possession and go right down to the wire,”
Steel QB Shane Austin
“There was no quit in our team. And we just focused on one play at a time.”
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
AFL GAMES THIS WEEK
May 21 - Orlando Predators (7-0) at Philadelphia Soul (6-1), 4 p.m. (CBSSN)
May 21 - Los Angeles KISS (3-3) at Arizona Rattlers (5-2), 6 p.m.*
May 23 - Cleveland Gladiators (3-4) at Tampa Bay Storm (0-6), 5 p.m. (Univision)
* Available for streaming on ESPN3/WatchESPN
NOTE
Portland will be facing a pair of its former players, as WR Jamar Howard (left) and DL Antron Dillon are now with the Sharks. Howard played during the 2014 and 2015 seasons for the Portland Thunder, and Dillon was a mainstay on the line for the Thunder in their inaugural season of 2014.
EXTRA
(photo courtesy jacksonville.com)
Portland's greatest success as a franchise has come against the Sharks, which they have beaten both times in which they have played. Above, former Thunder FB John Martinez scores a rushing touchdown in Portland's 72-48 win over the Sharks in 2015. The 72 points are the highest point total in Portland history. Portland earned their first-ever franchise victory over the Sharks in the sixth game of the 2014 AFL season. Below are the historical results. Click on the links for the boxscores.
April 26, 2014 -- Portland Thunder 69, Jacksonville Sharks 62 (at Jacksonville)
July 11, 2015 -- Portland Thunder 72, Jacksonville Sharks 48 (at Portland)
To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register.