Post by DiamondThief on Jul 10, 2016 11:34:09 GMT -8
Jacksonville Sharks at Portland Steel
What: The Sharks make their only appearance of the season in the Rose City to face the Steel.
When: Saturday, July 16 at 7 p.m. (PT).
Where: Moda Center at the Rose Quarter; Portland, Oregon.
Regional Media: Radio - 750/102.9 The Game (click to stream audio).
National Media: Stream - ESPN3/WatchESPN.
This season: May 21 - Sharks 71, Steel 34.
Series History: Regular Season - Steel lead series 2-1 (1-0 in Portland).
Note: Portland's first-ever franchise win came against the Sharks.
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HELPFUL LINKS
Arena Football League Schedule and Results 2016
Portland Steel Schedule 2016
Portland Steel Season Preview 2016
SUMMARY
The Sharks are 5-8 overall, 4-3 on the road and 1-5 in inter-conference play. They are coming off a 69-67 road loss to the Arizona Rattlers on July 9. They are averaging 52.5 points per game and are allowing 50.2 points per game. The Sharks are in third place in the American Conference.
The Steel are 1-12 overall, 1-4 at home and 1-5 in inter-conference play. They are coming off a 47-41 home loss to the Orlando Predators on July 9. They are averaging 40.5 points per game and are allowing 60.9 points per game. The Steel are in fourth place in the National Conference.
BREAKDOWN
First Downs per game - Sharks 22.3; Steel 18.4.
Yards per Game - Sharks 312.6; Steel 264.0.
3rd Down Conversion - Sharks 55%; Steel 42%.
4th Down Conversion - Sharks 45%; Steel 35%.
Total Tackles - Sharks 406.5; Steel 307.5.
Tackles for Loss - Sharks 17; Steel 20.
Total Sacks - Sharks 6; Steel 12.
Fum Rec - Sharks 7; Steel 9.
Interceptions - Sharks 18; Steel 7.
Had Intercepted - Sharks 6; Steel 28.
Note that the Steel and the Predators have each played 13 games.
JACKSONVILLE SHARKS
Sharks QB Tommy Grady. (photo courtesy jacksonville.com)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Reggie Gray (WR)
2 - London Crawford (WR)
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)
14 - Lindsey Wolfe (K)
15 - Keon Lyn (DB))
17 - Alvin Ray Jackson (JLB)
21 - Greg Reid (DB)
39 - Derrick Ross (FB)
55 - Dexter Jackson (MLB)
58 - Khreem Smith (DL)
62 - Raymond McNeil (C)
68 - Ryan Cave (OL)
72 - Cornelius Lewis (OL)
81 - Joe Hills (WR)
82 - Andrew Robustelli (WR)
93 - Moqut Ruffins (OL)
95 - Gemeath Moffett (DL)
99 - Jason Holman (C)
Les Moss - Head Coach
Brian Ferguson - Assistant Head Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Tommy Grady 3,768
Passing TDs - Tommy Grady 78
Passing Ints - Tommy Grady 6
Rushing Yards - Derrick Ross 302
Rushing TDs - Derrick Ross 15
Receptions - Joe Hills 138
Receiving Yards - Joe Hills 1,763
Receiving TDs - Joe Hills 48
Tackles - Greg Reid 77.5
Sacks - Dexter Jackson 4.5
Interceptions - Greg Reid 8
KO Return Ave. - Reggie Gray 19.4
KO Return TDs - Reggie Gray 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.
PORTLAND STEEL
Steel WR Nick Truesdell (photo courtesy Jon Currier)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Darron Thomas (QB)
2 - Christian Wise (DB)
3 - Rashaad Carter (WR)
4 - Mike McMillan (DB)
5 - Tom Gilson (WR)
6 - Jared Perry (WR)
8 - KC Obi (MLB)
9 - Sergio Gilliam (DB)
10 - Shane Austin (QB)
11 - Dexter Davis (JLB)
13 - Matt Pierce (WR)
17 - Ernesto Lacayo (K)
20 - Bryce Peila (DB)
21 - Shaine Boyle (DB)
23 - Reggie Wilson (DE)
59 - Viseisio Salt Jr. (OL)
64 - Leonardo Bates (OL)
66 - Deveric Gallington (FB)
77 - Kevin Myers (C)
79 - John Collins (C)
80 - James Shaw (WR)
81 - Nick Truesdell (WR)
91 - Brandon Sesay (DE)
99 - Robert Hayes (MLB)
Ron James - Head Coach
Will Mulder - Defensive Coordinator
Anthony Payton - Offensive Coordinator
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Shane Austin 2,012
Passing TDs - Shane Austin 39
Passing Ints - Shane Austin 12
Rushing Yards - Shane Austin 116
Rushing TDs - Shane Austin 6
Receptions - Tom Gilson 116
Receiving Yards - Tom Gilson 1,145
Receiving TDs - Tom Gilson 14
Tackles - Mike McMillan 43.0
Sacks - Brandon Sesay 5
Interceptions - Sergio Gilliam 3
KO Return Ave. - Shaine Boyle 31.7
KO Return TDs - Shaine Boyle 2
* 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
SHARKS
Jacksonville did not expect to be at 5-8 at this point in the season. 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. In the first meeting against the Steel, the Sharks jumped out to a 40-27 halftime lead, then let their defense take over, holding the Steel scoreless in the last 21 minutes of the game. Tommy Grady leads the team, having completed 329 of his 489 passes for 3,768 yards and 78 touchdowns. He threw for 10 scores last week. He has thrown just 6 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' 135.6 receiving yards per game leads the league. On the season, Hills has caught 138 passes for 1,763 yards and a league-high 48 touchdowns. If that were not enough, Anthony "Tiger" Jones comes in at 87 catches, 1,007 yards and 15 touchdowns of his own. Former San Jose Sabercats receiver Reggie Gray is the third receiver of the group. He's a deep threat who has made his biggest mark with the Sharks in the kick return game. Defensive back Greg Reid is the jack of all trades for the Sharks, leading the defense in total tackles (77.5), interceptions (8), passes broken up (21) and passes defended (29). He leads a decent defensive backfield which hopes to be opportunistic against the Steel. Fellow defensive back LaRoche Jackson has 67 tackles and 6 picks of his own. David Hyland has recorded 66 tackles and 3 fumble recoveries. Linebacker Dexter Jackson leads the team in sacks and can put some pressure on the quarterback. Khreem Smith has 4 sacks. 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).
STEEL
Portland hung right in there with the Orlando Predators and even led 34-33 until the Predators scored twice. The Steel's comeback fell just short as they lost by six points. They have cleaned up penalties to a large degree and turned the ball only once last week. The problem is the turnovers on downs. To be successful, the Steel will need to do a better job of converting on third and fourth downs. Shane Austin threw for 241 yards and 3 touchdowns. He'll have to fare better as the Steel look to pick up their second win of the season. Kevin Myers and Rashaad Carter each ran for a touchdown and could be called upon again in the red zone in this game. Tom Gilson caught 8 passes for 88 yards (right at his season average), while Carter had 9 catches for 79 yards and another score. Nick Truesdell continues to get used to the scheme and Austin's style. The 6'7" Truesdell caught 46 balls for 46 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jared Perry also had 5 catches, for 28 yards. Shaine Boyle provided a spark with his second kickoff return for a touchdown in as many weeks. He also had a pair of tackles on defense. The Steel have had their issues in the kick return game, but may have found their return man in Boyle, who has 6 kick returns for a 31.7-yard average. Defensive back Mike McMillan had a strong game against the Predators with a team-high 9 tackles. McMillan leads the team with 46 tackles on the season. Sergio Gilliam leads the team in interceptions with 3 and is second in tackles with 40. Bryce Peila, the "Ball Hawk, registered his first interception of the season against the Predators. Brandon Sesay, Robert Hayes, Dexter Davis and Reggie Wilson will have to put pressure on Tommy Grady; get him out of his safety zone. The quartet has combined for 12 sacks on the season, but has not had one over the past two games. The Steel will have to be nearly flawless in this game if they are to put themselves in a position to win. They will need to limit their turnovers and penalties, and find ways to pick up first downs and scores on third and fourth downs. In a league such as the AFL, teams cannot turn it over on downs if they are to be successful. Player to Watch: Nick Truesdell (WR). Wild Card: Shaine Boyle (DB).
QUOTABLE
Steel Head Coach Ron James
“We're not making the plays at crunch time that we need to make and, against good teams in this league, we need to make those plays.”
Steel C/FB Kevin Myers
“It was tough (against the Predators). It was tough. We played these guys tough the first time in Orlando. We came back here and played just as tough, but didn't pull it off.”
Steel C/FB Kevin Myers
“We just have to continue to get better and work together. That's all I can really say right now. I'm sure we're going to get some W's here down the stretch, but we just have to keep getting better every day in practice and put in the work that Coach asks of us.”
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
OTHER AFL GAMES THIS WEEK
July 16 - Philadelphia Soul at Tampa Bay Storm, 12:30 p.m. (ESPN2)*
July 16 - Cleveland Gladiators at Los Angeles KISS, 7 p.m. (CBSSN)
July 18 - Orlando Predators at Arizona Rattlers, 6:30 p.m. (Univision Deportes tape delay; 7/19/16, 11 a.m.)*
All Times are Pacific Standard Time
* Game is available for streaming on ESPN3/WatchESPN
TURNOVER TRACKER
Coming into this game, the Steel's defense has forced just 16 turnovers on the season; 7 interceptions and 9 fumbles. They have forced one turnover last game against the Orlando Predators. The following is a chronicle of the team's forced turnovers (by the defense) over the course of the season.
April 1 - Arizona Rattlers 80, Portland Steel 28
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - 1 (Reggie Wilson).
April 9 - Orlando Predators 53, Portland Steel 50
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none.
April 17 - Philadelphia Soul 70, Portland Steel 32
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - 1 (Tim Shelley)
April 30 - Arizona Rattlers 68, Portland Steel 21
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none
May 9 - Los Angeles KISS 66, Portland Steel 27
Interceptions - 1 (Mike McMillan). Fumble recoveries - none
May 16 - Cleveland Gladiators 55, Portland Steel 48 (OT)
Interceptions 2 (Christian Wise, Sergio Gilliam). Fumble recoveries - 1 (Reggie Wilson).
May 21 - Jacksonville Sharks 65, Portland Steel 34
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none
May 28 - Los Angeles KISS 54, Portland Steel 42
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - 2 (Robert Hayes, Arness Ikner).
June 3 - Portland Steel 68, Tampa Bay Storm 35
Interceptions - 2 (Sergio Gilliam 2). Fumble recoveries - 4 (Shaine Boyle 2, Bryce Peila, Reggie Wilson).
June 11 - Arizona Rattlers 76, Portland Steel 49
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none
June 18 - Cleveland Gladiators 58, Portland Steel 49
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none.
June 27 - Philadelphia Soul 59, Portland Steel 38
Interceptions - 1 (Shaine Boyle). Fumble recoveries - none
July 9 - Orlando Predators 47, Portland Steel 41
Interceptions - 1 (Bryce Peila). Fumble recoveries - none
EXTRA
Tom Gilson is on pace to become Portland's franchise single-season receiving yards leader. Right now he is third on that list behind Jared Perry. V'Keon Lacey. Gilson is averaging just over 88 yards per game. At that rate, he will surpass Lacey's record of 1,297 yards in the Steel's second-to-last game of the season at Tampa Bay on July 23. He needs just 14 receiving yards to surpass V;Keon Lacey and move into second on the all-time receiving yards list.
(Graphic courtesy SCtoC/Photos courtesy Portland Steel/The Portland Tribune)
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Graphic courtesy of David.
