Post by Kasey on Jul 22, 2016 19:38:45 GMT -8
Portland Steel at Tampa Bay Storm
What: The Steel make their only appearance in Tampa Bay to battle the Storm.
When: Saturday, July 23 at 2 p.m. (PT).
Where: Amalie Arena; Tampa, Florida.
Regional Media: Radio - 750/102.9 The Game (click to stream audio).
National Media: TV - CBS Sports Network. Stream - ESPN3/WatchESPN.
This season: June 3 - Steel 68, Storm 35.
Series History: Regular Season - Steel lead series 2-1 (1-0 in Tampa).
Note: The 33-point margin of victory over the Storm on June 3 is the largest in Portland franchise history.
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 2-12 overall, 0-8 on the road at home and 1-6 in inter-conference play. They are coming off a 55-53 home win over the Jacksonville Sharks on July 16. They are averaging 41.6 points per game and are allowing 60.4 points per game. The Steel, who have won two of their last six, are in fourth place in the National Conference.
The Storm are 1-13 overall, 1-6 at home and 1-6 in inter-conference play. They are coming off a 56-51 home loss to the Philadelphia Soul on July 16. They are averaging 35.1 points per game and are allowing 55.3 points per game. The Storm, who have lost six straight, are in fourth place in the American Conference.
BREAKDOWN
First Downs per game - Steel 18.2; Storm 16.4.
Yards per Game - Steel 264.0; Storm 256.1.
3rd Down Conversion -Steel 43%; Storm 38%.
4th Down Conversion - Steel 37%; Storm 27%.
Total Tackles - Steel 344.5; Storm 376.
Tackles for Loss -Steel 22; Storm 17.
Total Sacks - Steel 14; Storm 8.
Fum Rec - Steel 9; Storm 8.
Interceptions - Steel 7; Storm 7.
Had Intercepted - Steel 28; Storm 23.
Note that the Steel and the Storm have each played 14 games.
PORTLAND STEEL
Steel DB/KR Shaine Boyle (photo courtesy Jon Currier)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Darron Thomas (QB)
2 - Christian Wise (DB)
3 - Rashaad Carter (WR)
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)
36 - Bryson Kelly (NG)
59 - Viseisio Salt Jr. (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)
Jabin Sambrano (WR)
Ron James - Head Coach
Will Mulder - Defensive Coordinator
Anthony Payton - Offensive Coordinator
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Shane Austin 2,132
Passing TDs - Shane Austin 41
Passing Ints - Shane Austin 17
Rushing Yards - Shane Austin 133
Rushing TDs - Shane Austin 7
Receptions - Tom Gilson 120
Receiving Yards - Tom Gilson 1,161
Receiving TDs - Tom Gilson 14
Tackles - *Mike McMillan 50.5
Sacks - Robert Hayes 4.5
Interceptions - Sergio Gilliam 3
KO Return Ave. - Shaine Boyle 33.6
KO Return TDs - Shaine Boyle 3
* 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.
TAMPA BAY STORM
Storm WR T.T. Toliver (photo courtesy Scott Audette/Tampa Bay Storm)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - T.T. Toliver (WR)
5 - James Harrell (DB)
6 - Qua Cox (DB)
8 - Adam Kennedy (QB)
10 - V'Keon Lacey (WR)
11 - Phillip Barnett (WR)
12 - Delbert Alvarado (K)
15 - Prechae Rodriquez (WR)
17 - Kendrick Ings (WR)
20 - Cameron McGlenn (DB)
21 - Cortez Stubbs (DB)
23 - Nick Addison (DB)
43 - John Brown (DL)
44 - RJ Bibbs (OL)
50 - James Gordon (DL)
56 - Jerry Turner (DL)
70 - Isaiah Shelton (OL)
72 - Anthony Parker (OL)
75 - Cornelius Dixon ()
79 - Ben Ossai (OL)
93 - Everett Dawkins (NG)
94 - James McClinton (DL)
99 - David Washington (NG)
Warren Smith (QB)
Lawrence Samuels - Head Coach
Benji McDowell - Defensive Coordinator
Shane Stafford - Assistant Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - *Jason Boltus 2,421
Passing TDs - *Jason Boltus 38
Passing Ints - *Jason Boltus 14
Rushing Yards - *Jason Boltus 47
Rushing TDs - *Jason Boltus 5
Receptions - T.T. Toliver 105
Receiving Yards - T.T. Toliver 1,456
Receiving TDs - T.T. Toliver 21
Tackles - Cortez Stubbs 67.5
Sacks - James McClinton 3
Interceptions - Cortez Stubbs/James Harrell 3
KO Return Ave. - Kendrick Ings 21.1
KO Return TDs - *Mike Washington 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.
KASEY'S TAKES
STEEL
The Steel are flying high after beating the Sharks at home last week. There;s a lot to talk about in this one. Shane Austin was gold, throwing for 17/27 and two touchdowns, and rushing for another. Tom Gilson is still among the league's most reliable receivers, even though he has had a couple quiet games in the last two outings. Austin threw for 5 touchdowns and ran for two in the first meeting between the teams. Austin spread it out effectively between Gilson, James Shaw and Jared Perry int he first game against the Storm. The Steel defense forced six turnovers in the first meeting between these teams. Player to Watch: Tom Gilson (WR) . Wild Card: Shaine Boyle (DB).
STORM
The Storm are at the bottom of the barrel. If they lose this game, they are guaranteed of the worst record in the AFL. If if hadn't been for a surprise win over the Rattlers eight weeks ago, the Storm could be 0-14 right now. However, the team has a rich history. The Storm are one of two teams to have won an AFL record five ArenaBowls. Adam Kennedy will probably get the nod to start at QB in place of the injured Jason Boltus. T.T. Toliver is one of the league's best receivers, but there is little help among the rest of the receiving corps.The Storm have never beaten Portland at home. Player to Watch: T.T. Toliver (WR). Wild Card: Cortez Stubbs (DB).
QUOTABLE
Steel Head C/FB Kevin Myers
““We’re starting to believe, and this is the time of year when we’re supposed to believe.
We played hard — Jacksonville is a tough opponent. I just believe we’re clicking at the right time.””
Steel DB Shaine Boyle
“Every team in the league needs to see that Portland is still dangerous. We’re not quitting. We’re playing hard for the fans, for the city and for the whole state.”
Steel C John Collins
““I never lost to Yale, Dartmouth, Cornell or Columbia. I played mostly guard and tackle, but also some center. I was always ready to play all the positions.””
Steel Head Coach Ron James (on John Collins)
“You’d expect him to be intelligent, which he is, but John is more than that. He’s a guy who really studies the game, understands what everybody is supposed to be doing. He has a good way of ingratiating himself to his peers.
You would expect his strength to be his intelligence, but I think it’s his versatility. He can play center, he can long snap, he can play guard. He’s a little short for tackle at the NFL level, but he has really good footwork. He has been a really good player for us.”
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
OTHER AFL GAMES THIS WEEK
July 23 - Los Angeles KISS at Jacksonville Sharks, 4:30 p.m.*
July 24 - Cleveland Gladiators at Arizona Rattlers, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)*
Byes: Orlando Predators, Philadelphia Soul
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 did not force a turnover in last week's win over the Sharks. 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
July 16 - Portland Steel 55, Jacksonville Sharks 53
Interceptions - none. Fumble recoveries - none
EXTRA
Tom Gilson is on pace to become Portland's franchise single-season receiving yards leader. Last week he moved into second, passing V'Keon Lacey's 1,158 yards in 2015. Entering this game, Gilson is 153 receiving yards away for taking first place, which is held by Jared Perry. Perry Holds the all-time record with 1,297 yards, set last season. Gilson is averaging 82.9 receiving yards per game this season for the Steel.
(Graphic courtesy SCtoC/Photos courtesy Portland Steel/The Portland Tribune)
To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register.
Graphic courtesy of David.
