Post by David on Mar 31, 2017 12:19:40 GMT -8
Nebraska Danger at Spokane Empire
What: Spokane hosts Nebraska in a rematch of the 2016 Intense Conference Championship.
When: Saturday, April 1, 7 p.m. (PST)
Where: Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, WA
Empire Media: Radio - ESPN 700 AM/105.3 FM
National Media: Stream - YouTube
Series History: Spokane leads regular season series 1-0 (first meeting in Spokane); Spokane leads playoff series 1-0 (1-0 in Spokane)
Note: Empire DB Robert Brown's identical twin brother, Rob, plays RB for the Danger
HELPFUL LINKS
Indoor Football League Rules
Indoor Football League Schedule and Results - 2017 Season
2017 Spokane Empire Schedule
Spokane Empire - Vital Statistics
IFL Franchise Index
The Danger are 3-2 overall, 2-0 on the road and 3-0 in conference play. Nebraska is coming off a 55-23 home win over the Colorado Crush on March 25. They are averaging 52.6 points per game (1st in IFL) and are allowing 42.6 points per game (5th). The Danger are tied for third in the Intense Conference.
The Empire are 4-1 overall, 2-0 at home and 3-0 in conference play. Spokane is coming off a 53-36 home win over the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles on March 24. They are averaging 50.8 points per game (3rd) and are allowing 39.2 points per game (4th). The Empire are first in the Intense Conference.
BREAKDOWN
Total Yards per Game - Danger 228.4; Empire 235.6
Pass Yards per Game - Danger 144.6; Empire 142.2
Rush Yards per Game - Danger 83.8; Empire 93.4
3rd Down Conversion - Danger 60.0%; Empire 40.6%
4th Down Conversion - Danger 66.7%; Empire 62.5%
Total Tackles - Danger 225; Empire 210
Tackles for Loss - Danger 21; Empire 25
Total Sacks - Danger 11; Empire 12
Fumble Recoveries - Danger 5; Empire 5
Interceptions - Danger 5; Empire 7
NEBRASKA DANGER
Danger RB Rob Brown (image credit: Iris Photography Studios)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Dello Davis (WR)
2 - Rob Brown (RB/WR)
4 - Eric Thomas (WR)
5 - Demetruce McNeal (DB)
6 - Dimitri Stimphil (WR)
7 - Derrick Bernard (QB)
8 - Eze Obiora (DL)
9 - Jamar Love (DB)
10 - Patrick McCain (QB)
11 - Xzavie Jackson (DL)
13 - Trey Wafford (DB)
15 - Jarred Haggins (WR)
17 - Omar Cook (DB)
21 - Lorenzo White Jr. (DB)
24 - Fred Wilson (DB)
25 - Josh Gable (K)
43 - Marguaveus Jackson (DL)
44 - Nikolas Sierra (LB)
65 - Lawrence Martin (OL)
71 - Ekanem Ekanem (OL)
72 - Darius Savage (OL)
78 - Trevin Wallace (OL)
85 - Julian Stafford (WR)
93 - Antonio Gillespie (DL)
99 - Colton Miles-Nash (DL)
Hurtis Chinn - Head Coach
Kyle Moore-Brown - Associate Head Coach/O-Line Coach
Pig Brown - Defensive Coordinator
Jameel Sewell - QB Coach
Adrian Davis - Defensive Line Coach/Special teams Coordinator
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Derrick Bernard 533
Passing TDs - Derrick Bernard 14
Passing INTs - Derrick Bernard 5
Rushing Yards - Derrick Bernard 201
Rushing TDs - Derrick Bernard 11
Receptions - Dimitri Stimphil 26
Receiving Yards - Dimitri Stimphil 330
Receiving TDs - Dimitri Stimphil 9
Tackles (Solo) - Trey Wafford 23
Sacks - *Colton Miles-Nash 3.0
Interceptions - Demetruce McNeal 2
KO Return Ave - Dello Davis 25.5
KO Return TDs - N/A
*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 IFL and the team's official websites.
SPOKANE EMPIRE
Empire DB Robert Brown (image credit: Dick's Photography / Colorado Crush)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Samuel Charles (WR)
2 - Bryan Pray (WR)
5 - Tyree Robinson (DB)
6 - Robert Brown (DB)
7 - Mulku Kalokoh (RB/KR)
8 - Andrew Jackson (LB)
10 - Devonn Brown (WR)
11 - Charles Dowdell (QB)
12 - Toby Jackson (DL)
13 - Pasquale Vacchio (LB)
16 - Aaron Wilmer (QB)
18 - Trevor Kennedy (OS)
19 - Craig Peterson (K)
22 - Adrian James (DB)
24 - Dejuan Miller (WR)
33 - John Hardy-Tuliau (DB)
41 - Toney Hurd Jr. (DB)
47 - Nick Haag (LB)
55 - Bill Vavau (OL)
63 - Junior Alexis (DL)
65 - Siosifa Tufunga (OL)
70 - Jonah Austin (OL)
74 - Darren Pinnock (OL)
93 - J.D. Griggs (DL)
99 - Harold Love III (DL)
Adam Shackleford - Head Coach
Cleveland Pratt - Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams
Anthony Payton - Assistant Coach
Marquise Liverpool - Assistant Coach
Marshall Hart - Line Coach
Joshua Artis - Assistant Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Charles Dowdell 716
Passing TDs - Charles Dowdell 19
Passing INTs - Charles Dowdell 8
Rushing Yards - Charles Dowdell 231
Rushing TDs - Mulku Kalokoh 5
Receptions - Devonn Brown 12
Receiving Yards - Bryan Pray 177
Receiving TDs - Devonn Brown 6
Tackles (Solo) - Tyree Robinson/Pasquale Vacchio 21
Sacks - J.D. Griggs 5.5
Interceptions - Pasquale Vacchio 3
KO Return Ave - Mulku Kalokoh 20.0
KO Return TDs - N/A
*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 IFL and the team's official websites.
DAVID'S TAKES
NEBRASKA:
2017 is a new era for the Nebraska Danger. Mike Davis, the team's head coach since its inaugural season in 2011, departed for the CFL as the Manager of Football Administration for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. New Head Coach Hurtis Chinn, an ex-Danger wide receiver, was promoted to head coach after spending the past two seasons as Assistant Head Coach.
With a 3-2 record, the Danger are off to a good start this season. Nebraska leads the IFL in scoring offense with an average of 52.6 points per game and ranks in the top five in rushing offense (4th) and passing offense (5th). But the question remains: is Nebraska for real? Their three wins have come against Salt Lake and twice against Colorado, both sub .500 teams, while their losses have come against Sioux Falls and Wichita Falls, the top two United Conference teams with a combined record of 9-1. Saturday night's game versus Spokane will be another tough test, and one that will determine if the Danger are a legitimate threat in the Intense Conference or pretenders by playing non-winning teams.
QB Derrick Bernard is an early contender for the 2017 IFL MVP. Initially a member of the Billings Wolves, the ex-New York Mets prospect joined the Danger late in the 2016 season and started in the Intense Conference Championship. This season, he has completed 46 of 80 passes for 533 yards, 14 TDs and 5 INTs. He's also been difficult to stop in the Danger's running game, rushing 41 times for 201 yards and a league-high 11 touchdowns. The only question is, will he be under center this week? Last week, Bernard did not play in the Danger's 55-23 win over the Colorado Crush. Backup QB Patrick McCain, formerly of the Tri-Cities Fever, got the start instead, completing 14 of 24 passes for 144 yards and 2 TDs, and rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown. Is McCain the new starter, or did the team opt to rest Bernard against one of the league's worst defenses in the Crush? Saturday night's starter will provide the answer.
Whether McCain or Bernard gets the starting bill, Nebraska is in capable hands in the running game with RB Rob Brown. Brown, who played for the Tri-Cities Fever in 2016, has had success in his first season with the Danger. So far this season, Brown has rushed for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns, and has been viable in the passing game with 17 receptions for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had his best game of the season against Colorado last week, rushing for 2 touchdowns and leading all Danger receivers with 6 receptions. Now he faces one of the toughest opponents he's seen all year: an Empire defense that ranks first in the IFL, giving up an average of 33.8 yards per game.
With Brown's ability to contribute in the running and passing games, along with the dual threat of Bernard/McCain, it presents plenty of ample opportunities for the Danger's talented wide receiving corps. Dimitri Stimphil has been the team's No.1 wide out this season, leading the team with 26 receptions for 330 yards and 9 touchdowns. Dello Davis (14 receptions, 181 yards, 5 TDs) and Eric Thomas (10 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TDs) don't get quite as many looks as Brown or Stimphil, but don't count them out on making a big play. The Empire's defense ranks ninth in the IFL, giving up an average of 177.0 yards per game. Spokane possesses many talented defensive backs, but the Danger are capable of making big plays happen.
Defensively, Nebraska ranks in the middle of the pack in rushing defense (4th) and passing defense (6th). However, the Danger have been successful in getting after opposing quarterbacks, ranking 2nd in the IFL with 11 total sacks. DB Trey Wafford leads the team with 39 total tackles and 7 pass breakups, while DB Demetruce McNeal (14 solo tackles) leads the team with 2 interceptions. The Danger could have a better idea of how to contain the Empire, as McNeal and teammate Lorenzo White Jr. (3 tackles) were both with Spokane last season.
The key to victory will be getting pressure on QB Charles Dowdell, who has only been sacked a total of 3 times this season. Nebraska's sack leader, DL Colton Miles-Nash, is currently on injured reserve, but Eze Obiora (2.5 sacks) and Xzavie Jackson (1.5 sacks) have stepped up in his absence. LB Nikolas Sierra (21 solo tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble) will have to be alert with Spokane's 3rd ranked passing game, especially with the threat of the read option going to Dowdell or RBs Trevor Kennedy and Mulku Kalokoh. If the Danger can shut the run down and force turnovers in the passing game, it'll propel the Danger into a possible upset.
Player to Watch: Rob Brown (RB)
SPOKANE:
The Empire did what they were expected to do last week: defeat the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles. With their 53-36 win, they currently sit atop the Intense Conference standings with a 4-1 record with wins over Salt Lake (twice), Green Bay, and Colorado. Their lone loss came at the hands of the Wichita Falls Nighthawks in a 57-56 double overtime thriller. Spokane held their own against a powerful, big play capable offense of Wichita Falls, and now they face their next big test in the always dangerous Nebraska Danger.
Coming off his outstanding game against the Crush, QB Charles Dowdell performed much better in the Empire's second game against Salt Lake. Although he completed only 8 of 18 passes, he threw for 102 yards and 3 touchdowns. Unlike the first game, Dowdell was much more responsible with the football, only throwing one interception. He also found success in the ground game, rushing for 59 yards and 2 touchdowns. On the season, Dowdell has completed 54 of 98 passes for 716 yards, 19 TDs and 8 INTs and leads the Empire in rushing yards with 231 net yards. This week, Dowdell faces a Danger defense that ranks in the middle of the pack in scoring defense (5th), rushing defense (4th), and passing defense (6th). Once again, limiting the amount of turnovers will be critical to success on the offensive side of the ball for Spokane, as well as establishing a good balance of run and pass. He'll have to be careful of ex-Empire teammates Demetruce McNeal and Lorenzo White Jr., who have a familiarity going against him during practices last season.
The question of whoever will get the nod at running back for the Empire will be better known as kickoff draws near. RB Mulku Kalokoh got his second straight start last week in place of Trevor Kennedy, who sat out again due to a high ankle sprain. Kalokoh performed well against Salt Lake, rushing for 56 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kennedy could be back this week, but don't be surprised if the Empire start Kalokoh to give Kennedy an extra week off before the bye. That decision would Kennedy to return well rested against Colorado on April 14th. Regardless of who starts, the Danger will have their hands full going against two running backs that are as dangerous in the passing game as they are in the run game.
The passing game for the Empire has only gotten stronger in recent weeks, especially with the breakout effort by WR Devonn Brown. Brown's role in the Empire's offense has grown recently, resulting in 6 touchdown receptions in the past two games. Samuel Charles has been a difference maker in three games for the Empire with 3 touchdowns and 115 yards receiving, around the same time that Brown began to break out. Veteran Bryan Pray's presence can also be contributed to recent success in the passing game, as he leads the Empire with 177 receiving yards. With the stockpile of talent at wide receiver, Dejuan Miller (7 rec, 96 yards, 3 TDs) has become the forgotten man in the last two games. That could be the wild card for the Empire's offense, and could cause for some miscommunication and missed assignments in the Danger's secondary.
This weekend's game will be another big test for Spokane's defense, which has been a key factor in the team's 4-1 start. Nebraska possesses one of the best offenses in the IFL, ranking first in the league with 52.6 points per game and ranks fourth in rushing offense and fifth in passing offense. The Danger's offensive line has been excellent this season, allowing only 1 sack the entire season due to the versatility of QB Derrick Bernard. Between Bernard and Patrick McCain, Bernard poises as more of a dual threat than McCain, who is more of a pocket passer that can run if needed. Getting to either quarterback will be a challenge for Spokane's defensive line, led by J.D. Griggs (5.5 sacks, 10 solo tackles, 7 tackles for loss), rookie Andrew Jackson (13 solo tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks) and rookie Junior Alexis (4 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1.0 sacks). They've performed well with veteran Toby Jackson (6 solo tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks) and run-stuffer Harold Love III (3 solo tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks). In addition to containing the quarterback, they'll have to keep tabs on RB Rob Brown, who will likely be tracked by LB Nick Haag (14 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery).
Much like in their game against Wichita Falls, the Empire's secondary will be challenged by the Danger's array of talented wide receivers. DB Tyree Robinson leads the Empire with 30 total tackles and also has 2 pass breakups and an interception. Robinson, along with Robert Brown (29 total tackles, 7 pass breakups, 1 INT), rookie John Hardy-Tuliau (25 total tackles, 3 pass breakups, 2 INTs), and Adrian James (8 total tackles, 2 pass breakups) will try and limit Nebraska's receivers from gaining large amounts of yards. This season, the Empire rank ninth in pass defense, but have given up the fourth lowest points in the IFL. A lot of that credit goes to LB Pasquale Vacchio (25 total tackles, 3 INTs, 4 pass breakups), who leaves just enough space in the middle of the field for opposing teams to throw, but limits the amount of yards after the reception. It'll be another big task for the Empire's defense, but if they can stay with Nebraska like how they did against Wichita Falls, the Empire could be on their way to their fourth consecutive victory.
Player to Watch: John Hardy-Tuliau (DB)
QUOTABLE
Empire RB Trevor Kennedy writes about his recovery from last season's injury in a guest column for PACE.
"There were days that I wanted to give up or maybe not try as hard, but I have great friends and family that support me and have helped to keep me positive."
Empire DL J.D. Griggs on Salt Lake's offense in a 53-36 win.
"Literally, the whole second half they didn’t run. They passed the whole time."
Empire QB Charles Dowdell on the possibility of having both RBs Trevor Kennedy and Mulku Kalokoh.
"That would be excellent for me. That'd be like Christmas all over again."
RB Mulku Kalokoh on dividing time with RB Trevor Kennedy.
"I think, together, we're two of the best backs in the league and we can do a lot of damage."
DB Robert Brown on playing his twin brother Rob Brown, RB for the Nebraska Danger.
"It's going to be tough...I never like to hit him too hard, but anytime I don't hit him too hard he takes advantage of it, so I might as well tackle him and throw him to the ground a little bit."
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
IFL SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
March 25 - Colorado Crush (0-4) at Nebraska Danger (2-2), 5:05 p.m.
March 25 - Wichita Falls Nighthawks (4-0) at Sioux Falls Storm (4-0), 5:05 p.m.
March 26 - Arizona Rattlers (1-2) at Green Bay Blizzard (2-2), 1:05 p.m.
March 26 - Cedar Rapids Titans (0-4) at Iowa Barnstormers (2-2), 1:05 p.m..
EXTRA
Empire GM Ryan Eucker (image credit: Ryan Eucker / Facebook)
Just before the Empire's 53-36 victory over the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles, SCtoC had the opportunity to speak with Ryan Eucker, the General manager of the Empire. We discussed a variety of topics related to the IFL, including free agency, the IFL's future plans, the IFL's partnership with YouTube and more.
Our thread, which includes the SoundCloud player containing the interview, can be found here.