Week 14 - Screaming Eagles at Rattlers; 5.20.17, 6 p.m.
May 17, 2017 16:58:26 GMT -8
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Post by Nevadanut on May 17, 2017 16:58:26 GMT -8
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles at Arizona Rattlers
What: The Screaming Eagles make their only trip of the season to Phoenix to face the Rattlers.
When: Saturday, May 20 at 6 p.m. (PST).
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena; Phoenix, Arizona.
National Media: Stream - YouTube.
Head to Head: Rattlers lead series 1-0 (this is the first game between the teams in Arizona).
Season Results: April 14 - Rattlers 73, Screaming Eagles 60.
Note: All three of the Screaming Eagles' wins this season have been over the Colorado Crush.
HELPFUL LINKS
Indoor Football League Rules
Indoor Football League Schedule and Results - 2017 Season
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles 2017 Season Preview
2017 Salt Lake Screaming Eagles Schedule
Salt Lake Screaming Eagles - Vital Statistics
2017 Arizona Rattlers Schedule
Arizona Rattlers - Vital Statistics
IFL Franchise Index
The Screaming Eagles are 3-8 overall, 2-4 on the road and 3-7 in Intense Conference play. Salt Lake is coming off a 38-37 home win over the Colorado Crush on May 12. They are averaging 42.1 points per game and are allowing 48.6 points per game. The Screaming Eagles are fourth in the Intense Conference.
The Rattlers are 7-4 overall, 2-3 at home and 4-1 in Intense Conference play. Arizona is coming off a 49-35 road win over the Spokane Empire on May 12. They are averaging 49.1 points per game and are allowing 41.7 points per game. The Rattlers are tied for first in the Intense Conference.
BREAKDOWN
Total Yards per Game - Screaming Eagles 229.0; Rattlers 243.3
Pass Yards per Game - Screaming Eagles 167.7; Rattlers 133.4
Rush Yards per Game - Screaming Eagles 61.3; Rattlers 109.9
3rd Down Conversion - Screaming Eagles 38%; Rattlers 52%
4th Down Conversion - Screaming Eagles 58%; Rattlers 41%
Total Tackles - Screaming Eagles 303; Rattlers 364
Tackles for Loss - Screaming Eagles 28; Rattlers 44
Total Sacks - Screaming Eagles 9; Rattlers 15
Fumble Recoveries - Screaming Eagles 3; Rattlers 3
Interceptions - Screaming Eagles 15; Rattlers 8
SALT LAKE SCREAMING EAGLES
Screaming Eagles DB Ed Burns (Photo courtesy ScreamingEagles.com)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Verlon Reed (QB/WR)
3 - Don Unamba (DB)
4 - Brock Lutes (WR/DB)
6 - Ed Burns (DB)
7 - Chris Robinson (WR)
8 - Delric Ellington (WR)
11 - James Calhoun (DB)
12 - Rashard Greene (DB)
13 - Josh Wilson (K)
14 - Kelvin Lee (DB)
17 - James Poole (RB/WR)
21 - Juwan Dotson (WR)
25 - Jerome McElroy (LB)
52 - Royce Roxas (OL)
56 - Steven Gurrola (OL)
84 - Devin Mahina (WR)
93 - Seante Williams (DL)
52 - Michael Ward (DL)
75 - Quinton Bradley (DL)
96 - Ben Compton (DL)
97 - Viliseni Fauonuku (DL)
Siaosi Aiono (OL)
Zach Fondal (OL)
Dontrell Sanford (WR)
Tanqueray Towns (DB)
Matthew Sauk - Head Coach
The Fans - Offensive Coordinator(s)
Sergio Gilliam - Co-Defensive Coordinator
Kevin Bello - Co-Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coach
Jaren Skinner - Offensive and Defensive Line Coach
Ron McBride - Special Assistant to the Head Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Verlon Reed 1,841
Passing TDs - Verlon Reed 38
Passing INTs - Verlon Reed 10
Rushing Yards - Verlon Reed 532
Rushing TDs - Verlon Reed 13
Receptions - Devin Mahina 51
Receiving Yards - Devin Mahina 494
Receiving TDs - Devin Mahina 11
Tackles (Solo) - Ed Burns 36.5
Sacks - Jerome McElroy 3.0
Interceptions - James Calhoun/*Don Unamba 4
KO Return Ave - Chris Robinson 23.3
KO Return TDs - James Calhoun/Chris Robinson 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 IFL and the team's official websites.
ARIZONA RATTLERS
Rattlers QB Cody Sokol (Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Arizona Rattlers)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
3 - Allen Chapman (DB)
4 - Nathan Lindsey (DB)
5 - Anthony Amos (WR)
6 - Adam Sauder (DB)
9 - Antonio Vaughn (WR)
11 - Arkeith Brown (DB)
12 - Diondre Borel (WR)
14 - Darrell Monroe (RB)
15 - Dillon Winfrey (WR)
16 - Jamal Miles (WR)
17 - Jon Wolf (QB)
19 - Cody Sokol (QB)
22 - Sawyer Petre (K)
30 - Justin Shirk (LB)
31 - Chris McAllister (DL)
49 - Edward Mosley (DL)
50 - Glen Haisley (OL)
58 - Damian Love (OL)
91 - Justin Martin (DL)
94 - Lamar Mady (OL)
95 - Joshua Gordon (DL)
99 - Jordan Mosley (OL)
Fred Gammage III (WR)
Vernon Sainvil (OL)
Lavance Taylor (RB)
Kevin Guy - Head Coach
Kani Kauahi - Assistant Head Coach
Nick Davila - Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Cody Sokol 997
Passing TDs - Cody Sokol 23
Passing INTs - Cody Sokol 5
Rushing Yards - Darrell Monroe 546
Rushing TDs - Darrell Monroe 14
Receptions - Anthony Amos 39
Receiving Yards - Anthony Amos 490
Receiving TDs - Anthony Amos 15
Tackles (Solo) - Adam Sauder 61.5
Sacks - Chris McAllister 6
Interceptions - Arkeith Brown/Allen Chapman 4
KO Return Ave - Jamal Miles 19.9
KO Return TDs - Jamal Miles 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 IFL and the team's official websites.
HEIDI'S TAKES
SALT LAKE:
The Screaming Eagles are flying high after a pair of wins over the Colorado Crush. On May 8, they were dominant in all areas of the game as they dispatched the Crush 64-41 in Colorado. Just five days later, they scored on a last-second play, and added a two-point conversion to escape with a 38-37 win in Salt Lake City. Now, they face the Rattlers, who share the Intense conference lead with the Spokane Empire.
Salt Lake is technically not out of the playoff race, just four games back of the Rattlers and Empire. A late season run could make the playoff race all that more interesting. They are still a long shot, but what was once a season in a downward spiral, could be salvaged into respectability with some wins down the stretch. That all starts with the Rattlers, who pushed back the Screaming Eagles by a score of 73-60 in week 9.
It seems to be a familiar sentiment in these previews that as Verlon Reed goes, so does the Screaming Eagles offense. Reed, a leading candidate for IFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, is second in passing yards with 167.4 per game. He's tied for third with 38 touchdown passes on the season. Reed also is third in the IFL with 48.4 rushing yards per game and 532 rushing yards per game, and tied for third with 13 rushing touchdowns on the season. Reed has been spectacular in all three of Salt Lake's wins, leading the team to two clutch fourth quarter/overtime comeback wins. He'll have to be on top of his game in order to out dual a fierce Rattlers defense.
BYU alum Devin Mahina has turned into the primary target for Reed. Mahina has 51 catches for 494 yards and 11 touchdowns. Juwan Dotson has 34 catches for 247 yards and six scores. As with last week's win, Dotson may not see time on offense, however, according to head coach Matthew Sauk, who told SCtoC's Bannock on May 15 that he feels defensive back may be a more natural position for him. Dotson had an interception against Crush quarterback Sean Goldrich last week. Expect Devon Price and Chris Robinson to get a crack into the receiving corps here. James "Bubba" Poole is the biggest threat, aside from Reed, in the running game.
On defense, the Screaming Eagles have built a strong secondary with Ed Burns, Rashad Green and James Calhoun. Calhoun missed last week's game due to injury (forcing Sauk to move Dotson to defense.), so his status in this one is unclear. Eight different Screaming Eagles players have intercepted opponents' passes this season. In just three games with Salt Lake, Jerome McElroy has assumed the lead in sacks with three. Ben Compton has 2.5 of his own. Compton leads the team in tackles for a loss with 4.5 and has a fumble recovery this season, And Seante Williams has four tackles for a loss. If Calhoun plays, either he or Robinson would likely be relied upon to return kickoffs.
The Screaming Eagles are the most penalized team in the league with 119 infractions costing them 844 yards. Limiting those penalties will be a huge key to a win in this one. The defense will need to be opportunistic. Forcing a couple turnovers could prove to be a major boost, should the offense be able to capitalize on them.
Player to Watch: Verlon Reed (QB)
ARIZONA:
Arizona is looking to make a splash in its first season in the IFL. After a slow starts where the Rattlers dropped their first two games, they've won seven of their last nine, including a 49-35 upset of the Spokane Empire last week. That victory pulled them to within a tie with the Empire with identical 7-4 records. All four of the Rattlers' losses this season have come to teams which boast winning records heading into week 14.
Arizona is a historical franchise and are celebrating their 25th anniversary as a franchise. Their first season was in the Arena Football League in 1992, a league in which they played their first 24 seasons. In the AFL, the Rattlers have won five ArenaBowls, have eight conference championships and 21 playoff appearances. They hope to continue that success as a member of the IFL, beginning this season.
Unlike in its AFL days, this is a team which relies heavily on the run. They are second to only the defending champion Sioux Falls Storm with 109.9 rushing yards per game. Much of that mantel has fallen upon Darrell Monroe, who has been outstanding in his nine games with the team, rushing for 583 yards on 101 carries and 14 touchdowns. His 60.7 rushing yards per game are best in the IFL. Monroe has caught 11 passes for 89 yards and a touchdown.
Cody Sokol has been efficient since taking over for Darron Thomas at quarterback. He's completed 61.3 percent of his passes, and has 23 touchdowns against just five interceptions. Anthony Amos, a holdover from the Rattlers' AFL days, is Sokol's go-to receiver and his always a threat to make a big play. Jamal Miles has 32 receptions for 304 yards and six touchdowns.
Adam Sauder leads the team with 61.5 total tackles, and also has six pass breakups and two fumble recoveries. Arkeith Brown is close behind with 58 total tackles. Brown, who has eight pass breakups, and former Portland Steel defensive back Allen Chapman each have four interceptions. Chris McCallister and Joshua Gordon have combined for 11 sacks on the season. Miles could make an impact in the kick return game. he's already returned 37 returns for 736 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Amos is a capable returner, with a 16.7-yard average per return.
Running and defensive pressure. Expect a heavy dose of Monroe to take some pressure off of Sokol. He's certainly more than capable at being the focal point of this Rattlers' offense, and giving fits to opposing defenses. Arizona will need to get pressure on Salt Lake quarterback Verlon Reed. Make him uncomfortable and have to create on the fly.
Player to Watch: Darrell Monroe (RB)
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
IFL SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
May 18 - Spokane Empire (7-4) at Colorado Crush (2-9), 6:30 p.m.
May 20 - Green Bay Blizzard (2-10) at Nebraska Danger (6-5), 5:05 p.m.
May 20 - Iowa Barnstormers (9-2) at Wichita Falls Nighthawks (8-2), 5:05 p.m.
May 20 - Cedar Rapids Titans (1-11) at Sioux Falls Storm (10-1), 5:05 p.m.
* Denotes a conference game. All times are pacific. All games are available on the IFL's Youtube channel.
EXTRA
Earlier this week SCtoC's Bannock interviewed Salt Lake Screaming Eagles head coach Matthew Sauk. It was our second interview with the coach, as Bannock had previously spoken with him in a post on this site on March 12.
In this interview, Coach Sauk talked about several topics. Per Bannock's introduction:
"We discussed some strong performances by several players over the course of the season. He talked about the keys to turn losses into wins, injuries, being resourceful with filling in the holes left by those injuries, keys to turning losses into wins, identifying with players and coaches looking to move up to the next level, fatherhood, and looking at life outside of football."
Check out our exclusive interview with head coach Matthew Sauk below.
https%3A//soundcloud.com/user-462670343/interview-matthew-sauk-51517
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