Post by Nevadanut on Mar 22, 2018 20:49:46 GMT -8
Nebraska Danger at Arizona Rattlers
What: The Danger clash with the Rattlers in the a rematch of last season's Intense Conference Championship Game.
When: Saturday, March 24 at 6:05 p.m. pacific (8:05 p.m. central).
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena; Phoenix, Arizona.
Stream: Danger at Rattlers on Indoor Football League Official YouTube Channel.
2018 Head to Head: May 27 - Danger at Rattlers. June 16 - Rattlers at Danger.
Note: The Danger are the only remaining undefeated team in the IFL following week 4.
HELPFUL LINKS
Indoor Football League Rules
Indoor Football League Schedule and Results - 2018 Season
Nebraska Danger 2018 Schedule
Nebraska Danger - Vital Statistics
Arizona Rattlers 2018 Schedule
Arizona Rattlers Vital Statistics
IFL Franchise Index
The Danger are 3-0 overall and 1-0 on the road. They are coming off a 50-41 road win over the Cedar Rapids Titans on March 19. They are averaging 51.0 points per game and are allowing 31.7 points per game.
The Rattlers are 2-1 overall and 2-0 at home. The are coming off a 37-31 home win over the Green Bay Blizzard on March 18. They are averaging 34.7 points per game and are allowing 34.0 points per game.
2018 REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN
Total Yards per Game - Danger 224.0; Rattlers 217.0
Pass Yards per Game - Danger 135.7; Rattlers 103.0
Rush Yards per Game - Danger 88.3; Rattlers 114.0
3rd Down Conversion - Danger 40%; Rattlers 38%
4th Down Conversion - Danger 60%; Rattlers 44%
Total Tackles - Danger 110; Rattlers 112
Total Sacks - Danger 8; Rattlers 5
Fumble Recoveries - Danger 3; Rattlers 3
Interceptions - Danger 1; Rattlers 3
Note: Both teams have played three games each.
NEBRASKA DANGER
Danger DL Xzavie Jackson (photo courtesy ksnblocal4.com)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Nick Brassell (WR/DB)
2 - Najee Bright (DB)
4 - Eric Thomas (WR)
5 - Gregory Dent Jr. (WR)
6 - Angelo Pease (RB)
7 - Damien Fleming (QB)
8 - Darion Monroe (DB)
9 - Kenzel Doe (WR)
10 - Ra'Shawde Myers (DL)
11 - Daniel Masifilo (DB)
15 - Jesse Scroggins II (QB)
17 - Christopher Deloney Jr. (WR)
20 - Carlos Davis (DB)
22 - Brad Hatfield (K)
24 - Nakevion Leslie (LB)
43 - Tavita Faaiu (DL)
44 - Myke Tavarres (LB)
55 - Bryce Sadler (OL)
65 - Mason Butler (OL)
71 - Palmer White (OL)
72 - Devonte McClain (OL)
91 - Colton Miles-Nash (DL)
93 - Xzavie Jackson (DL)
99 - Darren Wilson (DL)
N/A - Korey Ringer (RB)
Short Term IR
N/A - Gerald Bruno (WR/DB)
N/A - Darrin Reaves (RB)
Season Ending IR
N/A - Michael Thornton (RB)
RTR
N/A - Kyle Avaloy (OL)
N/A - Rahsaan Vaughn (WR)
N/A - Caleb Holbrook (QB)
N/A - Jesse Somsel (OL)
Mark Stoute - Head Coach
Adam Shackleford - Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
Pig Brown - Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line Coach
Marshall Hart - Offensive Line/Special teams Coach
2018 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Damien Fleming 411
Passing TDs - Damien Fleming 9
Passing Ints - none
Rushing Yards - Damien Fleming 124
Rushing TDs - Damien Fleming 5
Receptions - Gregory Dent/Eric Thomas 15
Receiving Yards - Eric Thomas 200
Receiving TDs - Gregory Dent/Eric Thomas 4
Total Tackles - Myke Tavarres 23.5
Sacks - Tavita Faaiu/Xzavie Jackson 3
Interceptions - Daniel Masifilo 1
KO Return Ave - Carlos Davis 19.2
KO Return TDs - Eric Thomas 1
Roster information is subject to change and is presented here as a basic guide for following the game. Rosters and team information is gathered from the IFL's 2018 Media Guide, as well as other sources, and will be updated as further roster information becomes available.
ARIZONA RATTLERS
Rattlers head coach Kevin Guy and QB Jeff Ziemba (Photo via argusleader.com)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Verlon Reed, Jr. (QB)
2 - Jamal Miles (RB/WR)
3 - Allen Chapman (DB)
4 - Nathan Lindsey (DB)
5 - Anthony Amos (WR)
8 - Davontae Merriweather (DB)
11 - Arkeith Brown (DB)
12 - Anthony Jones Jr. (WR)
13 - Jeff Ziemba (QB)
14 - Darrell Monroe (RB)
15 - Dillion Winfrey (WR)
16 - Jarrod Harrington (WR)
17 - Dezmon Epps (WR)
22 - Sawyer Petre (K)
24 - Keith Trumps (DB)
28 - Shadrach Thornton (RB)
30 - Justin Shirk (LB)
31 - Chris McAllister (DL)
49 - Edward Mosley (DL)
50 - Chris Boles (OL)
55 - Lene Maiava (OL)
56 - Steven Gurrola (OL)
91 - Justin Martin (DL)
91 - Lamar Mady (OL)
95 - Joshua Gordon (DL)
Short Term IR
N/A - Ryan Langford (LB)
N/A - Dylan Peebles (RB)
1 - Verlon Reed (QB)
N/A - Vernon Sainvil (OL)
N/A - Terrence Surratt (DL)
Season Ending IR
N/A - Mark Munson (WR)
RTR
N/A - Dante Cattaneo (OL)
N/A - Terrell Clinkscales (DL)
N/A - Leon Hill (OL)
Kevin Guy - Head Coach
Jeff Jarnigan - Defensive Line/Special Teams Coach
Kani Kauahi - Offensive Line Coach/Assistant Head Coach
Steve Axman - Offensive Coordinator
2018 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Jeff Ziemba 312
Passing TDs - Jeff Ziemba 5
Passing Ints - Jeff Ziemba 5
Rushing Yards - Shadrach Thornton 117
Rushing TDs - Shadrach Thornton 3
Receptions - Anthony Amos 9
Receiving Yards - Anthony Amos 129
Receiving TDs - Anthony Amos 4
Total Tackles - Arkeith Brown 15
Sacks - Justin Martin 1.5
Interceptions - Allen Champan 2
KO Return Ave - Dillon Winfey 25.0
KO Return TDs - none
Roster information is subject to change and is presented here as a basic guide for following the game. Rosters and team information is gathered from the IFL's 2018 Media Guide and other sources, and will be updated as further roster information becomes available.
ANALYSIS
It's the undefeated Danger versus the defending champions. However, each team is likely to have a different face at quarterback. This is surely true for the Danger, as it was reported that Damien Fleming will miss the rest of the IFL season due to an Achilles injury suffered against the Cedar Rapids Titans last weekend. Former Salt Lake Screaming Eagle Jesse Scroggins will take over and will look to lead a talented group on both the ground and through the air. Wide receiver Eric Thomas, who played quarterback in high school, will serve as backup. On the other side of the field, last season's Offensive Rookie of the Year, Verlon Reed, Jr., was activated by the team from Short-Term Injured Reserve. Reed suffered an undisclosed injury in the first quarter of the season opener against the Sioux Falls Storm and missed the rest of that game, as well as the preceding two games. Head coach Kevin Guy could elect to stay with backup Jeff Ziemba this week with Reed waiting in the wings. The teams have met only three times, all last season. The Rattlers won both regular season match ups; a 39-36 decision at Nebraska and a 43-33 win in Phoenix. Arizona also defeated Nebraska in last season's Intense Conference Championship game, 62-36.
Head coach Mark Stoute will have his work cut out for him in preparing Scroggins for his second-ever career IFL start (he started one game for the Screaming Eagles in 2017). Stout's IFL career record of 44-17 would seem to be an indicator that he has navigated such road bumps. The Danger are first in the IFL in scoring defense, allowing just 31.7 points per game. They also are first in rushing defense, allowing 67.7 yards per game. Following this game the Danger are at home for two games, on March 30 against the Iowa Barnstormers and on April 7 against the Sioux Falls Storm. That would be same Storm team which dealt them the first loss of the season in week 4. It also means that this is the first of three straight games this season against last season's playoff participants.
Scroggins inherits a Danger team built with talent. He has seen some limited action thus far this season, completing just one of 3 attempts for 10 yards. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 136 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. He also rushed for 48 yards and a touchdown. Overall, he is an effective passer who will benefit the more he plays. Running back Angelo Pease could be key in this game. Stoute could elect to ease Scroggins with Pease, who scored his first receiving touchdown of the season last week. He averaged 3.4 yards per carry and has rushed for 3 touchdowns. Thomas and Gregory Dent, Jr. are a formidable one-two punch in the receiving group. Each has caught 15 passes and 4 touchdowns, with Thomas having the slight edge in receiving yards among the two, 200 to 188. Thomas returned a short kickoff by the Titans, for a 15-yard kickoff return touchdown. For his efforts, he was named week 4 Special Teams Player of the Week. Thomas and Dent have each caught a touchdown pass in each of the Danger's games this season. The Danger boast the top to sack masters in the league this season, with defensive linemen Xzavie Jackson and Tavita Faaiu recording 3 apiece. Jackson also has 2 fumble recoveries. Linebacker Myke Tavarres' 23.5 total tackles lead the team. Brad Hatfield has hit a pair of field goals on the season, with a long of 31 yards.
Key has a decision to make. The stellar Reed, or Ziemba, who has helped lead the Rattlers to two straight wins. It could be that Reed is not quite 100 percent and that he sticks with Ziemba. A win for the Rattlers would give them the current tiebreaker over both the Storm and the Danger. They would, however, be second should the Iowa Barnstormers win their week 5 game against the Cedar Rapids Titans. Yes, it is probably early to be talking playoff seedings and tiebreakers, but in a 14-game season, it may never be too early to keep an eye on it. Arizona would love nothing more than to pick up this win, as they play the Danger and Barnstormers two more times and the Storm once more in the 2017 regular season. The Rattlers subsequent game will be at home against Titans in week 6.
It's still a bit of a question mark as to whether Guy will stay with Ziemba or turn to Reed, who signed in the off-season. Ziemba has completed 46.6 percent of his passes for 5 touchdowns, but also has thrown 5 interceptions. Reed has tossed just a single pass this season, and rushed twice for 23 yards. His 2017 stats in Salt Lake are impressive. He completed 59.5 of his passes for 2,730 yards and 54 touchdowns with 17 interceptions. His 170.6 passing yards per game and touchdown count were both third in the IFL. At 47.4 yards per game, he was second in the IFL and his 16 rushing touchdowns were fourth. That performance earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year Honors. Shadrach Thornton came on the scene last week, rushing for 88 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Rattlers also feature Darrell Monroe, who led the team in rushing heading into that game. Veteran Anthony Amos is both a threat underneath and in the long-passing game, while Jamal Miles is capable in receiving out the backfield and in the running game. Another veteran, defensive back Arkeith Brown is pacing the defense with an interception and fumble recovery to go with his team-high 15 total tackles. Allen Chapman was named Defensive Player of the Week for his to interception-performance. Steady Sawyer Petre has converted on 2 of 5 field goals, with one being blocked and another being from beyond 50 yards.
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OTHER IFL GAMES THIS WEEK
March 24 - Iowa Barnstormers at Cedar Rapids Titans; 5:05 p.m. pacific (7:05 p.m. central)
March 24 - Sioux Falls Storm at Green Bay Blizzard; 5:05 p.m. pacific (7:05 p.m. central)
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