Post by Nevadanut on Mar 28, 2018 21:59:01 GMT -8
Cedar Rapids Titans at Arizona Rattlers
What: The head into the desert to battle the defending IFL champions.
When: Saturday, March 31 at 6:05 p.m. pacific (8:05 p.m. central).
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena; Phoenix, Arizona.
Youtube Live Stream: Titans at Rattlers on Indoor Football League Official YouTube Channel.
2018 Head to Head: April 28 - Titans at Rattlers. May 5 - Rattlers at Titans.
Note: The final two games of the season between these teams occur during a span of eight days.
HELPFUL LINKS
Indoor Football League Rules
Indoor Football League Schedule and Results - 2018 Season
Cedar Rapids Titans 2018 Schedule
Cedar Rapids - Vital Statistics
Arizona Rattlers 2018 Schedule
Arizona Rattlers Vital Statistics
IFL Franchise Index
The Titans are 1-4 overall and 0-2 on the road. They are coming off a 59-45 home loss to the Iowa Barnstormers on March 24. They are averaging 39.4 points per game and are allowing 52.4 points per game.
The Rattlers are 3-1 overall and 3-0 at home. They are coming off a 62-49 home win over the Nebraska Danger on March 24. They are averaging 41.5 points per game and are allowing 37.8 points per game.
2018 REGULAR SEASON BREAKDOWN
Total Yards per Game - Titans 223.0; Rattlers 223.0
Pass Yards per Game - Titans 181.0; Rattlers 104.0
Rush Yards per Game - Titans 42.0; Rattlers 119.0
3rd Down Conversion - Titans 43%; Rattlers 32%
4th Down Conversion - Titans 33%; Rattlers 50%
Total Tackles - Titans 192; Rattlers 150
Tackles for Loss - Titans 10; Rattlers 16
Total Sacks - Titans 2; Rattlers 8
Fumble Recoveries - Titans 2; Rattlers 4
Interceptions - Titans 1; Rattlers 4
Note: The Titans have played five games and the Rattlers have played four.
CEDAR RAPIDS TITANS
Titans QB Jake Medlock (photo courtesy Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
3 - Marquel Wade (WR)
4 - Michael Georgetti (K)
5 - Jake Medlock (QB)
6 - James Calhoun (DB)
8 - Raheem Bramwell (LB)
9 - Herbert Gonzales III (DL)
17 - Jordan Smith (WR)
18 - Connor Hollenbeck (WR)
19 - Elijah Lee (DB)
22 - Tyler Thomas (RB)
25 - Raphael Lawson-Gale (RB)
26 - Deon'tae Florence (DB)
28 - Rodney Barnes (DB)
32 - Moses White (LB)
42 - Bryce McClain (DL)
54 - Ricarlo Bell (DL)
60 - Danny Anousheh (OL)
62 - Randall Harris (OL)
65 - Sean Brown (OL)
66 - Darren Wilson (DL)
N/A - Daniel Lindsey (DB)
N/A - Robert Haynes (LB)
N/A - Corey Neely Jr. (DB)
N/A - Avery Wright (DL)
Short Term IR
2 - Cedric Dozier (DB)
7 - Javon Bell (WR)
11 - Raheem Harvey (WR)
Season Ending IR
N/A - Eddie Elliott II (RB/WR)
Transfer
20 - Qua Cox (DB) [AFL-Washington Valor]
RTR
60 - Andrew Erbes (OL)
N/A - Cory Butler-Byrd (WR/DB)
N/A - Toni Pulu (DL)
N/A - Rick Rumph (DB)
N/A - Carlif Taylor (DL)
Marvin Jones - Head Coach
REGULAR SEASON STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Jake Medlock 974
Passing TDs - Jake Medlock 16
Passing Ints - Jake Medlock 1
Rushing Yards - Tyler Thomas 106
Rushing TDs - Jake Medlock 7
Receptions - Connor Hollenbeck 29
Receiving Yards - Connor Hollenbeck 301
Receiving TDs - Connor Hollenbeck 7
Total Tackles - James Calhoun 25.5
Sacks - Ricarlo Bell 2
Interceptions - James Calhoun 1
KO Return Ave - Raphael Lawson-Gayle 14.0
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, as well as other sources, and will be updated as further roster information becomes available.
ARIZONA RATTLERS
Rattlers RB Chris Boles and RB Shadrach Thornton (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)
31 - Chris McAllister (DL)
45 - Ryan Langford (LB)
49 - Edward Mosley (DL)
50 - Chris Boles (OL)
56 - Steven Gurrola (OL)
64 - Vernon Sainvil (OL)
91 - Justin Martin (DL)
94 - Lamar Mady (OL)
95 - Joshua Gordon (DL)
Short Term IR
30 - Justin Shirk (LB)
N/A - Dylan Peebles (RB)
Season Ending IR
N/A - Mark Munson (WR)
N/A - Terrence Surratt (DL)
RTR
6 - Sean Goldrich (QB)
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 431
Passing TDs - Jeff Ziemba 8
Passing Ints - Jeff Ziemba 5
Rushing Yards - Shadrach Thornton 203
Rushing TDs - Shadrach Thornton 6
Receptions - Anthony Amos/Jamal Miles 11
Receiving Yards - Anthony Amos 184
Receiving TDs - Anthony Amos 6
Total Tackles - Arkeith Brown 18
Sacks - Joshua Gordon/Ryan Langford 2
Interceptions - Allen Champan 2
KO Return Ave - Dillon Winfey 19.0
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
Given that the Rattlers recently joined the IFL prior to last season, these teams have played just twice, with Arizona winning both games. The first was a tightly contested 34-32 win on May 5, 2017 at Cedar Rapids. The second was a 56-25 victory on June 11, 2017 at Phoenix. Of course, over the past couple of seasons, the Titans and Rattlers have been going in different directions. The recent playoff contending Titans went 1-15 last season, and are 1-4 in this early 2018 campaign. The Rattlers, on the other hand, entered the league last season and captured the United Bowl Championship. While the teams seem to have a differential in their histories on the field, Arizona could be vulnerable, and the Titans could be an upstart with a talented rookie quarterback and a stout defense.
Cedar Rapids has shown fight in nearly every game this season. They boast the league's top quarterback in several statistical categories. And, that quarterback is a rookie. After dropping their season opener to the Nebraska Danger, they took down the Green Bay Blizzard with a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Things seemed to look up for the Titans. Then three straight losses followed. There was a blowout loss to the Sioux Falls Storm, followed by a pair or respectable losses to the Danger and the Iowa Barnstormers. The Titans have been a tough opponent for their opposition in four out of their five games this season. This is a tall order, but they will look to surprise the Rattlers. This is the first of four straight road games for the titans. After facing the Rattlers, they have a bye week before traveling to play the Green Bay Blizzard, Sioux Falls Storm, and then again the Rattlers.
Jake Medlock is far and away the IFL leader in passing yards per game at 194.8; over 50 yards higher than Lorenzo Brown of the Sioux Falls Storm. He has completed 61.3 percent of his passes and boasts 16 touchdowns and just a single interception. That interception didn't come until his fifth game. Medlock has to be considered the early season favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He threw for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns, and ran for 2 touchdowns, in the Titans' loss to the Storm in week 5. Tyler Thomas is the threat at running back, but he averages less than eight carries per game. The Titans could look to utilize Thomas more heavily to throw off the Rattlers' defense. Connor Hollenbeck is a strong primary receiver with his 10.4 yards per catch and 60.2 yards per game. Also look for Jordan Smith and Marquel Wade to make an impact in the passing game. James Calhoun, who led the league in interceptions last season, leads the team in total tackles and has the team's only pick on the season. The Titans are getting some help on defense, as they traded for defensive back Daniel Lindsey and defensive linebacker Robert Haynes from the Storm on March 28. In exchange, they sent defensive lineman Kwame Bell to Sioux Falls. Bell had 20 total tackles and led the Titans with 3 tackles for loss in five games. The Titans subsequently have released Haynes. Ricarlo Bell has the Titans' 2 sacks and has added 2.5 tackles for loss this season. Michael Georgetti has made all 4 of his field goal attempts from inside 29 yards. He has five misses from 33 yards or more with four of those coming from 44 yards or longer.
The Rattlers are back on track following their 38-28 loss to the Iowa Barnstormers in week 3. They've won a pair of home games against the Green Bay Blizzard and Nebraska Danger. Neither were blowouts, but they got the job done in both cases. Both also were home wins, and that's where this game is being played. Arizona is has an opportunity to maintain pace with the Barnstormers and Danger atop the IFL standings. Those two, who share the Rattlers' 3-1 record, also play in week 6. One will advance to 4-1 and the other will fall to 3-2. The Storm, who also are 3-1, have a week 6 bye and will remain with that record heading into week 7. This the third game of a three-game home stand for the Rattlers. They have a bye in week 7 before heading to southwest South Dakota for a rematch with the Sioux Falls Storm, who they defeated in week 1 of the season, 39-33.
Jeff Ziemba has filled in at quarterback since opening-day starter Verlon Reed, Jr. was sidelined early in week 1 with an undisclosed injury. After two weeks on Short Term Injured Reserve, Reed is back. Reed earned IFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors last season with the Salt Lake Screaming Eagles. 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. Ziemba has completed 51.4 percent of his passes with 8 touchdowns, but has a league-high 5 interceptions. It's unsure which quarterback head coach Kevin Guy will go to. The Rattlers feature two of the best running backs in the league, which is ironic as they are less than two seasons removed from the pass-heavy AFL. Shardrach Thornton has 34 rushes for 174 yards and 6 touchdowns in the past two games. He seems to surpassed Darrell Monroe, who led the IFL last season in rushing yards per game with 55.2 yards, and led all running backs with 18 touchdowns. Anthony Amos has benefited the most in the passing game, leading the IFL in yards per catch with 16.7. Jamal Miles, who can figure into the running game, has 11 receptions for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Rattlers' defense is a collective one, with eight players registering 10.5 or more total tackles. Chris McCallister's 5 tackles for loss pace the team. Sawyer Petre is 4 of 9 on field goal attempts with a long of 41 yards.
FEATURED SOCIAL MEDIA
OTHER IFL GAMES THIS WEEK
March 30 - Iowa Barnstormers at Nebraska Danger; 5 p.m. pacific (7 p.m. central)
Byes - Green Bay Blizzard, Sioux Falls Storm
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