Post by David on Jul 16, 2015 20:17:05 GMT -8
Arizona Rattlers at Spokane Shock
What: After falling short in their comeback attempt against LA, Spokane looks to upset the Arizona Rattlers.
When: Friday, July 17, 7 p.m. (PT).
Where: Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, Washington
Shock Media: TV - SWX. Radio - 700/1080 AM ESPN.
National Media: Stream - ESPN3.
This season: March 28 - Rattlers 60, Shock 43. May 30 - Rattlers 59, Shock 47
Series History: Arizona leads regular season series 9-6; Arizona leads playoff series 2-1.
Note: The home team is 13-3 in the series, including the playoffs.
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HELPFUL LINKS
Arena Football League Schedule and Results 2015
Spokane ShockSchedule 2015
The Rattlers are 12-2 overall, 6-1 on the road and 8-2 in conference play. Arizona is coming off a 57-43 home win over the Las Vegas Outlaws on July 11. They are averaging 56.7 points per game (3rd in the AFL) and are allowing 44.6 points per game (2nd). The Rattlers are first in the Western Division and second in the National Conference.
The Shock are 4-10 overall, 2-5 at home and 3-8 conference play. Spokane is coming off a 28-34 road loss to the Los Angeles KISS on July 12. They are averaging 47.1 points per game (9th) and are allowing 56.6 (12th) points per game. The Shock are third in the Pacific Division and tied for fourth in the National Conference.
BREAKDOWN
Yards per Game - Rattlers 269.1; Shock 289.9
3rd Down Conversion - Rattlers 47.1%; Shock 43.3%
4th Down Conversion - Rattlers 56.7%; Shock 42.5%
Total Tackles - Rattlers 377; Shock 428
Tackles for Loss - Rattlers 35; Shock 24
Total Sacks - Rattlers 28; Shock 20
Fumbles - Rattlers 13; Shock 15
Interceptions - Rattlers 22; Shock 11
ARIZONA RATTLERS
Arizona Rattlers DB Jeremy Kellem (image courtesy of Arizona Sports/Clayton Klapper)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Rod Windsor (WR)
3 - Shane Boyd (QB)
5 - Quentin Sims (WR)
6 - Cliff Dukes (DE)
7 - AJ Cruz (DB)
9 - Mykel Benson (FB)
10 - Nick Davila (QB)
11 - Arkeith Brown (DB)
12 - Dan Buckner (WR)
15 - Kerry Reed (WR)
17 - Fabrizio Scaccia (K)
19 - Marquis Floyd (DB)
20 - Jeremy Kellem (DB)
21 - Markus Smith (DB)
25 - Ben Wells (DB)
55 - Brennen Carvalho (C)
60 - Sherman Carter (C)
63 - Derek Dennis (OL)
65 - Will Simmons (OL)
71 - Darius Morris (OL)
77 - Anttaj Hawthorne (NG)
90 - Mike McAdoo (DE)
92 - Anthony McCloud (NG)
94 - Tyre Glasper (MLB)
Kevin Guy - Head Coach
Kani Kauahi - Assistant Head Coach
Dave Ewart - Defensive Coordinator
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Nick Davila 2,570
Passing TDs - Nick Davila 65
Rushing Yards - Mykel Benson 178
Rushing TD's - Warren Smith 14
Receptions - Rod Windsor 104
Receiving Yards - Rod Windsor 1,282
Receiving TDs - Rod Windsor 30
Tackles - Jeremy Kellem 79
Sacks - Tyre Glasper 10.0
Interceptions - Jeremy Kellem 12
KO Return Ave - AJ Cruz 24.4
* not on active roster
SPOKANE SHOCK
Spokane Shock QB/JLB Arvell Nelson (#10 in this 2013 photo) (image courtesy of The Spokesman-Review)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Braylon Bell (WR)
2 - Jabin Sambrano (WR)
3 - Ruschard Dodd-Masters (DB)
5 - Anthony Amos (WR)
6 - Taylor Rowan (K)
8 - Warren Smith (QB)
9 - Sergio Gilliam (DB)
11 - Micah King (MLB)
12 - Arvell Nelson (QB/LB)
13 - Rashaad Carter (WR)
23 - Jeff Richards (DB)
26 - Mike McMillan (DB)
31 - John Setzer (DB)
36 - Bryson Kelly (NG)
42 - Rory Nixon (FB)
44 - James Ruffin (DE)
50 - Kevin McCullough (JLB)
51 - Sam Tupua (OL)
56 - Derrick Summers (DE)
66 - Deveric Gallington (FB)
67 - Terrance Taylor (NG)
74 - Larry Banks (OL)
75 - Patrick Afif (OL)
81- Nick Truesdell (WR)
Andy Olson - Head Coach
Travis Crusenberry - Defensive Coordinator
Will Mulder - Defensive Backs Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - Warren Smith 1,816
Passing TDs - Warren Smith 32
Rushing Yards - Warren Smith 119
Rushing TD's - Warren Smith 5
Receptions - Anthony Amos 81
Receiving Yards - Anthony Amos 894
Receiving TDs - Nick Truesdell 20
Tackles - Ruschard Dodd-Masters 51
Sacks - James Ruffin 8.0
Interceptions - Ruschard Dodd-Masters 3
KO Return Ave - Ruschard Dodd-Masters 18.1
* not on active roster
DAVID'S TAKES
ARIZONA:
Despite injuries to their MVP Nick Davila and the lack of veteran receivers on their roster, the Rattlers have found a groove and remain one of the teams to beat, even though there were numerous games with backup QBs that they could have very well lost. They've already clinched the Western Division crown, but the Rattlers have their eyes focused on the #1 seed and home field advantage. To keep pace with a critical match-up with San Jose in two weeks, the Rattlers aren't going to take their foot off the gas pedal.
Player to Watch: Jeremy Kellem (DB)
The Rattlers defensive back leads the AFL with 12 picks. Kellem is having a career year in his third season with the Rattlers, having as many interceptions in 2015 as he did in 2013 and 2014 combined. Spokane leads the league with 23 interceptions thrown, and Kellem will be one of the most dangerous men on the field. He's 4 interceptions away from tying the single season interception record (held by Rayshaun Kizer). Arizona can win with offense, but if Kellem can shut the Shock WRs down, they'll run away with the road victory.
SPOKANE:
Spokane found themselves in a huge hole against the Los Angeles KISS last Sunday. The first half was a complete disaster as the team couldn't even get on the board and went into halftime 28-0. The team finally came alive in the second half, starting with a change at quarterback. Warren Smith was an abysmal 8/19, 101 yards and 1 INT, prompting Andy Olson to pull Smith in favor of Arvell Nelson. The change worked and the defense stepped up. Spokane managed to cut the deficit to 28-21 by the start of the 4th quarter. The Shock had everything go their way in the second half and they still managed to fail in scoring the game winning touchdown due to questionable red zone play calling and boneheaded penalties. A team that desperately needs to control its own destiny failed to come out with the W, and the road to that won't get any easier with the Rattlers in town and Portland seeming to find traction in the race for the final playoff spot.
Player to Watch: Arvell Nelson (QB)
After Warren Smith struggled in the first half of Sunday's game against the LA KISS, Nelson sparked the Shock's second-half comeback attempt, throwing for 2 touchdowns and running for another. He only completed 10/20 passes for 130 yards, but it was enough to put Spokane within 6 points. It comes as no surprise that Nelson will get the start Friday night over Warren Smith, becoming the fifth starting quarterback for the Shock this season. Although he has started games at jack linebacker, this will be Nelson's first start at quarterback in the AFL. His last start at quarterback came in 2012 a member of the Alabama Hammers of the PIFL (Professional Indoor Football League). There's no telling what Nelson will do for Spokane's offense, but if he can replicate the success he had in last week's game against LA, he may win the starting job for the rest of the season.
QUOTABLE
Shock QB/JLB Arvell Nelson on the team's struggles in the red zone.
“We get in the red zone and we run the wrong route or miss a throw or a block. It’s always us, never what the other team is doing."
FEATURED TWEETS
EXTRA
This week we go back in time to the 2007 Spokane Shock. A year after the Shock won the af2's ArenaCup, the team had a new head coach and quarterback (pictured below), and a target on its back on the road to repeat as ArenaCup champions. Check out our season summary of the 2007 squad.
QB Andrico Hines and HC Adam Shackleford (image courtesy of the Spokesman-Review)
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