Post by David on Aug 7, 2015 22:59:54 GMT -8
Spokane Shock at Las Vegas Outlaws
What: Spokane looks to lock up the #3 playoff Seed in the National Conference and try to end Las Vegas's playoff hopes in the regular season finale.
When: Saturday, August 8, 7:30 p.m. (PT).
Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Shock Media: Radio - 700/1080 AM ESPN.
National Media: Stream - ESPN3.
This Season: May 23 - Shock 63, Outlaws 56. June 12 - Shock 56, Outlaws 62
Series History: Series tied 1-1 (Outlaws 0-1 at home).
Note: This could potentially be the final ever game for the Las Vegas Outlaws.
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HELPFUL LINKS
Arena Football League Schedule and Results 2015
Spokane Shock Schedule 2015
The Shock are 6-11 overall, 2-6 on the road and 5-8 in conference play. Spokane is coming off a 42-59 road loss to the Cleveland Gladiators on August 1. They are averaging 46.8 points per game (8th in the AFL) and are allowing 55.1 points per game (12th). The Shock are second in the Pacific Division and third in the National Conference.
The Outlaws are 5-11-1 overall, 3-4-1 at home and 5-8 in conference play. Las Vegas is coming off a 33-64 road loss to the Portland Thunder on August 1. They are averaging 41.5 points per game (10th) and are allowing 50.4 (5th) points per game. The Outlaws are second in the Western Division and fifth in the National Conference.
BREAKDOWN
Yards per Game - Shock 283.2; Outlaws 223.4
3rd Down Conversion - Shock 44%; Outlaws 38%
4th Down Conversion - Shock 42%; Outlaws 27%
Total Tackles - Shock 520; Outlaws 459.5
Tackles for Loss - Shock 32; Outlaws 40
Total Sacks - Shock 27; Outlaws 26
Fumbles - Shock 18; Outlaws 12
Interceptions - Shock 14; Outlaws 9
SPOKANE SHOCK
Shock QB/JLB Arvell Nelson(image credit: Spokane Shock)
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/JLB)
13 - Rashaad Carter (WR)
23 - Jeff Richards (DB)
26 - Mike McMillan (DB)
36 - Bryson Kelly (NG/FB)
42 - Rory Nixon (FB)
44 - James Ruffin (DE)
50 - Kevin McCullough (JLB)
51 - Sam Tupua (OL)
56 - Derrick Summers (DE)
66 - Deveric Gallington (FB/OL)
67 - Terrance Taylor (NG)
74 - Larry Banks (OL)
75 - Patrick Afif (OL)
81 - Nick Truesdell (WR)
?? - Josh Bush (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 - Bryson Kelly/Arvell Nelson 6
Receptions - Anthony Amos 110
Receiving Yards - Anthony Amos 1,205
Receiving TDs - Nick Truesdell 23
Tackles - Ruschard Dodd-Masters 70.5
Sacks - James Ruffin 9.0
Interceptions - Mike McMillan 5
KO Return Ave - Ruschard Dodd-Masters 17.7
* not on active roster
Las Vegas Outlaws
Outlaws QB Sean Brackett (image credit: Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Clinton Solomon (WR)
2 - Demarcus Robinson (DB)
3 - Matt Vinal (DB)
6 - Eddie Moten (DB)
7 - Ray Little (DB)
10 - Jason Willis (WR)
11 - J.J. Raterink (QB)
12 - Sean Brackett (QB)
14 - Ernesto Lacayo (K)
17 - Wesley Mauia (MLB)
18 - LaDon Hudson (WR)
21 - Doug Williams (WR)
23 - Terrance Carter (DE)
33 - Mark Weivoda (NG)
53 - Mike Lewis (DE)
54 - Jabari Fletcher (DL)
55 - Nyere Aumaitre (OL)
60 - Terrence Campbell (OL)
71 - Kevin Myers (C)
72 - Will Wright (C)
74 - Zack Williams (C)
95 - Matt Hardison (DE)
?? - Larry Beavers (WR)
?? - Justin Wells (OL)
Aaron Garcia - Head Coach
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Yards - J.J. Raterink 1,981
Passing TDs - J.J. Raterink 34
Rushing Yards - Sean Brackett 111
Rushing TD's - J.J. Raterink 6
Receptions - *Jomo Wilson 80
Receiving Yards - *Jomo Wilson 1,007
Receiving TDs - *Jomo Wilson 21
Tackles - *Tanner Varner 80
Sacks - Mike Lewis 8
Interceptions - Eddie Moten 5
KO Return Ave - *Gerald Young 23.9
* not on active roster
DAVID'S TAKES
SPOKANE:
The Shock blew a prime opportunity to lock up the #3 seed in the National Conference with an embarrassing 59-42 loss to the Cleveland Gladiators. For the fifth consecutive game, the Shock struggled to score points in the first quarter, falling behind 21-0 after one. This has been a terrible trend for Spokane, as they have been outscored 76-7 in their last 5 games in the first quarter. The result of these awful starts is a 2-3 record.
Spokane would finally make it on the board in the second quarter, however costly turnovers by Arvell Nelson (2 picks, 2 fumbles) cost the Shock from gaining momentum and to cut the deficit to less than 7. The Shock would see the deficit increase to 38-14 in the third quarter, but a Cleveland missed field goal was returned by Ruschard Dodd-Masters 52 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 17. Spokane's defense would come up with key stops, but the offense failed to capitalize and went on to lose 59-42.
Now the Shock have one more opportunity to lock up the #3 seed and potentially help the Portland Thunder or the Los Angeles KISS nab the #4 seed by ending Las Vegas's season. Spokane did well in the first ever game back on May 8th, jumping out of the gate and leading 35-14 at halftime. That lead would increase to 56-21 early in the 4th quarter, but the Outlaws would make a furious comeback, scoring 21 consecutive points to cut the deficit to 56-42. Spokane would score one more touchdown to increase their lead, but the Outlaws would score two more times. Their comeback fell short on a failed onside kick, and the Shock hung on for a 62-56 victory. QB Warren Smith had the best game of his rookie season, going 26/37 for 342 yards, 7 touchdowns and 1 interception.
The rematch in Spokane didn't bode well as the Outlaws jumped out to a 28-7 lead midway through the second quarter and a 41-21 halftime lead, sparked by a key interception return for a touchdown by Eddie Moten. Spokane woke up in the third quarter and outscored Las Vegas 22-7 in the third quarter, including 16 unanswered points sparked by a key safety by LB Derrick Summers. Spokane would be within striking distance, down 48-43 going into the fourth quarter. However, Spokane would le the game slip away midway through the fourth as Gerald Young returned a 57 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Spokane would score late and get the ball back in the final minute, getting to the Las Vegas 17-yard line. However, Andy Olson would make a questionable decision of letting the clock run down to 7 seconds left on a fourth down play. Warren Smith would scramble, but his dive for the end zone came up short and Vegas escaped with a 62-56 victory.
Player to Watch: Arvell Nelson (QB/LB)
Spokane's offense got off to a horrible start last week, specifically when Nelson was picked off on his second pass of the game. A few plays later, Cleveland scored to go up 14-0 in the first five minutes of the game. The struggles for Nelson didn't get any better as he would go on to throw another interception and lose two fumbles, one of which was returned for a Cleveland touchdown. However, not everything wrong with the offense was Nelson's fault; Spokane's wide receivers nearly dropped 10 passes, several which could have been converted for first downs to keep drives alive.
To avoid playing San Jose in the playoffs, Spokane must win against Las Vegas on Saturday night and it'll fall upon Nelson to get off to a good start. If the Shock can get on a hot start and get a sustainable lead against the Outlaws, expect rookie QB Warren Smith to come in relief to prevent any chance of injury to Nelson. However, if they stumble out of the gate and fall into a big hole or if Nelson continues to turn the ball over and struggle, Olson won't hesitate to bench Nelson in favor of Smith. It's a make-or-break game for Nelson, and could shape whether or not he's the future at QB for the Shock.
LAS VEGAS:
Get a good look, because this could be the last time anybody sees the Las Vegas Outlaws in the Arena Football League.
It's clear that this team was not prepared to participate in the 2015 season. It's been widely believed that due to the number of teams that either changed leagues (Iowa Barnstormers) or folded (San Antonio Talons, Pittsburgh Power) that the Outlaws were pressed into service a year earlier than anticipated. It's difficult to argue with that belief, as the Outlaws have had trouble in just about every aspect. Their football field features the shortest end zones in the AFL, the field goal posts were assembled poorly, the team's uniforms were bland and generic, and there was hardly any promotion of the team, which shows in the team's woeful attendance that ranks last in the AFL.
At first it looked as if the Outlaws could defy the odds, opening the season with a surprising 3-2 record which included an upset win over the Arizona Rattlers. However, since that surprising start, they've lost 9 of their last 11 games, not counting the infamous "tie" with the New Orleans VooDoo. During that stretch, there were rumblings form Sin City that Outlaws were having financial problems, including being unable to pay a dry cleaning bill for its home jerseys that resulted in the team wearing its road jerseys for the majority of the season.
The financial issues were confirmed when the AFL took over ownership of the Outlaws and the New Orleans VooDoo last month.
Although it's possible the Outlaws could be saved by a local owner, it's likely that the team will either relocate or fold. Regardless of the team's fate, it looks as if AFL's third attempt at a franchise in Sin City has failed. The Las Vegas Sting (1994-1995) and the Las Vegas Gladiators (2003-2007) both failed and relocated, becoming the Anaheim Piranhas and the Cleveland Gladiators, respectively.
Vegas is missing a ton of key players, including top two wide receivers Jomo Wilson and Tysson Poots, who have a combined 131 receptions, 1,528 yards and 31 touchdowns. The Outlaws are also without DB Tanner Varner (80 total tackles) KR Gerald Young (974 return yards, 5 TD) and fullback Joe Mortensen. The team has had a merry-go-round of quarterbacks, and with a roster that's constantly been drastically changed since their Week 12 win over Spokane, it'll be a challenge for this team to win. If they do manage to win and get in the playoffs, the Outlaws will likely be a quick first round exit.
Player to Watch: Sean Brackett (QB)
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Friday evening that Brackett would get the start over J.J. Raterink.
Brackett was Raterink's backup and had limited playing time before Raterink went down with a broken pinkie on his throwing hand in the Week 9 game against Spokane. In the game, Bracket went 13/23 for 154 yards and 4 touchdowns as the Outlaws climbed out of a huge deficit to take the game down to the wire. He started the next three games and went 1-2, with his lone victory coming over Spokane in Week 12. He was 65/118 for 910 yards, 20 TD and 6 INT before missing the next five games with a stress fracture in his right foot.
Brackett will be without Jomo Wilson, Tysson Poots and Gerald Young, three of his four targets in the Week 12 victory over Spokane. The rookie QB claims he's healthy to go in this game, but if he doesn't look healthy or struggles in the game, head coach Aaron Garcia could pull Bracket in favor of Raterink in a very important game for the Outlaws.
QUOTABLE
Shock head coach Andy Olson on the team's return to Las Vegas after the theft incident.
“There won’t be a distraction in Las Vegas. We’ll never see anything like that happen again.”
Shock QB/LB Arvell Nelson on the team being outscored 76-7 in the first quarter of the last five games.
“That’s all we talk about in the meeting room. That (76-7) is unacceptable. You can’t win games like that."
Shock DB Sergio Gilliam discussing the #3 seed and playoff potential.
“We’d like to win this game, the third seed, be on the road and be the underdogs. We’ve seen sparks of what we’re capable of doing.”
QB Sean Brackett on Las Vegas making the playoffs.
“It's a chance to get another check and that's a good thing.”
FEATURED TWEETS
EXTRA
Despite a 6-11 record, the worst season in Spokane Shock history, they still managed to clinch a playoff spot. Since the franchise's inception in 2006, the Shock have missed the playoffs only once in its 10 year history. The team made the playoffs in all four of its years in the af2. The only year the team missed the playoffs was the 2012 season, when the Shock had a 10-8 record.
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Graphic courtesy of David.
