War on I-4 Limps to Storm Victory
Adam J Locascio
Thursday February 12, 2004
That’s really all that can be said after the Tampa Bay Storm’s rather lackluster 52-41 win over their hated rivals. With the exception of some rather exaggerated jawing between plays, the game really did not embrace the true rage and fire that normally encompasses this rivalry.
The game had the urgency equivalent to being about three minutes late for work after a morning commute but a win is a win and it proved yet again that Tim Marcum knows more about player personnel than any armchair general manager who ever picked up Bud Light.
DS Shea Showers and Del Lee went a long way towards letting Storm fans forget about the memories of Omarr Smith and Corey Sawyer. With the exception of a busted coverage that led to a late Predator touchdown, Predator receivers had to fight and scratch for every catch and every yard.
The pass rush, while missing free agent gem Shawn King, only generated one sack, but Predator rookie QB Joey Hamilton was harassed continually by DL Kelvin Kinney, Ernest Certain and Darrion Connor and spent most of the day throwing on the run.
Note to Hamilton: you can’t roll out in the AFL. This isn’t Georgia Tech. When you roll out, you hit one of two things – the wall or Lawrence Samuels.
Storm QB Shane Stafford showed no rust from a one-year layoff from the Arena league by completing 15 of 29 passes for 158 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. He was also the team’s leading rusher with 23 yards on two carries, one of which went for a touchdown. Stafford, who seemingly had all day in the pocket, spread the ball around to six different receivers with OS Freddie Solomon leading the way with 66 yards and three touchdowns.
Solomon’s stats could have been a lot higher but Predator DS Kenny McEntyre developed a nasty habit of grabbing Solomon’s jersey as he was getting spun like a turnstile, prompting the NBC announcers to state, “That’s a smart penalty.” Hey guys, sooner or later, you have to actually cover the receiver, ya’ know?
Although the game at times resembled a preseason contest, the Storm went a long way towards answering a lot of the questions that were generated in the offseason as well as exposing the Predators’ weaknesses, i.e. inexperienced at quarterback, lack of depth at WR/OS, and no true pass rusher to compliment OL/DL EJ Burt.
Making this game the first game of the season might be good for television and advertising (short of having a former 80s rocker in the owner’s suite), it’s lousy for the fans who have no build up to what is billed as the fiercest, oldest rivalry in the league.
This game requires some build up. It’s too special not to. There was no prior buzz to the game. There was no “player to watch” this time around. There was no urgency in this victory. Drop this one, and you can still go 15-1.
There’s something about the War on I-4 that requires some kind of subplot to make it truly special, although Predator rookie WR/DB Lin-J Shell did seem to enjoy getting in the face of Storm WR/DB Antione Tolliver and lecturing him about what looked like world events and real estate trends.
Last year’s final regular season game between the Storm and Predators was for supremacy in the Southern division. The 2003 playoff game was for a trip to the ArenaBowl.
This was for… well… who had a better offseason.
Round one goes to Tampa Bay.
Fifteen more to go.
Adam J. Locascio is a financial advisor in the Tampa Bay area and a Board Member of the Tampa Bay Storm Surge Fan Club. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Phoenix and is a six-year season ticket holder for the Tampa Bay Storm.
