Predators Slide by Force
Jason Lucas
Sunday April 24, 2005
The big question mark for the Predators coming into this game was how would rookie quarterback Chris Sanders respond to facing the tough defense of the Force? Sanders gets rousing reviews for his performance throwing for 236 yards and three touchdown passes to wide receiver/linebacker Cory Fleming. More importantly, Sanders did not make any big mistakes by throwing interceptions though he did fumble the ball once in the fourth quarter. Before the game it was disclosed to me that Predators Head Coach Jay Gruden wanted to dink and dunk the Force to death so he could slow the pace of the game to a crawl. He did just that with Sanders completing many 5-yard outs that were turned into big yards by Fleming. Force Head Coach Doug Plank would actually point out Fleming to his defense just about every time the Predators got inside the 10-yard line waiting for Cory to run his patented slant route. Fleming used the combination of slant routes, fade-stops, and fade-corners to confuse the Force as he compiled 9 receptions for 123 yards and the aforementioned three touchdown receptions.
On the opening kickoff Force Offensive Specialist Troy Bergeron had the ball roll between his legs and Predators Defensive Specialist Reggie Doster made the recovery for the Predators. The next play saw Sanders run over left tackle for the three-yard touchdown and a 7-0 Predators lead. After the Predators defense made a stop Sanders found Fleming as he was being tackled for a 9-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.
E.J. Burt who I had called out before this game made a big play in the second quarter as he knocked the ball loose from Force QB Matt Nagy, the ball rolled out of bounds for a safety and the Predators lead was extended to 16-7. On the ensuing drive the Predators faced a big third down in which Sanders threw a screen pass to Burt for the first down. From there, newly signed Fullback/Linebacker Kevin Nagle would take the ball over the left side for a 12-yard touchdown run and a 23-7 Predators lead. Nagle started the season with Gruden’s good friend Pat Sperduto in Nashville, with the injuries to Marlon Moye-Moore and Kevin Jefferson Gruden had to find someone to fill the void and Nagle did a fine job.
Later in the second quarter the Force began to claw back into the game when Nagy hit WR/LB Chris Jackson for a 29-yard touchdown to trim the Predators lead to 23-14. Orlando would come right back when Fleming caught a quick pass from Sanders and shook off a defender to rumble 39-yards for the Predator touchdown and a 29-14 lead after Predators Kicker Brian Gowins missed the extra point. Gruden used his timeouts in a very smart fashion in the final minute of the first half, as Georgia would score on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Nagy to Bergeron. Gowins would miss from 41-yards out to end the half, but offsetting penalties afforded him another chance. Gowins would capitalize on the opportunity by splitting the uprights giving the Predators a 32-21 halftime lead. Entering this game the Predators were 6-0 when holding a lead at the half.
Opening up the third quarter the Predators would come out and take nearly 8 minutes off the clock getting to the Georgia 2-yard line before settling for another Gowins field goal to take a 35-21 lead. Gruden is still struggling to find the right plays inside the red zone this season, this is definitely something that it is past time to work on going into the playoffs. Checking the stats I see the Predators are second in the league in red-zone scoring percentage but, that does not mean there are not times they go down there and struggle. Hey Predator fans, do you think it is time we stick Maynor in there to run the option?
Later in the third quarter Predators rookie return man Jerrian James would return a Nelson Garner kickoff 55-yards for a Predator touchdown to re-up the Predators lead to 42-28. The Predators would take a 42-35 lead into the fourth quarter where they are 7-0 taking leads into the fourth quarter.
More offensive struggles would lead to another Gowins field goal this time from 38-yards extending the lead to 10 points. The teams would then trade touchdowns and the Predators lead would be 52-42 late in the fourth quarter.
With 2:32 remaining Predators DS Johnnie Harris would make a big interception of Nagy that seemed to seal the game for the Predators. However, Sanders would fumble and Georgia would quickly turn that into a 1-yard run by Nagy to make the score 52-49.
The Force would then recover an onsides kick fumbled by Harris and WR/DB Bret Cooper. Three plays later Nagy would throw his third consecutive incomplete pass setting up fourth down. Nagy would throw long for Bergeron who appeared to make a miraculous catch in the end zone the Jungle grew quiet for a split second as they waited for the call from one of the officials who were a little indecisive at first. The Back Judge came in with an emphatic incomplete signal giving the ball back to the Predators with only 30 seconds to play. The house replay appeared to show Bergeron dropping the pass however replays on television showed a different angle where it looks like Bergeron made the reception and slid about four yards and when he rolled over the ball came out. Either way, the officials would give the Force another chance when they called Cory Fleming short of the goal-line when he appeared to clearly break the plane with the ball on the catch.
Just 19 seconds remained as the Force had another chance to win the game. They were unable to move the ball very far and from 46-yards K Nelson Garner would miss at the buzzer. James took it high off the net and ran off the last seconds falling down to the sweet taste of victory.
Heart of the Predators, ETC.
My hat is off to Jay Gruden and his squad for their amazing performance in this game. Missing six key players the Predators came up with the perfect game plan to manage the clock and keep the Force offense off of the field. The Predators had serious depth issues coming into this game and with this much on the line they still somehow managed to beat the so-called best team in the league. With the Force constantly trying to initiate fights late in the game the Predators kept their cool and showed a lot of class by restraining themselves. After the Bergeron play many of the Force players, Kevin Aldridge, Derek Lee, and Matt Nagy in particular were making obscene gestures and screaming obscenities at Back Judge Keith Washington. For a second there I thought they were yelling at me and then I realized Washington was standing right in front of me. Their conduct after the game was just inexcusable, even after the officials had given them another chance with the clear make-up call of Fleming being short of the end zone. Nagy and Lee chased the officials into the tunnel still pleading their case about something that had happened 10 minutes ago. In my opinion I say suspend them all, Nagy, Lee, Aldridge and the officiating crew of this game all deserve to sit at home for a few weeks. I was surprised to see Washington take that kind of abuse and not throw even one flag or eject somebody. I have always said great teams always beat bad officiating and the Predators did it once again on this occasion. For the record, the Referee of this game was Tom McCabe, Head Linesman Mike McCabe, Umpire Rick Lowe, Line Judge Bob McElwee and the already mentioned Washington at Back Judge. How many more McCabe’s are we going to have officiating in this league? Are these guys all related from Tom to Bill and Mike because they all seem to be horrible officials who would do much better in a retirement home than a football field.
Injury News
Predators OS Jimmy Fryzel injured a rib in the third quarter of this game. As of now it is not known if he will be available for the upcoming game with the Philadelphia Soul.
FB/LB Marlon Moye-Moore had a conversation with Jay Gruden before the game in which he disclosed he would be back at practice this week. Moye-Moore is from Maryland so a return an hour from home would be a great idea. If he does not return this week it is a near certainty for him to return for the Austin Wranglers game on May 7.
Week 14
The Predators travel to Philadelphia this week for a meeting with the 5-7 Soul who just suffered another tough loss to the New York Dragons. Soul QB Tony Graziani has had a few bad games in a row in which he has worked his way onto my fantasy bench. The Predators enter this game at 9-4 and leading the National Conference. I do not want to get too far ahead of myself but if the Predators win this week in Philadelphia and next week in Austin my plane ticket to Las Vegas will be punched. The Predators will be sitting at 11-4 going into their bye week and getting everyone back for their last home game against the New Orleans VooDoo. As the Predators enter the easiest part of their schedule it should be interesting to see how quickly Joe Hamilton and Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre heal their injuries to get back in time for the playoff run. The game with the Soul has been moved up to Saturday evening at 7:30. In Orlando we will be able to track the game on AM 740 The Team and as always here in the Arenafan.com chat room.
Jason Lucas is a part-time freelance writer based in the Orlando, Florida area. A former director of media relations with the Orlando Predators, Jason is making his return to Arenafan.com after a short stint as a public relations assistant with the UFL‘s Florida Tuskers in 2010. Lucas has followed the AFL since 1992 and began covering the Predators for Arenafan during the 2004 season. He held that position until being picked up by the Preds front office after the 2007 season. Jason‘s knowledge of arena football and love of the game is what drives him to continue covering the sport.
