Soul-Storm Forecast
Jason Moyer
Friday January 27, 2006
Throughout the season, I will offer a comparison and prediction for the upcoming Soul game.
Head Coach
Tampa Bay Tim Marcum. Usually this says it all. He is one of the coaching legends of the game. Unfortunately, he will be serving the first of a two game league suspension and will turn over the reigns to Assistant coach Dave Ewat.
Philadelphia Bret Munsey. Munsey enters into his first stint as a head coach in the AFL. He spent the last three seasons with the Orlando Predators.
Advantage Philadelphia, if Munsey can effectively bring a change on the defensive side.
Quarterback
Tampa Bay Shane Stafford. Stafford is a rising star in the league. He set several team records for the Storm last season and led them to the playoffs.
Philadelphia Tony Graziani. Graziani is an established star in the league. Last season, he passed for 90 touchdowns, while being intercepted 15 times. These stats were considered sub par.
Advantage Philadelphia. Graziani should receive better protection this year allowing him to feel comfortable in the pocket.
Offensive Specialist & Wide Receivers
Tampa Bay Freddie Solomon, Lawrence Samuels, Bobby Sippio, and Lynaris Elpheage. Samuels is a future AFL Hall of Famer, while Sippio adds depth to the position.
Philadelphia Marcus Knight, Sean Scott, Mike Brown, and J.J. McKelvey. Knight takes over as the offensive specialist, while Scott excels in the red zone.
Advantage Tampa Bay. Experience and depth provide the edge.
Fullback & Offensive/Defensive Line
Tampa Bay Umar Muhammed, Buck Gurley, Rod Williams, and Ernest Certain. Muhammed tallied two sacks and seven touchdowns from the FB/LB position.
Philadelphia Chad Dukes, Ernest Allen, Mike Mabry, and EJ Burt. Allen and Burt add strength and depth to the line play.
Advantage Philadelphia. Key acquisitions along with returnee Dwayne Missouri should put pressure on Stafford.
Defensive Specialists
Tampa Bay Jonathan Ordway and Tramain Jones. Ordway snared six interceptions last season, while Jones registered 102 tackles last season.
Philadelphia Kevin Gaines and Reggie Doster. Both players will upgrade the teams secondary. Gaines was named All-Arena second team last season with the Georgia Force.
Advantage Philadelphia. Pressure from the defensive line should help the secondary.
Kicker
Tampa Bay Bill Gramatica. From the kicking Gramatica family.
Philadelphia Todd France. Probably would be in the NFL, if they had 33 teams.
Advantage Who cares, theyre kickers! But since I have to pick one, Tampa Bay because of good blood lines.
X-Factors
Tampa Bay Bobby Sippio. In his two games against the Soul last season, Sippio caught seven passes for 126 yards and five touchdowns.
Philadelphia Coach Munseys effect on the porous Philadelphia defense from last season.
Prediction
The absence of Marcum on the sideline will be significant for the Storm. Philadelphia looks to get off to a good start in front of their home crowd. Watch for the line play to be the key in the game. EJ Burt and Ernest Allen bring a presence Philadelphia has not had in their first two seasons. Philadelphia gets out of the gate first 48-44.
Jason Moyer is an elementary school teacher in the western New Jersey area. He is an avid follower of the Arena Football League and has been covering the Philadelphia Soul with ArenaFan.com since 2005. Jason resides in Whitehall, PA with his wife and daughter.
