Soul-Predators Quick Look
Jason Moyer
Friday February 10, 2006
Head Coach
Orlando – Jay Gruden. Gruden has won six ArenaBowl championships in his career, four as a player and two as a head coach.
Philadelphia – Bret Munsey. Munsey has Philadelphia off to their first 2-0 start ever.
Advantage – Orlando. Did Gruden teach Munsey everything he knows?
Quarterback
Orlando – Joey Hamilton. Hamilton is off to a slow start this season having been intercepted four times in the first two games.
Philadelphia – Tony Graziani or Matt Sauk. Sauk filled in admirably for an injured Graziani last week completing 17 of 29 passes.
Advantage – Flip-flop. Philadelphia if Graziani plays, Orlando if he doesn’t.
Offensive Specialist & Wide Receivers
Orlando – Jimmy Fryzel, Jermaine Mays, Jerrian James, and DeAndrew Rubin. Rubin has been a good second receiver catching 11 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games.
Philadelphia – Marcus Knight, Mike Brown, Sean Scott, and J.J. McKelvey. Brown has averaged 152.5 all-purpose yards in his two games with Philadelphia.
Advantage – Philadelphia. The Soul may not have a superstar, but are able to spread the offense around.
Fullback & Offensive/Defensive Line
Orlando – Idris Price, Reggie Lee, Justin Cleveland, and Henry Taylor. The Predators must find a way to replace EJ Burt.
Philadelphia – Chad Dukes, Ernest Allen, Mike Mabry, and EJ Burt. Philadelphia’s line recorded four sacks last week against the Los Angeles Avengers.
Advantage – Philadelphia. Until someone blocks these guys effectively, they are my pick every week.
Defensive Specialists
Orlando – Jeroid Johnson & Kenny McEntyre. McEntyre is a three time Defensive Player of the Year.
Philadelphia – Kevin Gaines & Eddie Moten. Moten has impressed Coach Munsey and has taken playing time away from Reggie Doster.
Advantage – Orlando. They call McEntyre "The Glove" for a reason.
Kickers
Orlando – Jay Taylor. Taylor is perfect on the season, 2 for 2 field goals and 9 for 9 on extra points.
Philadelphia – Todd France. France had a 51-yard field goal last week against the Avengers.
Advantage – Orlando. How can I not pick a guy that is perfect in this league?
X-Factor
Orlando – Line play. The Predators must somehow find a way to slow down Philadelphia’s pass rush.
Philadelphia – Tony Graziani’s finger. Can Matt Sauk lead the team to victory in "The Jungle" if Graziani can’t go?
Prediction
Philadelphia is off to a great start, but enters hostile territory for the first time this week. Look for Orlando to use short drops and gadget plays to slow down the pass rush of the Soul. Orlando stays close and pulls it out in the last minute with a Jay Taylor field goal, 43-40.
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.
