Defense Key to Preds and Rush Success
Jason Lucas
Saturday June 10, 2006
In the last two weeks the Preds defense has given up a total of 55 points to their opponents. Of those points just 10 of them came in the second half to two of the most potent offenses in the AFL with Philadelphia and Dallas.
Dallas Desperados QB Clint Dolezel led the league in touchdown passes in the regular season with 105: Last week the Preds defense held him to one touchdown pass in a dominating 45-28 victory in the National Conference title game. Dolezel was frustrated by a vicious Predator pass rush led by Henry Taylor and Greg White. Taylor led the league in sacks this season with 8.5 on the season and was a finalist for the AFL’s Lineman of the Year award. The Predators are an impressive 11-2 this season when White starts and Head Coach Jay Gruden feels that is no accident. White also hauled in a three yard touchdown pass from QB Joe Hamilton last week and followed it up with a stunning back flip for a 280 pounder.
If those stats do not impress you maybe we can look a little further into it by mentioning that the Predators hit Philadelphia Soul QB Tony Graziani a total of 24 times in the divisional round of the playoffs in a 31-27 victory. Graziani was left an unbelievably bloody mess on the Jungle floor that day and I have to believe that him and Dolezel are both wondering how the Preds defense got the best of them in the second half of those games.
More impressive has been the play of WR/DB Khalil Carter who had two interceptions of Dolezel last week including the game clincher which he finished off by spiking the ball on the Desperados logo at midfield. Carter also had an interception and 33- yard touchdown return in the game that served as a major turning point. Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre was unable to play last week with an injured heel, this week the outlook is much better for the AFL’s all time interceptions leader who should play in today’s ArenaBowl. McEntyre has a chance to be the first player in AFL history to record an interception in four different ArenaBowls, he already has oskies in ArenaBowls XII, XIII, and XIV. Barry Wagner is the only other player to say he has interceptions in three different ArenaBowls.
If for any reason McEntyre is unable to go today look no further than veteran Charlie Davidson to step up once again for the Preds. Davidson made one of the biggest plays last week that nobody will ever mention in the Preds victory over Dallas. Davidson was beaten deep by Dialleo Burks and he made the smartest play he could have possibly made by grabbing Burks and drawing an interference penalty. A couple of plays later is when Carter made his interception for touchdown marking a huge momentum shift in the game. There is no doubt that smart play and timely breaks have led to the Predators getting to ArenaBowl XX.
The Chicago Rush have had success on the defensive side of the ball and gotten the same timely breaks the Predators have enjoyed in the 2006 AFL playoffs. In the divisional round the Rush traveled to Denver, CO and defeated the Crush with the help of two John Dutton fumbles returned for touchdowns by Dennison Robinson. Last week the Rush made just enough stops against the powerful offense of the San Jose SaberCats to get out with a 59-49 win and send them to Las Vegas for ArenaBowl XX.
This week the Rush will face the challenge of the Orlando Predators triple threat of receivers who may or may not be without the services of WR/LB Cory Fleming who suffered a foot injury in last week’s game. Rookie Javarus Dudley and sophomore OS Jimmy Fryzel provided a big spark for the Predators against the Desperados last week. The improved play of QB Joe Hamilton in the second half of the Preds’ season has continued into the playoffs as he has thrown for seven touchdowns in the playoffs and just one interception which was not his fault when WR/LB DeAndrew Rubin dropped a pass into the hands of Jason Shelley last week.
Prediction
The Chicago Rush have a great chance to beat the Orlando Predators in ArenaBowl XX Las Vegas. The key to victory for the Rush is to pressure Hamilton into costly mistakes. As efficient as Hamilton has been in the playoffs he has shown in the past that he can be rattled by opponents pass rush. Rush QB Matt D’Orazio on the other hand says that he loves to be pressured and hit because it makes him feel like he is into the game. The Predators will look to pressure him early and disrupt his timing. There is no doubt that special teams and defense are going to be a big part of this low-scoring battle.
I look for the Predators to get a fast start on Sunday, especially if they win the toss and defer to the second half as usual. Jay Gruden knows that he has the experienced squad when it comes to big games and ArenaBowls. All week long the Rush have appeared to be tight on media day and in practice while the Predators opened up media day by greeting their local media with big smiles and some fresh rap tunes on the Ipod.
No doubt the Predators must keep Rush OS Bobby Sippio to a minimum of catches. Last week’s experience of covering the Desperados "Three Amigos" of Dialleo Burks, Terrill Shaw, and Will Pettis gave the Preds defense a big confidence boost. Constant pressure on D’Orazio will pay big dividends once again for the Predators as it did in their 55-27 regular season victory over the Rush. However, I am not looking for such a blowout here.
My prediction is a 44-38 Orlando Predators victory on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas in front of a crowd near 12,300, slightly up from last year’s number in the 10,000 range. Vegas lines have the Predators winning by 3 and the teams over/under number at 98. My money is on the Preds victory and the under and I can not wait to find out if I am going to win some more money on this trip to Sin City.
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.
