Predators add Toliver to boost receiving corps
Jason Lucas
Thursday June 14, 2007
In his time with the Storm in 2007 Toliver had 98 receptions for 1,206 yards and 17 touchdowns. Toliver is being added to a receiving corps that includes Jimmy Fryzel, Javarus Dudley, and Ron Johnson.
Dudley still remains the only Preds receiver to start all 15 games played this season. His 95 receptions for 1,389 yards and 28 touchdowns make him the only existing Orlando receiver to have more yards and touchdowns than Toliver.
The addition of Toliver could not have come at a better time for the Predators as they will need a solid fourth option to replace Jimmy Fryzel who is suffering from a back bruise sustained while playing defensive back.
Orlando added Ron Johnson going into the Las Vegas game and he has had a great rookie season so far accounting for 681 receiving yards on 64 receptions for 11 touchdowns. Johnson also has the only Preds kickoff return touchdown of the season recorded last week in a 75-54 victory against the New York Dragons.
The second Toliver catches a pass from Preds QB Shane Stafford he will be the 13th receiver to catch a pass for the Predators this season. The musical chairs the Preds have played at this position has caused the offense to be mediocre at times. The injury in week four to DeAndrew Rubin also caused the same effect at the kick returner position.
Luckily for the Preds Toliver comes with great credentials in the kick returning game. In seven seasons he has eight touchdowns on kickoff returns to go with 3,255 yards on 167 attempts.
Coming into a big match-up with the Georgia Force this week the Predators could use all the hidden yardage Toliver can provide in the kick return game. In this department is where Preds coach Jay Gruden will be looking to Toliver for an immediate impact.
With only one day of practice under his belt Toliver can not be expected to learn all of the Preds terminology for Friday’s game. However, he does give the offense an illusive receiver who can take short gains and turn them into long ones. If nothing else expect to see Toliver in a role where he can run shorter routes and make plays with his legs after the catch.
In other news the Predators also added five-year AFL veteran Jo Jo Polk to replace Floyd Young in the defensive backfield. Polk has previous experience with the Buffalo and Columbus Destroyers as well as the Grand Rapids Rampage. In his career he has 300 tackles, 56 pass defenses, and 10 interceptions. Young was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury he suffered in New York last week.
Polk and the Preds secondary will be facing an immediate test Friday night when they host the Georgia Force in a game that if Orlando wins they will be hosting a playoff game.
In the last meeting the Force dominated the Predators in a 55-34 beating in Atlanta. In that game the Preds had their chances to get back in the contest after trailing early but could not capitalize on two defensive stops in the fourth quarter.
The Predators young secondary will get a little bit of a break this week with Force receiver Derek Lee still spending some time on injured reserve. The Force still have Chris Jackson and Troy Bergeron who are both top five receivers in the AFL. Force QB Chris Greisen has quieted down a bit from early in the season but may have found his stride again throwing nine touchdown passes last week against the Austin Wranglers.
The defense will rely heavily on the pressure generated by the league’s best pass rush led by defensive end Greg White. White followed up his AFL Defensive player of the month award with a Defensive player of the week award against New York in week 15. White’s 15 sacks this season is an AFL record he will try to continue to build on in the last two games. At the opposite end Chaz Murphy has returned to the line-up after sitting out the better part of nine weeks with a pulled hamstring. White and Murphy have combined for 18 sacks in 2007 and will have their chance to shine going up against one of the top offenses in the AFL Friday night.
Orlando’s special teams shined in week 15 as well with kicker Jay Taylor hitting two bars and allowing the Preds to get two quick touchdowns on the Dragons. Taylor’s ability to hit the iron could be a huge asset to the Preds again as they will take anything they can get against the Force.
With the addition of Toliver to the offense and Polk to the defense the Predators will have to adapt quickly to these new players as they try to earn a home playoff game. It does not get any tougher than hosting the Force on a Friday night in the Jungle.
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.
