Storm vs Predators News & Notes

Tuesday April 5, 2005

Renewing The War
The Storm and the Orlando Predators renew the most storied and intense rivalry in the Arena Football League. This will be the 37th meeting between the two teams in their 14-year history. They have split the all-time series, with each team winning 18 games. The Storm lead the regular season series 15-14. The Storm have not been swept in a season series with the Predators since the 2001 season.

The Goings On
The Storm and quarterback Shane Stafford are hosting a food/toy drive for Metropolitan Ministries this week and prior to their game on May 15 against the New York Dragons. Fans can bring non-perishable items and unwrapped toys to the plaza at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Following the game pro wrestling will hit the plaza at the St. Pete Times Forum WWE Superstar Jerry "the King" Lawler will battle current NWA Champion Bruce Steele. Other matches will be TNA’s Raven taking on Lex Lovett, tag-team Double Deuce going to the mats against "Iceman" Buck Quartermain and Rod Steel w/ "Hardcore Giant" Ron Niemi and more.

Leading at the Half
The Storm have been unstoppable this season when leading at the half, going 4-0. They are 128-16 all-time when leading after two quarters. Tampa Bay has outscored opponents 239-220 in the first half this season, including 146-125 in the second quarter.

The Storm led San Jose 35-14 in the season opener, Austin 21-14 in the second game of the season, 35-28 over Arizona and 38-31 in Week 10’s win over division foe Georgia. They entered the second half tied at 20 against Grand Rapids and went on to win, 70-50.

Reeling in the Yards
The Storm have had a receiver rack up 100 yards in all but one of their nine games this season. The only game in which they failed to have a 100-yard receiver was in Week 5 at New Orleans.

Lawrence Samuels and Freddie Solomon have provided all eight of Tampa Bay’s 100-yard receiving games, each hitting the century mark four times.

The Longest Yards
WR/DB Anthony Derricks and DS Jonathan Ordway each have the longest returns in the AFL this season. Derricks owns the longest kickoff return of the season for his 58-yard return for a touchdown March 13 versus Arizona. Ordway’s 49-yard interception return for a touchdown versus Austin on February 6 is the longest interception return in the league this season.

Finishing Strong
The Storm’s struggles on the road are not something new to the organization. Last season it took Tampa Bay until Week 8 to get their first road win of the season. Their opponent in that game was the Georgia Force. The Storm won, 53-24, and went on to win six of their last eight games to make the postseason.

Tampa Bay defeated Georgia, 48-38, in Week 10 to improve to 5-4 overall and 5-0 at home. They will return to the road for two games following this week’s match-up with Orlando.

Seeing Red-Zone
The Storm have been money in the red zone this season, both offensively and defensively. The Tampa Bay offense ranks fifth in the league, having scored in the red zone 44 of 52 times for a percentage of 84.6. They have scored 38 touchdowns and six field goals in the red zone this year. They have failed to convert eight times, one on a fumble, three on interceptions, one on a missed field goal and three more when they turned the ball over on downs. Half of their failed red zone attempts happened in Week 9 at Los Angeles.

The defense leads the league in red zone defense as they allow opponents to score 65.9 percent of the time. Opponents have scored 27 of 41 times in the red zone against the Storm this season. Opposing kickers are 1-for4 on field goals in the red zone against the Storm. The Tampa Bay defense has created six turnovers inside the 10-yard line.

Striking First
Tampa Bay has scored first in eight of it’s nine games. The only time the Storm has allowed the first points of the game was in Week 2 vs. Austin. Tampa Bay is 4-4 this season when it scores first and is 91-24 in the franchise’s history. The Storm have drawn first blood in seven consecutive games.

On the Final Play
Tampa Bay has played in three games this season in which the outcome was decided on the final play of the game. The bad news is that the Storm are 1-2 in those games. It started in New Orleans in Week 4 when it appeared David Saunders had crossed the goal line on the final play, but the Storm didn’t get the call. In Week 6 versus Arizona it took a Matt George field goal as time expired to win the game and in Week 8 in Philadelphia a Shane Stafford pass to the endzone fell to the turf.

That’s Just Offensive
The Storm are the AFL’s fourth most potent team when it comes to scoring points. Tampa Bay puts up 53.4 points per game, 6.5 points behind the league leader. They also have the third highest rated passing attack, averaging 295.2 yards per game. They have a passer rating of 116.5, good for fourth in the league.

Home Sweet Home
The Storm are the only 5-0 team at home this season, and are one of three teams that are undefeated at home this season. They average 60.4 points per game at home and allow just 44.4 per contest. On the road the Storm average 44.8 points per game and allow 59.3

The Storm have won the last two meetings against the Predators at the St. Pete Times Forum. Going into this season the Storm had won three consecutive games against Orlando. That streak was snapped in Week 3 of the season when the Predators downed the Storm 61-46.

Ordway Climbs to the Top
Defensive specialist Jonathan Ordway finds himself leading the AFL in passes defended. He has 16 pass breakups and three interceptions to date this year. His 16 breakups are also first in the league. Two interceptions came in Week 2 vs. Austin as the Tampa native ran one back for a touchdown, tying the team record for longest interception return. He added his third pick in Week 8 at Los Angeles.

Double-Derricks
WR/DB Anthony Derricks is tied for third in the league in fumbles recovered. He has jumped on two loose balls. Both of his fumble recoveries came in Week 10’s victory over the Georgia Force. He also ranks seventh in the league in kickoff returns. He has racked up 418 return yards on 20 attempts for an average of 20.9 and one touchdown.

A Quarter for the Quarterback
QB Shane Stafford has been strong in the fourth quarter this season. Stafford ranks second in the AFL in fourth quarter performance. He has completed, 71 of 107, passes for 775 yards and 17 touchdowns in the final quarter for a rating of 123.2.

The Magic Number
The Storm are 44-2 in franchise history when they score 60 points or more with one loss coming Week 8 in Philadelphia. They have scored 60 points or more on four separate occasions this season and won all contests excluding the loss to the Soul. They put up 63 points in Week 1 vs. San Jose, 62 in Week 2 vs. Austin and 70 in Week 6 vs. Grand Rapids. Tampa Bay also improved to 9-0 all-time when they score 70 points or more. The last time the Storm scored 70 points in a game before this season was July 7, 2001 vs. Houston when they won 70-47.

Dude, You’re Getting a Dell
Tampa Bay Storm WR/DB Clif Dell has become a touchdown scoring machine this season, as 45 percent of his receptions have been touchdown grabs. Dell has hauled in 40 receptions to date, finding the endzone 18 times.

Dell, who moved over from his WR/DB position to fill in for injured offensive specialist Freddie Solomon for three games earlier this year, leads the Storm in scoring (110 points) and touchdown receptions and ranks third on the team with 40 catches for 427 yards.

His performance against the VooDoo in Week 4 (8 catches for 62 yards and three touchdowns) marked the third time this season that the seven-year AFL veteran scored at least three touchdowns in a game. Dell’s performance at New Orleans also allowed him to move up on the Storm career receiving charts. The third-year Storm receiver has passed Eddie Brown and Bobby Byrd this season and moved into seventh place on the Storm career receptions list (106). He also moved into seventh place on the Storm receiving yards list (1,360), passing Byrd and Wayne Walker. Dell is now tied for sixth on the Storm receiving touchdowns list (35) after passing Charles Wilson.

Dell recorded a touchdown in every game this season until Week 9 when he was held out of the endzone. He had scored a touchdown in every game dating back to May 23 last season vs. New Orleans. He got back on track in Week 10 with two touchdown catches against the Force.

Stat-ford Keeps Numbers Up
Shane Stafford had a career day in Week 8’s loss to the Soul. He put up a career single-game high with 348 yards through the air. He also completed 31 of 45 passes for seven touchdowns. He has completed better than 60 percent of his passes for five consecutive games. The Storm have gone 3-2 over that span. He has completed better than 60 percent of his passes for a total of seven games this season with the Storm posting a 5-2 record in those games.

He has completed more than 60 percent in all games at the St. Pete Times Forum and has completed 56.3 percent of his passes in road games this year.

The UConn grad is the league’s fifth rated passer with a rating of 116. He also ranks second in pass attempts with 362 and in completions with 239. He is third in the AFL in yards per game with 299.3 and in passing touchdowns with 52.

There’s a New Sheriff in Town
Storm WR/LB Lawrence Samuels, this season, became the Storm’s all-time leading receiver with 538. In Week 8 Samuels passed Stevie Thomas, who entered the weekend as the Storm’s all-time receptions leader with 519. Samuels also ranks second on the all-time receiving yards list with 6,696 and third on the all-time receiving touchdowns list with 95.

Samuels set a personal record in Week 7 when he made 12 catches, a career best for receptions in a game. He also put up 145 receiving yards and a touchdown.

He is currently tied for seventh in the AFL for catches this season with 71.

Without K-2
It may not be a coincidence that Storm OL/DL Kelvin Kinney has either not played in, or not finished all but one of the Storm’s losses this season. He was injured in the Storm’s Week 4 loss to New Orleans and missed the following game in Orlando because of the injury. In Week 8 at Philadelphia Kinney was ejected from the game due to an altercation in the second quarter. The Storm lost the game on the final play.

King Solomon
With his nine catch, 148-yard performance in Week 6, OS Freddie Solomon eclipsed the 3,000 yard mark with the Storm. He now ranks fourth all-time behind Stevie Thomas, Lawrence Samuels and George LaFrance.

Second To None
The Storm set a franchise record in Week 6 vs. Grand Rapids by putting up 50 points in the second half. Following a first half in which Tampa Bay scored 20 points, they came out firing in the second half and scored 14 points in the third quarter and 36 in the fourth. The previous record of 47 points was set on June 4, 2000 vs. the Florida Bobcats.

Kickin’ It
The Storm allowed their first field goal in Week 6 vs. Grand Rapids. The Rampage’s Peter Martinez put a 43-yard attempt through the uprights for the first one against Tampa Bay this season. Martinez was one for five. Tampa Bay also managed a block in Week 6 and in Week 8. After nine games played Tampa Bay has allowed three field goals on 16 attempts.

California Dreaming
The Storm set a franchise low for points scored through three quarters in Week 9’s 59-28 loss to the Los Angeles Avengers at Staples Center. Through three quarters Tampa Bay had scored just seven points. They were held scoreless in the second and third quarters after scoring on their opening drive. The previous low was 10 points that they scored through three quarters May 17, 1997 against Orlando.

The five turnovers that the Storm gave up in the game were also a season high.

For the Record Books
Quarterback Shane Stafford shattered a pair Storm passing records in the game against New Orleans in Week 5. Stafford finished with 32 completions in 54 attempts, throwing for 278 yards and five touchdowns. The 32 completions and 54 attempts were both single-game Storm records. The previous record for completions, 31, was set by Scott Milanovich in 2002. The previous record for attempts was 52 passes thrown by Jay Gruden in 1994 and Milanovich in 2002.

Kicking With Confidence
Tampa Bay Storm kicker Matt George has done what not many kickers in recent years have been able to do – stay out of head coach Tim Marcum’s doghouse. He has connected on his last 27 extra point attempts dating back to Week 6 against Grand Rapids.

After going through 10 kickers during the past two seasons, George has solidified himself as one of the top kickers in the league. Through nine games, George ranks fourth in the AFL in scoring among kickers with 83 points. He has connected on 59-of-63 extra point attempts and eight of 18 field goals.

George made his first game-winning field goal of the season in Week 7 vs. Arizona when his 20-yard kick gave the Storm a 59-56 win as time expired.

Struggling on the Ground
The Tampa Bay Storm running game has struggled this season. The Storm have averaged just 8.9 yards per game on the ground, good for 17th in the AFL. Tampa Bay has just nine rushing touchdowns this year, with Stafford and Umar Muhammad being the only players with multiple touchdowns on the ground.

The Storm have been outrushed in eight of the nine games this season and own a 4-4 overall record in those games. Overall, Tampa Bay is 51-46 in games when the opponent has totaled more rushing yards in the game.

The Storm rushing defense has been solid this season. Tampa Bay, which ranks fourth in the AFL in rushing defense, held the AFL’s leading rusher, Michael Bishop, to 20 yards in Week 6’s victory over Grand Rapids. Going into the game Bishop had 194 rushing yards in three games, an average of 64.7 yards per game. He had rushed for four touchdowns, as many as the Storm had rushed for as a team.

Tampa Bay is averaging 16.6 yards rushing allowed per game to date this year.

Hitting the Century Mark
Storm wide receiver Lawrence Samuels reached a career milestone in Week 5 against New Orleans. Samuels hauled in his 100th career receiving touchdown on a seven-yard third quarter touchdown strike from Shane Stafford. The touchdown was his only TD grab of the game, in which he finished with seven receptions for 59 yards. Samuels is putting together another great season for the Storm in 2005. He is the team leader in receptions and receiving yards, catching 71 passes for 847 yards.

European Departures
Aside from the injuries, the Storm have also been raided by NFL Europe this season. Tampa Bay lost lineman Clint Mitchell before the start of the regular season. Mitchell was expected to be a contributor on the line of scrimmage this season. Mitchell was drafted by the Amsterdam Admirals in the free agent draft. Tampa Bay also lost WR/DB Lawrence Richardson and lineman DeMarco McNeil, both of whom were on the team’s practice squad, to NFL Europe. Richardson was taken in the draft by the expansion Hamburg Sea Devils, and McNeil signed as a free agent with the Berlin Thunder.

Stafford Gets Honored for Record Setting Day
Tampa Bay Storm quarterback Shane Stafford was recognized twice for helping lead the Storm to their big win against San Jose. Stafford was named the AFL Player of the Week by the Arena Football League Writers Association on Monday, and then on Tuesday he was honored as the league’s Offensive Player of the Week.

The fourth-year Storm quarterback tied a team record and career high with eight touchdown passes and set a personal best with 28 completions in the game. Stafford finished the contest with 273 yards on 28 of 35 passing. He had no interceptions to go along with his eight touchdowns. Stafford led the Storm offense to 10 consecutive scoring drives in the game. The Tampa Bay offense scored on every drive that Stafford engineered in the contest.

The AFLPA honor and the AFL award marked the second time in his career that each organization bestowed their respective awards on Stafford. He was also named the AFLWA Player of the Week and the AFL Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Storm to a victory over the Los Angeles Avengers in Week 14 of last season.

Second Place All to Himself
Storm lineman Nyle Wiren’s half a sack and safety against San Jose in Week 1 gave him 15 sacks for his career. It also allowed Wiren to take over sole possession of second place on the team’s career sacks list. Wiren entered the season with 14.5 career sacks and was tied for second place on the list with Lynn Rowland. Wiren now stands behind only Andre Bowden, who has 33 career sacks. He recorded his 16th career sack in Week 6 vs. Grand Rapids.

Wiren’s defensive play picked up right where he left off last season. The eighth-year player had his best season in 2004, recording a career-high six sacks. He also earned second-team All-AFL honors.

First Timers
The Tampa Bay Storm’s 20-man roster for the season opener featured six players making their Storm debuts, including three rookies. AFL veterans Anthony Derricks, Jarrod Penright, and Ricky Hall all played in their first game for the Storm, as did rookies Lynaris Elpheage, Ronney Daniels, and Omar Smith. Additionally, another player, QB Stoney Case, saw his first-ever AFL game action. Case spent the 2004 season with the Storm but never dressed for a game.

Hey Rook
The Storm have always been a veteran-laden team under head coach Tim Marcum. The same is the case this season, but the Storm opening day roster did include an inordinate number of rookies. This season’s opening day roster included rookies Kenny Christian, Ronney Daniels, Lynaris Elpheage, Herb Haygood, DeMarcus Johnson, Elfrid Payton, Lawrence Richardson, and Omar Smith.

Elpheage, Smith, Payton, and Johnson were all included on the team’s 24-man roster, while Daniels, Haygood, and Richardson started the season on the team’s injured reserve list. Kenny Christian was on the team’s practice squad to start the year.

Going to the ‘Birds
The Storm roster includes a certain Midwestern flare this season. That’s because the roster features four players – Ricky Hall, Jarrod Penright, Mike Sutton, and Anthony Derricks – who played for the Indiana Firebirds last season. In addition, Storm assistant coach Mark Stoute served as an assistant coach for the Firebirds in 2004.

The Storm signed Hall and Derricks as AFL free agents, the only AFL free agents signed by the Storm in the offseason who did not previously play for Tampa Bay. Penright and Sutton were acquired by the Storm through the 2004 Dispersal Draft. Additionally, Jeff Cogell, a member of the team’s practice squad, also played for Indiana in 2004 and was acquired by Tampa Bay from Indiana in the Dispersal Draft.

Tough Day at the Office
The Storm suffered some potentially devastating injuries during their scrimmage against the Orlando Predators on January 22. The scrimmage, which served as the final day of training camp for both teams, produced numerous injuries for the Storm.

No injury, however, was as costly as the torn MCL suffered by WR/DB T.T. Toliver. Toliver, an All-Ironman selection a season ago, was the Storm’s starting WR/DB and the team’s top kick returner. In 2004, Toliver led the team with 2,095 all-purpose yards and 1,233 kickoff return yards. He finished second on the team in scoring (108 points) and third in receptions (64) and receiving yards (749). Defensively he was third in the team with 55.5 tackles and finished tied for the team lead with three interceptions.

Aside from the injury to Toliver, the Storm lost FB/LB David White to a high ankle sprain, OL/DL Rod Williams with a finger injury, and OL/DL Rashied Simmons to a neck injury. Tampa Bay entered the scrimmage with WR/LB David Saunders out with an ankle injury.

Tons of Experience on the Sideline
If there’s one thing the Storm coaching staff has, it is Arena Football coaching experience. Headed by Tim Marcum, the AFL’s all-time winningest coach, the three-man coaching staff has a total of 37 years of AFL coaching experience entering the season.

Marcum has 16 seasons under his belt, all as a head coach. He enters his 11th season in Tampa Bay, and prior to that served as the head coach of the Detroit Drive and Denver Dynamite. Under his guidance his teams have won seven ArenaBowl titles and have played in 10 of the 18 championship games.

Storm assistant coach Dave Ewart is in his third season with the Storm and his 11th season in the AFL. Prior to joining the Storm he served as head coach of the Florida Bobcats. He has also been the head coach of the Texas Terror and St. Louis Stampede and served as an assistant with the Bobcats, Stampede, New England Sea Wolves, and Cleveland
Thunderbolts.

Assistant coach Mark Stoute is in his first season with the Storm and his 12th year in the AFL. He is a former head coach of the Toronto Phantoms and was an assistant with the Indiana Firebirds, New England Sea Wolves, Florida Bobcats, Charlotte Rage, and Connecticut Coyotes.

O’Hara Named Offensive Coordinator
Tampa Bay Storm quarterback Pat O'Hara has been named the team's offensive coordinator. The AFL veteran will continue to serve as one of the team's backup quarterbacks in addition to his coaching duties.

O'Hara is in his 11th AFL season and his third season with the Storm. He is best remembered by Storm fans for relieving quarterback John Kaleo in the second half of ArenaBowl XVII and leading the Storm to their fifth ArenaBowl championship.

O'Hara owns three ArenaBowl rings and has played in five championship games. He spent the first six seasons of his career with the Orlando Predators, where he won ArenaBowl championships in 1998 and 2000. He also was with the Toronto Phantoms in 2001 and 2002.

O'Hara has thrown for more than 13,000 yards and 200 touchdowns in his AFL career. His career totals include 988 completions in 1,749 attempts for 13,383 yards and 231 touchdowns.

Lights, Camera, Action
Five members of the Tampa Bay Storm spent the summer shooting the remake of The Longest Yard starring Adam
Sandler and Burt Reynolds. Nyle Wiren, Clif Dell, Louis Williams, and Matt George all had on-screen roles. Wiren served
as the body double for former professional Wrestler Steve Austin, and also performed numerous stunts for the movie.
O’Hara worked behind the scenes, helping to find and hire all of the athletes for the movie. He also assisted in designing
the plays that were run in the movie. Additionally, he assisted in "coaching up" Sandler for his role as a quarterback in
the movie.

TIM MARCUM
Head Coach, General Manager, Director of Football Operations

It’s only fitting that the Arena Football League’s top coach lead the league’s most storied franchise. Legendary AFL head coach Tim Marcum coached in his 10TH season as head coach of the Tampa Bay Storm in 2004 and his 16th overall as an AFL head coach. A charter member of the Arena Football League Hall of Fame, Marcum’s AFL coaching legacy is unmatched and his incredible on-field achievements continue to overwhelm.

Marcum is the winningest head coach in Arena Football history. He enters the 2005 season having won seven ArenaBowl championships and has coached in ten of the league’s 18 ArenaBowls. Marcum is the only coach in Arena Football history to lead three different teams to ArenaBowl championships (Denver, Detroit, and Tampa Bay), and is the AFL career-coaching leader in victories (171), winning percentage (.728), games coached (236), and postseason victories (25).

A two-time recipient of the AFL Coach of the Year Award (1987 and 1998), Marcum has overseen the Tampa Bay Storm’s development into the league’s flagship franchise. He was the first coach in AFL history to win more than 100 games and has missed out in playing for the league championship only five times in his career. Incredibly, Marcum’s AFL clubs have advanced to the postseason in every year he has coached.

After Storm owner Woody Kern purchased the team prior to the 1995 season, Kern brought four-time ArenaBowl champion Marcum aboard as his head coach. The Storm proceeded to put together a record-breaking two-year stretch, winning back-to-back ArenaBowls in 1995 and 1996. The Storm combined for a 28-4 mark during that stretch, and put together an AFL record 17-game winning streak from July 1, 1995, to June 29, 1996.

Marcum, who also won the 2003 ArenaBowl in Tampa and led the Storm to the 1998 championship game, owns a 103-43 overall record in Tampa Bay. His Tampa Bay teams have earned nine straight playoff berths, winning three championships, and are 89-37 in the regular season with a 14-6 postseason record.The first coach in pro football history to be elected to any professional Hall of Fame while still an active coach, Marcum began his Arena Football career in 1987 as head coach of the Denver Dynamite during the league’s inaugural season. Marcum led the Dynamite to a 5-2 overall record and won the league’s first championship.

The following season Marcum took his act to Detroit, but the results remained the same. He won back-to-back titles with the Drive in 1988 and 1989. After a one-year absence from the AFL, Marcum returned to Detroit in 1991 and returned the club to the league’s elite by winning ArenaBowl VI in 1992. Marcum’s five-year tenure in Detroit resulted in three ArenaBowl championships and a 50-10 overall record.

But Marcum’s coaching crusades have not existed only in the Arena Football League. Like his father, the Snyder, TX, native began his coaching career in the high schools of West Texas. He landed his first collegiate job at Ranger College, and, in 1979, guided the school to the Junior College National Championship with an 11-0 record. As a prelude to his arrival in the explosive Arena League, Marcum’s junior college champions averaged nearly 35 points per game.

In 1980 Marcum left Ranger and joined the coaching staff at Rice University as an assistant coach. From there he made his entrance into the professional coaching ranks, joining the San Antonio Gunslingers of the USFL as linebackers coach in 1984. Marcum was named the team’s defensive coordinator the following season. A year before accepting the post in Denver, the coaching carousel continued, as Marcum was hired as the assistant head coach of the New York Knights of the World League of American Football.

In between stints as head coach of the Detroit Drive, Marcum coached linebackers for Steve Spurrier at the University of Florida in 1990. He then spent the 1994 season as a defensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League before new Storm owner Woody Kern lured him to Tampa.

A 2001 recipient of the Founder’s Award presented by the Arena Football League, Marcum has coached a number of fellow Arena Football Hall of Famers, including Dwayne Dixon, Gary Mullen, Tate Randle, Alvin Rettig, Jay Gruden, John Roehlk, and Joe March.

Marcum honed his football skills while playing quarterback at McMurry University under head coach Grant Teaff. A starting quarterback for the Indians in 1965 and 1966, Marcum held for many years the school record for yards in a game with 328. Marcum, who transferred to McMurry in the fall of 1963 from Texas A&M, was a 2001 inductee into the McMurry University Athletic Hall of Honor.

Marcum resides in Tierra Verde, Fla. He is married to Lynn, who has two daughters, Kendra and Carly. Marcum also has two daughters, Mitzi and Michelle, and three grandchildren, Austin (8), Bryce (4) and Max (2).

2005 TAMPA BAY STORM ROSTER

No. POS Name Hgt Wgt Exp College Born
1 OL/DL Kelvin Kinney 6-7 280 5 Virginia St. 12/31/72
3 WR/DB Anthony Derricks 6-0 185 5 Mississippi St. 12/17/76
5 DS Tramain Jones 6-2 185 5 Angelo St. 10/20/75
8 WR/DB Clif Dell 5-11 185 6 South Florida 11/28/75
9 WR/DB Lynaris Elpheage 5-10 180 R Tulane 10/8/82
12 K Matt George 5-10 185 5 Chapman University 1/13/75
14 QB Shane Stafford 6-3 220 3 Connecticut 3/14/76
21 WR/LB Ronney Daniels 6-2 215 R Auburn 9/17/76
22 WR/LB Lawrence Samuels 6-2 215 11 Livingston 5/1/70
25 QB Stoney Case 6-3 200 1 New Mexico 7/7/72
28 DS Jonathan Ordway 5-11 180 2 Boston College 10/19/78
34 FB/LB David White 6-3 260 6 Nebraska 2/27/70
35 FB/LB Umar Muhammad 5-11 260 5 North Texas 7/25/75
44 OL/DL Nyle Wiren 6-2 260 7 Kansas St. 2/8/73
49 OL/DL Ricky Hall 6-2 280 6 Marshall 4/1/76
50 OL/DL Rod Williams 6-3 300 6 Florida A&M 1/15/73
58 OL/DL Mike Sutton 6-4 275 3 LSU 4/25/75
65 OL/DL Ernest Certain 6-2 270 3 Florida A&M 8/31/77
74 OL/DL Omar Smith 6-2 300 R Kentucky 11/8/77
81 OS Freddie Solomon 5-11 185 2 South Carolina St. 11/15/72
99 OL/DL Mike Lawson 6-3 280 5 Miami 2/22/75



INJURED RESERVE
17 QB Pat O'Hara 6-5 210 10 USC 9/27/68
30 FB/LB Jarrod Penright 6-2 260 1 Texas A&M 12/17/80
85 OL/DL DeMarcus Johnson 6-4 295 R Central Florida 10/22/80



PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Lynaris Elpheage – LYNN-air-is EL-page
Jarrod Penright – JA-rod
Umar Muhammad – O-mar MU-hom-mad
Nyle Wiren – NILE WY-ren
Ernest Certain – SIR-tun




THE LAST TIME (TEAM)…
STORM SCORING OPPONENT
63, at Philadelphia, 3-20-05 Scored 50+ Points 59, at Los Angeles, 3-26-05
63, at Philadelphia, 3-20-05 Scored 50+ Points and Lost 57, at Dallas, 5-30-04
63, at Philadelphia, 3-20-05 Scored 60+ Points 69, at Philadelphia, 3-20-05
63, at Philadelphia, 3-20-05 Scored 60+Points and Lost 64, at Dallas, 5-4-03
28, at Los Angeles, 3-26-05 Held to Less Than 40 Points 38, vs Georgia, 4-2-05
28, at Los Angeles, 3-26-05 Held to Less Than 30 Points 24, at Georgia, 3-27-04
17, vs Orlando, 5-17-97 Held to Less Than 20 Points 14, at Detroit, 5-18-01
30, vs San Jose, 1-30-05 Won By 25+ Points 26, vs Orlando, 5-17-97
at Indiana, 5-31-02 (53-52) Won By 1 Point at Florida, 4-22-00 (30-31)
vs Austin, 4-18-04 Won in Overtime at Las Vegas, 2-17-03

STORM OFFENSE OPPONENT
31, vs Orlando, 2-8-04 Had 30+ Yards Rushing 35, at Orlando, 2-11-05
53, at Indiana, 3-23-03 Had 50+ Yards Rushing 62, at Nashville, 2-13-01
342, vs. Georgia, 4-2-05 Had 300+ Yards Total Offense 302, vs. Georgia, 4-2-05
NEVER Had 400+ Yards Total Offense NEVER
319, vs. Georgia, 4-2-05 Had 300+ Passing Yards 301, at Los Angeles, 3-26-05
5, at Los Angeles, 3-26-05 Turned Ball Over 3+ Times 4, vs. Georgia, 4-2-05
5, at Los Angeles, 3-26-05 Turned Ball Over 5+ Times 5, at Georgia, 3-27-04

STORM GREAT ENDINGS OPPONENT
vs Arizona, 3-13-05 Won on Last Play of Game at Las Vegas, 2-17-03
Down 12 vs Georgia, 7-20-02 (Won 67-61) Came Back From 10+ Down in Fourth Quarter to Win Down 19 vs Colorado, 4-20-03
(Won 45-49)




THE LAST TIME (INDIVIDUAL)…
STORM INDIVIDUAL OFFENSE OPPONENT
31, Basil Proctor, vs Chicago, 5-10-02 Had Player Rush for 30+ Yards 30, Duke Pettijohn, vs Orlando, 7-7-02
51, Cedric McKinnon, vs Orlando, 5-18-96 Had Player Rush for 50+ Yards 53, Mike Jones, at San Jose, 7-4-99
David White, at Georgia, 3-27-04 Had Player Rush for 3 TDs Bob McMillen, at Chicago, 4-11-04
4, Andre Bowden, at Carolina, 4-11-03 Had Player Rush for 4+ TDs NEVER
319, Shane Stafford, vs. Georgia, 4-2-05 Had Player Pass for 300+ Yards 301, John Kaleo,at Los Angeles,3-26-05
NEVER Had Player Pass for 400+ Yards NEVER
Shane Stafford, vs San Jose, 1-30-05 Had Player Pass for 8+ TDs 320, Tony Graziani,at Philadelphia,3-20-05
NEVER Had Player Pass for 10+ TDs NEVER
40, Shane Stafford, at Los Angeles, 3-26-05 Had Player Throw 40+ Passes 41, Sherdrick Bonner, 3-13-05
54, Shane Stafford, at New Orleans, 2-25-05 Had Player Throw 50+ Passes 54, Paul Justin, at Arizona, 6-12-93
26, Shane Stafford, at Los Angeles, 3-26-05 Had Player Complete 25+ Passes 25, Mark Grieb, vs San Jose, 1-30-05
31, Shane Stafford, at Philadelphia, 3-20-05 Had Player Complete 30+ Passes 34, Jim Kubiak, at Dallas, 5-4-03
109, Freddie Solomon, vs. Georgia, 4-2-05 Had Player with 100+ Receiving Yards 124, Derek Lee, vs. Georgia, 4-2-05
182, Freddie Solomon, vs Los Angeles, 5-9-04 Had Player with 150+ Receiving Yards 150, Kevin Ingram, at Los Angeles, 3-26-05
NEVER Had Player with 200+ Receiving Yards 213, Eddie Brown, vs Albany, 4-24-99
Freddie Solomon & TT Toliver, vs San Jose,
4-4-04 Had 2 Players with 100+ Receiving Yards Jason Shelley & Bobby Sippio, at Dallas,
5-30-04
5, Freddie Solomon, vs Georgia, 2-13-04 Had Player with 5+ Receiving TDs 5, Siaha Burley, 3-13-05

STORM INDIVIDUAL DEFENSE OPPONENT
8.0, Jonathan Ordway, at Los Angeles, 3-26-05 Had Player with 8+ Tackles 8.0, Kevin Gaines, vs. Georgia, 4-2-05
11.0, Tramain Jones, vs San Jose, 1-30-05 Had Player with 10+ Tackles 10.5, Scotty Lindsey, at Georgia, 5-18-03
2.0, BJ Cohen, at New York, 4-27-03 Had Player with 2+ Sacks 2.0, Rupert Grant, at Orlando, 2-11-05; Idris Price, at Orlando, 2-11-05
2, Jonathan Ordway, vs Austin, 2-6-05 Had Player with 2+ Interceptions 2, Lamont Moore, at New Orleans, 3-7-04
Umar Muhammad, vs Grand Rapids, 3-6-05 Recorded a Safety Andre Bowden, at Carolina, 5-4-02
Lawrence Samuels, vs Austin, 4-18-04 Returned/Recovered a Fumble for a TD Buck Gurley, at Orlando, 2-11-05
Jonathan Ordway, vs Austin, 2-6-05 Returned an Interception for a TD Bobby Sippio, at Dallas, 5-30-04

STORM IND. SPECIAL TEAMS OPPONENT
Anthony Derricks, vs Arizona, 3-13-05 Returned Kickoff for TD Steve Smith, at Philadelphia, 3-20-05
TT Toliver, vs Austin, 4-18-04 Returned 2 Kickoffs for TD NEVER
218, TT Toliver, vs Austin, 4-18-04 Had 150+ Kickoff Return Yards 159, Barry Wagner, vs San Jose, 1-30-05
T.T. Toliver, vs. Grand Rapids, 3-6-05 Returned FG for TD Lincoln Dupree, vs New York, 3-14-04
50, Ian Howfield, vs Orlando, 3-16-03 Made 50+ Yard FG 51, Matt George, at Carolina, 4-11-03

2005 TAMPA BAY STORM TRANSACTIONS

April 2, 2005
Placed OL/DL Jimond Pugh on the practice squad.

April 1, 2005
Activated WR/DB Lynaris Elpheage and WR/LB Ronney Daniels from injured reserve.

March 30, 2005
Acquired DS Fred Booker from Nashville in exchange for WR/DB T.T. Toliver. Signed WR/DB Kenny Christian, FB/LB Jeff Cogell, OL/DL Darion Conner and WR/DB Ernest Ross to the practice squad.

March 29, 2005
Traded WR/LB David Saunders to Grand Rapids in exchange for OL/DL Paul LaQuerre.

March 24, 2005
Activated OL/DL Rod Williams from injured reserve.

March 23, 2005
Activated and then waived FB/LB Jeff Cogell

March 22, 2005
Aquired DS Jeff Sanchez from New Orleans in exchange for OL/DL Louis Williams.

March 11, 2005
Signed OL/DL Darion Conner and WR/DB Kenny Christian from practice squad. Place OL/DL Mike Lawson on injured reserve.

March 10, 2005
Activated from injured reserve and then waived WR/DB Earnest Ross.

February 23, 2005
Activated OL/DL DeMarcus Johnson from injured reserve. Signed FB/LB Jeff Cogell from the practice squad.

February 22, 2005
Activated and waived WR/LB Kenny Christian and WR/DB Ernest Ross from the injured reserve list. Signed OL/DL Darion Conner to the practice squad. Waived WR/DB Lawrence Richardson from the practice squad.

February 18, 2005
Placed OL/DL Kelvin Kinney and OS Freddie Solomon on the injured reserve list.

February 15, 2005
Placed OL/DL Clint Mitchell on the other-league exempt list.

February 11, 2005
Signed OL/DL Demarco McNeil and WR/DB Lawrence Richardson to the practice squad.

February 10, 2005
Activated WR/LB David Saunders from the injured reserve list. Placed WR/DB Kenny Christian and OL/DL DeMarcus Johnson on the injured reserve list.

February 8, 2005
Activated and waived OS Herb Haygood, OL/DL Demarco McNeil and WR/DB Lawrence Richardson from the injured reserve list.

February 4, 2005
Released OL/DL Darion Conner. Signed WR/DB Kenny Christian.

February 3, 2005
Re-signed OL/DL Ernest Certain.

February 2, 2005
Re-signed OL/DL Ricky Hall and OL/DL Louis Williams. Signed FB/LB Jeff Cogell to the practice squad.

January 28, 2005
Recalled From Waivers FB/LB Elfrid Payton. Placed on Injured Reserve WR/DB Ernest Ross.

January 27, 2005
Signed WR/DB Ernest Ross. Placed FB/LB Elfrid Payton on recallable waivers.

January 25, 2005
Re-signed WR/LB David Saunders.

January 24, 2005
Waived DS Rovel Hamilton, FB/LB Jeff Cogell, OL/DL Jerry Johnson, WR/LB Kenny Christian, and DS Leonard Myers. Waived Injured OL/DL Rasheid Simmons. Re-signed OL/DL Rod Williams, FB/LB David White, WR/DB Clif Dell, WR/LB David Saunders. Signed WR/DB Anthony Derricks. Placed on Injured Reserve QB Pat O’Hara, WR/DB Lawrence Richardson, OS Herb Haygood, OL/DL DeMarco McNeil, WR/DB TT Toliver, OL/DL Rod Williams, FB/LB David White.

January 21, 2005
Signed FB/LB Elfrid Payton. Waived Injured WR/DB Omar Laurence.

January 18, 2005
Signed OL/DL Demarco McNeil.

January 17, 2005
Announced OL/DL Clint Mitchell has left the squad. Waived FB/LB T.J. Turner.

January 14, 2005
Activated FB/LB Umar Muhammad from the refused-to-report list.

January 13, 2005
Signed FB/LB Umar Muhammad and placed him on te refused-to-report list. Placed K Matt George on the refused-to-report list.

January 12, 2005
Signed K Matt George.

January 11, 2005
Announced OL/DL Jimond Pugh has left the squad.

January 5, 2005
Signed OL/DL Rasheid Simmons, OL/DL Omar Smith and FB/LB T.J. Turner. Placed OL/DL Mike Sutton on the refused-to-report list.










SUPPLEMENTAL
PLAYER BIOS



98 DeMARCO McNEIL
Offensive/Defensive Line
6-1, 310
12/15/78
Auburn University
AFL Experience: Rookie


Signed with the Storm on January 18, 2005. Big lineman who can play nose guard on defense and guard on offense. One of the top collegiate pass rushers in the country as a senior at Auburn.

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Spent the 2005 NFL training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles. Played in one preseason game in Philadelphia, recording two tackles.

COLLEGE/PERSONAL: Four-year starter along the defensive line at Auburn (1999-2003). Started 46 of 49 games, recording 195 tackles with 13 sacks, 35 tackles for loss, 26 quarterback pressures, five fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles, three interceptions, and 13 pass deflections. Named second-team All-American by The NFL Draft Report following his senior season. Was an All-Southeastern Conference first-team pick as a senior by the Associated Press and was rated the third-best defensive tackle in college football by Lindy’s. Started every game at nose guard in 2003, finishing fourth on the team with 55 tackles (21 solos), six sacks for minus 50 yards, 12 stops for losses of 69 yards, and three quarterback pressures (all three resulted in turnovers). Intercepted a pass and deflected five others. Caused and recovered two fumbles. Named Freshman All-American in 2000 by The Sporting News and Football News. Also named to the Coaches’ and Knoxville News-Sentinel's All-SEC Freshman teams. Started every game at left defensive tackle as a freshman, finishing second on team with 67 tackles (49 solos) and led the Tigers with 13 stops for losses of 41 yards. Added five sacks for minus 23 yards and credited with seven quarterback pressures. Deflected four passes. Recovered two fumbles and caused another. Also exceled in the classroom (one of three graduate players on the team during his senior season at Auburn). Attended Mount Blount (Prichard, Ala.) High School. Was Alabama’s "Mr. Football" as a senior (first lineman to ever earn that honor). Rated as the premier prospect in the state by the Birmingham News Class of "Super Seniors" and selected Super Prep All-American. Recorded 329 tackles and 30 sacks over his last two years while leading his prep team to back-to-back state titles. Had 129 tackles, 16 sacks, three fumble recoveries, and two interceptions as a senior. Also blocked four punts as a senior and 14 in his prep career. Named MVP of the state championship game as a junior, adding Alabama Class 5-A Lineman of the Year honors. Selected to play in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Rated by The Sporting News as one of top ten defensive linemen in the country. Named top the Birmingham Post-Herald "10 Most Wanted," Huntsville Times "Elite 11" and Orlando Sentinel (Bill Buckhalter) All-Southern Team lists. Double-figure scorer in basketball and pitched for the school’s baseball team.



3 ANTHONY DERRICKS
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
6-0, 185
12/17/1976
Mississippi State University
AFL Experience: 6th Season


Signed with the Storm on January 24. 2005. Experienced AFL defensive specialist who joined the Storm as a WR/DB after the preseason injury to T.T. Toliver. Was his teams' leader in tackles in four of his five AFL seasons and the team leader in interceptions during first three of his five years. Has previously played for Storm assistant coach Mark Stoute with Indiana, Toronto, and New England.

2004 SEASON: Spent the 2004 season with the Indiana Firebirds after being acquired by the Firebirds as compensation in the trade that sent Head Coach Mike Daily to the Crush. Played in 16 games at defensive specialist and led the Firebirds with a career-high 93.0 tackles. He also added a team-high 19 pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and an interception. Derricks returned 44 kickoffs for a team-high 780 yards and had four missed field goal returns for 53 yards.

2003 SEASON: Spent time with both the Chicago Rush and Colorado Crush during the 2003 season. Played the first two games of the season with the Chicago Rush, collecting 5.0 solo stops. Played in seven games, starting two, for Colorado. Returned 15 kickoffs for 381 yards (25.4 avg.) with two touchdowns. caught seven passes for 101 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown. Made eight solo tackles and two pass breakups.

2002 SEASON: Played in 11 games for the Toronto Phantoms where he had a pair of two-interception games (6/1 at New York and 7/13 at New Jersey). Racked up 241 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown, on 9 kickoffs (7/4 vs Carolina) and returned 7 kicks for 214 yards, with a 56-yard score (5/4 at Arizona). finished with 63.0 tackles and six interceptions on the defensive side of the ball and recorded 1,188 yards and four touchdowns on 54 kickoff returns. Added five missed field goal returns for 78 yards.

2001 SEASON: Put together an excellent year returning kicks for the Toronto Phantoms. In 14 games he gained 1,606 yards on 76 kickoff returns and 217 yards on 10 missed field goal returns. Compiled 1,921 all-purpose yards, ranking 8th in AFL. Led the team with 73.0 tackles and five interceptions, including a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown (7/6 at Buffalo). Totaled four kickoff returns for touchdowns (six total return TDs).

2000 SEASON: Earned All-Rookie team honors and finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year balloting after racking up 1,575 all-purpose yards in 14 games for the New England Sea Wolves. Led the team with 82.5 tackles (5th in AFL) and five interceptions, scoring 9 touchdowns. Put together the top return game in league history, recording 336 yards and four touchdowns (11 attempts), including scores of 55, 57, 54 and 51 yards on June 6, 2000 at San Jose. Returned two of five interceptions for touchdowns during the season. In all had 1,404 kickoff return yards on 56 attempts and had 47 missed field goal return yards in three tries.

COLLEGE/PERSONAL: Was a four-year letter winner at Mississippi State, playing defensive back for the Bulldogs from 1995-98. Returned an interception 90 yards for a touchdown against Auburn in November 1997 (4th longest in school history at that time). Native of Forest, Miss., where he resides in the off-season, Anthony enjoys nothing more than spending time with his daughter Antia, marking her birth as his greatest memory and proudest moment of his life. Participated in football, basketball, baseball, and track at Forest High School. Was an all-state selection in football and Defensive MVP of annual Mississippi All-Star game. Three-time all-district selection in basketball. His cousin and high school teammate, Todd Pinkston, is a starting wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles.