Breaking it down – 2008 Week One
Andy Lopusnak
Tuesday March 4, 2008
WEEK ONE RESULTS |
Los Angeles 59, NEW ORLEANS 42 |
Dallas 51, GEORGIA 41 |
Tampa Bay 51, KANSAS CITY 49 |
Philadelphia 77, ORLANDO 56 |
Arizona 63, UTAH 62 |
COLORADO 50, Columbus 47 |
CLEVELAND 61, New York 49 |
CHICAGO 70, San Jose 47 |
WEEK ONE’S EIGHT GAMES FEATURED:
- Two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
- Three players with at least 2.0 sacks.
- Three QBs that tossed three interceptions.
- Three starting QBs were injured and likely will not play next week.
- Three kickoffs returned for touchdowns.
- Four players with 300 or more yards passing.
- Five players with 200 or more all-purpose yards.
- Five players with at least 10.0 tackles.
- Five fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns.
- Six kickers with at least ten points scored.
- Six non-QBs with at least four total touchdowns.
- Eight players with 10 or more receptions, including three from one team.
- 13 quarterbacks with at least five passing touchdowns.
- 16 players with 100 or more yards receiving.
Based on one week, the rules committee has made another great rule change for those of us who actually love high-scoring AFL action (for those that like lower scores…well, there’s always soccer and watching paint dry). The 2008 AFL’s first week was the highest scoring Week One in league history. In two seasons since adopting free substitution and with the new Jack linebacker rule being implemented this year, scoring has increased by 22.2 points per game in the opening week of AFL play compared to 2006. In 2007, scoring increased 10.6 points from 2006 and this year it increased 11.6 points from last season. Here’s a look at the Week One scoring averages per game for the last five seasons.
WEEK ONE AVERAGE POINTS SCORED PER GAME (BOTH TEAMS COMBINED)
YEAR |
AVG POINTS |
2008 |
113.4 |
2007 |
101.8 |
2006 |
91.2 |
2005 |
94.6 |
2004 |
90.0 |
Twenty one years ago, Pittsburgh Gladiators quarterback Mike Hohensee connected on a 45-yard touchdown to Russell Hairston to usher in the AFL on the league’s first play from scrimmage. Friday night, New Orleans Wendall Williams one upped that historic play when he scored a touchdown on the very first play of the league’s 22nd season – a 54-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It is thought that this is the first time in league history that the league’s first kickoff a season has been returned for a touchdown.
Then on the very first play from scrimmage in the same game, VooDoo defensive back Calvin Spears picked off Los Angeles quarterback Sonny Cumbie, which resulted in a New Orleans touchdown and a 13-0 advantage. The Avengers battled back with a 31-9 second-half rally to beat the VooDoo 59-42 thanks to three straight VooDoo drives that ended with QB Steve Bellisari tossing an interception.
ROAD WARRIORS
In the league’s first five games played, the home team lost all five contests with Los Angeles, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Arizona all gaining elusive road victories. The final three games featured the home team winning though– Colorado, Cleveland and Chicago.
OPPOSITE FORCE
Last season, the Georgia Force scored the most points in Week One in their 69-65 win at Arizona. This season, they were held to a league-low 41 points in the 51-41 home loss to Dallas. For the second-straight year, the Desperados held a team to league-low in points for the first week of the season. Last year, they topped New York 60-7.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE
Last season, Columbus, Orlando, Georgia, Utah, Kansas City and San Jose all won in Week One. This year, they all lost. Colorado, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Cleveland (then Las Vegas) and Chicago all lost last season at this time. All won this year.
JUST A BIT OUTSIDE
Kansas City and Utah had opportunities to win their respective games on the final play, but both teams’ kickers missed field goals from the mid 30-yard range as time expired. Peter Martinez missed a 37 yarder for the Brigade, while Steve Videtich failed on a 36-yard attempt for the Blaze.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The wind took it, I guess,” Videtich told the Salt Lake Tribune about his 36-yard field goal attempt that hit the right upright as time expired in the Blaze’s 63-62 home loss to Arizona. If he would have made the field goal, Videtich would have become the league’s all-time leader in field goals made.
WHAT A CATCH
For the first time in league history, a team had two receivers with at least eight catches, 100 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. T.T. Toliver had eight grabs for 125 yards with four TDs, while and AFL rookie Chas Gessner chipped in 12 receptions for 110 yards with four TDs for Orlando.
WHAT A CATCH, PART II
Another league receiving record was setting in a losing effort. This time when San Jose had three receivers all get at least ten catches, 100 yards receiving and at least one touchdown. James Roe had 12 grabs for 114 yards with a TD; Rodney Wright pitched in with 12 catches for 100 yards and two scores; and Cleannord Saintil added ten receptions for 129 yards with two TDs.
DOLEZEL DOWNED
Dallas quarterback Clint Dolezel was slammed into the turf in the fourth quarter of the Desperados’ win at Georgia when Force lineman Jermaine Smith blindsided him. Dolezel finished the final 10:48 of the game and tossed two touchdown passes. Professional football’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns is likely to miss anywhere between one and six weeks according to various sources with a possible separation on his throwing shoulder. Chris Saunders will replace Dolezel this week when Dallas hosts Columbus this Friday. Columbus beat Dallas in the playoffs last season.
"That's what it feels like," Dolezel told the Star-Telegram about a possible separation. "I've had a total separation and I felt no pain, which is bad usually. So pain is a good thing. I've got pain. It means things are still attached. That was my biggest worry, that it's not longer than a month.”
HEXED
New Orleans QB Steve Bellisari sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the third quarter of the VooDoo’s 59-42 loss to the Avengers. After getting a knee brace, he returned but tossed an interception on three consecutive drives. He will undergo tests this week to see if he will need surgery or will miss any playing time.
DRAGON SLAYED
Early in the second quarter at Cleveland, New York quarterback Aaron Garcia injured his knee after tossing an interception. He did not return and his future is uncertain at this time. Since 2005, Garcia has played in just twelve games due to various injuries. He was the league’s all-time leader in touchdown passes in 2005 when he was first hurt and has since been passed by Clint Dolezel, Sherdrick Bonner and Andy Kelly.
YEAR |
GAMES |
YARDS |
TD |
INT |
2005 |
16 |
4,112 |
90 |
13 |
Since |
12 |
3,205 |
76 |
9 |
‘SOUL’ MATES REUNITED
It had been four years since Philadelphia quarterback Tony Graziani tossed a pass to Chris Jackson, who had played with Grand Rapids and Georgia since 2005. On Saturday, he connected with his former Los Angeles Avengers teammate four times for touchdowns. From 2002-04, the Graziani-Jackson combination hit pay dirt 118 times – the most by any QB/WR tandem in the league during that timeframe.
CLEVELAND ROCKS
The last AFL team to call Cleveland home, the Thunderbolts (1992-94) won their first home game and so did the latest AFL team to call the city home – the Gladiators. The 61-49 victory over New York was the first AFL game played in Cleveland since August 13, 1994 when the Miami Hooters beat the home-standing Thunderbolts 43-40. After winning its first two home games to start 2-0 in 1992, the first Cleveland AFL team went 8-26 over the next three seasons.
CLEVELAND RUNS WILD AGAIN
Back in the Thunderbolts day, that Cleveland franchise consistently led the AFL in all rushing categories thank largely to QB Major Harris. This time around fullback Marlion Jackson is providing the ground attack. His 62 rushing yards vs. New York led the AFL in Week One and was more than the four best runners of the week combined. If he somehow continues this pace, he would end the season with 992 which is more than double the AFL record held by former Grand Rapids QB Michael Bishop, who ran for 459 yards in 2005.
SABERCATS STREAK ENDS
San Jose had won 13 straight games until turning over the ball five times, the most by a SaberCats team since 1999, in Chicago’s 70-47 win over the defending ArenaBowl champions.
GOOD BYE?
The Grand Rapids Rampage is the twelfth team in league history to open a season with a bye week. In the previous eleven season-opening byes those teams went on to the playoffs seven times, but none ever advanced to the ArenaBowl. The Rampage’s first game of 2008 will be this Monday when the team hosts San Jose.
For the opening game that occurred in Week Two, the previous eleven teams had a combined record of 6-5. Three of those five losses came against either the SaberCats (twice) or the Rampage (once). In 1995, the then-expansion SaberCats won the franchise’s first game when they stung Las Vegas. San Jose also ruined Arizona’s 2001 season opener. The Rampage spoiled the season opener for the Milwaukee Mustangs in 2000.
YEAR |
TEAM |
WEEK TWO RESULT |
FINAL RECORD |
2008 |
Grand Rapids Rampage |
??? |
??? |
2007 |
WON – 63-30 |
8-8* |
|
2006 |
LOSS – 48-41 |
3-13 |
|
2005 |
WON – 55-45 |
10-6* |
|
2004 |
WON – 49-48 (OT) |
8-8 |
|
2001 |
LOSS – 48-27 |
8-6* |
|
2000 |
Milwaukee Mustangs |
LOSS – 52-47 |
7-7* |
1999 |
LOSS – 59-26 |
1-13 |
|
1996 |
WON – 63-32 |
10-4* |
|
1995 |
LOSS – 32-27 |
6-6 |
|
1994 |
WON – 31-30 |
8-4* |
|
1989 |
Pittsburgh Gladiators |
WON – 28-18 |
3-1* |
WEEK ONE’S TOP STATISTICAL PREFORMANCES
100-YARD RECEIVERS |
|||
PLAYER, TEAM |
RECEIVING YARDS |
RECEPTIONS |
TOUCHDOWNS |
Brent Holmes, Georgia |
156 |
8 |
3 |
Mike Horacek, Kansas City |
149 |
7 |
3 |
Anthony Armstrong, Dallas |
135 |
11 |
2 |
Larry Brackins, Philadelphia |
133 |
6 |
3 |
Troy Bergeron, Georgia |
130 |
9 |
1 |
Kevin Swayne, New York |
130 |
10 |
3 |
Cleannord Saintil, San Jose |
129 |
10 |
2 |
Damian Harrell, Chicago |
128 |
5 |
2 |
T.T. Toliver, Orlando |
125 |
8 |
4 |
Timon Marshall, Los Angeles |
116 |
9 |
3 |
James Roe, San Jose |
114 |
12 |
1 |
Chas Gessner, Orlando |
110 |
12 |
4 |
Kevin Nickerson, Arizona |
110 |
9 |
3 |
Tradon Harvey, Arizona |
102 |
8 |
2 |
Otis Amey, Cleveland |
101 |
7 |
2 |
Rodney Wright, San Jose |
100 |
12 |
2 |
300-YARD PASSERS |
|||
PLAYER, TEAM |
PASSING YARDS |
PASS TDs |
INTERCEPTIONS |
Mark Grieb, San Jose |
353 |
5 |
3 |
Chris Greisen, Georgia |
349 |
5 |
1 |
Shane Stafford, Orlando |
323 |
8 |
0 |
Lang Campbell, Arizona |
319 |
8 |
1 |
200 YARDS OR MORE ALL-PURPOSE |
||
PLAYER, TEAM |
ALL-PURPOSE |
TOTAL TDs |
Calvin Russell, Colorado |
266 |
1 |
T.T. Toliver, Orlando |
263 |
4 |
Wendall Williams |
260 |
2 |
Kevin Nickerson, Arizona |
246 |
4 |
Troy Bergeron, Georgia |
201 |
1 |
DEFENSIVE LEADERS |
|||||||
PLAYER, TEAM |
TACKLES |
INT |
SACKS |
FF |
FR |
PBU |
DEF TD |
DeJuan Alfonzo |
5.0 |
1 |
0.0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Ernest Allen, Georgia |
5.5 |
0 |
1.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Chris Angel, Colorado |
10.5 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
James Baron, Chicago |
2.0 |
0 |
2.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Levy Brown, New York |
8.5 |
1 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
E.J. Burt, Utah |
2.0 |
0 |
1.0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Nate Coggins, Columbus |
10.0 |
1 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
David Crocker, Georgia |
11.0 |
1 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Rashad Floyd, Colorado |
6.0 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
Johnnie Harris, Dallas |
7.5 |
0 |
0.0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Brandon Hefflin, Cleveland |
10.5 |
0 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Joe Minucci, Cleveland |
2.0 |
0 |
2.0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Dennison Robinson, Chicago |
12.0 |
2 |
0.0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Karon Riley, Cleveland |
4.0 |
0 |
2.0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Calvin Spears, New Orleans |
5.5 |
1 |
0.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Damen Wheeler, Los Angeles |
3.0 |
1 |
0.0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
HONORABLE MENTION: Orlando QB Shane Stafford tossed eight scores and 323 yards in the same game. He completed 69% of his passes for a passer rating of 129.0. The lone sour note for Stafford was the one time he was sacked, by Gabe Nyenhuis, which was fumbled and was the only turnover of the game by either team. Stafford had six of his passes broken up as well.
HONORABLE MENTION: In a losing effort, Los Angeles defensive back Damen Wheeler forced a fumble, returned a fumble for a touchdown, posted an interception, broke up four passes and had 3.0 tackles. Wheeler’s 15-yard fumble return for a touchdown gave the Avengers their first lead of the game. His fourth-quarter interception of Steve Bellisari was the spark for Los Angeles’ comeback.
HONORABLE MENTION: Arizona WR/DB Kevin Nickerson posted 246 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in the Rattlers 63-62 win over Utah. He caught nine passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns; added a four-yard rushing TD, returned two missed field goals for 22 yards and returned nine kickoffs for 120 yards. Nickerson also added a solo tackle in the red zone on defense.