Breaking it down – 2010 Week Ten

Andy Lopusnak
Thursday June 10, 2010

Road teams continued winning; five games were decided in the waning seconds; and Aaron Garcia became the league’s all-time career leader in passing touchdowns. There was a lot more than that in Week Ten. Travel to another dimension, a dimension not only of touchdowns and field goals but of Arena Football; a journey into a wondrous land whose dasher boards are that of imagination. That’s the goalpost ahead – your next stop, Breaking it Down!

 Click here to view my photo gallery from the Week Ten game featuring Oklahoma City and Tampa Bay.

Home team in ALL CAPS

BYE: Spokane

WEEK TEN FEATURED….

• The road team went 4-3 and is 18-17 in the past four weeks.

• Twelve receivers had at least 100 yards and five passers finished with over 300 yards.

• The AFL used game action shots in five of the seven game recaps on its website – that’s more than the previous nine weeks combined.

• The AFL team store finally went live this week on the AFL website (not a great selection, but at least it’s something, right?).

• Five of seven games decided by three or fewer points (three were decided by a single point).

GOOD TO THE LAST SECOND

Six of the seven games came down to the very end. Here’s a quick look at how they ended.

• In Chicago, the Rush was stopped on fourth down from the Sharks’ four-yardline in the final minute (time keeping was off in the stats, so the exact time is not clear). Jacksonville wins by eight.

• In Tampa, the Storm stopped an OKC two-point conversion with nine seconds then recovered the ensuing onside kick to win. Tampa Bay wins by two.

• In Des Moines, the Barnstormers missed a 40-yard field goal as time expired. Five seconds earlier, Alabama scored a touchdown that gave the Vipers their first lead since early in the second quarter. Alabama wins by one.

• In Dallas, the Vigilantes dropped their fifth straight game when BattleWings QB Gary Cooper and WR James Jordan connected for a touchdown and a two-point conversion as time expired. Bossier-Shreveport wins by one.

• In Tulsa, the Talons scored with less than 20 seconds left (the time of scores are all screwed up in this game’s stats so no exact time was given) to pull within three, but failed to get the onside kick. Orlando wins by three.

• In Phoenix, the Rattlers scored with a minute to go, but left too much time on the clock and the Iron tied the game on a 28-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime. Milwaukee scored first, and then Arizona followed. The Rattlers opted for a two-point conversion instead of sudden death and Rod Winsor ran in the game-winning two-pointer. Arizona wins by one in overtime.

NO STATS IN TULSA

As mentioned in my Week Six article, the Tulsa Talons stats crew announced that they were quitting this week because of the league’s new stats program. This crew had done stats for all of the Talons’ game dating back to the team’s inception in 2000. Sure enough, there were no live stats during the game and still no game report online yet (it’s Thursday already). The Talons brought in a new stats crew but apparently, they must’ve found the stats software too difficult and kept game stats by hand, which explains why it took until Tuesday to put up a box score (incomplete as it is). The time for all of the scoring plays is completely wrong or a lot of scoring happened with just one second left in the third and fourth quarters. Minor league is one thing, but this is getting ridiculous.

ALMOST NO STATS IN ARIZONA

It’s Thursday and there’s still no complete game report from the Iron-Rattlers game online. If you go to the game report, it has the scoring summary and nothing else. The score-by-quarter is zeroed out and there are no team or individual stats listed. What’s strange is the box score has team and individual stats as well as a score-by-quarter, but the game report only has the scoring summary. The time of the final score in overtime is listed as 00:00, but this is highly unlikely (Arizona didn’t have a nine-minute drive).

 Another flawed AFL math note came from the Rattlers’ postgame press release that stated: “the Rattlers dominated time of possession, controlling the ball for 53:48 compared to Milwaukee’s 24:57.” Even if the Rattlers did score as time expired, the maximum time used for the game would’ve been 75 minutes not almost 79 minutes. Calculators are cheap, like the AFL stats program, use them!

GARCIA TOP GUNSLINGER

Jacksonville QB Aaron Garcia became the league’s all-time touchdown leader on his fourth TD against Chicago (for more on this, please read my article about this). As mentioned in my previous article this week, the AFL and Sharks are still using the incorrect career numbers for Garcia even after my article. Here’s a look at where Garcia actually ranks in the major career passing categories (these numbers are verified correct unlike anything apparently you’re going to see from the AFL this week).

* Active player

ROOKIE NO MORE

Jacksonville became the first team to reach seven victories this season. The Sharks are on-pace to become the first expansion team since the 2004 New Orleans VooDoo to finish the regular season with the league’s best record (the VooDoo was 11-5, tied with four other teams that year). In league history, there have been just 12 expansion teams to finish with non-losing seasons – the Sharks will become the 13^th team with their next win. Of the previous 12, only the 2004 Austin Wranglers (8-8) did not make the playoffs. The 1990 Dallas Texans are the only expansion team to make it to the ArenaBowl but lost to Detroit 51-27. Of the eleven expansion teams to make the playoffs, only four won their first playoff game. None won two playoff games in the same season. The Sharks seek to become just the fourth expansion team to win a division title joining the 2004 VooDoo, 1995 San Jose SaberCats and 1997 Nashville Kats.

 Notes: teams like the Detroit Drive and Tampa Bay Storm that won titles in their first year were not expansion teams but moved from other franchises and changed names. In addition, af2 teams are not included and won’t be until the league gets off its hind and publishes a record book (oh, Spokane did win the ArenaCup as an expansion team).

SOUTH RISES AGAIN

The four teams comprising the South Division all won this weekend and each have at least a .500 record. No other division can claim more than two teams with non-losing records. Through ten weeks, there are nine teams with non-losing records and the South has four of them, including the AFL-leading Jacksonville Sharks (7-2).

JUST SWIMMINGLY

Jacksonville improved to a league-best 7-2 in spite of Aaron Garica’s two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). The Sharks went from down eight with a minute to go in the first half to up by four in a span of 52 seconds. First Garcia connected with Dallas Baker for a touchdown, then Chicago QB Russ Michna was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, which resulted in a safety (that’s two weeks in a row that Michna has been flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone). With the safety, the Sharks got the ball back and kicked a field goal to enter halftime up 32-28. Chicago pulled within three as time expired in the third quarter. The Rush had a chance to tie it on its final possession but on fourth and two from the Sharks’ four-yardline, Michna’s pass to DeJuan Alfonzo fell incomplete.

I NEED MO’ ZO

Speaking of Alfonzo, he made his first ten catches of the season, for 124 yards, in the game (both are career highs). Back when Ironman football meant something before the league pretty much eliminated it by allowing free substitution; Alfonzo was one of the best two-way players in the game. In the final three years of the previous AFL, Alfonzo was named to the All-Ironman team all three seasons. With very little two-way threats anymore, the AFL still pushes the Ironman status for their awards as offense or defense, plus special teams. If that’s the case, then some of the best returners were shafted back in the day. Great offensive players with amazing return skills like Steve Papin and George LaFrance would have more Ironman of the Game, Week and Year awards than Barry Wagner if this was the norm. Before free substitution, there’d be zero-point-zero chance that Orlando’s Josh Bush would be named Ironman of the Game or Week based on just his offensive and special teams numbers.

This week’s Ironman of the Week should’ve gone to Bossier-Shreveport’s Willis Marshall. The MVP and Ironman of ArenaBowl XIX posted four catches for 46 yards on offense; defensively he had two tackles (one for a loss) and an interception returned 22 yards for a touchdown; and on special teams, he added two kickoffs for 68 yards, including a 52-yard return that set up a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

 I hope that Alfonzo sees some more action at receiver. Yes, he’s got on the field at the goal line and has two rushing scores, but it’s nice to see something other than a goal line touchdown. There has truly been a dramatic drop off in the two-way talent in this league this year. Maybe the two-time defending AFL Ironman of the Year Will Pettis will actually play for the first time this week and get some time on both sides of the ball.

CHEATWOOD EXTINGUISHES BLAZE

Cleveland linebacker Tim Cheatwood had an AFL-record three fumble recoveries, including one he returned for a touchdown, in the Gladiators’ 75-39 win over Utah. In the game, the Blaze fumbled six times with the Gladiators recovering four of them (Anthony Hoke had the other and returned that for a TD) because of bad center-QB exchanges (a consistent problem for Utah all year). Add in two more interceptions thrown by the Blaze and it was a horrible debut for Utah’s new head coach Ron James, who previously coached the Gladiators when the team was in Las Vegas from 2005-06.

NEW COACH = WORSE RESULT IN FIRST WEEK

Utah became the second team in consecutive weeks to fire its head coach. In the first game with the new head coaches, both Utah and Dallas lost by more points than the previous week with their respective original head coaches. In Week Eight, Dallas lost to Chicago by seven points then fired Rich Ingold and lost by 25 in James Fuller’s first game as head coach while scoring the team’s fewest points of the season.

 Last week, Ernesto Purnsley was fired after the Blaze lost by 25. Utah, under the guidance of Ron James, lost by 36 this week. Possible good news for Blaze fans though. Week Two under a new coach fared far better for Dallas, which lost by a single point this week while scoring a season-high 69 points. Utah plays Chicago this week, so we’ll see if the Blaze improve in the second week of a new head coach like Dallas did. If the stats are any indication, it’s going to be a very long rest of the season for James because the Blaze are near the bottom in almost every offensive and defense statistical category.

BARN BURNER

The Barnstormers allowed a ten-point, fourth-quarter lead to evaporate against Alabama but four missed kicks ultimately doomed Iowa. Jeff Glas missed three field goals, including a 40-yarder as time expired that would’ve given Iowa the win. He also missed an extra point in the one-point loss. On the year, Glas has attempted an AFL high 12 field goal (tied). Alabama outscored the Barnstormers 19-3 in the fourth quarter. Vipers QB Kevin Eakin passed for a season-high 386 yards along with six touchdowns in the win.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

For the Barnstormers, DB Tanner Varner posted a 16.5 tackles (the most in the AFL this season), along with two interceptions and two breakups. The league gave him Defensive Player of the Week honors and apparently still doesn’t realize a DB with a bunch of tackles means that he’s giving up a lot of yards and likely touchdowns (which was the case for Varner). In the same game, Alabama’s Vince Hill also had two interceptions on back-to-back series in the fourth quarter that helped erase a 15-point deficit. My vote for Defensive Player of the Week would’ve been for Cleveland’s Tim Cheatwood’s AFL record three fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD) along with a sack, a forced fumble and two tackles. The people voting on these awards apparently know nothing about this game. I’ve come to expect this from the AFL’s inept PR staff, but the media in Des Moines gave Varner the Ironman of the Game despite having no offensive stats and no kick/MFG returns at all but just three tackles on special teams – THAT’S NOT IRONMAN FOOTBALL!!! Alabama’s CJ Johnson had 240 all-purpose yards and a tackle in the same game (106 receiving, 130 return yards), but they decided to give the award to someone on the losing home team.

 DAWG GONE IT

After pulling within two with just nine seconds left, OKC attempted a two-point conversion to tie the game and likely force overtime, but FB Chad Cook was stopped short on his rushing attempt. Four minutes earlier, the Yard Dawgz had the lead but a safety when QB Tommy Grady mishandled a snap (one of at least four this night) shot the loose ball through the back of the end zone to give the Storm a 43-42. Tampa Bay scored on the next offensive snap and never trailed again. In the game, the Storm and Yard Dawgz were a combined five-of-16 on third down (31.3%), but on fourth down converted six-of-eight attempts (75%) with four touchdowns scored (three by OKC, one by TB).

WINDSOR BENEATH MY WINGS

Arizona WR Rod Windsor tied his AFL season-high with 16 catches this week for 162 yards and three touchdowns. He also added two rushing scores and the game-winning two-point conversion. On the year, Windsor leads the league in receptions (101), receptions per game (12.6), receiving yards per game (146.3) and points scored per game (22.0). If Windsor continues his pace, he will shatter the AFL records for receptions and receiving yards. He would also finish second all-time in total points scored in a single season (sorry, again no af2 stats will be included). If the AFL doesn’t combine the records of the AFL and af2, then Windsor will easily win AFL Rookie of the Year. However, if they do combine the records as previously mentioned then he is ineligible and it’s anyone’s guess who would win the award.

* - on pace this season

WHOLLY RUSTY IRON BATMAN?

Milwaukee QB Chris Greisen entered the Arizona game with 55 touchdowns to just one interception. He easily had his worse game of the season against the Rattlers throwing three interceptions. Even with four picks on the season, Greisen still has the least in the league and this night managed to complete 66.7% of his passes for 397 yards and eight touchdowns. On the year, he currently leads the league in passing yards (3,031), passing touchdowns (63) and passer rating (129.0). Greisen is on pace to break the league marks in yardage and will fall five TDs short of his own AFL record for passing TD.

 If he averages just 253 yards per game the rest of the season, Greisen will become the first player in league history with three seasons of at least 4,800 passing yards. He needs just five passing yards this week to pass Matt D’Orazio for 22^nd all-time in passing yards and already ranks 19^th all-time in passing touchdowns. Amazingly, Greisen has done most of this in the course of just three seasons as a starter. He began his AFL career in 2005 and in two years with Dallas had just 16 pass attempts for 142 yards and three touchdowns.

* - on pace this season

ROAD NOT KIND TO MILWAUKEE

The Iron lost its third straight toad game this week – an overtime thriller in Arizona. Milwaukee’s 1-3 record on the road is tied with Tulsa for the worst of any team with a winning record. The Iron is 5-0 at home and luckily plays there this week against Cleveland, but Milwaukee finishes the season with road games in four of the final six weeks. Milwaukee has been involved in both overtime games in the AFL this season. The first when beating Utah 56-55 thanks to a two-point conversion and this week losing to the Rattlers on a two-point conversion.

TALONS HOME STREAK SNAPPED

Tulsa had won 14 straight overall home games dating back to its time in the af2. Despite winning the turnover battle and leading by one entering the fourth quarter, the Talons dropped their first home game in almost two years. The killer this night was back-to-back possession by the Talons. At the end of the third quarter up by a point, the Talons were called for too many players on the field when the team had a fourth and goal from the goalline. Instead of going for the field goal and a four-point lead, the team went for the touchdown but Justin Allgood’s pass fell incomplete, which gave the Predators the ball as time expired in the quarter. After Orlando scored to retake the lead, Allgood tossed an interception in the endzone and Orlando went on to score to go up by 12. The teams traded touchdowns the rest of the way.

PREDS DREAD THE O-RENA

Orlando won its third straight road games this week and is tied for the best road record in the American Conference (with Jacksonville). However, the Predators have just one home victory this season (tied for the worst in the entire league). Four of the next five games for the Preds are at home including games the next two weeks against two of the best road record teams (Spokane and Jacksonville).

BATTLEWINGS SNAP LOSING STREAK

Bossier-Shreveport won for the first time since Week Two that snapped a six-game losing skid. It was the first road win of the year for Bossier-Shreveport and the fifth straight loss for the Vigilantes. The BattleWings needed every second to win this game. BattleWings QB Gary Cooper tossed a five-yard TD to James Jordan as time expired to pull Bossier-Shreveport within a point. The duo connected again for the two-point conversion to give the BattleWings the 70-69 win. Cooper completed 78% of his passes (32-of-41) for 313 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He also added a rushing touchdown and tossed the game-winning two-point conversion.

 IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY

Here’s a look at the eight teams that would make the postseason if the season ended after Week Ten and the games that would take place in week one of the playoffs. Note not all teams have played the same number of games due to the odd number of teams and the league using two bye weeks per team. Milwaukee owns the tie-breaker over Chicago based on the Iron’s head-to-head win earlier this season.

 AMERICAN CONFERENCE

#4 Alabama (5-4) at #1 Jacksonville (7-2; South Division leader)

#3 Tampa Bay (5-3) at #2 Tulsa (5-4; Southwest Division leader)

 NATIONAL CONFERENCE

#4 Arizona (5-3) at #1 Spokane (6-2; Western Division leader)

#3 Chicago (6-3) at #2 Milwaukee (6-3; Midwest Division leader)

WEEK TEN’S STATS LEADERS

BREAKING IT DOWN MVP OF THE WEEK: Arizona WR Rod Windsor

Windsor becomes the first two-time Breaking it Down MVP of the Week thanks to his second 16-catch game of the year. Windsor scored the game’s first points and its last – both by running the ball. His first came on a one-yard rushing TD and the last was the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime. Windsor had 162 yards on those 16 grabs and three touchdowns. He added two more scores on the ground.