Shock Week 7 game preview
Thursday May 7, 2015
Shock host LA KISS Friday, May 8 at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
SPOKANE, Washington (May 5, 2015) – The Shock (1-4, 0-1) will return to Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena for Week 7 Arena Football League action and will host the Los Angeles KISS (0-6, 0-3) for the first time in the franchise’s history on Friday, May 8 with a 7:00 p.m. PT kickoff. This Friday is ‘Dance Team Night’ presented by Rockstar and KXLY 920 AM radio as the first 3,500 fans receive Rockstar Dance Team Posters. Game coverage will be available via SWX-TV, via radio on the Shock-VPI Radio Network on AM 700 ESPN Spokane and for viewing on WatchESPN.com or the WatchESPN app.
MATCHUP HISTORY
This Friday’s matchup will be the third all-time between the franchises (Spokane leads 2-0) after facing off twice in Los Angeles during the 2014 AFL regular season during the KISS’s inaugural season.
In their first meeting on May 4, 2015, the Shock jumped out to a 28-point lead through the first 18 minutes of the contest as quarterback Erik Meyer ran for two scores and found receiver Adron Tennell for two receiving scores. Halfway through the first quarter, however, Meyer would suffer a collar bone injury and with no backup quarterback active for the game the team would move rookie receiver Rashaad Carter under center. Carter would go on to complete four-of-seven pass attempts for 73 yards and two touchdowns while adding 12 rush attempts for 46 yards and four scores. The Spokane defense also recorded three interceptions on the night on now Las Vegas Outlaw quarterback JJ Raterink while limiting LA to only two offensive scores, with a third touchdown coming on a missed field goal return for a touchdown in the 70-21 Shock win.
The Shock returned to Los Angeles for a June 28, 2014 matchup with the KISS. With Erik Meyer back and healthy at quarterback, the Shock would post a 35-point first half while only allowing the KISS two offensive touchdowns which came in the first quarter. The Shock defensive front were able to apply consistent pressure to former LA KISS, now head coach of the Las Vegas Outlaws, Aaron Garcia throughout the night as they recorded 4.5 sacks on the night led by Derrick Summers (2), Bryson Kelly (1.5), and James Ruffin (1.0). The KISS were able to post 25 fourth-quarter points, but being held scoreless in the second and third allowed the Shock to hold the lead toward a 64-46 victory.
KISS SEASON REVIEW
The KISS enter Week 7 of the 2015 AFL regular season defeated with an overall record of 0-6 (0-3 in West Division play).
Starting off the season against their fellow second-year franchise member of the AFL in the Portland Thunder, the KISS took a 23-21 lead at the half with quarterback Adrian McPherson under center. Despite trading scores with the Thunder in the second half, the KISS would only convert on 3-of-11 third down attempts and 3-of-6 fourth down attempts during the contest. Portland receiver Jamar Howard hauled in eight passes on the night from quarterback Kyle Rowley, good for 114 yards and three touchdowns as the Thunder would go on to win by a final of 42-37 over the KISS.
The KISS visited a stacked San Jose team in Week 2 and differing talent levels became obvious right away as Los Angeles gave up 20 unanswered points to the Sabercats in the first quarter as they gave up the ball on downs in both of their first two possessions. KISS quarterback Adrian McPherson would be pulled from the game and replaced by former Shock quarter Brian Zbydniewski, but a talented Sabercats roster wouldn’t allow that to change the outcome of the contest as they would cruise to a 54-28 home victory over the KISS.
In the first-ever matchup between the KISS and first-year franchise in the Las Vegas Outlaws in Week 3, Los Angeles would outscore the Outlaws in the first three quarters of play by a score of 42-34. Despite Adrian McPherson rushing for four touchdowns on the night and adding another three touchdowns through the air, the KISS defense was unable to slow down Las Vegas Head Coach Aaron Garcia and quarterback JJ Raterink in the fourth quarter as the Outlaws would post 27-points to the KISS’s six on their way to a 61-48 victory over Los Angeles.
Los Angeles would visit the Orlando Predators in Week 4 and again see an outstanding individual performance by Adrian McPherson who would post three rushing touchdowns along with four passing scores. Orlando quarterback Randy Hippeard, however, would post nearly a perfect game as he completed 26-of-29 pass attempts for 339 yards and six touchdowns. Despite McPherson’s individual contributions, the KISS’s lack of efficiency on offense would see them turn the ball over three times on fourth down while the Los Angeles defense wouldn’t even hold Orlando to a fourth down attempt on the night and allow the Predator offense to convert on both of their third down attempts during the contest. The final score of the game would come at the eight-minute mark as Orlando receiver Brandon Thompkins would score on a 2-yard rush as the Predators would run out the clock on their way to a 61-48 win.
Facing off against a West Division rival in Arizona in Week 5, the three-time defending ArenaBowl champion Rattlers established their dominance in the first half as they outscored Los Angeles 41-14. After placing quarterback Adrian McPherson on injured reserve, Bryan Zbydniewski would only completed 14-of-29 pass attempts for 170 yards while throwing two interceptions and being sacked three times on the night. Receiver Donovan Morgan would haul in 11 receptions for 171 yards and three touchdowns on the night, but a seven touchdown performance by Rattler’s quarterback Nick Davila in which he connected with four different receivers for scores would create the separation in a 68-30 Arizona route of the KISS.
Last week (Week 6), the Los Angeles KISS again faced off against the Las Vegas Outlaws during a Monday night CBS Sports Network broadcast. On their third starting quarterback of the season after releasing Brian Zbydniewski prior to last week’s game, Matt Bassuener (who saw time for the Shock earlier in the season) would take over for the KISS. The offensive woes continued for the KISS throughout the game, as they would post their lowest point total of the season in the 49-16 loss to the Outlaws in which all 16-points came in the first half of play.
SHOCK SEASON REVIEW
Through Week 6 of the 2015 AFL regular season, the Shock find themselves in unchartered territory with a 1-4 overall record (0-1 in Pacific Division play).
For only the second time in franchise history (first time was 2011 under Head Coach Rob Keefe) Spokane opened the season with a 0-3 record while being faced with a myriad of injuries at the quarterback position. Reminiscent of the start to the 2011 season in which the team saw six different players take snaps at quarterback, Spokane was again bit by the injury bug to start 2015. Through the first three weeks of the season the Shock were forced to roster five different quarterbacks.
Starting off 2015 against the defending ArenaBowl Champion Arizona Rattlers was no small task to take on for any team. Shock quarterback Carson Coffman would keep the game within ten points despite the Rattlers scoring on a bar-ball recovery, but on the final series of the first-half Coffman would be taken to the ground and suffer a knee injury that would keep him from finishing the game and the next two contests. He would be relieved in the second half by backup quarterback Jarrett Brown as Arizona would go onto win the Week 1 meeting by a final score of 43-60.
In Week 2 against the Philadelphia Soul, the Shock would split the game between quarterback Jarrett Brown and Matt Bassuener. The two would combine for 10 of 25 pass attempts for 138 yards, three passing touchdowns, and two interceptions. After Philadelphia jumped out to a 14-0 lead to begin the contest, the unstable play at quarterback by Spokane would provide the Soul with an easy 43-54 victory.
The Shock visited Portland for their first Pacific Division matchup of 2015 in Week 3. Spokane acquired veteran quarterback Danny Southwick the week of the game and despite only practicing two-days with the team, started out red-hot as he completed his first 8 pass attempts for 156 yards and four touchdowns. After a strong first-half, Spokane would open the third quarter with two costly errors. Thunder jack-linebacker Bryce Peila would first score on a 46-yard interception for a touchdown on a tipped pass and then follow it up on the Shock’s next series with a 3-yard fumble return for a score. The 14-point swing would propel Portland to a 47-43 win after Shock quarterback Danny Southwick was intercepted on Spokane’s final drive of the game.
Returning from a Week 4 bye, Spokane hosted the Orlando Predators in what would be their first win of the 2015 season in a 55-56 overtime thriller. The Shock started out the game with a 14-0 lead after defensive lineman James Ruffin would force a fumble on the Predators opening drive of the game. After going up 35-21 with just over three minutes left in the first-half, Orlando would go on to record 14 unanswered points thanks to an onside kick recovery and tie the game at 35-35 to end the second quarter. The two teams would trade scores in the third quarter, before a turnover plagued and scoreless fourth quarter would leave the two teams tied at the end of regulation. Spokane would win the toss in overtime and choose to play defense first as Orlando would drive the length of the field and score on their opening possession. Electing to go for the two-point conversion, despite the short field to overcome on the conversion attempt the Shock defense would dig in and hold the Predators on the goal line. Orlando would attempt the onside kick following their initial score, but a Spokane recovery on the nine-yard line would set up the tying touchdown pass from Carson Coffman to Mike Washington and the game-winning point after attempt by kicker Taylor Rowan.
In their Week 6 matchup against the New Orleans Voodoo, Spokane started off the game efficiently on offense as they scored on their first two possessions in only two-plays each. After the VooDoo tied the game at 14-14, Shock quarterback Carson Coffman would make his first error of the game as he would underthrow a sail route to the left sideline that would be intercepted by New Orleans defensive back Cameron McGlenn. Despite VooDoo starting quarterback Adam Kennedy having to leave the game in the first-half due to injury, backup quarterback Brian Reader would take over and complete 15 of 26 pass attempts on the night for 206 yards and three touchdowns. The Shock would tie the game just before the half on a touchdown pass from Coffman to rookie receiver Anthony Amos, but open the third quarter by giving up the fourth-of-five total touchdown runs by VooDoo fullback Roosevelt Falls. On Spokane’s ensuing possession, Coffman would be intercepted by New Orleans defensive back Tracy Belton who would return the pick for a 51-yard touchdown to extend the VooDoo lead to two scores. Trading scores through the fourth quarter, Spokane would seemingly awaken from their lackluster play throughout the contest and lead a four-play drive with under a minute remaining to tie the game at 63-63 after scoring on a touchdown pass from Coffman to receiver Rashaad Carter and then converting the two-point conversion on a pass to Mike Washington. Kicking off with 10 seconds remaining, Shock kicker Taylor Rowan would miss the net wide left and set the VooDoo up on their own 20-yard line which would lead to VooDoo kicker Garrett Lindholm kicking a 41-yard field goal as time expired to seal the New Orelans win at 66-63.
GAME PREVIEW
The Week 7 matchup between Spokane and Las Vegas will feature two teams at the bottom of the league standings as each team has had issues with offensive efficiency through the first-third of the 2015 regular season schedule.
Spokane saw a glimpse of their offensive success from previous seasons as they posted a season-high 63-points last week in a loss to the VooDoo and will enter Week 7 ranked 7th in the AFL scoring 49.6 points per game. The KISS on the other hand, posted their lowest point total of the season last week as they scored only 16 first-half points against the Las Vegas Outlaws and are averaging a league-low 34.5 points per game.
Shock quarterback Carson Coffman completed 27-of-42 pass attempts for 404 yards and seven touchdowns last week, but three costly interceptions including one that would be returned for a VooDoo touchdown proved costly down the stretch. Coffman connected with five different receivers on the night, highlighted by an eight reception performance by receiver Rashaad Carter for 126 yards and two scores.
The KISS are in the midst of figuring out who will be their quarterback in 2015. With quarterback Adrian McPherson on the injured reserve list, Los Angeles has rotated four different passers behind center through the first six weeks of the season.
Matt Bassuener, who saw time with the Shock earlier in the 2015 season as Spokane went through quarterback issues of their own, saw a majority of the KISS’s snaps last Monday against the Outlaws as he completed 17-of-27 pass attempts for 202 yards and two touchdowns while being sacked four-times on the night. Newly acquired rookie quarterback Joe Clancy also saw time last week, completing 5-of-19 passes for 62 yards while being sacked once.
The Spokane defense will look to take advantage of the KISS’s offensive misfortunes in Week 7, despite allowing a league-high 56.4 points per game to opposing teams.
The Los Angeles offense is currently ranked last in the AFL in third-down conversions on the year as they have converted on only 19-of-54 attempts (35.2 percent) while being ranked 10th in fourth-down conversions at 32.1 percent on the year (9-of-28). Spokane has had its own difficulties on third-down as they are ranked 11th in the AFL at 40 percent (12-of-30), however, they have successfully converted on 6-of-10 fourth down attempts (ranked fourth).
The two teams will enter Week 7 ranked at the bottom of the AFL in turnover margin (Spokane -4, Los Angeles -6).
While the Shock defense is ranked second in the AFL with 11 total sacks on the season, six of those sacks came during their Week 5 matchup against the Orlando Predators. Los Angeles on the other hand, is currently ranked last in the AFL in sacks allowed as they have given up 20 on the season to opposing teams.
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SPOKANE SHOCK MISSION
The Spokane Shock strive to deliver to our fans a high quality entertainment experience while serving and representing the Inland Northwest on and off the field as a proud member of the Arena Football League.
ABOUT THE SPOKANE SHOCK
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The Shock played their first four seasons in the former af2, winning division titles in all four seasons and ArenaCups in 2006 and 2009 before joining the AFL and winning ArenaBowl XXIII in their first season. The Shock will kick off their 10th Anniversary Season in 2015. Tickets and Sponsorships are available. For more information visit our website at spokaneshock.com or call 509-242-7462. You can also follow the Shock on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine, and YouTube.
