VooDoo Head to the City of Brotherly Love
Thursday June 4, 2015
THE MATCHUP: PHILADELPHIA SOUL (9-1)
Philadelphia host the VooDoo this week with an impressive 9-1 record on the season and have won seven straight games at the Wells Fargo Center dating back to last season. Led by one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Dan Raudabaugh, Phildelaphia's top ranked passing offense (284.5 ypg) will be a stern test for the talented VooDoo secondary. Raudabaugh ranks at or near the top of the league in passing yards (2,824, 2nd), completion percentage (65.7, 4th) and touchdowns (65, 1st) and has spread the wealth this season to several different receivers. The Soul have three different receivers with over 50 receptions including Marco Thomas (86 catches, 1,004 yards), Ryan McDaniel (71 catches, 764 yards) and Shaun Kauleinamoku (52 catches, 782 yards). Defensively the Soul are led by a pair of defensive backs in James Romain and five-year AFL veteran LaRico Stevenson. Romain is having an All-Arena type season with seven interceptions (second in the league) a pair of forced fumbles, 15 passes broken up and 29.5 tackles. Stevenson has chipped in this year with 46 tackles (15th in the league), three interceptions and three passes broken up.
SPIDERMAN STICKS OUT AMONG ROOKIES
Despite being held out of the endzone last week for the first time in his Arena Football career, Roger Jackson continued his strong rookie season with seven catches for 67 yards. In just five games this season Roger Jackson ranks third among all AFL rookies, and second among VooDoo wide receivers with 39 catches for 472 yards and nine touchdown receptions. Only Tampa Bay's Kendrick Ings and Spokane's Anthony Amos rank ahead of Jackson in those categories. Jackson remains on pace to set or tie the franchise rookie marks for receiving yardage (895) and touchdowns (18), both set by Kenny Henderson in 2007.
CD KEEPS SPINNING
Wide receiver Chris Duvalt continues to get better with age. Now in his fifth AFL season, Duvalt is setting career marks in receptions (60), yardage (736), and receiving touchdowns (16), and has led New Orleans in all major receiving catagories since the opening game. Despite being held without a catch during the first half last week in his hometown of Tampa, Duvalt came up big in the fourth quarter catching an eight-yard touchdown pass with 6:28 remaining giving the VooDoo an opportunity to tie the football game at 35.
BATMAN BOUNCES BACK
Two weeks ago against Jacksonville Tracy Belton didn't make a tackle, a rarity for the All-Arena calibre defender. Against Tampa Belton responded with 6.5 tackles and another pass break up. On the season Belton is tied for ninth in the AFL in interceptions (3), and fifth in total passes defended (19). A threat with the ball in his hands, he ranks third in the league in interception return yardage (71), including a league-best 51 yard interception return for a touchdown against the Spokane Shock on May 2.
IMPROVED PASS RUSH
The VooDoo defensive has just four sacks this season with just 1.5 of those coming by a defensive lineman (Matt Hardison) and haven't sacked an opposing quarterback since week four against Tampa. Though they didn't bring down Storm quarterback Jason Boltus last week, the VooDoo turned up the heat with five quarterback hurries, causing Boltus to complete just 23 of his 42 pass attempts. Defensive lineman James McClinton was credited with three quarterback hurries, more than the entire team has had in a single game since week four.
FORMER WOLVERINE FEROCIOUS IN VOODOO DEBUT
The "jack" linebacker spot has seen a lot of change this season for the New Orleans defense with eight different starters in 10 games this season, including Roosevelt Falls, Carlese Franklin, Jeremy Grier (3x), Cameron McGlenn, Bernard Smith, and Jimmy and Seth Williams. Last week former Michigan Wolverine Boubacar Cissoko started at JLB, seeing his first AFL action since 2012 (Kansas City Command). Boubacar was very active early with 3 tackles, and a diving pass break up in the first quarter.
THIRD QUARTER JINX?
This season the third quarter seems cursed for the VooDoo with the team being outscored 141 to 56 so far. Seven times this season the VooDoo have been outscored in the third quarter, and New Orleans has been held scoreless during the third quarter in four of the last seven contests. Turnovers have come in bunches just after halftime, with six turnovers on downs, six lost fumbles and two interceptions all coming during the third quarter this season.
LAST TIME: SLOW START DOOMS VOODOO
The undefeated Soul raced out to a 34-7 lead with about a minute to play before halftime, before holding off the VooDoo in the second half for a 55-42 victory on April 25 in New Orleans. Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh was an efficient 18-of-25 for 196 yards and five touchdowns, while fullback Tommy Taggart carried the ball 11 times for 47 yards and three touchdowns. In his last full start before his shoulder injury Adam Kennedy completed 24-of-42 passes for 271 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions for the VooDoo. Chris Duvalt led the New Orleans receivers with six catches for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns. For a full recap, stats, photos and more from the April 25 meeting click here.
ABOUT THE NEW ORLEANS VOODOO
Playing their fifth season since returning in 2011, the New Orleans VooDoo play all their home games at the Smoothie King Center (formerly New Orleans Arena). Season and single game tickets can be purchased by contacting the sales department at 888-277-5526 ext. 109 or ext. 133 or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Like us on Facebook at “New Orleans VooDoo” and follow us on Twitter @AFLVooDoo.
ABOUT THE AFL
Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. The ESPN family of networks and CBS Sports Network will nationally broadcast AFL games each week for the entire 2015 season. The AFL schedule culminates with ArenaBowl XXVIII Saturday, August 29, 2015 on ESPN.