Week 11 Game Preview - Empire at Brigade
Friday June 22, 2018
After wrapping up a four-game home stand, the Albany Empire go on the road to take on the first place Baltimore Brigade on Saturday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Royal Farms Arena. This will be the third meeting between the two sides in the past four weeks, with Baltimore leading the season series 2-1. The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network and Alt 105.7 fm.
“Every game from here on out is a playoff game in our minds” said Rob Keefe, Head Coach of the Albany Empire. “We are still battling for the top seed in the postseason. We all have a sour taste in our mouths from the last two games, but we refuse to dwell on it. All week long we are preparing for a crucial matchup against Baltimore and learning from our mistakes to improve and be the best football team that we can be.”
Despite the heartbreaking 75-74 result last Saturday against the Philadelphia Soul, the Empire offense was more than encouraging. Quarterback Tommy Grady continued to target his elite receiving duo of Joe Hills and Malachi Jones. Hills and Jones combined for 16 receptions, 320 yards and nine total touchdowns. With his outstanding effort in the loss, Jones reclaimed his spot at the top of the league in receiving yards with 890. Grady, the league leader in total passing yards and passing touchdowns, tallied 18 completions for 335 yards and a season-high 10 touchdowns. With another matchup with the Brigade looming on Saturday, Baltimore leads the season series, 2-1, after converting a field goal in the waning seconds of Week 9 to escape the Times Union Center with a 59-56 win.
The first matchup is too look out for is Albany’s dynamic receiving duo of Hills and Jones versus Baltimore defensive backs Virgil Gray and Joe Powell. Against the Brigade this season, Hills and Jones have stepped up their already impressive games. On the other hand, Gray has been a dominating defensive presence all season long for Baltimore, leading the league in total tackles with 59.5. Gray put on a stellar performance in a Week 2 victory over the Empire by recording 10 tackles and an interception, ultimately earning defensive MVP honors for the game. Both Gray and Powell are tied for second in the league with three interceptions on the season. With a clear receiving threat present, expect Gray and Powell to shadow Hills and Jones all night long to try to take away at least one of the league’s top receivers.
The key to victory in this matchup is for Albany to utilize a third and fourth receiving option. The likelihood of Baltimore shutting down both Hills and Jones are slim to none, but that won’t take any focus off of the duo. Expect receivers such as Collin Taylor and Greg Carr to make an impact on this game. On the season, Taylor has proven himself to be more than a capable receiver by totaling 344 yards and seven touchdowns in the first nine games played. Carr has reeled in six touchdowns on the season with 108 total receiving yards, including a two-touchdown performance last Saturday against the Soul. If Baltimore is able to limit the amount of times that Hills and Jones find the end zone, it may help their chances of winning, but don’t be surprised to see the Empire being content to locate other targets and see Grady spread the ball around.
The next matchup to look out for is between the two starting quarterbacks for each side, Albany’s Tommy Grady versus Baltimore’s Randy Hippeard. Both offenses have proven to be high-powered all season long as the opposing quarterbacks make their case for league MVP this season. On the season, Grady leads the league in passing yards with 2,266 and passing touchdowns with 59. Hippeard stands at number two in each of those categories with 2,091 passing yards and 47 passing touchdowns. Both quarterbacks rarely turn the ball over meaning fans can expect to be at the edge of their seats and enjoy a high-scoring affair in this one.
The determining factor in this matchup comes down to which quarterback can limit the turnovers. All three contests between the Brigade and Empire this season have been one possession games. Grady has thrown five interceptions on the season while Hippeard has thrown four. Hippeard will need to be wary of Albany defensive back Terence Moore who leads the league in interceptions with four, while Grady will need to respect Gray and Powell’s three interceptions for the Brigade. If neither defense is able to come up with turnovers, expect a healthy dose of onside kicks. Utilizing onside kicks are a great way to try to steal possessions away from your opponent. Don’t be surprised to see the Empire kick an onside kick in the middle of a quarter to try to not only get the ball back, but keep Hippeard off the field. The phrase ‘the best offense is a good defense’ could not be more accurate when you are talking about two reigning league MVPs at the helms of their respective teams.
The third and final factor to watch out for is Brigade receiver Brandon Thompkins. ‘BT’ has the ability to burn defensive backs while running a route or taking a kick off the net and returning it to the house for six. In the last meeting between the two sides, Thompkins recorded a career-high 17 receptions for 159 yards and three touchdowns, being named Offensive Player of the Game. Thompkins has 12 total touchdowns on the season, proving to be an impact player every time he steps on the field. The Albany defensive secondary that includes electrifying players like Terence Moore, Joe Sykes, and Marrio Norman must respect the explosiveness that Thompkins provides the Brigade’s offense. Thompkins is clearly a favorite target of Hippeard as he has totaled 62 receptions this season; nearly double the next closest receiver on the Baltimore offense.
The key to victory in this matchup is simple: tackle Brandon Thompkins, period. Sure, it’s easier said than done, but the Empire cannot afford Thompkins to pick up additional yards on kickoffs or after catching a pass. Whether he is catching, running or returning the ball, Thompkins has a nose for the end zone. On kickoffs especially, Thompkins gives the Brigade a chance to score without their star quarterback even stepping foot on the field. He seemingly always sets up Baltimore in great field position which takes pressure off the Brigade offense. Look for the Empire to mix in onside kicks and squib kicks to limit how often the ball gets into Thompkins’ hands. When on offense, Thompkins will receive the lion’s share of targets, but Albany must get him to the ground before he finds open space, or else they will be seeing the back of his jersey as he runs into the end zone. Albany knows that you can’t completely shut down a guy like Thompkins but limiting his efforts will go a long way as Hippeard could have difficulties without his favorite target.
Albany Empire 2018 Inaugural Season Presented By CDPHP.
