Soul / Dragons conference call transcript

Wednesday July 2, 2008

Ron Jaworski

Asked about the rivalry with New York

“I think there’s always been a natural rivalry between Philadelphia and New York.,  not only in Arena Football but pretty much in every sport.  Much like Philadelphia has this tremendous dislike for Dallas, I think the fans have a dislike for a New York team.  Our two teams, I can’t speak for New York, but I’m sure they probably feel the same way.  These are our bitter rivals.  Our games have been nasty football games, our scrimmages have been nasty scrimmages.  I think the way the Dragons and Soul approach this game, we know it’s going to be a physical tough football game.  Neither teams are what we consider finesse teams, we both believe in physical style of play. Both teams play that way, and to me it’s exciting to have this style in the playoffs.  Two teams that really don’t like each other and they give you a physical football game. I’m excited about the opportunity.”

Coach Munsey

Asked about the bye week and if it will effect his team in a negative way.

“You hope not, we’ve had a bye week during the season and we came back and played well.  The playoffs are a different tempo, they’re a different speed out there and we hope to come out and play well right off the get go.  That’s one thing they’ve (New York) got up on us is that they’ve played a playoff game already.  If you get the right locker room, the right pros, they’ll come out ready to play.”

Asked about his decision to go with Matt D’Orazio over Tony Graziani as the game day starter.

“I talked to Tony, and it’s come down to him not being able to practice for the last 4-5 weeks, or play. For me to go ahead and just throw him back in the lineup with the uncertainty of his health and not taking those reps is something I can’t do to this team.  The other thing is that we got a back up that’s playing as well as anybody in the league.  Would it be different if we just put Tony in there if Matt weren’t playing well?  Yes but that’s not the case.  Right now we like this decision for this football team.

Chris Jackson

 Asked what this situation means for the team.

“I think it just means a lot. That victory we had a couple of weeks ago to clinch the Eastern Division meant a lot to this team and this organization.  With me being a part of it this year and understanding the history of this franchise, it meant a lot.  It just put us in the drivers seat to rest up on a bye week and come in with ourselves in a great position to make a strong push for the Arena Bowl.”

Ron Jaworski

Asked if an Arena Bowl Championship would matter to the people of Philadelphia.

“Well I can’t speak for the people of Philadelphia but there’s absolutely no question that myself and that people that have lived in this town for the past 25 years want a championship, whether it’s the NHL, NBA, NFL, or MLB or the Arena Football League it would be a feel good story.  It would mean a lot to us. I think it would mean a lot to this city.  I’m around and about on a daily basis and I think the city is excited about the Soul’s opportunity to get one step closer.”

Chris Jackson

Asked about being covered by New York DB Willy Parker

“You just do your homework, watch tendencies and whatever play is called, it’s a one-on-one battle and that’s the way it’s always been.  That’s the reason I’m in the position I’m in and that’s the reason he’s in the position he’s in.  We played against him twice and have been successful in different aspects of the game, and the (defensive) scheming.  We’re just going to keep it the same, not do anything extraordinary but keep doing the ordinary things the way we do them.”

Asked what it takes to be successful against New York defense.

“Just being smart, they’re a team that mixes up their defenses. They have a great man-to-man guy, in Willy Parker, but they also mix in some zone.  With DB Monty (Montgomery) coming back, who we did not play against last time, he poses his strength, which poses problems for us.  A lot of it is just scheming, it’s not just me against Willy Parker it’s our offense against their defense and we just have to go out and play and continue to do what we do.”

Dragons Coach Weylan Hardgin

Asked how his team is feeling

Weylan Harding: We’re excited about the opportunity to continue on this playoff run. The win at Dallas was a huge win, having to go down there on the road. You know facing one of the top-tier teams in this league and our division and it’s kinda got us prepped for a similar situation going up there in Philadelphia when you’re playing the number one team in the league.

Asked about the rivalry between the Soul and if he feels bitter toward the Soul

Harding: Well, I don’t know about the bitter part. But it’s definitely a rivalry as far as I’m concerned. You’re talking about two proud franchises—you’re talking about it’s New York and Philadelphia, which is always had a competitive rivalry whatever the sport is, you know, baseball NFL hockey, whatever, but it continues in the tradition but it’s healthy competition. Whenever we get together it’s going to be a good one.

Asked if his game plan will be different this time against the Soul

Harding: Well, we’re going to have to have consistent execution, both in the game plan and our technique. And we’re going to have to make plays. I don’t think in situations in the first game that we played that we created scenarios such as turnovers, whether it be interceptions or fumbles or things of those nature. Were going to have to play solid and cut down on mental bust and those type things.  We’re gonna have to play a good solid physical game. We’re talking about a very good team offensively. They’re very solid, a great offensive team.  Getting a person on the quarterback is going to be key for us. Communication in the back there, too.  They have a solid receiver corps up and down… the player Matt D’Orazio has been phenomenal this year but we’re going to have to force them into situations that they’re uncomfortable with.

Asked is his team can pick it up, like they did last week against Dallas.

Harding: Well we’re going to have to, you know. I believe the first time we played them we had a very different offensive line. Those guys hadn’t quite settled in. We’re talking about a second meeting with Idris Price, who hasn’t had a chance to play fullback all season, getting into his second game… It depends on the game plan that’s executed on offense… we’re going to have to do things to get their rush off-balance, but definitely protection is going to have to be a key. And those guys are going to have to get started from the get-go. it’s going to be a matchup for sure. But offensive line is going to be key.