You idiots.
If those unfamiliar with the sport learn nothing else from this column, I hope that they learn this: It ain't over. until. it's. over.
Now, I said that my preview could have just been a reprint of the one for the first matchup, and this review could be as well - I'd just have to change a few names here and there. This game was another one where both teams were playing with their back-up quarterbacks, our defense was unable to reach their QB, Josh Rue got some critical yardage and a kicker had a lot of trouble.
Let's start with the QB situation. When I got there and saw Morris and Wallace warming up, I thought for a moment that Morris would be starting. This was not the case - my predicted worst-case scenario happened and Wallace had the lead. Since McCabe has been released, that left Morris as backup. I still think that this is because Siegfried wants him healthy for next week against the Preds - but that didn't mean I had to like it.
On paper, Wallace did not have that bad of a game. Really, he had a slightly more successful outing than Gino Guidugli for the Mustangs. However, he started sloppy as hell and only gained a bit of confidence as the game went on. His biggest error was throwing into double coverage in the end zone and getting picked off. Surprisingly, it was the first one he threw as a member of the Power.
When all is said and done, he threw for more than 250 yards, 5 TDs and only one pick. I'm more comfortable with him now as a backup than I would have been based only on last week. I really, really hope that Morris is going to be healthy to finish out the season and we won't need to lean on him, however.
On the ground, Rue made an appearance this week to pick up a few yards and some critical downs. It wasn't much, but it was nice to see him in use again. This had to have been because he worked well enough last time we met the surprisingly tough defense of the Mustangs. Regardless, Wallace chose the right points to use him.
Wallace also showed that he was settling into a rhythm once he realized that Washington and DeWalt were his go-to guys. Both came up with 2 touchdowns apiece (one super critical one for DeWalt, but we'll get to that later) and the 5th going to Irv Campbell. I say it repeatedly at the games, but it's because it's true: The Power's best two options when there's seemingly nothing on the field are the tallest guy and the shortest guy out there. Washington has magic hands that catch everything and then ducks under defenders. DeWalt is about 45 feet tall, so it can be thrown to the second deck and he'll still get it.
...even if it's the other QB. That's the best thing about Iron Men in this sport - they can make your life hell on offense, and then you realize that you still need to deal with them on defense as well. In this, DeWalt proved it by snagging and interception as part of a huge defensive effort this week.
Sure, they were still unable to reach Guidugli at all during the game, but they gave him nightmares everywhere else. DeWalt had his INT above, and early in the game, Josh Lay had an unbelievable snag that he ran all the way back. Terrence "Total Chaos" Carter blocked a field goal when he leapt in the air like some kind of angry superhero. Gary Butler acted like Gary Butler and just acted up cranky. Everyone else simply broke up plays and harried the offense at every turn.
In my head, practice this week included one hour every day where Siegfried just locked the defense in a small room and screamed at them. No words, just primal screaming. Then, he'd punch a kitten and promise to do that every day until they got their shit together after last week. Whatever it was, it worked.
The downsides of this game were penalties and kicking. On the penalty front, they committed 13 infractions that sacrificed more than 70 yards. A lot of these were stupid stuff as usual, and I've kinda given up harping on it at this point. They know it, we know it, and it's just going to take time to get rid of it.
Kicking. Ah, Paul Edinger - you give me such conflicted emotions. Before the game, I said to my wife, "Maybe I'm too hard on Edinger. Maybe I'm a hypocrite after my fanhood of Jeff Reed. Maybe I should cut him some slack." My wife agreed in that way that only wives can. That way that says both, "Well, duh," and "this really isn't important to anyone but you."
I love my wife.
So, at anywho, I go into the game with these feelings, and Edinger must have heard and decided to return balance to the universe. He went 3-6 on the night for PATs and missed a much-needed field goal at one point. Now, I do want to point out that a few of those misses were because of stupid penalties backing him up - and you could see the fury on his face. Either way, he still was not having a banner night.
Until the end when everything came together.
Later in the game, the Power was down 38-32 and the clock was ticking away. Wallace marched the team down the field and was almost there. They line up, hike the ball - and he fumbles it. Turnover with about 1:40 left. The air went out of the place and people started heading for the exits.
Stupid, stupid people.
I, of course, felt their pain and part of me wanted to follow them - but I didn't, and was rewarded, along with the other faithful. Total Chaos forced a fumble himself, and the ball was turned over again. Figuring that my heart was just too healthy at the time, Wallace wound the clock down to 7 seconds by missing two passes before he found DeWalt at the back corner. DeWalt reached those Mr Fantastic arms of his out, snagged the ball and flipped over the wall.
0:00 on the clock, 38-all, PAT still to come.
Lord have mercy, it was either Edinger or overtime.
Well, Mr. Edinger, you magnificent bastard - when it counted, you came through, and once again, we beat the Mustangs by one point. I tip my hat to you.
On many levels, this was both a sloppy game and a great game. We've never gotten to take on the Mustangs when either team was healthy, and our second-squads match up very well. I am very much looking forward to our meetings next season when maybe we can see what they really have in store for each other.
Next up, a super critical game against the Orlando Predators.
Elsewhere in the league
There was a lot of giving up and out-right whooping going on around the league this week.
- Jacksonville extended their streak to 13 wins, and continue to just crush everyone. This week, that honor was given to the Tampa Bay Storm
- Where one shall rise, another shall fall. The Sabercats extended their losing streak to six in an unholy game against the Gladiators. I guess they just couldn't cope with losing to the us, because that's where it all started. Getting beat by a hair against Arizona last week didn't help..but this week was just tough to watch. 3 interceptions and a number of fumbles lead to the 82-21 crushing that they received. Lucky us, we get to play the Gladiators again.
- The Rush had a rough start against the Barnstormers, feeling the loss of Russ Michna to IR. However, after a painful first half, they came back to win it and retain their division lead.
- The Predators did not have a good time against the Force, losing 64-34.
Things are getting down to the wire here. One way or another, the Rattlers and the Sharks are in - this doesn't need to be analyzed any further this week. The question in the National Conference is how are things going to shake out with Dallas and Chicago? As stated, Chicago is without their QB for the rest of the regular season, and Dallas has, technically, a better record right now. However, that's likely to be a case of who's the second and who's the third seed.
In the American conference, things are a lot less clear. Yes, the Sharks are in, but everything else is up in the air. We're in a three-way tie with Cleveland and Orlando, and the Force's win this week bumped them ahead. Pgh, Cleveland and Orlando are in a "winning out is the only way to be sure" situation. Obviously, that's not possible for both us and Cleveland, which simply put, means that one of us is going to keep the other from the playoffs.
Given how weak our division is, the wildcards are not going to come from it. First place goes to the playoffs, second place goes home with the other two teams. It's that critical. We still have Orlando, Arizona , Cleveland and Philly. Cleveland still has the Mustangs, Philly, us, and Utah.
After how they played last week, we have a chance against Orlando. We have a chance against Arizona - if they're resting their starters after clinching the division. Otherwise, no. We've beaten Cleveland once, but it was close and relied on their crappy kicking. That's going to be tough. Finally, we have Philly on the road, and they've already beaten us once.
Cleveland should roll over the Mustangs. I think the tough loss to us this week and nothing more to play for will finally take its toll on them. I doubt they have much left in the tank. Philly...who knows? They're still in the hunt and have two division games to go. Us? See above. Utah is our best hope for them to lose one - but that's going to depend on what Utah is or isn't playing for at that point.
So, there it is. Although there are ways that we could drop one and still make it, we can't count on it. Pittsburgh needs to get 4 wins to be sure to make the playoffs their first season. Cross your fingers, everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment