The Power return home this week after an exciting win in Philly. Much like the one in NOLA, a road win is great and all, but the average fan probably doesn't even know it happened - and that's sad. I had a great time out there again this year, and everything that was true last year remains so this year: Crab fries are awesome, cheesesteaks are tasty, beer is everywhere, Philly fans are still frickin terrible and the Soulmates Dance Team is still ridiculously hot.
Last week, things were changed up around the team, and it showed. Steven Sheffield was obviously uncomfortable at QB, but after 3 seasons, we're kind of used to the quarterback shuffle. At least this one got to get his sea legs while on the road and away from that one jackass in my section who spends every game looking miserable and periodically yelling, "Go home <insert name of QB>!"
During the last home game, Superman Berry took a vicious hit that left my wife concerned for his well-being. Well, he didn't show up in the game in Philly and is listed as injured again this week, so I'm guessing the hit was as painful as it looked. Chris "Gingabread" LeFlore is covering returns for him, and Berry's offensive slot is being filled by committee. Shamar Graves has been an increased presence on the field the last few weeks and leads the team in "Not needing a nickname" yards. (Seriously - dude's name is 'Graves,' and that's awesome.) He plays ironman like Berry, and seems to be everywhere on the field. Even when he doesn't snag picks that it looks like he should have, he at least breaks up plays.
Also appearing on offense is newcomer James Robinson. He was injured in the pre-season, so we hadn't gotten to see him on the field yet this year, and the man knows how to make an entrance. In his debut, he put up 4 touchdowns for the Power, so it'd be great if that's going to be the norm. Likewise, Joystick continues to be a force on the field this season with good numbers of his own.
Defense was able to keep the pressure on Dirty Dan, and was even able to get that last-minute, over-the-wall pick that they needed to save the game. The new kicker had a pretty rough game, and I really hope that improves before kickoff tomorrow night.
Yes, this "preview" sounds a hell of a lot like a "review" so far, but that's by design. The lineup should look very much this same this week, and we can probably expect the same things on our side of the ball. Kicking is concerning, returns leave a bit to be desired, the QB is not comfortable yet and the offensive line still sucks. If the positions that can improve do so (basically, everything but the O line), then things are going to look more hopeful for us.
Unfortunately, Tampa Bay is - as usual - a good team this year.
There are certain things that I learn to expect when I watch other teams around the league. I love watching Rattlers games, because the local TV station streams the live games online with the same feed as TV (announcers and all.) Voodoo and Sabercats games usually have the scores up on screen. And, Tampa Bay has their radio feed piped in for audio. I love these guys. They're that rare combination of good sports coverage and an obvious love for this sport, not just sports in general. I'm always entertained by them, and look forward to watching Tampa games because of them.
Except for the week before they play the Power.
The Sabercats were trouncing the Storm pretty good last week, and it got hopeless pretty fast. Later in the game, Jack and Darek started looking ahead to this week and for the second year in a row, they said something to the effect of, "Well, at least we're playing Pittsburgh next week..." I mean, really guys - just because it's fundamentally true, could you maybe throw us a bone next year and pretend like you're a little concerned? Thanks. Long time listener, first time complainer.
But, as I was saying, the Cats were putting a hurting on them and beat them pretty hard. As such, I expect them to come in here tomorrow night and bring some anger. They're still in the running for their division, and they're looking for every win they can get. Historically, we've matched pretty well against them, the games have been high-scoring and close...we just haven't beaten them.
This year, they're lead by QB Andrian McPherson. Last week - this early in the season - he locked up the AFL record for rushing touchdowns by a QB in a season, and he's thrown for 34 as well. So, needless to say, containing him is going to be job #1 for the Power defense. If Alvin Ray Jackson or Sergio Gilliam want to pick a few in the process, I won't be complaining - however, McPherson doesn't throw many of those. Only three this year, and two of them were during last week's disaster.
However, the Storm is currently third in the league for picks themselves, and that's worrying. I can sugar coat things as much as you want, but I can't change the fact that picks are now and always have been the Power Achilles heel. When a team comes in that is good at them - like the Storm in general and DB Chris Smith in specific - we're often boned. I hope that Sheffield doesn't get rattled by the lack of protection and throw too early as so many of our new QBs do, and actually avoids that trap.
So, the short version is that we need to keep doing what we did last week in Philly, and play the Storm like we have in the past....just more so. A win is not out of the question this week, but they're not going to hand it to us like they did the Sabercats.
A Word on Tebow
Ah, Tebow. He is the Paris Hilton of football. Someone decided at some point that he should be famous, and we all just went right along with it. When he didn't live up to the hype, he started getting passed around and mocked. Now, he has been cut by yet another team (and, really, when the Jets cut you, how can you hold your head up?) and we're still talking about him.
This week, water cooler sports talk briefly acknowledged that the Arena League existed when Ron Jaworski, Soul owner and Philly legend, offered Tebow a contract as a backup to Dirty Dan Raudabaugh. Now, the Soul isn't the first team to express interest - back in March, the Predators considered it - and certainly isn't the first team to make an NFL player an offer. Chad OchoJohnson and T.O. have both been offered jobs in the indoor game in the past. What makes Jaws' offer different than the others is that he's mostly serious and people have had constructive arguments as to why it could work.
Most of the time, these offers go out with absolutely no expectations outside of a little free publicity. Jaws is an anomaly by being a respected voice in the NFL and being a very hands-on owner in the AFL (I love Swanny to death, but I never see him in the front row screaming at refs like I did Jaws last weekend.) He's not saying that he'll move heaven and earth for Tebow and let him start next week - he's saying he'll pay him league wage and let him come in for special plays not covered by the guy currently getting the job done. All of this lends an air of plausibility to the equation.
I had a conversation the other day where people pointed out that Tebow was never given the time to develop in the NFL because of his hype. That he's not very accurate and doesn't process well under pressure. These are things that the AFL could either cure him of, or destroy him with (QBs trained for the NFL don't often play well in this league.) I mean, hey, it worked out for another Christian QB who couldn't quite hack it in the NFL...
However, it's not going to happen, at least not in the current climate - but maybe it should. In the NHL and MLB, the farm system is well utilized to develop players for the pros when they need a little extra polish. How often do we hear about a winger "called up" or "sent down" as needed, or a pitching prospect that is going to break out any day now as soon as he gets his act together? Right now, the NFL will pull players from the AFL for camp that look promising, and nearly always cut them before the season starts - and that's it.
They know these guys are pinning everything on the hope of the NFL, and they'll jump ship in a heartbeat if they get and offer...and their teams accept this. The fact that NFL camp happens during the late AFL season is just bad luck. Last year, Tiger Jones - one of Philly's absolute best players - got called up by the Eagles right before the playoffs. They tied him up in camp just long enough that the Soul didn't have him during the playoffs, and then they cut him. Think about that: A receiver the NFL felt might be good enough to go to the big show, and they took him away from a team right before the playoffs. Think that had any unfortunate side effects? (Okay, bad example: Soul went to the Arena Bowl because of their insane depth on that roster. They melted down in the Arena Bowl, but that was more Raudabaugh than lack of Jones...but you see my point.)
And this isn't an isolated incident. Every year, several teams lose good players right when they need them most to the NFL when they know damn well they aren't going to stay there. Why not work together? Tebow is hardly an anomaly. Every year, there are draft picks that don't pan out for any number of specific reasons, but a common general one is that they're just not quite ready for the NFL yet. Why not "send them down" for a season or two in the Arena League? It'd be a win for everyone. Let the NFL subsidize the AFL a bit so they could offer better salaries, their players get some work in key areas, the AFL gets more talent which means more viewers, which means more money, which means more salaries... There are holes, but overall, this could improve both leagues and get us closer to the ideal of quality football year-round.
My name is Weidman, and I approve this message.
Elsewhere in the League
- The Spokane Shock still need every easy win they can get given their tough division, and hosting NOLA looks to be just what the doctor ordered.
- San Antonio at Cleveland is going to be a matchup of two teams that are just struggling. Both teams are coming off of a win, and it'd just be nice if the Talons can make up for beating us by beating our division rival.
- San Jose at Jacksonville is looking like the game to watch this week (which you won't, because you'll be watching the Power, right?) Both teams are powerhouses right now, and this game will show who the real deal is. The Sabercats have been on the warpath since they picked up Michna, winning their last three. The Sharks slipped and lost their first two games of the season in their last two starts. Hosting the Cats, they'll be looking to get back to their winning ways. The Sharks can win this, and probably should, but matching Michna and Morris, I'm going to have to take Michna.
- Every year, there's a good example of divisional strength, and this game is it. At 3-4, the Utah Blaze is sitting in last place in their division. At 4-4, the Barnstormers are tied for first in theirs. The Blaze has just not been living up to expectations, but I think they can take the 'Stormers.
- GotW is Preds at Soul. Just like the Cats are proving that they're totally doing great with Michna in their life, Garcia has been showing them that he's totally over them and happy with his new squeeze, the Orlando Predators. Winning two in a row, they're trying to make a comeback, and Philly would be another great feather in their cap. They way they're playing and the way Philly has looked, they might just do it, too.
- Sunday, Arizona travels to Chicago to close out the weekend. I expect them to TCB and bring home a W.
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