Power Hopes to Play Spoiler

Well, we're deep into garbage time at this point, and the main thing we have left going for us is to play spoiler for the Georgia Force. There are a number of different scenarios for them in various playoff spots - but they mainly hinge on them winning this week. So, let's beat them, why not?

Last time we played, it was really close. The downsides of the last match-up were as follows:

They contained Berry really well: A lot of teams have done that this year, but his yards-per-return have improved since that game. He's a lot more comfortable in his role and is a cornerstone of our offense and special teams. Hopefully, it won't be as much of an issue.

Fumbles and interceptions: Randall threw a few picks in the game and that hurt us a lot. Unfortunately, he hasn't gotten a lot better at that, and Hines has the same problem. There's not a lot we can do about that - it's going to be what it's going to be. On the other hand, Joystick was having a lot of trouble hanging onto the ball at that point - thankfully that has gotten better.

Kicking: We lost by a field goal and had some lousy kicking. I mean, Boyer had a bad week last week, but he still kicks better than the Vampire did - and he tackles pretty well, too. As I stated in my review, we statistically outplayed the hell out of them. Kicking and turnovers killed us. Also, the QB they had last time - RJ Archer - is a much better QB than their current one (probably why Archer got signed by the Detroit Lions.) Their current guy was delivering pizzas until recently. (Glad it wasn't bagging groceries.)

Even though we're on the road, I think we have a shot - or at least as much of a shot as we've had in a few of our recent match-ups.

Elsewhere in the league

• For some unknown reason, the NFL Network thinks that the Utah/Cleveland matchup is the more stimulating game this week and are airing that instead of the INSANE matchup of the Rats and Talons. Utah has no excuse to not win this one given the way Cleveland has been playing.
• Not airing on the NFL Network is the powerhouse combo of Arizona and the Talons. Last time they played each other on the Rattlers home turf, the Talons got decisively beat. Now, they clinch the #1 spot with a win over the Rattlers and they're at home. The Ratts need the win to have any shot at that spot. So, aside from all that, these two teams are more than likely going to meet up again in the playoffs, so this is not only a preview, but it's probably going to determine who gets home field in that. This is a coin flip. I want to say the Rattlers, but logic tells me to take the Talons at home.
• On Saturday, Orlando has another shot at the upset and spoiler role as they travel to Jacksonville. A chance, but not a likelihood. I'm taking the Sharks.
• Next up is the Voodoo traveling to Tampa Bay in a big division game. Oh, I really don't know what to say on this one, besides the fact that I hate picks this time of year. I'm saying to pick NOLA - and I really believe that - but it's tough. They're the better team, the more consistent team and they've beaten TB already. However, TB is fighting for their lives and rarely loses at home.
• Spokane beats KC.
• The Chicago/Milwaukee game means nothing to anyone. So...I'd like to pick Chicago, but they struggle on the road, and the Mustangs are stronger than their record. Mustangs.
• Big game for the Sabercats in the late slot. They thwumped the Barnstormers on the road last time and should be able to handle them at home - and they need the win.

For a more in depth view of the seeding possibilities, go to the source. I'm not going to recap it all here - basically it boils down to a mess in the South and seeding in the National. Things will hopefully clear up a bit after this week.

Talons Strike, Draw Blood

It was no great surprise that the Pittsburgh Power lost Saturday night. What is surprising is how badly they were beaten when they statistically played so well, save for a few key and devastating areas.

Randall's performance (with an exception to be mentioned later) was pretty impressive. He made almost twice as many attempts as Garcia and threw for around 120 yards more. He also went the night pick-free. Great for him in specific, and pretty darn good for a QB in this league in general.

Receiving was respectable, with our third-best in terms of yardage (Joystick) only 3 yards shy of the Talons top performer (Wilson.) Superman had a monster night with 188 yards in the air and 148 yards on returns. We even out-rushed them, though neither numbers weren't that impressive.

Even the defense wasn't having a bad night. The opening drive, they actually held the Talons to a field goal. During the rest of the game, they came up big on a few third and fourth down plays and sacked Garcia twice.

So, with everything coming up Pittsburgh, why did we lose 68-52?

Fumbles, sacks, special teams, dumb calls and kicking. Yes, I realize kicking falls under the umbrella of special teams - it was just so fucking bad that it has to be mentioned.

Randall flat-out fumbled one, got stripped another time and Joystick dropped another one. I don't know what's going on, but we have had a serious problem with that this season. Also, it isn't just the fumbles themselves - it's the falling on the damn ball part. Hell, we forced three fumbles ourselves, but failed to recover a single one of them. That's 6 lost balls in this game, and the Talons came up with all of them.

Our offensive line just could not protect Randall in this game, either. Besides the stripping, Randall got put on his back 7 times during the game for a loss of almost 40 yards. That's no good. We can't instill confidence in a QB if he knows he's going to get beat.

Now to address the disgraceful performance on special teams, which will include the kicking and dumb calls. The Talons had pretty free run of the field on returns. Three different players fielded the ball and racked up a cumulative 99 yards and two touchdowns.

As for kicking - and it's tempting to give them a pass on the fact that they're on their third kicker in three weeks - the Power did not make a single PAT during the game. Siegfried finally said to hell with it and started going for two on every touchdown. Now, he probably should have done that last week as well and I'm not going to fault him for it. However, it's a sucky, sucky situation to be in.

The cherry on the sundae was the fact that we attempted 3 onside kicks. I'm not a coach. I can't say when there's no other choice. I can say that there's about a 14% success rate in the AFL with them (citation be damned) and to succeed, you need an accurate kicker and great ability to dive on the ball. You need a kicker that can get it at least ten yards, hit an opposing player hard enough (or awkwardly enough) that it bounces off them at some weird angle, and then have special teams guys that can track that odd bounce and dive on it like a live grenade in the middle of a mass baptism where all the grandparents are war heroes.

To sum up: You need accurate kicking, surprise, good special teams and the ability to cover a loose ball. Go re-read everything I just wrote above and consider how mind-numbingly stupid that plan is. We lost by two touchdowns - and one of those was a return off of an onside kick. Let that marinate until next week when we play the worst team in the league and risk some serious embarrassment.

Elsewhere in the League

• I was unable to watch the NFL game of the week, which is unfortunate, given the division implications. However, the Gladiators were able to hold off the Mustangs.
• The Blaze and the Sabercats faced off in a brutal rivalry game that was - as I suspected - a lot of fun to watch. At 70-59, the Sabercats' victory was decisive, but hardly an easy win. Regardless, they stand alone at the top of their division, and continue to support my theory that they and the Soul will have a rematch at the end of the season.
• NOLA lost, but they hardly laid down for the Shock, 68-62
• Tampa Bay lost the top spot in their division again this week and sit a half game behind the Georgia Force after losing a tight one to the same. 44-41
• Philly had no trouble defeating the Sharks 56-38.
• No upset out in Iowa, as the Barnstormers tromp on the (still) winless KC Command, 62-42.
• Last game of the week was the Chicago Rush visiting the Arizona Rattlers. As I suspected, the Rush's glaring procedural errors were no match for the solid team out in the desert. Final score, 77-43.
  

Time to Trim Some Talons

I might as well skip to the chase: We're going to lose this week.

There is the hope that such a bold statement will humor both the Football Gods and the Vegas Oracles and cause them to make a fool of me, but I doubt it. We've lost too many games against teams that we should have beaten to really have much hope against the San Antonio Talons.

Led by Aaron Garcia, the fourth greatest Arena QB in history, the Talons are currently sitting on a 5-3 record. The three games they've lost have been against the Shock, Sabercats and the Rattlers - and at least two of them have the right to dream of going to the Arena Bowl (and, the last three Arena Bowls have featured one of those three teams.) Also, we're playing them on the road.

So, yeah - it's an uphill battle, to be sure.

Garcia has been in the league for 18 years and holds almost every record he can hold. Last year, he became the first QB (in any league) to pass 1,000 TDs. The main thing that we have to accept about him is that he cannot be pressured in the pocket and he's not afraid to throw it long. Now, the silver lining here is that I said we can't pressure him. He can be hurried, he can be sacked and he can be picked. These are all symptoms of extremely experienced quarterbacks. They've seen it all (and Garcia has) and they think, "I can hold this for a few more second- OH CRAP!" or "Sure, what the heck - I can make this pass..."

The games that the Talons have lost this year are ones where they were on the wrong side of the turnover battle or where Garcia got beat up. The former of these, we know we can do. The latter we can do better than we have been, so hopefully this is the week we do. When he played for the Sharks last here, he beat us by 25 points, but whatever.

Garcia has four mean targets in former Preds star Robert "I made the right choice" Quiroga, Jomo Wilson, Carl more and his favorite, our own Jason "Whatchu Talkin' Bout/JWill" Willis. They're good. That's all that can be said. Willis is his favorite target, and we know him. That's our advantage. Also - even if it didn't work out last year - Siegfried used to be one of Garcia's coaches. This is something that needs to be exploited.

On our side, Randall will be starting again so, say what you will, it's a bit of consistency. Also, I'm glad "Vampire" Kramer gave me something to write about last week, 'cause he's already gone again. Wagner's on league suspension now, so we'll have another unblooded kicker starting for us. So that's....great. We'll see how it shakes out.

In the meantime, my favorite mutt will continue her voodoo-doll antics with her favorite toy, Garcia.

It was relevant when he played for the Sharks.

Elsewhere in the League

• The NFL Game of the Week really is, as far as I'm concerned. Cleveland travels to Milwaukee in a great division matchup. I'm feeling the Mustangs in this game.
• The battle for number one in west division continues in San Jose for the late game Friday. The Utah Blaze is looking to settle things with the Sabercats, and this one is going to be close. The Cats might not have a lot left in the tank after their brutal battle against the Rattlers last week, and the Blaze might be able to pick up the win and the lead in the division.
• The Voodoo have had a slight fall from grace in the past few weeks, and they'll be looking to get back in the hunt in the late, late game against the Shock. Rowley has had some trouble, but I think he'll prevail this week.
• Another battle for the top slot kicks off Saturday night between the Storm and the Force. Not only because they beat us last week, but because the Storm hasn't been that impressive, I pick the Force.
• Philly will get right back on the horse against Jacksonville and get back to their winning ways
• The Barnstormers have lost three in a row against tough opponents and I know they want to beat someone up bad. Lucky for them, they're hosting the KC Command. If you're the type that likes to play the long odds for an upset (and bets on AFL games), this is the one.
  
• Finally, late Saturday, the Rattlers host my boys from Chicago. The Rush have just been playing way too sloppy (even though they tend to win) to be able to beat a team like the Rattlers on the road, that many timezones away.