Da Coach Says, Week 2 You ...

Things got even worse for the Force in Week 1. Doug Plank’s team managed only six touchdowns on their eleven possessions, a very poor ratio in AFL terms, losing by double digits at home. Kicker Carl Martinez missed a crucial late field goal that could have given them a shot at sending the game into overtime. Defensive back David Crocker, who had twice as many tackles as anyone else on the team in the game was carried off the field on a stretcher, placed on IR. In practice this week, their second leading receiver from Game 1, Brent Holmes (eight catches, 156 yards, three touchdowns) earned the ire of the coaching staff and was unceremoniously cut from the team due to his antics. This team is a long, long way from the squad that went 14-2 last year, and finished one victory shy of the Arena Bowl.

The Storm got off to an awful start last season, losing five straight to open the campaign, but they came on like a hurricane down the stretch after finally settling on an emerging quarterback. QB Brett Dietz guided Tampa Bay to eight wins in the last nine games of the regular season before a heartbreaking one point playoff loss to Columbus. They didn’t play particularly well in Week 1, stuffed on a pair of goal line opportunities that cost them two potential touchdowns, yet still came away with the road victory at KC.

We can expect a much better offensive showing from the Storm tonight. They added playmaking WR and return man Sedrick Robinson in the offseason, joining Terrell Shaw and Lawrence Samuels to form a formidable receiving corps, bad news for the banged up Force secondary. The Storm can be expected to put up points in bunches in 2008, the same way they did down the stretch last year when they scored 61, 69, 69, 55 and 55 points in their final five games. Expect a comfortable victory this evening.

Arizona made headlines this offseason by offering their season ticket holders a money back guarantee if they don’t make the playoffs. Considering that six of the eight teams in their conference will make the postseason, and they play in the same conference with a Grand Rapids squad that’s gone 14-50 over the last four years, the Rattlers guarantee is really not that big a deal – they could easily make the postseason with a losing record. And for all the excitement of that Week 1 victory, it came against a team with a consistent history of truly ugly defensive efforts, like the one we saw last week. Let’s not forget that this Rattlers team went 4-12 last year and return only six players from that team following a complete roster overhaul. With seven rookies and seven second year players on their 24 man roster, this team is bound to have their share of troubles against better competition than what they faced last week. A team that allowed nine touchdowns a week ago is a prime candidate to give up points in bunches again this week, facing another explosive offense.

LA gave up a kick return touchdown on the opening play of the game last week, then immediately threw an interception that led to another score on their first play from scrimmage. Down 13-0, the Avengers outscored New Orleans 59-23 over the next 50 minutes before giving up a meaningless last minute touchdown. That, folks, is execution on both sides of the football, not just on offense like we saw from Arizona. LA has solid roster continuity from last year, starting at the QB position where former Texas Tech standout Sonny Cumbie has developed into a solid quarterback. Cumbie will have an attractive new weapon at his disposal this year in Timon Marshall. Marshall was amazing last year with a dismal Grand Rapids squad, single handedly keeping the team competitive for a good portion of the year with his receiving ability and special teams acumen before the Chicago Bears signed him. He’s back in the AFL now, combining with Kevin Ingram for 17 catches for 195 yards and four touchdowns last week. Look for LA to score at will against this rebuilt Rattlers defense, carrying the Avengers to a relatively comfortable victory.