Lexington becomes lead horse in the Midwest

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

Green Bay Blizzard quarterback Collin Drafts connected with wide receiver Antoine Burns for a 34-yard touchdown, which gave Green Bay a 48-43 lead over the Lexington Horsemen.

It appeared the throw accomplished two things. It would help the Blizzard remain on top in the Midwest division, and solidified Drafts, the fourth quarterback the team has used this season, as the starter. 

But the throw only did one of those things because there was still 33 seconds left on the clock.

This was plenty of time for the Horsemen offense to strike once more. On the last play of the game quarterback Eddie Eviston hit wide receiver Tavon McGee on a slant route for the game-winning touchdown, which quickly quieted the 7,258 fans at the Resch Center.

The 49-48 win over the Blizzard (5-3) puts the Horsemen (5-2) in sole possession of first place in the Midwest division and establishes the franchise, which has played the last five seasons in two different indoor leagues, as a force to be reckoned with in arenafootball2.

Eviston was 19 of 36 for 240 yards and seven touchdowns. He was also calm, cool and under center running the Horsemen offense.

The staple of that offense is the shotgun, which the team has used a majority of the time in all of its previous games, but after the first quarter against the Blizzard, head coach Mike Harmon abandoned it.

Was the change the key to winning the game? Maybe, but it completed the Horsemen’s transition from indoor to arena football.

Teams have experimented with the shotgun in the past, and many use it on occasion, but few have ever had success by using it as its base formation in the af2.

Time is precious in the arena game and every second is important. A shotgun snap takes about a half of a second to complete, which is too long. A receiver may have a step on his man by that time and the ball needs to be thrown.

The shotgun also gives defensive ends a straight shot at the quarterback by cutting down the angle of approach. When taking a snap from center a defensive end has to come around and back inside to collect a sack, but in the shotgun it’s a straight line.

But going under center didn’t seem to help protect Eviston against the Blizzard defense, which coming into this week was second in the af2 in sacks with 22.

The Blizzard added five more against the Horsemen, but it wasn’t enough to stop Eviston from connecting with his cast of receivers on a number of quick strikes.

Four different Horsemen receivers caught at least one touchdown, and three had at least five catches.

“Nobody was having a good night,” said Blizzard defensive back Nate Green.

Green Bay used four different combinations of defensive backs in the game, and most of those substitutions happened in the fourth quarter. The team was once again without Donnie Amadi because of injury, and at one point used wide receiver Steve Gonzalez at cornerback, a position Gonzalez hasn’t played heavily since college.

“Eddie knows when to throw it just as the receiver breaks and puts the ball where only his guy can get it,” Green said.

Green played for the Horsemen from 2003-2004, and was teammates with Eviston there and at Georgetown College.

Eviston is an established quarterback in the af2 for the Horsemen, but the Blizzard is still looking for its signal caller, and perhaps Collin Drafts is the guy for the job.

The Green Bay offense sputtered at times, but Drafts had an efficient night connecting on 18 of 28 passes for 259 yards and six touchdowns, but what was more impressive was his pocket awareness. He didn’t force throws and played within the offensive system.

Blizzard head coach Bob Landsee said, however, that the quarterback situation would still be evaluated by who plays best during the week in practice.

A bright spot for the Blizzard was the play of wide receiver Scott Burnoski, who had nine catches for 133 yards and four touchdowns. He’s coming off an injury and this was his second game back.

“He would probably rather have no catches and a win,” Landsee said.

The Blizzard didn’t get the win in this one and lost the division lead to the Horsemen, but if Drafts turns out to be the guy at quarterback, the game could have marked an important step in ultimately winning the Midwest division.

Because after all, there’s still plenty of time in the season to determine who wins it.

The Oldest Rivalry in af2

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

When the Green Bay Blizzard and Peoria Pirates meet on Saturday night it will be a match up of the oldest rivalry in arenafootball2.

Well kind of.

It’s not the NFL’s Chicago Bears-Green Bay Packers rivalry that has gone on for almost 90 years, but it’s the closest thing to it in the af2.

The two squads have only met four previous times during the 2003 and 2004 seasons, but the history between these two cities and the 50-yard game go back to 1999, which is one year before the inaugural season of the af2 in 2000.

As you probably know there are a number of offshoot indoor football leagues that try to compete with the af2, and often they go defunct and sometimes teams from those leagues become part of the af2, like the Lexington Horsemen this year coming from the United Indoor Football league (UIF).

The first indoor league that was formed was in 1998. It was called the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL), and it had eight franchises that spanned the United States, including one in Hawaii.

But travel cost and bad ownership doomed the league and only four franchises made it to the end of the season. Two of those were located in Wisconsin and were owned by Keary Ecklund, the Green Bay Bombers and the Madison Mad Dogs.

Ecklund became disgusted during the season at how the PIFL tried to compete in big cities that had Major League Baseball franchises, and towards the end of the season announced plans to start a new league for 1999, which was called the Indoor Football League (IFL).

The concept of the IFL was to be a regional league that could provide affordable family entertainment and give local players a chance to continue their football careers, and perhaps advance to the next level.

Does that sound familiar?

In 1999 the af2 was also being discussed and designed on the same principle, but the only difference was the af2 had the backing of the Arena Football League and was being planned to have teams mainly in the southeastern part of the country, while the IFL had teams in the upper Midwest.

So, in 1999 the IFL kicked off its season with eight teams, which included the Bombers and Mad Dogs, and six expansion franchises.

The most successful franchise during the regular season was one of the expansion franchises, the Peoria Pirates, who were coached by former Mad Dogs coach Bruce Cowdrey.

Cowdrey led the Pirates to the championship game against Green Bay, and were the heavy favorites heading into the game because they beat the Bombers twice during the regular season.

The Bombers, led by quarterback Nick Browder, who would go on to have a successful AFL career, won 63-60 and a rivalry was born.

The IFL expanded to 20 franchises in 2000, and even had a weekly nationally televised game on the Midwest Sports Channel, which is something the af2 has first secured this season.

Cowdrey and the Pirates won the league’s second and last title because the league ended after the 2000 season.

The IFL didn’t go bankrupt, but was partially bought by members of the AFL’s Orlando Predators ownership group and some of the franchises, including Peoria, joined the af2 in 2001.

Green Bay was left without a franchise because there wasn’t an owner and the Brown County Arena, where the team played its home games, was old and a new facility was being built next to it.

Peoria and Cowdrey would continue to have success in the af2, winning the ArenaCup in 2002.

Green Bay was granted a franchise in 2003 after the new Resch Center was complete, and the rivalry renewed.

Peoria, like most of the af2 in 2003, beat the Green Bay Blizzard twice, but in 2004 the Blizzard beat the Pirates twice.

After losing to the Florida Firecats in the ArenaCup in 2004, the Peoria Pirates went defunct, and again the Green Bay-Peoria rivalry came to a standstill again.

Peoria would get an indoor football franchise in one of the offshoot leagues during the 2005-2006 seasons, but struggled and it was certainly a rough ride for Peoria arena football fans during that period.

This all leads to 2008. 

The Peoria Pirates are back and will renew their rivalry with a franchise from Green Bay on Saturday, but the IFL’s affect can still be seen on the Pirates, the Blizzard and the af2 today.

I’ll start with the obvious. 

Pirates coach Bruce Cowdrey is still with the team, but he’ll be going up against one of his former players on Saturday as well.

Blizzard defensive coordinator Doug Lytle played defensive tackle for the Pirates in 1999 before going on to have a successful AFL career.

“The big thing about that league is it gave me a chance,” Lytle said after a recent Blizzard practice in the Green Bay Bombers’ old home the Brown County Arena.

Most of the Blizzard coaching staff has ties to the IFL.

Head coach Bob Landsee was an assistant for the Mad Dogs in 1999 before going on to the AFL’s Milwaukee Mustangs.

Defensive backs coach Sammy Walker was part of the Bombers organization. He was supposed to play for the team during one of its seasons, but he blew out his achilles tendon and became a player consultant for the team instead.

Current Blizzard wide receiver Coco Blalock actually played for the Mad Dogs in 1999.

The IFL-af2 ties don’t end there, however, as many af2 squads probably have at least one coach who either played or coached in the league.

Troy Biladeau, head coach of the Quad City Steamwheelers, and Chris MacKeown, head coach of the Amarillo Dusters, both were head coaches in the IFL, Biladeau with the Wichita

Warlords and MacKeown with the Dayton Skyhawks.

The Dusters actually started in the IFL as well, but they played in the Intense Football League, which began play in 2004 and is not associated or should be confused with the Indoor Football League.

The most successful player to come out of the league was wide receiver Sedrick Robinson. He played for the Pirates in 1999 and is still playing today for the AFL’s Tampa Bay Storm.

But the biggest thing that came out of the IFL was the start of the Peoria-Green Bay rivalry.

That rivalry was enhanced earlier this season when wide receiver Robert Garth joined the Pirates. Garth spent four seasons with the Blizzard, and was a fan favorite.

For most af2 fans the Blizzard-Pirates game on Saturday is just another game, but to me it’s the oldest rivalry in the af2.

Blizzard Ground Barnstormers

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

Wisconsin and Iowa, the two states respect each other, but when it comes to football both want to pound the other into submission.

That’s what the Green Bay Blizzard had to do to beat the Iowa Barnstormers 41-18 in front of 6,881 fans at the Resch Center on Friday night.

“It looked like an outdoor game today,” said Blizzard head coach Bob Landsee.

This game wasn’t your typical high scoring and fast paced arena game that most fans are used to seeing, but it was a good start in the Blizzard-Barnstormers rivalry.

The first drive for the Barnstormers (2-3) would foreshadow how their night was going to be.

Quarterback Joe Brannen was sacked by Blizzard defensive end Joe Sykes on second down to back the Barnstormers inside their own two-yard line. After failing to gain any yards on third down Iowa tried a 64-yard field goal, but kicker Jeff Glas hit the scoreboard instead of the nets, and that was the most action the scoreboard saw the entire first quarter.

Both teams struggled to move the ball the rest of the quarter and combined for five missed field goal attempts.

The first signs of offense for either team came at the start of the second quarter when Blizzard fullback Tyree Young caught a screen pass and was able to break a few tackles as he made his way inside the Iowa ten yard line, but he fumbled the ball and Iowa recovered.

The Barnstormers again couldn’t move the football and attempted a 55-yard field goal. Glas hit a low-lining kick, which appeared to be intended as a defensive kick to give the Blizzard bad field position on the next drive, but it sailed to the bottom of the crossbar and hit it and went over as it popped up and in to give Iowa a 3-0 lead.

Iowa wouldn’t score again until there was 49 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Blizzard (4-2) would get on the scoreboard on its next possession when Young scored on a 16-yard run and the Blizzard wouldn’t look back after that point.

This was Young’s first game with the team this year. He played last year with the Blizzard, but didn’t return to the team until this week.

Blizzard head coach Bob Landsee said earlier in the week at practice that Young solidifies the fullback position for the team, and will give it an added boost.

He was correct because Young rejuvenated the Green Bay running attack as he had 10 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Fullback/Mac linebacker Gus Tyson also had two carries for 12 yards and two touchdowns.

Landsee has prided himself on being able to run the football in goal line situations, and this year it didn’t seem he had the confidence in fullback Jeremy Sheffey, who was placed on injured reserve this week after injuring his knee against the Quad City Steamwheelers, to do so.

The Blizzard offense needed to run the football in this game because quarterback Ryan Porter over threw a lot of passes to open receivers.

Porter did show he has nice touch on his deep ball and it allowed wide receivers Antoine Burns and Quorey Payne to make a few plays on Iowa defenders.

Burns was activated this week because the Blizzard’s top two receivers, Steve Gonzalez and Scott Burnoski, were sidelined again with injuries.

Porter was 12 of 27 passing for 213 yards and two touchdowns, but also had two interceptions.

He replaced Shane Adler as the starter last week, and Adler was traded this week to the Mahoning Valley Thunder. Collin Drafts, who was acquired in a trade from the Arkansas Twisters, was activated this week and will likely get a chance if he proves himself in practice.

“We need to start looking ourselves in the mirror and figure out who’s going to play and who’s not going to play,” Landsee said. “I think there is just too much procrastinating and assignments being messed up.”

Green Bay’s defense, which came into the game ranked number one overall in arenafootball2, again bailed out the offense.

It held the Iowa offense to 192 yards and combined for six sacks.

“You haven’t seen the best yet,” defensive end Joe Sykes said. 

Sykes had two sacks, which gives him 7.5 on the season, and Tyler Birkley also had two. Birkley was filling in at defensive end for the injured Kory Lothe.

For the Barnstormers, it was surprising that head coach John Gregory didn’t use Tim Dodge and Jack Walker Jr. on offense.

Both players have been on the af2 Ironman team in the past and made their names in the arena game with the Steamwheelers. The only pass that either caught was by Walker, but that was an interception from Porter.

The game may have been ugly to watch, and seemed to resemble a Big Ten match up between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Wisconsin Badgers, the Badger marching band was even at the game, instead of an arena football game, but for the Blizzard it’s another win in the tough Midwest division.

Coach Landsee collected his 25th win as a head coach in the af2, and Young’s 70 yards rushing set a new single-game record for the Blizzard.

The Blizzard remains at the top of the Midwest division with the victory, but if it wants to stay there it will have to find the quarterback that can keep them there.

“Special teams did a better job tonight, defense did the job, offense, were stale,” Landsee said.

“We need to just complete that full-house of getting that third part of the game.”

The Blizzard renews its rivalry with the Peoria Pirates on Saturday, May 10th at the Carver Arena. The two squads haven’t played each other since 2004.

NFL Draft Weekend: AFL-af2 Mock Draft

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

I consider this weekend a holiday. The NFL draft is two days of complete football, and probably the one weekend during the arena season where I focus more on the outdoor game than the arena game. With that being said I give you my af2-AFL mock draft for arena football fans to enjoy on this holiday weekend. 

This draft isn’t merely my thoughts. I’ve done interviews with different beat writers from around arenafootball2 and even got to do a few interviews with different coaches in the af2, besides the ones in Green Bay, but the end results of this mock draft ultimately comes down to my opinion. 

This is a three-round mock draft, which takes the currently worst team in the Arena Football League, the Utah Blaze, and gives them the first pick and the best team, the Philadelphia Soul, get the last pick.

You are not going to see players who had a number of opportunities in the AFL, like quarterback Ryan Vena, in this draft for the most part. There also isn’t a lot of long time, but productive players in the af2 like quarterback Chris Wallace and wide receiver/Jack linebacker Robert Garth, in this draft either.

You probably are going to criticize me and say this guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about, but isn’t that the purpose of these things anyway? Keep in mind this isn’t a list of the most dominating players in the af2, but who will make the step up to the AFL next year. So, with that being said, with the first pick in the af2-AFL mock draft…

1. Utah Blaze-DB Sergio Gilliam Spokane Shock

The Blaze is last in the AFL in pass defense and could use a big defender like Gilliam. Sure, Gilliam may be the flavor of the month in the af2 because he had six interceptions in his first two games, but his ability backs up those numbers. He’s a fierce hitter and a ball hawk that played his college ball at Clemson and should make it at the next level.

2. Kansas City Brigade-DE Joe Woolridge South Georgia

I know, the Brigade just released him, but another year in the af2 will allow him to work on the things he learned in his time in Kansas City, and he now knows what it takes at the next level. On the field in the af2 he’s fairing pretty well since his return. He had three sacks, a forced fumble and an interception in his second game back.

3. Columbus Destroyers-WR/KR Jeff Hughley Tulsa Talons

When the Destroyers made their run at the ArenaBowl last year Josh Bush was an explosive playmaker for them, and I don’t think any of their current receivers have that. Hughley is a playmaker and a big reason why the Talons won the ArenaCup last year.

4. Tampa Bay Storm-Jack/WR Larry Kendrick Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers

Lawrence Samuels is a legend in arena football, but it’s time for a youth movement in Tampa Bay to happen. Kendrick, like Woolridge, spent some time in the AFL earlier this year with the Philadelphia Soul. He’s a true Ironman and comes from a winning organization in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which is what the Storm needs to reestablish.

5. Grand Rapids Rampage-DE Joe Sykes Green Bay Blizzard

The Rampage could go a lot of different ways with this pick, but a good defensive end can really cause havoc and improve a defense dramatically. At 6’4 and 275 pounds he has the size to hold up against the bigger offensive lines in the AFL since the elimination of the Ironman rule, but is still very quick coming around the corner.

6. Los Angeles Avengers-C Raymond James Corpus Christi Sharks

The Avengers could use a quality lineman, and James is just that. He’s been in the af2 for a while, spending most of his years with the Florida Firecats, but has proved his value when he moved to Corpus Christi and greatly improved its line.

7. Georgia Force-WR Lonnell Dewalt Louisville Fire

I’m not sure that Georgia has recovered from the losses of receivers Chris Jackson and Derek Lee, so it will be looking to improve its receiving core with this pick. Dewalt is a big physical receiver and will quickly become Chris Greisen’s best friend at the goal line.

8. Colorado Crush-DE Adam Vogel Quad City Steamwheelers

The Crush offense is still very productive, even without Damien Harrell, but the defense isn’t as strong as it was a couple of years ago, and has only generated three sacks this season. Ravenell is just one member of a very good ‘Wheelers defensive line, and has a motor that doesn’t stop.

9. Arizona Rattlers-QB Travis Cole Rio Grande Valley Dorados

The Rattlers have two young quarterbacks already, but I don’t think Lang Campbell or Jeff Smoker is the answer. Cole was with the Rattlers and the Blaze, and in the af2 is getting a chance to gain confidence and fine tune his skills in the arena game.

10. New York Dragons-TE Pulani Ma Sun Spokane Shock

I think quarterback Aaron Garcia is happy to see this pick. Ma Sun is a big reason why the Shock offense is successful. He’s a nasty, physical and dominating lineman, who can take a team’s best pass rusher and shut him down.

11. San Jose Sabercats-WR Nicheren Flowers Central Valley Coyotes

The Sabercats could do a lot of different things with this pick, but can’t pass on a big receiving threat like Flowers. Usually the Sabercats receivers are not the taller and physical types like Flowers, but he can provide a spark for San Jose.

12. Cleveland Gladiators-DB Dahn Singfield Manchester Wolves

The Gladiators need to be more physical on defense, and that’s what Singfield brings to the table. Singfield spent last season with the New York Dragons and is a very experienced player in the af2. He helped the Memphis Xplorers win the ArenaCup in 2005 and was named the defensive player of the year. He makes receivers think twice when they come over the middle.

13. Orlando Predators-TE Wesley Jones Lexington Horsemen

Jay Gruden has a pretty good team in Orlando right now and doesn’t have any immediate needs. Jones is experienced in blocking in a shotgun offense, which the Predators have used this year, and understands the different blocking angles that offense presents.

14. New Orleans VooDoo-G Keith Dauper Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz

The VooDoo have a good young defense that is forcing a lot of turnovers and has found its quarterback, so improving the offensive line is something it will want to do. Dauper is from Concordia University in Canada and was considered one of Canada’s best linemen. He may not be that dominant right now, but because Canadian football is very similar to the arena game he has a lot of experience in pass protection and is only getting better.

15. Chicago Rush-FB Jason Schule Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings

The Rush is always looking for talented fullbacks and Schule will help out in its goal line package. Schule was in the Tampa Bay Storm’s training camp and is more of a fullback/linebacker type versus an offensive lineman who was converted to fullback.

16. Dallas Desperados-DB/Jack linebacker/WR Ray Williams Mahoning Valley Thunder

The Desperados are loaded at all of its positions and it would be hard for any af2 player to make this team because they probably won’t see the field much. So, the Desperados are looking for a player with a lot of character and talent to grow in the arena game. That is exactly what Williams is. He played wide receiver at Purdue and due to injuries in the defensive backfield during his senior year he moved to cornerback. He’s playing defensive back with the Thunder, but may be best suited for the Jack linebacker position instead.

17. Philadelphia Soul-FB James Gibson Florida Firecats

Can Tony Graziani ever stay healthy? Gibson is a good blocking fullback and could possibly move to the offensive line if need be for the Soul if he can’t take the job from the Soul’s current fullback Wes Ours. He’s also leading the af2 in rushing.

Second Round

18. Utah-Mac Jason Hunt Stockton Lightning
Second team All-af2 last year; will help the pass rush in Utah

19. Kansas City-DB Clarence Curry Albany Conquest
Played for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and in NFL Europe; solid coverage skills

20. Columbus-Jack/DB Kofi Amoah Peoria Pirates
Was getting some looks by the NFL last season; versatile defender

21. Tampa Bay-DE Jared Williams Amarillo Dusters
Former Texas Tech defender is tough to defend for 60 minutes

22. Grand Rapids-DB Jermaine Hope Tulsa Talons
Great defender in af2, should be able to make the jump to the AFL

23. Los Angeles-FB Orlando Medlock Lubbock Renegades
Spent time at three different colleges including Utah and was FB in Urban Meyer’s offense

24. Georgia-C Joe Washington Louisville Fire
There’s a reason the Fire’s offense is so effective at running the ball, and he’s it

25. Colorado-Mac Kamau Jackson Austin Wranglers
First team All-af2 last year w/ Cincinnati Jungle Kats, which is really saying something considering how bad that team was

26. Arizona-DE Quinton Staton Rio Grande Valley Dorados
Led af2 in sacks last year w/18.5 and was in camp with the Orlando Predators

27. New York-QB J.J. Raterink Quad City Steamwheelers
Truthfully, there isn’t a lot of QBs in the af2 who are ready to make the jump, but Raterink is a winner and is slippery in the pocket

28. San Jose-DT Tony McClain Rio Grande Valley Dorados
Was in training camp with the Kansas City Brigade and big time force from Auburn

29. Cleveland-WR Patrick Rouzard Arkansas Twisters
Solid receiver who deserves a shot at the next level

30. Orlando-DB Micheaux Robinson Wilkes Barre/Scranton Pioneers
Simply is a playmaker for the Pioneers; good ball skills

31. New Orleans-FB Chris Bruhn Boise Burn
Could be the next gravedigger; played college football at Washington State

32. Chicago-DT Quartez Vickerson Green Bay Blizzard
Is a younger version of James Baron; can play DT or DE

33. Dallas-WR Chavis McCollister Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings
Puts up numbers in the af2, but may not be able to do the same in the AFL. Dallas would be a good situation for him to jump into because he won’t be pressured to produce right away

34. Philadelphia-DE/Mac Justin Parrish Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
Has a nose for finding the quarterback and was an All-Mac performer at Kent State

Third Round

35. Utah-DB Mel Long Austin Wranglers

36. Kansas City-Kory Lothe Green Bay Blizzard

37. Columbus-Mac Kellen Driscoll Mahoning Valley Thunder

38. Tampa Bay-DE Terrance Carter Tulsa Talons

39. Grand Rapids-DE Terrance Chapman Florida Firecats

40. Los Angeles-WR P.J. Perry South Georgia Wildcats
Could easily give Antwone Savage or Buchie Ibeh another try at the AFL, but this guy may be just as talented

41. Georgia-WR/KR Steve Gonzalez Green Bay Blizzard

42. Colorado-DE Eric Scott Tennessee Valley Vipers

43. Arizona-G Zack Love Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers

44. New York-FB Lance Ancar Tennessee Valley Vipers
Fundamentally sound blocker; was Division II’s number one center at North Alabama

45. San Jose-QB Joe Ayoob Central Valley Coyotes

46. Cleveland-DB Tanner Varner Iowa Barnstormers

47. Orlando-WR Reggie Glover Lubbock Renegades

48. New Orleans-DT Hammond Russell Quad City Steamwheelers

49. Chicago-DB/KR Ivory McCann Corpus Christi Sharks
This guy is fun to watch and can develop into a good defensive back

50. Dallas-C Donald Autry South Georiga
Those who follow the Wildcats probably don’t even know him, but I was told the coaching staff is pretty high on him, but hasn’t played for most of the season because of injury

51. Philadelphia-TE Jacob Hobbs Albany Conquest