In-state rivals meet on Sea Best Field Friday night
April 1, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Jacksonville Sharks News Release
JACKSONVILLE - The Jacksonville Sharks are in the midst of preparation for their 2015 home opener this week, as they will host the Orlando Predators on Friday, April 3. Kickoff on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is set for 8:00 p.m.
This is the first of three meetings between these two teams, as Jacksonville (0-1) will host Orlando (0-1) twice before heading to The Jungle in the second-to-last week of the regular season. For their part, the Sharks enter this week with the goal of bouncing back from a tough loss in New Orleans last Saturday night.
In the season opener, the Sharks battled back to erase an early three-touchdown deficit, as the team used a third-quarter fumble recovery to turn a 37-24 halftime deficit into a 37-37 game midway through the third quarter. Jacksonville eventually took a 50-44 lead with less than seven minutes remaining, as fullback Derrick Ross powered for his second rushing touchdown of the game. But New Orleans responded with a score, converting a fourth-and-goal into a short touchdown run, then forced a turnover on downs in the final seconds to seal the game.
One key to Jacksonville emerging from this game with their first win of 2015 will be avoiding a second straight slow start. The Shark offense came up empty on each of their first two possessions last week, resulting in a 20-0 deficit at the end of the first quarter. Quarterback Tommy Grady quickly found a rhythm from there, going 22-for-31 with five touchdowns and no interceptions over the final three quarters of the opener.
Critical to Grady's performance will be the developing chemistry that he has with the Sharks' receiving corps. When last Saturday's game kicked off, Grady had never thrown a single pass to any of the Jacksonville starting receivers - Jeron Harvey, Tiger Jones and Joe Hills. As the game in New Orleans progressed, Grady spread the ball around, completing seven or more passes to each of those three players. In particular, Grady and Hills found a consistent connection in the red zone, as Hills hauled in all five of Grady's touchdown tosses en route to winning AFL Playmaker of the Week honors. With one game under their belt, Grady and his targets will look to be on the same page from the opening snap this week.
On defense, the Sharks have opportunities for improvement both up front and in the secondary. Jacksonville only recorded one sack in the season opener, and a lack of consistent pressure allowed VooDoo quarterback Adam Kennedy to go 19-of-25. Though Demarcus Robinson forced a fumble and Terrance Smith snared a diving interception, the Sharks did not record a single pass breakup during Saturday's game.
On special teams, Jacksonville will look for a smoother operation in the kicking game, as two missed extra points proved costly in a one-point loss. The Sharks' kick coverage unit will also need to play more disciplined, as New Orleans averaged better than 30 yards per kickoff return on Saturday. One bright spot on special teams was Smith's work as a kick returner, as he averaged nearly 23 yards per runback and brought the ball across midfield on multiple occasions.
This week, the Sharks match up against a Predator squad that is also eager for a win after suffering a close loss in Week 1. In a game that saw the lead change hands several times, Orlando allowed a touchdown in the final minute to drop a 70-63 decision to the Philadelphia Soul.
Though former Shark Bernard Morris led the Predators to the American Conference Championship Game a year ago, it was fellow veteran Randy Hippeard who got the starting nod in Week 1. Hippeard most certainly took advantage of his opportunity, throwing more touchdown passes (eight) than incompletions (five) on Sunday. Hippeard's only major mistake was an interception returned for a touchdown by Philadelphia's James Romain.
In Greg Carr (6'6") and Larry Brackins (6'5"), the Predators have a pair of big targets that pose significant matchup problems in the red zone. Orlando boasts an impressive receiving corps overall, as Kendal Thompkins and Justin Hilton each caught a pair of touchdown passes in Week 1.
While the Orlando defense struggled to find its footing in its opener, allowing 451 total yards and nine offensive touchdowns, the Predators feature a veteran lineup on that side of the ball. Though reigning First Team All-Arena Jack linebacker Tanner Varner was lost to the Las Vegas Outlaws via the expansion draft, Orlando added several accomplished veterans via free agency, including defensive back Paul Stephens, Jack linebacker Terence Moore, and Mac Linebacker and former Shark Aaron Robbins.
Tickets to Friday's game are still available, and may be purchased by calling the Sharks Ticket Office at 904-621-0700.
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