Albany Firebirds Mid-Season Report
May 20, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
2009 Record:
3-5 (2-2 Home, 1-3 Road) - Streak: Won 2 - Third Place, East Division, American Conference
The Stakes
The Firebirds opened their season with five-straight losses, but turned it around with wins in their next three contests heading into the mid-season bye week. Albany heads into the second half of the season just a half game behind second place Manchester in the East division and the schedule shows that the club may be primed for a second-half playoff push.
Looking Forward
Seven of Albany's final eight games are against teams with losing records through the first half of the season.
In the final eight weeks the Firebirds play...
- One game against Mahoning Valley and two against Manchester, each of which Albany has beaten this year.
- Two games against the one-win Peoria Pirates (1-6).
- Two games against the two-win Milwaukee Iron (2-6).
- One game against the division leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (6-1).
Key Additions:
QB Stephen Wasil shows a perfect 3-0 record since returning from a five week stint on the IR. The second-year pro started the first game of the year under center for Albany and went 5-for-5 for 65 yards and a touchdown before a low hit forced him to exit the game. Wasil has been fantastic since his return in Week 6, throwing for 926 yards and 19 touchdowns against just two interceptions. Wasil has not played enough games to qualify as a league-leader in stats, but his 122.60 passer rating would rank him fifth among league quarterbacks.
DE David Tash came to Albany in a Week 4 trade from Manchester and the second-year pass-rusher has become a key playmaker for the Firebirds defense. In just five games with Albany, Tash has taken the team lead in tackles for loss (5 for 42 yards), sacks (3) and forced fumbles (3).
DB Jamel Ramsay and DB/LB Malik Jackson have yet to lose in a Firebirds uniform. Ramsay has filled in admirably for safety Kenney Williams (IR) with 12.5 tackles (nine solo), five pass break-ups (second on team) and one fumble recovery in just three games. Jackson is a versatile defender who has played both linebacker and cornerback for the Firebirds. In two wins with the team, Jackson has 6.5 tackles (four solo, one for a loss) and three pass break-ups.
LB Rob Wright earned defensive player of the game honors as a starter in Week 1 for Albany, but was held out of the next six contests due to injury. Wright had a memorable return in Week 8, as he led the Firebirds with 3.5 tackles and combined with Reggie Paramoure on the game-winning safety.
Pair of Iron Men
WR/LB Alvin Ray Jackson earned JLS Ironman of the Game Award in four of Albany's eight games this season. Jackson tops the team with 11 receiving touchdowns and 78 total points, which includes two defensive TDs. Jackson also ranks second on the team in tackles (27), first in fumbles recovered (3) and first with two interceptions.
WR/DB Christian Wise leads all Firebird receivers with 899 receiving yards this season and is second on the team in scoring with 10 touchdowns for 60 points. Wise ranks sixth in the af2 in both receiving yards per game (128.4) and in all purpose yards per game (180.4). Recently Wise has also seen extended time as a defensive back and as a kick returner. In Week 7, Wise was selected as the af2's Ironman of the week after a 190-yard, three touchdown performance along with an interception.
Three-In-A-Rowe Pecks
In all three Albany wins, the Firebirds...
- Failed to score first
- Were trailing after the first quarter
- Were trailing at halftime
- Scored between 50-54 points
- Won the coin toss
Full-Timers
Four Firebirds have started in every game this season:
- WR/LB Alvin Ray Jackson
- DE Reggie Paramoure
- DB Lawrence Wade
- K Brian Umstead
East Division Standings:
(AMERICAN CONFERENCE)
Team W L PCT Home Road Streak
WB/Scranton 6 1 0.857 4-0 2-1 W4
Manchester 3 4 0.429 2-1 1-3 L3
Albany 3 5 0.375 2-2 1-3 W3
Mahoning Valley 1 6 0.143 1-3 0-3 L6
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