Blaze Stat Guy Looks at the Defense
Published on March 23, 2011 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Utah Blaze News Release
In the Arena Football League there are several ways to win games. For the Utah Blaze, history shows they need to outscore teams. That was until last Thursday. Utah put on a defensive clinic against Tampa Bay, especially in the second half, en route to the 72-36 season opening victory.
The key to the game defensively is stopping the other team from scoring either by forcing a turnover or stopping them on downs. Holding the opposition to a field goal is considered a half-stop according to most coaches in the AFL. Good teams will then turn those stops into scores to help them win games. On Thursday, Utah did both.
After holding Tampa Bay to a field goal on their first possession, Utah went and scored a touchdown on its following possession.
One stop and six points.
The next stop by the Blaze didn't come until the second half, but once they got one, the game turned dramatically. The first drive of the second half belonged to the Storm. On a third-and-10 play from the Utah 22, William Mulder intercepted a Grant Gregory pass to stop the drive. Utah would then march 47 yards down the field for a touchdown.
Two stops and 12 points.
The next Storm possession started strong for the offense. They were attacking the field and benefitting from a Utah penalty. Tampa Bay even recovered a fumble that looked like should have been scooped by the defense. The drive would falter as Mulder would breakup a second down throw and Alfred Phillips would tip the fourth down pass. Utah scored on its first play following the stop.
Three stops and 18 points.
The first Storm possession of the fourth quarter was the best stand by the Blaze defense. After allowing a 6-yard pass on first down, Utah forced a holding penalty, a delay of game penalty, and Mulder recorded three pass breakups to hold them on downs. Tommy Grady would quarterback sneak his way into the end zone for the Blaze to cap a 5-yard drive.
Four Stops and 25 points.
Leading 58-30, the Utah defense again came to play. The first Tampa Bay play resulted in a sack by Chris Solomona. After Labrose Hedgemon broke up another pass and then an incomplete pass, Alfred Phillips recorded the team's second interception of the night. Grady would again cap a touchdown drive with a QB sneak.
Five stops and 32 points.
Just for good measure the Utah defense would record one more stop. After Mike Potts fumbled and recovered the snap on his first play, Brandon Taylor forced a fumble that was recovered by Mulder. Grady would complete a screen pass to Jason Boone to complete another Utah scoring drive following a defensive stop.
Six stops and 39 points.
Utah won the game by 36 and scored 39 points from six defensive stops. In turn, the offense was only stopped on its opening possession. That stop turned into the field goal that Tampa scored on its first drive.
Utah held the Storm to just 5.5 yards per play in the game and only 221 total yards. Tampa Bay went for 7.1 yards per first down, but slowly digressed from there. On second down plays Tampa Bay averaged 4.4 yards and had just three successful plays in 11 snaps. On third downs, the Storm went for 3.3 yards and were successful on 2-of-7 snaps. The Storm ran three plays on fourth down with two falling incomplete and the other resulting in an interception.
A successful play on first down is a gain of seven yards or more. A successful second down gets the team within third and two or less. A successful third and fourth down play results in a first down.
The Utah defense finished the game with seven pass break-ups, four tackles-for-loss, three sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. The seven break-ups and three sacks are team records.
The defense ranks on the AFL top five in eight defensive categories. They lead the league in total defense and rank second in pass defense and red zone defense.
The 36 points allowed is the third fewest in team history. They allowed 35 to San Jose in the team's first-ever game in 2006 and held Colorado to just 14 points in a 2007 contest.
For more from the world of Blaze stats follow the Blaze Stat Guy on Twitter @blazestatguy.
Arena Football League Stories from March 23, 2011
- AFL Coaches' Poll Week 2 - AFL
- Talons Offering Free Tickets for the Home Opener - Tulsa Talons
- Blaze Stat Guy Looks at the Defense - Utah Blaze
- Mojo's Set to Host Predfest for the Orlando Predators Home Opener - Orlando Predators
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