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Chicago Rush game notes

March 16, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


The Quick Facts
TV: NBC ... Allen Bestwick, Ray Bentley, Mark Schanowski
Radio: ESPN Radio 1000 ... Tom Dore, John Jurkovic
Overall Series Record: 2-2 (1-2 Regular Season, 1-0 postseason)
Last Meeting: February 2, 2003, Orlando 47, Rush 35
Coaches (regular season records):
Mike Hohensee (72-65 — 11th season)
Jay Gruden (37-23 — 5th season)
Officials: Bill McCabe (Referee), Doug Wilson (Umpire), Royce Cooley (Head Linesman), Kent Payne (Line Judge), Jimmy Buchanan (Back Judge)

2004 Chicago Rush Schedule
February 8 Grand Rapids* W 50-30 15,552
February 14 @ New York W 56-54 10,720
February 22 Colorado* W 65-35 15,406
February 29 @ Indiana* W 49-46 12,198
March 7 @ Philadelphia L 47-53 17,597
March 14 BYE
March 21 Orlando 11 a.m. NBC
March 28 Detroit* 2 p.m.
April 4 @ Las Vegas 5 p.m.
April 11 Tampa Bay 2 p.m. NBC
April 16 @ San Jose 9:30 p.m.
April 25 Los Angeles 2 p.m. NBC
May 2 @ Detroit * 2 p.m. NBC
May 8 @ Grand Rapids* 6:30 p.m.
May 16 Dallas 2 p.m. NBC
May 23 Indiana* 2 p.m. NBC
May 30 @ Colorado* 3 p.m. NBC

*Central Division Game ... All times Central


American Conference — Central Division
2004 Standings
W-L-T PF PA Division
RUSH 4-1-0 267 218 3-0-0
Colorado 4-2-0 267 295 2-1-0
Detroit 2-3-0 217 221 1-1-0
Indiana 1-5-0 261 269 0-2-0
Grand Rapids 0-6-0 195 332 0-2-0



BACK TO WORK: After a week off, the Rush returns home this weekend to host the Orlando Predators. Orlando (2-3) enters the game after having its two-game winning streak snapped last Friday by the Georgia Force.

HISTORY LESSON: In 2001 the expansion Rush defeated the defending champion Predators at Allstate Arena to secure a spot in the postseason. The very next week, the Rush traveled to Orlando for the opening round of the AFL playoffs and again defeated the Predators, 41-26.

In 2002, in just his second game back from retirement, Orlando QB Jay Gruden completed 22 of 28 passes for 243 yards and five touchdowns, as the Predators defeated the Rush 49-38 at the TD Waterhouse Centre. The results were not much better in the 2003 season opener at Allstate Arena, when Gruden passed for six TDs in Orlando's 47-35 win.

THREE OF NEXT FOUR AT HOME: The Rush is beginning a stretch in which it plays three of its next four games at Allstate Arena, where the Rush is 16-8 all-time. The Rush hosts Orlando this week, Detroit on March 28 and Tampa Bay on April 11. Chicago's only road trip in the next month is an April 4 game at Las Vegas.

MUST SEE TV!: After taking a week off of Chicago's airwaves, the Rush once again will be featured on NBC's broadcast of the AFL Sunday. After five games, the Rush is averaging a 2.55 rating in Chicago – a jump of 82% over last season's average rating.

McMILLEN IN THE RECORD BOOKS: Rush FB Bob McMillen enters the week third in the AFL in rushing with 27 carries for 106 yards. March 7 in Philadelphia, in his 100th career AFL regular season game, McMillen became the first player in AFL history to rush for 100 or more yards in six-consecutive seasons. In addition, McMillen needs just 30 more rushing yards to become the fifth player in AFL history to rush for 1,000 career yards.

AFL Rushing Leaders:
Player Team G Att. Yards Avg. Long TD
Curran NO 6 32 131 4.1 20 10
McPherson Ind 4 27 128 4.7 27 10
McMillen Chi 5 27 106 3.9 9 6
Thomas Geo 6 23 98 4.3 13 5

PHIL-YEAH!: QB Raymond Philyaw has been the catalyst for Chicago's early-season success. Philyaw has completed 85 of 133 passes for 1068 yards and 15 touchdowns. Philyaw also has rushed for 24 yards and eight touchdowns, equaling his career-best for rushing touchdowns in a season with 11 games to play.

PHILYAW vs. ORLANDO: While in Indiana, Philyaw started two games against the Predators, going 1-1. Here are his combined stats from his two games vs. Orlando:

Comp Att Pct. Yds. TD Int Rating
50 74 67.5% 600 10 1 120.3

NO PICKS, NO SACKS: The Rush is one of only two teams in the AFL that has not thrown an interception this season (Los Angeles). Philyaw has opened the season with 133 consecutive pass attempts without an interception, and dating back to last season, has thrown 159 consecutive passes without being picked off. It marks the first time in team history that the Rush has played five-consecutive games without throwing an interception.

In addition, Chicago is the only team in the AFL that has not given up a sack this season. The Rush has become one of the better teams in the league in protecting its quarterback. In 2002 the Rush led the league, allowing only three QB sacks all season. Last season, the Rush ranked fifth in the AFL, giving up 12 sacks.

SACK ATTACK: The Rush defense continues to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, with four different Rush players recording sacks this year. Earlier this season John Moyer recorded the 20th sack of his AFL career, his 15th as a member of the Rush. James Baron, a six-time All-Arena performer ranks 5th on the AFL's career sack leaders list with 34.5 career sacks.

Here are Chicago's season and career sack leaders:
Player Season Player Career
John Moyer 9.0 (2003) John Moyer 15.0
Anthony Hutch 5.5 (2001) James Baron 8.0
John Moyer 4.0 (2002) Anthony Hutch 6.5
James Baron 4.0 (2003) Riley Kleinhesselink 4.5
Tony Henderson 4.0 (2001) Tony Henderson 4.0
James Baron 3.0 (2002) Jamie McGourty 3.5
Riley Kleinhesselink 2.5 (2001)
John Moyer 2.0 (2004)

MOLDEN EMERGING: Rookie WR/LB Etu Molden has emerged as one of Philyaw's favorite targets. For the season, Molden leads the team in receptions (23), is second in receiving yards (274) and has scored eight touchdowns (seven receiving, one return).

RUSH TEAM ZONE RETURNS: The Rush Team Zone, created by James Baron in 2002 to provide tickets to underprivileged kids, returns Sunday. This week Baron will be hosting a group of 50 kids from the Columbia Center Boys and Girls Club of Hammond, Ind. Baron has arranged for tickets for the kids as well as a bus to bring them to and from Allstate Arena.

MOYER NAMED PLAYER OF THE MONTH: John Moyer was named the AFL's ADT Defensive Player of the Month for his performance in February. Moyer, a 2003 first-team All-Arena selection, recorded six tackles, two sacks, recovered two fumbles and blocked an extra-point attempt, while helping lead the Rush to its first 4-0 start in team history.

TOPPING THE CENTURY MARK: Lineman James Baron has played in 105 consecutive regular season AFL games, having never missed a game in his seven-year career. Including postseason, Baron's consecutive game streak stands at 118 games.

Baron has played in more AFL games than any other Rush player. Next on the Rush list for AFL service are Bob McMillen (100 regular season games), John Moyer (69), John Sikora (65), Frank Moore (64) and Jamie McGourty (58).

HEAD COACH MIKE HOHENSEE is in his 11th season as a head coach in the Arena Football League. Hohensee was hired as the first coach in Rush history on September 26, 2000. He
8 has a regular season record of 72-65 (including a
28-21 mark with the Rush) ... has a career 5-7 mark in the postseason.
8 has led the Rush to three-consecutive playoff berths and a 2002 Central Division title.
8 became the sixth head coach in AFL history to achieve 70 career wins (postseason wins included) ... his 70th win was April 13, 2003, at Colorado (76-58).
8 is 4-7 all-time vs. Orlando, 2-2 as head coach of the Rush.

All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 157 at Carolina
Danny White Arizona 126 vs. New Orleans
Perry Moss 86
Mike Hohensee Rush 77 vs. Orlando
Michael Trigg Philadelphia 76 vs. Colorado
John Gregory Carolina 72 vs. Tampa Bay

M*A*S*H UNIT: The Rush has managed to open the season 4-1 despite several key injuries to its defensive backfield. Here is a rundown of Chicago's injury woes:

- WR/DB Donnie Caldwell was placed on IR February 26 and is out for the season after tearing the ACL in his right knee vs. Colorado (2/22). At the time of his injury, Caldwell was the team's second-leading tackler, recording 11.5 tackles and an interception.

- WR/DB Josh Phillips suffered a shoulder injury February 14 at New York and was placed on IR February 19. He is out indefinitely.

- DS DaShane Dennis suffered a sprained MCL in his left knee February 14 at New York. He was placed on IR and is out until late-March.

- DS Greg Williams ruptured the flexor tendon in his left ring finger and underwent successful surgery February 10. He was placed on IR and will be out until at least mid-April.

- In addition, defensive specialist Kareem Larrimore missed one game with a sprained ankle and offensive specialist Jeremy McDaniel missed one game with a groin injury.

TALE OF THE TAPE:
Chicago Category (Rank) Orlando
5 Games 5
53.4 (4) Scoring Offense 48.4 (9)
43.6 (3) Scoring Defense 46.8 (T-9)
252.8 (10) Total Offense 264.6 (7)
218.8 (1) Total Defense 259.0 (T-9)
27-29, 93.1% Red Zone Offense 17-20,85.0%
17-22, 77.3% Red Zone Defense 19-23,82.6%
213.8 (16) Pass Offense 242.8 (8)
195.4 (1) Pass Defense 239.6 (9)
39.0 (2) Rushing Offense 21.8 (7)
23.4 (15) Rushing Defense 19.4 (7)
267 (T-11) Scoring 242 (16)
37 (12) Scoring (Kicking) 38 (11)
30-565-2 Kickoff Returns 30-482-1
18.8 Kick Return Average 16.1
32-565-2 Combined Returns 31-482-1
17.7 Combined Return Average 15.5
+6 (2) Turnover Margin +3 (6)
3-6, 50% Field Goals 4-7, 57.1%
28-34, 82.3% PAT Kicking 26-28,92.9%
5-23 Sacks By 13-60
0-0 Sacks Against 3-10
16-27, 59.3% Third Down Conversion 15-27,55.6%
3-5, 60% Fourth Down Conversion 1-6, 1.7%
42-268 Penalties (#-Yards) 40-226
33-186 Opp. Penalties (#-Yards) 30-185
Bold – Leads League

INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: The following Rush players are among the 2004 AFL league leaders.

Raymond Philyaw: average gain (5th—8.04 yards), passer rating (T-8th—117.0), completion percentage (7th—63.9), interceptions thrown (T-1st—0), rushing touchdowns (2nd—8)

Lindsay Fleshman: interceptions (T-4th-2), interception return for TD (T-2nd—1)

Keith Gispert: field goal percentage (T-4th—50, 3-6), scoring (kickers) (12th—37 points)

Bob McMillen: rushing yards (3rd—106), rushing attempts (T-2nd—27), rushing touchdowns (T-4th—6)

John Moyer: fumble recoveries (T-2nd—2), sacks (T-9th—2)

Donnie Caldwell: fumble recoveries (T-2nd—2)

Kareem Larrimore: kickoff return average (8th—21.1), kickoff returns for touchdown (T-7th—1)

RUSH GAME AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players have won individual game awards for their play this season:

Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game:
Raymond Philyaw (2/8 vs. Grand Rapids, 2/22 vs. Colorado)
Lindsay Fleshman (2/14 @ New York)

ADT Defensive Player of the Game:
Corey Sawyer (2/8 vs. Grand Rapids)
Donnie Caldwell (2/14 @ New York)
John Moyer (2/22 vs. Colorado)

U.S. Army Ironman of the Game:
Lindsay Fleshman (2/8 vs. Grand Rapids)
DeJuan Alfonzo (2/14 @ New York)
Jamie McGourty (2/22 vs. Colorado)
Kareem Larrimore (2/29 @ Indiana)

AFL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players have won AFL weekly awards for their play this season:

ADT Defensive Player of the Week:
John Moyer (2/22 vs. Colorado)

AFL MONTHLY AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players have won AFL monthly awards for their play this season:

ADT Defensive Player of the Month:
John Moyer (February)

RUSH PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
Practice for the week of March 15:
Tuesday, March 16 – 10:30 a.m. to Noon
Wednesday, March 17 – 12:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 18 – 10:15 a.m. to Noon
Friday, March 19 – 10:15 a.m. to Noon
Saturday, March 21 – 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

All practices will be held at the team's Palatine practice facility, Soccer Enterprise, except Saturday's walk-thru, which will be held at Northwestern University.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 16, 2004


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