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Chicago Rush game notes

March 28, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Chicago Rush News Release


The Quick Facts
TV: NBC ... Tom Hammond, Pat Haden, Lewis Johnson
Radio: WCKG, 105.9 FM...Tom Dore, James "Big Cat" Williams
Overall Series Record: Rush leads 4-3 (2-3 regular season, 2-0 postseason)
Series Streaks: Orlando won the last meeting.
Last Meeting: February 25, 2005, Orlando 48, Rush 35
Coaches (regular season, postseason records):
Mike Hohensee (92-81, 7-9 - 13th season)
Jay Gruden (60-37, 9-4 - 7th season)
Officials: David Cutaia (Referee), Doug Wilson (Umpire), Greg Shields (Head Linesman), Dave Chesney (Line Judge), James Cole (Back Judge)



2006 Chicago Rush Schedule
January 29 @ Colorado* L, 65-56 14,832
February 3 New York L, 51-47 14,947
February 12 Nashville* W, 56-55 (OT) 12,663
February 18 @ Los Angeles W, 65-46 12,554
February 26 San Jose W, 54-48 (OT) 12,950
March 5 Dallas L, 59-42 13,503
March 10 Colorado* L, 49-42 13,807
March 17 @ Nashville* L, 48-47 8,772
March 26 Grand Rapids* W, 51-44 15,228
April 2 @ Orlando 11 a.m. NBC
April 9 @ Philadelphia Noon NBC
April 15 @ Arizona 9 p.m. OLN
April 23 Las Vegas 3 p.m. CSN
April 29 @ Georgia 6 p.m. CSN
May 6 Utah 7 p.m. FSN
May 13 @ Grand Rapids* 3 p.m. OLN
* Central Division game

American Conference - Central Division
2006 Standings
W-L-T PF PA Division
Colorado 6-3-0 468 487 3-1
Nashville 6-3-0 452 387 3-1
RUSH 4-5-0 460 465 2-3
Grand Rapids 3-6-0 434 476 0-3

THE TRIP BEGINS: The Rush opens a three-game road trip this week with a Sunday afternoon game against the Orlando Predators. The Predators raised their record to 5-4 with a 47-37 win in Austin last week and currently are tied for second place in the Southern Division. The Rush snapped its three-game losing streak with a 51-44 victory over Grand Rapids Sunday to move into sole possession of third place in the Central Division, two games behind Colorado and Nashville.

This is Chicago's first trip to Orlando since April 26, 2002, breaking a string of four-consecutive Rush-Predators games played in Chicago. Overall, the Rush holds a 4-3 lead in its series with Orlando, trailing the Predators 3-2 in the regular season series, but winning both of its postseason games against Orlando.

RUSH FALLS TO ORLANDO IN 2005: The Rush looked like it was on its way to a decisive victory over the Orlando Predators last February at Allstate Arena before folding in the third quarter on its way to a 48-35 loss.

Leading 21-17 at the half, the Rush opened the second half with an impressive drive that put the team in position to go up 28-17. However, Jeremy McDaniel fumbled on the Orlando 1-yard line, beginning a third quarter spiral that saw the Predators score 21 unanswered points, turning their four-point deficit into a 38-21 lead. In addition to the McDaniel fumble, the quarter included an Orlando onside kick which the Rush failed to recover, as well as a fumble by Etu Molden.

THE LAST TIME... The last time the Rush played in Orlando was April 26, 2002, when the Rush fell to the Predators 49-38 - a game in which Rush OS Joe Douglass suffered a ruptured colon and was lost for the season. Rush lineman John Moyer is the only player on the Chicago roster who played in that game. Rush WR/LB Cornelius White was with the Rush in 2002, but did not make the trip to Orlando for the game.

Here is a look at the Chicago-Orlando Series Results:
2001: Chicago 55, Orlando 41 (July 21 @ Chicago)
Chicago 41, Orlando 26 (July 27 @ Orlando)*
2002: Orlando 49, Chicago 38 (April 26 @ Orlando)
2003: Orlando 47, Chicago 35 (February 2 @ Chicago)
2004: Chicago 58, Orlando 15 (March 21 @ Chicago)
Chicago 59, Orlando 49 (June 6 @ Chicago)*
2005: Orlando 48, Chicago 35 (February 25 @ Chicago)
*AFL playoffs

ANOTHER FANTASTIC FINISH: The Rush did it again last week, pulling out a thrilling victory against Grand Rapids in the game's closing seconds. Trailing 24-3 with less than 30 seconds remaining in the first half, the Rush went on a 33-7 run over the next 18 minutes to take a 36-31 lead early in the fourth quarter. After Grand Rapids regained its footing and took a 44-42 lead with 1:02 remaining in the game, Rush QB Matt D'Orazio led the team on a 37-yard drive that culminated in a 14-yard TD pass to Cornelius White with just four seconds remaining, giving the Rush a 49-44 lead. Then, on the game's final play, lineman Curtis Eason sacked Rampage QB Chad Salisbury for a safety, giving the Rush a 51-44 win.

Five of Chicago's nine games this season have been decided on the game's final play.

Dating back to last season's American Conference Semifinal in Colorado, six of Chicago's last 10 games have been decided on the final play.

Games decided on final play:
June 5, 2005 - Colorado QB John Dutton connects with Andy McCullough on a 22-yard touchdown pass in overtime for the 49-43 win.

January 29, 2006 -Dutton hit Colorado OS Damian Harrell with an 11-yard TD pass with one-second left, breaking a 56-56 tie. After a safety on the ensuing kickoff, the Crush had handed Chicago a 65-56 defeat.

February 3, 2006 - Rush QB Matt D'Orazio's one-yard touchdown scramble as time expired was nullified by a Rush penalty, turning a 53-51 Rush win into a 51-47 loss to New York.

February 12, 2006 - D'Orazio's TD pass to C.J. Johnson and two-point conversion pass to Cornelius White in overtime gave the Rush a 56-55 win over Nashville.

February 26, 2006 - D'Orazio's 12-yard TD pass to Buchie Ibeh with 11 seconds remaining forced overtime vs. San Jose. Then, after a Jeremy Unertl interception on San Jose's first possession of OT, D'Orazio's 27-yard TD pass to Cornelius White gave the Rush a 54-48 win.

March 26, 2006 - D'Orazio's 14-yard TD pass to White with four seconds remaining gave the Rush a 49-44 lead over Grand Rapids. Then, after the ensuing kickoff went for a touchback, Curtis Eason sacked Rampage QB Chad Salisbury for a safety on the game's final play, giving the Rush a 51-44 victory.

HOHENSEE LOOKING FOR 100: Chicago's win over Grand Rapids last week was the 99th in Rush head coach Mike Hohensee's AFL career. Hohensee will try to become only the third head coach in AFL history with 100 career wins when the Rush travels to Orlando this week.

The only head coach in Rush history, Hohensee has guided Chicago to a 52-42 overall record and playoff appearances in each of the team's five seasons. During his tenure the Rush has won two Central Division titles (2002, 2004) and advanced to the AFL semifinals three times (2002, 2004, 2005).

One of only four men to be involved in the Arena Football League in each of the league's 20 seasons, Hohensee has taken his teams to the playoffs nine times and won five division titles in his 12 previous seasons as a head coach. His 99 career victories rank him third in AFL history behind Tampa Bay's Tim Marcum and Utah's Danny White.

Earlier this season, the Rush extended Hohensee's contract through the 2009 season.

Hohensee originally was hired on September 26, 2000. He
8 has a regular season record of 92-81 (including a
48-37 mark with the Rush).
8 has a career 7-9 mark in the postseason.
8 has led the Rush to five-consecutive playoff berths and two Central Division titles (2002 and 2004).
8 is 6-8 all-time vs. the Predators (4-3 as coach of Chicago).
8 is 5-2 against head coach Jay Gruden (4-1 with Chicago).

All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
Including Postseason
Coach Team Wins This Week
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 178 vs. Utah
Danny White Utah 144 @ Tampa Bay
Mike Hohensee Rush 99 @ Orlando
Mike Dailey Colorado 93 vs. Nashville
Perry Moss 86
Darren Arbet San Jose 85 vs. Arizona

PLAYOFF PICTURE TAKING SHAPE: With nine weeks of the season complete, the AFL's playoff picture is beginning to take shape. Six teams from each conference will make the playoffs with the four division winners each receiving a first-round bye. The best four records from the remaining teams in each conference will receive Wild Card berths.

If the playoffs were to begin this week, Nashville and Arizona would win the Central and Western Divisions, respectively, and receive a first-round bye. In the first round Colorado would host Grand Rapids, and the Rush would host Las Vegas.

Here is a closer look at the American Conference standings:

1. x-Nashville 6-3 (win head-to-head vs. Col)
2. x-Arizona 5-4
3. Colorado 6-3
4. Chicago 4-5 (win strength of schedule vs. LV)
5. Las Vegas 4-5
6. Grand Rapids 3-6 (win head-to-head vs. LA, SJ & UT)
--------------------
7. Utah 3-6 (win head-to-head vs. LA & SJ)
8. Los Angeles 3-6 (win head-to-head vs. SJ)
9. San Jose 3-6

X - division leader

ROAD TRIP CONTINUES IN PHILLY & ARIZONA: After this week's trip to Orlando, the Rush continues its road trip with an April 9 trip to Philadelphia and an April 15 trip to Arizona. The Rush has never won in either city, going 0-1 in Philadelphia and 0-3 in Arizona, including a 46-35 loss to the Rattlers in the 2002 AFL semifinals.

FAMILIAR FACES: Two Orlando players - defensive specialist Jeroid Johnson and WR/LB Jerrian James - have ties to the Rush organization. Johnson spent the 2005 season in Chicago and finished the year as the team's leading tackler, recording 73.0 tackles, 13 passes broken up and two forced fumbles. He was released in the off-season in a salary cap move and signed with Orlando. He is having the best season of his seven-year career, with 52.5 tackles, four interceptions, 19 passes broken up and four forced fumbles.

James attended training camp with the Rush in 2004, but was released when the team made its final cuts for the season.

OVERTIME TURNAROUND: Entering this season the Rush was 2-4 all time in overtime and had lost its last three overtime games overall. This year, however, things are different as Chicago has won both times it has gone to OT. Chicago's February 12 overtime win over Nashville was the first overtime victory for the Rush since it defeated Indiana on May 18, 2003.

HIGH SCORING OFFENSE: The Rush offense has scored 460 points in the season's first nine weeks, an average of 51.1 points per game. The Rush franchise record for points scored in a season is 847 (52.9 ppg) set during the 2004 season.

BETTER AFTER THE BREAK?: After going 3-5 in the first half of the season, the Rush needs to post at least five wins during the second half to avoid suffering its first losing season in franchise history. History should be on Chicago's side, as the team has won five games in the second half of each of the last four seasons. Here is a look at the team's record in the first and second halves of the past five seasons:

First Half Second Half Final Record
2001 4-3 3-4 7-7
2002 4-3 5-2 9-5
2003 3-5 5-3 8-8
2004 6-2 5-3 11-5
2005 4-4 5-3 9-7
2006 3-5 1-0

GETTING HEALTHY: After missing several key players for a significant part of the first half of the season, the Rush finally is starting to get healthy. Rush kicker Keith Gispert, out since injuring himself during pregame warmups opening day in Colorado, was activated last week and kicked against Grand Rapids. In addition, linemen John Moyer and D.J. Bleisath and defensive specialist Tony Lukins are getting close to being able to return. Only FB/LB Levelle Brown is seriously injured and out for the season.

Here is a complete recap of the current Rush injuries:
8 WR/LB Etu Molden missed last week's game vs. Grand Rapids with a knee injury sustained in practice. Molden had missed three games earlier in the season with a shoulder injury.
8 OL/DL John Moyer is close to returning after spraining his right knee late in the first half March 5 vs. Dallas.
8 OL/DL D.J. Bleisath will be out until early to mid-April after suffering a severe ankle sprain early in the third quarter March 5 vs. Dallas.
8 DS Tony Lukins is on Injured Reserve and has missed the team's last five games after suffering ankle and hamstring injuries February 12 vs. Nashville.
8 FB/LB Levelle Brown is on IR and out for the season after he dislocated his shoulder when the team was practicing in Columbus during training camp in January. He underwent surgery March 15.

McMILLEN BECOMES AFL'S TOP RUSHER: Rush FB/LB Bob McMillen became the AFL's all-time leading rusher March 17, when he rushed for four yards in the team's game at Nashville. McMillen added to his record with three yards last week vs. Grand Rapids and now has 1,389 rushing yards in his 12-year career, seven more than former record holder Les Barley.

Earlier this season, as part of the league's celebration of its 20th season McMillen was named one of the AFL's 20 Greatest Players of all-time. In his 12th season, he ranks first on the AFL's all-time rushing list, second all-time in rushing attempts and third in rushing touchdowns. He has won two ArenaBowl championships (1997 with Arizona and 2002 with San Jose) and is the only player in AFL history to rush for 100 or more yards in seven-consecutive seasons.

The AFL's All-Time Rushing Yards list
Player Seasons Team Yards
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 1,389
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 1,382
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 1,299
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 - 1,241

The AFL's All-Time Rushing Attempts list
Player Seasons Team Attempts
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 440
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 439
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 - 438
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 425

The AFL's All-Time Rushing Touchdowns list
Player Seasons Team Rushing TDs
Barry Wagner 1992-present San Jose 125
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 - 93
Bob McMillen 1995-present Chicago 78
Bo Kelly 1996-present Arizona 76
Les Barley 1992-2001 - 71

D'ORAZIO AMONG AFL LEADERS: Rush QB Matt D'Orazio enters this week's game against Grand Rapids as the AFL's fifth-ranked passer with a 119.1 quarterback rating. On the season, D'Orazio has completed 207 of 299 passes for 2,337 yards and 37 touchdowns, while only throwing three interceptions. Last week against Grand Rapids he had his team-record streak of 231 consecutive passes without an interception snapped when he was picked off in the second quarter.

D'Orazio also enters this week's game ranked second in the league in rushing with 48 carries for 126 yards.

Brief D'Orazio Bio - Prior to 2006 D'Orazio spent four seasons in the AFL with Milwaukee, Buffalo and Columbus, but only played in 16 career games, with 13 of them coming last season. Entering the year he had connected on 206 of 326 passes for 2,308 yards, 40 touchdowns and seven interceptions and had carried the ball 49 times for 178 yards and seven touchdowns.

D'ORAZIO GREAT IN CLUTCH: Rush QB Matt D'Orazio is at his best when it counts the most. Through nine games D'Orazio leads all AFL quarterbacks in third down passing, completing 36 for 48 for 465 yards and nine TDs for a 144.5 rating on third down. In addition, he leads the league in fourth quarter passing, converting 59 of 77 attempts for 667 yards and 12 TDs in the fourth quarter for a QB rating of 141.0.

KHREEM SMITH FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Rush rookie lineman Khreem Smith is one of the leading candidates for AFL Rookie of the Year honors. Through nine weeks Smith leads the AFL in sacks with 5.5 and is tied for the league lead in forced fumbles with four. In addition to his sacks and forced fumbles, he has recorded 14.0 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, two passes broken up and one blocked kick this season. Smith joined the Rush after winning the af2's Lineman of the Year award in 2005 with Memphis, where he racked up 17 sacks in 16 regular season games.

NOT YOUR TYPICAL OS: Because of the team's injuries to linemen John Moyer, D.J. Bleisath and Tango McCauley this season, the Rush coaches have been forced to become creative on offense. For the last three games center Frank Moore has been designated as the team's offensive specialist, helping to bring some stability to the Rush pass protection. After giving up 12 sacks in Weeks 3-6, the Rush line has not allowed a sack in two of the last three games. The move to make Moore the OS was made possible by the team's number of quality WR/DBs who can play well on both sides of the ball, including Russell Shaw, Dennison Robinson and rookie Buchie Ibeh.

JOHNSON STILL A THREAT: With the move to make lineman Frank Moore an OS, second year offensive specialist C.J. Johnson has seen his minutes reduced due to the AFL's substitution rules. However, Johnson still is a threat every time he touches the ball. Johnson is the team's leading receiver, catching 54 passes for 609 yards and seven touchdowns on the season. But running great routes is not the only way Johnson can hurt a defense - so far this season Johnson has attempted three passes, completing all three for touchdowns, and returned two missed field goals for TDs (50-yard return vs. Nashville and a 56-yard return vs. San Jose).

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: New Rush DS Jeremy Unertl has spent seven games in a Rush uniform since his trade from Columbus and has helped solidify the Rush defense. He has been named ADT Defensive Player of the Game three times - February 12, vs. Nashville, February 18 at Los Angeles and February 26 vs. San Jose - and has recorded 40.5 tackles, five interceptions and seven passes broken up since being inserted into the Rush secondary. Last week against Grand Rapids, Unertl had another great game, recording 4.0 tackles, an interception, a pass broken up and a forced fumble. The interception was his fifth since joining the Rush, the most by any Rush player in one season since Dameon Porter had 10 interceptions in 2002.

February 26 against San Jose, Unertl picked off two Mark Grieb passes becoming the first Rush player with two interceptions in a game since Marvin Taylor picked off two Aaron Garcia passes on June 30, 2002.

Originally signed by the Las Vegas Gladiators in 2004, Unertl (6-1, 210, Wisconsin-LaCrosse) is in his third year in the AFL. He played in six games as a rookie with Las Vegas in 2004 and split the 2005 season between Las Vegas and Columbus, playing seven games for the Gladiators and five for the Destroyers. Entering 2006, he has recorded 64.5 tackles, two interceptions and five passes broken up, and caught 14 passes for 108 yards and three touchdowns.

WRIGHT MAN FOR RETURNS: With the trade of Henry Douglas to Columbus on February 7, the Rush coaches turned to Carlos Wright to handle kickoff returns. Wright has proven to be a wise choice for the job, returning 35 kickoffs for 817 yards and two touchdowns. In addition, he has returned three kicks to the opponent's 2-yard line in the last three weeks. He ranks second in the AFL, averaging 23.3 yards per return.

LET'S GET MOLDEN BACK IN THE LINEUP: Rush WR/LB Etu Molden missed last week's game against Grand Rapids with a knee injury sustained in practice. Molden, the team's leading receiver the past two seasons, already had missed three games earlier in the year with a shoulder injury suffered February 12 vs. Nashville. Molden has caught 25 passes for 288 yards and four TDs in his five games this season.

MOLDEN BREAKS CHATMAN RECORDS: This season Rush WR/LB Etu Molden has moved past former offensive specialist Antonio Chatman for franchise records for career receptions, career receiving yards and total touchdowns, and has tied Chatman's team record for receiving TDs.

Molden led the Rush in all receiving categories in both 2004 and 2005, catching 96 passes for 1,158 yards and 25 touchdowns last year. Overall, Molden scored 30 TDs in 2005 (25 receiving, 4 rushing, 1 return).

Career Numbers Chatman Molden
Games 30 36
Receptions 197 222
Yards 2,676 2,726
Receiving TDs 52 52
Total TDs 62 66

GISPERT BACK: Rush kicker Keith Gispert returned to the lineup last week vs. Grand Rapids after missing the team's first eight games with a pulled abductor muscle suffered during pregame warmups prior to the season opener in Colorado. Gispert connected on four of five PAT attempts and nailed a 24-yard field goal in his return.

DAN THE MAN: The Rush signed kicker Dan Frantz to a one-year contract February 11, to handle the kicking duties until Keith Gispert returned to the lineup. Frantz did exactly what he was asked in his six games with Chicago, converting 32 of 35 extra point attempts (91.4%) and eight of 13 field goal attempts (61.5%), including a career-long 52-yarder vs. Dallas. February 18 in Los Angeles, Frantz was 8-for-8 on PATs and 3-for-3 on field goals for 17 points, breaking Gispert's record of 15 kicking points in a game set at Detroit on May 2, 2004. Frantz's three field goals vs. LA and again vs. Dallas March 5 tied the Rush record for field goals in a game held by Gispert and David Cool.

Frantz came to Chicago after spending the first two years of his AFL career with the San Jose SaberCats, winning an ArenaBowl title as a rookie in 2004. In San Jose, Frantz played in 31 regular season games and converted 209 of 245 PATs (85.3%) and nine of 23 field goals (39.1 %). He tore the ACL in his right knee May 14, 2005, at Arizona and missed the team's final regular season game and the playoffs last year.

ASAD SEES ACTION: After nearly a year and a half on the Rush roster, quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq took his first snaps from center in the fourth quarter of the team's March 5 game vs. Dallas. Abdul-Khaliq completed three of five passes for 47 yards and his first career touchdown pass - a 26-yard completion to Buchie Ibeh.

PROTECT THAT QB: For the second time in the last three weeks the Rush offensive line did not give up a sack last week vs. Grand Rapids. The line has allowed a total of 15 sacks this season, two more than the 13 sacks it allowed during the 2004 and 2005 seasons combined. The Rush record for sacks allowed is 19, set in the team's inaugural 2001 season.

UNDER PRESSURE: The Rush defensive line recorded two more sacks last week - including Curtis Eason's sack of Chad Salisbury for a safety on the game's final play. The team now has 14 sacks on the season, one more than the defense registered during the entire 2005 season. The Rush is tied with Georgia for second in the AFL in sacks and needs just 10 sacks in the remaining seven games to break the Rush team record for sacks in a season (23), set in 2004. Rookie Khreem Smith leads the club with 5.5 sacks, while D.J. Bleisath is second with 3.0 sacks and Curtis Eason is third with 2.0 sacks.

TURNOVER TURNAROUND: One of the best trends of the 2006 season involves Chicago's success on the turnover front. After finishing the 2004 season tied with Los Angeles for the best turnover ratio in the AFL at +15, the Rush dipped to 16th last year with a -6 ratio. Through nine games this season the Rush is fifth in the league with a +4 ratio.

JOHN MOYER 8TH ALL-TIME IN SACKS: Rush lineman John Moyer combined with FB/LB Bob McMillen on a sack of Aaron Garcia February 3 vs. New York, bringing his career total to 34.5 - including 29.5 as a member of the Rush. Moyer is currently in eighth place on the AFL's all-time list for career sacks and needs just two more sacks to pass Andre Bowden for seventh place.

Here are Chicago's season and career sack leaders:
Player Season Player Career
John Moyer 10.0 (2004) John Moyer 29.5
John Moyer 9.0 (2003) James Baron 10.0
John Moyer 6.0 (2005) Anthony Hutch 6.5
Khreem Smith 5.5 (2006) Jamie McGourty 5.5
Anthony Hutch 5.5 (2001) Riley Kleinhesselink 5.0
John Moyer 4.0 (2002) Khreem Smith 4.5
James Baron 4.0 (2003) Bob McMillen 4.5
Tony Henderson 4.0 (2001) D.J. Bleisath 4.0
D.J. Bleisath 3.0 (2006) Tony Henderson 4.0
James Baron 3.0 (2004)
James Baron 3.0 (2002)
Jamie McGourty 3.0 (2004)

CALL MOYER MR. TOUCHDOWN: Everyone knows that Moyer is one of the game's best pass rushers, but what makes Moyer special is his ability to excel on offense and special teams in addition to defense. Moyer has proven to be a very capable receiver, catching three passes for 44 yards and three touchdowns on the season, including a 30 yard touchdown pass from Matt D'Orazio February 12, against Nashville. Dating back to last season, Moyer has caught 11 passes with eight of them going for touchdowns.

THREE JACKS: With the combination of Etu Molden, Cornelius White and DeJuan Alfonzo, the Rush might have the best trio of "Jack" linebackers in the AFL. Both Molden and White were named to the AFL's All-Ironman team in 2005 and Alfonzo always seems to make something happen when he is on the field.

Molden, the team's leading receiver in 2004 and 2005, has been banged up this season, missing four of the team's nine games. However, when he has been able to play he has been productive, recording 25 receptions for 288 yards and 4 TDs on the season.

White has caught 42 passes for 544 yards and a team-leading nine touchdowns. On defense he has 23.0 tackles, 2 passes broken up, 1 fumble forced and 1 fumble recovery.

Alfonzo missed the team's first three games while nursing an Achilles injury, but returned February 18 at Los Angeles. He has caught 10 passes for 95 yards and scored two touchdowns, and recorded 19.0 tackles and forced two fumbles in six games. Alfonzo now has 156.0 tackles while playing for the Rush, just 10.5 shy of Cedric Walker's team record of 166.5 career tackles.

COOK GETTING COMFORTABLE: After missing the season's first four games with a fractured sternum suffered during training camp, Rush FB/LB Charlie Cook finally is starting to look like the player who finished the 2005 season for the Rush. Last week against Grand Rapids, Cook had four rushes for eight yards and two touchdowns, a 13-yard reception and recorded two tackles.

D-ROB AS STEADY AS IT GETS: Rush WR/DB Dennison Robinson might be the most unsung player on the Rush roster. Signed as a free agent in the off-season, Robinson is strong in all three facets of the game - offense, defense and special teams. He is the team's leading tackler, recording 44.0 tackles to go along with two interceptions and five passes broken up. He ranks second in the AFL in special teams tackles with 12 and is the team's fourth-leading receiver, catching 22 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns.

TALE OF THE TAPE
Chicago Category Orlando
9 Games 9
51.1 (9) Scoring Offense 50.3 (10)
51.7 (10) Scoring Defense 51.0 (8)
284.1 (9) Total Offense 278.9 (11)
286.0 (9) Total Defense 311.2 (18)
39-48 81.2% Red Zone Offense 34-42, 81.0%
36-40 90.0% Red Zone Defense 32-41 78.0%
258.8 (12) Pass Offense 251.0 (13)
260.1 (8) Pass Defense 294.0 (18)
25.3 (6) Rushing Offense 27.9 (5)
25.9 (17) Rushing Defense 17.2 (7)
460 (9) Scoring 453 (10)
66 (15) Scoring (Kicking) 79 (5)
55-1,051-3 Kickoff Returns 51-851-0
19.1 (4) Kick Return Average 16.7 (11)
5-164-2 Missed Field Goal Returns 2-25-0
32.8 (1) Missed FG Return Avg. 12.5 (12)
+4 (5) Turnover Margin +1 (7t)
9-15, 60.0% Field Goals 10-17, 58.8%
39-46, 84.8% PAT Kicking 49-52, 94.2%
14-86 (3t) Sacks By 8-36(11)
15-66 (15) Sacks Against 5-16 (6)
39-67, 58.2% Third Down Conversion 28-57, 49.1%
7-13, 53.8% Fourth Down Conversion 4-8, 50.0%
72-393 (14) Penalties (#-Yards) 46-276 (2)
57-340 (13) Opp. Penalties (#-Yards) 70-435 (3)
BOLD - AFL Leader

INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: The following Rush players are among the 2006 AFL league leaders:

Matt D'Orazio: QB Rating (5th - 119.1 rating), 4th quarter passing (1st - 141.0 rating), third down passing (1st - 144.5 rating), rushing yards (2nd - 126 yards)

Bob McMillen: rushing yards (13th - 61 yards)

Khreem Smith: sacks (1st - 5.5), forced fumbles (T-1st - 4)

D.J. Bleisath: sacks (T-9th - 3)

C.J. Johnson: missed field goal returns (1st - 53.0 avg)

Carlos Wright: kickoff returns (2nd - 23.3 avg.)

Jeremy Unertl: interceptions (4th - 6)

Cornelius White: special teams tackles (T-7th - 9.5)

Dennison Robinson: special teams tackles (2nd - 12.0)

Joe Peters: special teams tackles (T-12th - 8.0)

RUSH GAME AWARD WINNERS: The following Rush players have won individual game awards for their play this season:
Offensive Player of the Game:
Matt D'Orazio (2/12 vs. Nashville, 2/18 @ Los Angeles)
C.J. Johnson (2/26 vs. San Jose)
Cornelius White (3/26 vs. Grand Rapids)

ADT Defensive Player of the Game:
Khreem Smith (2/3 vs. New York, 3/10 vs. Colorado, 3/26 vs. Grand Rapids)
Jeremy Unertl (2/12 vs. Nashville, 2/18 @ Los Angeles, 2/26 vs. San Jose)

Ironman of the Game:
Bob McMillen (2/3 vs. New York)
John Moyer (2/12 vs. New York)
Dennison Robinson (2/18 @ Los Angeles)
Carlos Wright (3/26 vs. Grand Rapids)

INJURY REPORT: The following players appeared on this week's injury report to the AFL.

Injured Reserve - D.J. Bleisath (left ankle), Levelle Brown (right shoulder dislocation), Tony Lukins (right ankle, left hamstring), John Moyer (right knee)
Questionable - Etu Molden (left knee)

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