Cobras Game Notes vs. Detroit
February 12, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Carolina Cobras (0-2) vs. Detroit Fury (1-1)
Date: February 14, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Charlotte Coliseum (12,229)
Officials: Riley Johnson (Referee), Rick DiBernado (Umpire), Neil Brunner (Head Linesman), Paul Engelberts (Line Judge), Bud McCleskey (Back Judge)
Series Record: Carolina leads all-time 1-0
Coaches: Carolina: Mike Hold (1st Season, 0-2) Detroit: Al Luginbill (1st Season, 1-1)
THE SERIES: Carolina leads all-time 1-0 @Carolina 79, Detroit 52 â April 20, 2001
COBRAS LAST WEEK: The Carolina Cobras could not find a way to stop the big play offense of the Buffalo Destroyers on Sunday, as the Cobras fell to 0-2 on the season with a 44-16 loss. Carolina dominated the time of possession, having the ball for almost 37 minutes, but could not find the end zone, while the Destroyers offense racked up big play after big play. Carolina's starting quarterback, Stewart Patridge, completed 5-of-9 passes for 29 yards with one interception, before being pulled in favor of Robert Hall with 1:06 remaining in the first quarter. Hall completed 17-of-35 passes, for 161 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
FURY LAST WEEK: In a defensive struggle, the Detroit Fury defeated the Georgia Force 38-31 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Fury shutout the Force late, coming from behind to score 18 unanswered points. With the win, the Fury ended a 12-game losing streak that began on May 11, 2002. Detroit's offense saw four different receivers catch touchdown passes and eight total receivers with receptions. QB Andy Kelly completed 23-of-41 for 215 yards, two interceptions and four touchdowns. For the second week in a row, the Fury's Ty Grovesteen led Detroit's receiving corps, catching seven passes for 63 yards. DS Ron Carpenter, who earned the game's MVP honors, led all players in all-purpose yards (134). He returned one missed field goal for 27 yards, four kickoffs for 99 yards and one interception for eight yards.
HEAD COACHES: After two seasons as head coach of the af2 Augusta Stallions, Mike Hold makes his AFL coaching debut with the Cobras in 2003. He led the Stallions to a combined 22-10 record in his two years, including a 13-3 mark and playoff appearance in 2002. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Hold spent 12 seasons as an AFL quarterback.
Detroit's Al Luginbill is in his first season as head coach and general manager of the Detroit Fury and his first season coaching in the AFL. He brings over 33 years of experience to the Fury sidelines. He has been a head coach in college, NFL Europe and was most recently head coach of the XFL champion Los Angeles Xtreme in 2001.
FAMILIAR FACES: Three Fury players are former Cobras...OL/DL Dary Myricks played his first three seasons in Carolina before joining the Fury this year...OL/DL Matt Norwood (2001) and OL/DL Jonathan McCall (2002) each spent one year with the Cobras...Detroit QB Andy Kelly returns to Charlotte, where he was a member of the old Charlotte Rage in 1993, 1995 and 1996...Cobras defensive coordinator Flint Fleming spent four years (1990-93) with the old Detroit Drive, leading them to four straight ArenaBowls and winning two titles.
COBRAS NEXT WEEK: The Cobras play their second straight home game on Friday, February 21 when they host Jay Gruden and the Orlando Predators. Gruden, who spent his offseason as an assistant coach for the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is off to one of the best starts in his illustrious seven-year career with 12 TD passes and no interceptions in the first two games.
COBRAS MILESTONES:
FB/LB Jason Bratton needs:
⢠3.5 tackles to reach 50
OS Ben Bronson needs:
⢠32 receiving yards to reach 3,500
⢠2 TD receptions to reach 50
K Matt George needs:
⢠3 field goals made to reach 50
⢠30 points to reach 400
QB Robert Hall needs:
⢠4 passing TDs to reach 100
WR/DB Bernard Holmes needs:
⢠11 receptions to reach 350
⢠178 receiving yards to reach 4,500
⢠2 receiving TDs to reach 80
WR/LB Ty Law needs:
⢠169 receiving yards to reach 2,500
⢠14.0 tackles to reach 100
DS Derek Stingley needs:
⢠12.0 tackles to reach 350
INJURY UPDATES: FB/LB Glen Mitts suffered a high ankle sprain against Buffalo and is doubtful for this week's game...OL/DL Ethan Banning suffered a hyperextended elbow against Buffalo and is out for the season...OL/DL Paul Mandina is on injured reserve with a left MCL sprain and will be out another 3-7 weeks...WR/DB Tramain Jones is on injured reserve with a right MCL sprain and will be out another 1-3 weeks...QB Chad DeGrenier is out with a strained lower back and WR/LB Tim Dumas has a strained right hamstring...WR/LB Terence Davis was placed on injured reserve at the end of training camp with turf toe.
SNAKE BITES:
A Milestone Night For Hall, Lane: With his 17 completions and 161 passing yards against Buffalo, QB Robert Hall topped 500 completions and 6,000 yards for his career. He needs just four passing touchdowns to reach 100. FB/LB Deryl Lane recorded the 100th tackle of his career against Buffalo.
On The Defensive: Despite their offensive struggles this season, the Cobras rank fifth in the AFL in total defense allowing 237.0 yards per game. They also rank fifth in the league in pass defense allowing 226.5 yards per contest.
Second Quarter Woes: There's just something about the second quarter for the Cobras. In the opener against Tampa Bay, Carolina managed just 17 yards of offense in the second frame. They followed that up last week with just 15 yards in the second stanza at Buffalo.
Record Lows In Buffalo: The Cobras 16 points against the Destroyers tied a franchise record for fewest points scored in a game and set a Destroyers record for fewest points by an opponent. The two teams combined for 60 points and 370 yards of total offense, both of which mark Cobras franchise lows. The 16 points for Carolina came just one week after scoring 20 points at Tampa Bay, which then ranked as the second lowest point total in franchise history.
Bronson Among League Leaders: Cobras OS Ben Bronson is tied for third in the AFL in receptions with 17 and ranks fifth in kickoff return yardage with 198 yards. He had 10 catches for 73 yards and seven kickoff returns for 101 yards at Buffalo last Sunday.
The AFL's Version Of Slash: Cobras QB Robert Hall has seen action as both a quarterback and offensive specialist in the AFL. He was the first player in league history to have 1,000 passing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in his career. Hall ranks eighth on the AFL's all-time career completion percentage list, having completed 62.6 percent of his career pass attempts.
Houston ThunderBears, The Sequel: With the addition of QB Robert Hall, approximately one quarter of the Cobras roster played for the now-defunct Houston ThunderBears between 1998 and 2001. WR/LB Rj Anderson, OS Ben Bronson, WR/LB Terence Davis, Hall, OL/DL Michael Harrison, WR/DB Bernard Holmes and FB/LB Deryl Lane all played in Houston at some point in their careers. In addition, Cobras head coach Mike Hold was a quarterback for the ThunderBears from 1998-2000. The trend has even hit the support staff, as Cobras equipment manager Chris Palomarez served as assistant equipment manager for the ThunderBears for all four years.
It's A Small World: Defensive coordinator Flint Fleming was a teammate of OL/DL Jim Stiebel with the Buffalo Destroyers in 2000. Fleming played with OL/DL Michael Harrison, WR/DB Bernard Holmes, WR/DB Tramain Jones, FB/LB Deryl Lane and WR/DB Nick Ward as a member of the Florida Bobcats in 2001. In addition, DS Buddy Crutchfield and defensive backs coach Maurice Blanding were college teammates at North Carolina Central University.
Cobras Among The All-Time Best: Entering the 2003 season, WR/DB Bernard Holmes ranked among the AFL's all-time Top 25 in several receiving categories. Holmes was tied for 22nd in receptions (338), ranked 23rd in receiving touchdowns (78) and ranked 24th in receiving yards (4204). In addition, OS Ben Bronson, the 2000 AFL Breakout Player of the Year, ranks 19th on the AFL's all-time list for pass reception average gain (13.2 yds per catch).
Coming With The Coach: WR/LB Tim Dumas, QB Glen Gauntt, OL/DL Blaine Mensch, FB/LB Glen Mitts and defensive backs coach Maurice Blanding all came to Carolina with head coach Mike Hold from the af2 Augusta Stallions.
Moving On Up: The Cobras roster features six players making their AFL debut after playing in af2 last season. Not only did Dumas, Gauntt, Mensch and Mitts make the move with Mike Hold, but WR/LB Gabe Amey (Macon) and OL/DL Tim McGill (Quad City) are also making the transition.
Smile For The Cameras: In addition to his time on the AFL field, head coach Mike Hold has also spent time playing football on the silver screen. He has played roles in several football-themed movies, most notably "The Waterboy" starring Adam Sandler, where he played the Central Kentucky quarterback.
COBRAS PLAYERS TO WATCH:
DS Derek Stingley: Stingley appeared in uniform for the Cobras last week after being signed three days earlier and finished second on the team in tackles, while leading the squad in passes defended. A six-year veteran, Stingley was named First Team All-AFL in 1999 when he led the league in passes defended and finished second in tackles.
OS Ben Bronson: Bronson continues to rank among the league's leaders in receptions (17), kickoff returns (12) and kickoff return yardage (198 yards). Bronson was the AFL's Breakout Player of the Year in 2000 before suffering a fractured tibia and fibula in 2001 as a member of the Houston ThunderBears.
WR/LB Ty Law: A five-year AFL veteran, Law came up big in his Cobras debut last week. Just five days after signing with the Cobras, Law was on the field in Buffalo where he caught five passes for 37 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown.
RECENT ROSTER MOVES:
February 13: Signed Stewart Patridge to the practice squad.
February 12: Signed Jason Bratton, signed Jamaal Garman and Glen Gauntt from the practice squad, placed Ethan Banning on injured reserve, signed Chris Johnson to the practice squad, released Stewart Patridge, waived Decorye Hampton and waived Dunstan Anderson from the practice squad.
February 8: Signed Dunstan Anderson to the practice squad.
February 6: Signed Desmond Byrd and Derek Stingley, signed Glen Gauntt to the practice squad, placed Tim Dumas on injured reserve, waived Richard Holland and reinstated Chad DeGrenier to injured reserve.
February 4: Signed Ty Law and Craig Moore, signed Robert Hall and Blaine Mensch from the practice squad, placed Tramain Jones and Paul Mandina on injured reserve, released Chad DeGrenier.
February 3: Waived Dunstan Anderson.
January 29: Signed Jamaal Garman and Blaine Mensch to the practice squad.
January 28: Signed Robert Hall to the practice squad.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 12, 2003
- Gladiators Game Notes - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Battle of Undefeateds in Orlando - AFL I
- Close Finishes Continue - AFL I
- Fury Game Notes - Detroit Fury
- Interview with Elway and Wasserman - AFL I
- Cobras Game Notes vs. Detroit - Carolina Cobras
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