Frankfurt Galaxy Game Preview

April 22, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Frankfurt Galaxy News Release


A LOOK AT THE GAME

Expect a defensive clash when the Frankfurt Galaxy travels to Amsterdam to battle the Admirals on Saturday, April 26. Frankfurt hopes to run its leagueleading record to 4-0 against an Admirals team that is coming off consecutive defeats to the F.C. Barcelona Dragons. The game features the two best defenses in the league, with Amsterdam holding the edge in total defense. The Galaxy stand atop the rankings in interceptions (11), sacks (7) and turnover differential (+6).

Frankfurt is 11-6 all-time against Amsterdam, with their most memorable matchup coming in World Bowl ‘95. Frankfurt took the game 26-22 for its first World Bowl title. The Galaxy won both meetings in 2002 and head coach Doug Graber stands 3-1 against the Admirals. Amsterdam lost 35-17 in Barcelona last weekend. The lone victory came on a last second field goal to defeat Rhein 17-15 in Week One.

LAST WEEK'S GALAXY ACTION

Frankfurt took advantage of a tremendous first quarter to blow out the struggling Berlin Thunder (0-3) at home 41-21. The Galaxy came out sharp and focused, feeding off a surprise onside kick to open the game to score an NFL Europe league record 35 points in the first quarter. RB-Jonas Lewis recorded 137 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, while the team rushed for 258 total yards. The Galaxy defense forced four turnovers in the first stanza, and six overall, returning a fumbled kickoff for a touchdown. CB-Jeremy Unertl claimed two of the team's four interceptions.

Berlin managed 21 unanswered points in the second and third quarters before field goals by John Hilbert and Ralf Kleinmann put them away.

MEET THE OFFENSE

The Galaxy offensive unit is headed by offensive coordinator Dwain Painter. In his third year with the team, Painter has established one of the most balanced offensive philosophies in NFL Europe. The Galaxy regularly employ two-back formations, a rarity in the league. But Painter will also utilize three and four wide receivers in his formations, giving quarterbacks James Brown and Quinn Gray (NFL/Jaguars) ample targets down the field. Both quarterbacks have rotated all season, and are expected to do the same against Amsterdam. Joining them in the backfield are Jonas Lewis and Corey McIntyre (NFL/Eagles). Lewis currently leads the league with 5 touchdowns, all on the ground. The receiving corps. consists of Robert Baker (NFL/Dolphins), Marc Lester (NFL/Ravens) and Galaxy veterans Brian McDonald and Marc Soumah. Lester and McDonald have drawn praise for their sure hands and crisp routes, while Baker leads the league in receiving yards. Rounding out the offense are the hogs up front, led by Galaxy veteran Mike Clare (NFL/Patriots). The rest of the offensive line includes David Pruce, Kendrick Rogers (NFL/Cardinals), Michael "Mookie" Moore (NFL/Broncos) and Joe Jackson.

MEET THE DEFENSE

After three weeks, the defense ranks No. 2 in the league.

The schemes devised by defensive coordinator Bob Valesente favor chaos, and he has players who buy into that philosophy. Among the best of those players is DEJoey Evans (NFL/Seahawks), who claimed NFLE Defensive Player of the Week in Week One and leads the league in sacks with 5. Joining him on the defensive line is Seattle teammate Luis Almanzar (NFL/Seahawks), Buck Gurley (NFL/Buccaneers) and German national Daniel Benetka. The linebacking unit is centered by Fred Jones, while Idris Price (NFL/Buccaneers) and Galaxy vet Jody Littleton man the outside. The defensive backfield also has its share of quality players, with the return of Galaxy mainstays Chris Cummings and Rashidi Barnes. FS-Calvin Spears and CB-Kalvin Pearson (NFL/Browns) round out the secondary. Barnes and Spears are tied for the league lead with 2 INTs apiece.

FLASHBACK: JUNE 1, 2002

The Galaxy last traveled to Amsterdam in Week 8 of the 2002 season, arriving with plans to keep their World Bowl X hopes alive. That is exactly what they did, taking home a 20-13 victory in a battle of wills. The score remained tied at 13-13 into the late stages of the game. Galaxy RB-Curtis Alexander finally provided the critical points when he dove into the end zone late in the fourth quarter. His 52-yard catch and run in the fourth gave Frankfurt the momentum it needed to drive home the nail. Backup QB-Bart Hendricks opened the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown pass to WR-Ricky Hall. CB-Chris Cummings snagged an errant Ken Mastrole pass and returned the interception 32 yards for a touchdown and a 13-7 lead. The game turned into a defensive struggle soon afterwards, with Amsterdam able to tie the game on field goals by Joe O'Donnell and Silvio Deliberto. With regulation winding down, Alexander took the game into his own hands and drove the Galaxy to a much-needed victory.

The first meeting of the season was another typical NFL Europe dogfight. Frankfurt pulled out the 21-19 victory on the leg of K-Ola Kimrin, who knocked through a 44-yard field goal with :13 seconds remaining. The win, seen in person by 27,456 fans, left Frankfurt alone atop the NFL Europe standings. QB-Joe Hamilton connected with WRJamaal Fobbs for a 9-yard touchdown early. Kimrin added four points for the Galaxy by hitting a 52-yard field goal, giving Frankfurt an 11-6 lead at the half. Hamilton later found Marlion Jackson open for a 12- yard score, boosting the lead to 18-6 before Amsterdam came rallying back.

MEET THE COACHES

DOUG GRABER

Doug Graber became the fourth head coach in Frankfurt Galaxy history on September 18, 2000, taking the torch from Dick Curl. In his first season at the helm, Graber's team suffered through a 3-7 record. The squad entered 2002 much improved. With lessons learned, the team jumped out to a league-best 4-1 record.

Unfortunately, the team was decimated by injuries and limped to 6-4 finish. In his third season, Graber is looking for continued growth, improvement and success. The goal in 2003 is the World Bowl, and a 2-0 start is a move in the right direction.

Two games into the 2003 season, Graber's record sits at 11-11. He is 1-3 to the two-time World Bowl champions.

Graber was the head coach at Rutgers University from 1990 to 1995, after serving two years as head of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. The 1998 Bucs posted the best rushing defense in the NFL. Graber also made a mark while defensive backs coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 1983 to ‘86. His secondary during those four years recorded an NFL record 120 interceptions. He was head coach at Montana State University in 1982 after spending three years as defensive coordinator at Wisconsin. Graber began his coaching career at St. Francis Cahrini High School, where he was head coach from 1967-68. The school was unbeaten in those two years and won two championships.

Graber, a native of Detroit, MI., is married to Brenda and has two sons, Joe and Jerome. the Grabers currently reside in Tampa, FL., where he hosts a weekly NFL television show and does color commentary of Tampa Bay Buccaneers preseason football.

BART ANDRUS

Bart Andrus is in his third year as head coach of the Admirals, having led Amsterdam to two consecutive 4-6 seasons. The Admirals boasted the league's highest red zone offense in 2002, scoring 16 touchdowns and 7 field goals on 27 trips inside the 20-yard line.

In 2001, Andrus guided the Admirals to a 4-6 record. He spent the 2000 NFL Europe season as offensive coordinator for the Rhein Fire, winning a World Bowl ring. The Fire offense topped the league in total yards gained and total points scored.

Prior to his appointment with the Fire, Andrus spent three seasons in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans/Oilers as an offensive assistant from 1997-98 and as the quarterbacks coach in 1999. he was a member of the Titans coaching staff at Super Bowl XXXIV.

Andrus has more than 10 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, including one season as the head coach of Rocky Mountain College. He received the 1996 NAIA Coach of the Year Award for restructuring a team that had not won a game in four years.

Prior to his stint at Rocky Mountain, Andrus held the role of offensive coordinator at three different institutions: Southern Utah University (1993-'95), Montana State (1990-'91) and Humboldt State (1986-'89). He served as graduate assistant at Brigham Young University in 1984 after a three-year position as head coach at St. Patrick High School in Valleho, CA.

Andrus is a graduate of the University of Montana, where he played QB for four years. Married to Karen; the couple have two children, Brooke and Travis.



National Football League Europa Stories from April 22, 2003


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central