Grand Rapids Rampage game notes

Published on February 2, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Grand Rapids Rampage News Release


RAMPAGE QUICK FACTS
Grand Rapids Rampage (0-1) vs. Colorado Crush (0-1)
Date: Saturday, February 5, 2005
Kickoff: 2:00 p.m. (EST)
Site: Pepsi Center (18,093)
Officials: Referee: Bill McCabe; Umpire: Doug Wilson; Head Linesman: Royce Cooley; Line Judge: Dirk Bell; Back Judge: Jimmy Buchanan

Series Record: Crush leads 2-1. Colorado has won the last two.

Coaches:
Sparky McEwen, GR – 1st season (0-1)
Mike Dailey, COL – 8th season (75-53). 2nd w/ COL

TV: Comcast Local Channel 20 in the Grand Rapids area.

Radio : WBBL 1340 AM with Joe Parson (LIVE).

2005 RAMPAGE SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Jan. 28 ARIZONA (inHD) L 38-58 (FSN)
Feb. 5 at Colorado (Comcast) 3:00pm
--- BYE ---
Feb. 19 AUSTIN 7:30pm
Feb. 27 COLUMBUS 3:00pm (NBC)
March 6 at Tampa Bay 12:00pm
March 13 CHICAGO 12:00pm (NBC)
March 18 at San Jose 10:30pm (FSN)
March 27 at Philadelphia 3:00pm
April 3 NASHVILLE 3:00pm (FSN)
April 8 at Las Vegas 10:30pm (FSN)
April 15 at Georgia 7:30pm
April 23 NEW ORLEANS 7:30pm
April 30 COLORADO 8:00pm (FSN)
May 7 at Nashville 8:30pm (FSN)
May 15 at Chicago 1:00pm (NBC)
May 21 LOS ANGELES (inHD) 7:30pm (FSN)


All times are Eastern, in the PM and subject to change.


ON THE TELEVISION
A record eleven Rampage games will be televised this season in Grand Rapids. Seven games will be broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit (Channel 48 on Comcast Cable in the Grand Rapids area) and three others will be on WOOD-TV Channel 8. The regular season opener and finale will also be aired in high definition on inHD. Comcast Channel 20 in G.R. will televise this Saturday's game.

ON YOUR RADIO DIAL
All Rampage games can be heard live on WBBL 1340 AM with Joe Parson & Tom Sullivan calling all the action. Pre-game starts twenty minutes before kickoff.

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
The Grand Rapids Rampage maintains a comprehensive website, featuring the latest information on everything Rampage related.

THIS WEEK
The Rampage head west to Denver, Colorado to take on the Colorado Crush. Both teams enter the game with 0-1 records. The Rampage lost 58-38 to the Arizona Rattlers last Friday night and the Crush fell 39-36 to Orlando on Sunday afternoon. This will mark the third consecutive season that the two teams have met in week two with the road team coming out victorious in the previous two contests. Last season, Colorado beat Grand Rapids in the first year that the two teams were Central Division rivals. The game will be shown live on Comcast Local Channel 20 in Grand Rapids. Check local listings throughout the state of Michigan for other Comcast Local channels in your area. This will mark the first ever Rampage game broadcast on the channel and will now give the Rampage eleven games on TV this season.

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
Monday: 8:45-11am (practice)
Tuesday: 8:45am-11am (practice) 6:30-7pm Rampage Rap Radio Show on WBBL
Wednesday: 6-8am (practice)
Thursday: NWA Flight 561 to Denver
Friday: Walk-thru at Crush facility (3:30pm ET)
Saturday: game at 2pm Eastern at Colorado Crush

All at the Soccer Spot, located at 3701 32nd Street in Kentwood unless indicated

LAST WEEK: Arizona 58, Grand Rapids 38
Six fumbles (five on mishandled center-QB exchanges) led to two touchdowns on turnovers as the Rampage fell 58-38 to the Arizona Rattlers in front of a near capacity crowd of 10,284 at Van Andel Arena last Friday night.

Rattlers quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, the Offensive Player of the Game, completed 15-of-26 passes for 202 yards with six touchdowns, including four to Siaha Burley. Rampage WR/LB Derin Graham tied a team record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns and was named the Ironman of the Game.

Rampage QB Nick Browder completed 20-of-36 for 212 yards with 2 TDs, but five bad center-QB exchanges and a crucial fumble on the opening possession led to 14 Rattlers early points. The Rampage lost fumbles on their first two drives that resulted in Rattlers points that put the Rampage down 21-6 early in the contest. Another Bonner-to-Burley touchdown gave the Rattlers a 28-6 led before Michigan State alum Travis Reece plunged in from a yard out with eight seconds left in the half to cut it to 28-13.

Down 35-13 midway through the third, Graham returned his second kickoff for a score. Josh Bush and Damon Hodge caught touchdowns late for the Rampage. Chris Jackson led all receivers with nine receptions and Josh Bush led all players with 91 receiving yards. Graham finished the night with four kickoffs for 138 yards and the two scores.

BISHOP CROWNED STARTING QUARTERBACK
Former Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Bishop was announced the starting quarterback for this weekend's game against the Crush on Wednesday. Bishop was 1-1 last season as the Rampage's starting QB, including the team's lone win of 2004. Here's a look at Bishop's game-by-game performances in his rookie season last year.

GAME OPPONENT CMP ATT PCT YDS TD INT RATING
April 4 Arizona 12 21 51.7 132 4 0 115.48
April 10 at Detroit 9 18 50.0 144 3 1 93.52
April 17 Indiana 7 16 43.8 78 1 0 74.48
April 23 at Colorado 2 4 50.0 31 0 1 39.58
May 8 Chicago 3 5 60.0 40 1 0 125.00
2004 Totals 33 64 51.6 425 9 2 94.86

GOLDEN GRAHAM
With two kickoff returns for touchdowns in last week's opener against the Rattlers, Derin Graham leads the AFL in average yards per return and is the ONLY player in the AFL to return at least one kickoff for a touchdown.

PLAYER AVG TDs
1. Derin Graham, Grand Rapids 34.5 2
2. Troy Bergeron, Georgia 24.7 0
3. Barry Wagner, San Jose 22.9 0
4. Willis Marshall, Colorado 20.6 0
5. Siaha Burley, Arizona 20.5 0

DOUBLE DERIN
Last week, Derin Graham became jus the second Rampage player ever to return to kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game. He joined former teammate Steve Smith (4/17/2004 vs. Indiana). Here's a look at the five players in team history with multiple kickoff return for scores in their Rampage careers.

Rampage
PLAYER KOR TDs
1. Steve Smith 8
2. Thomas Bailey 3
3. Ricky Ross 3
4. Derin Graham 2
5. Willis Marshall 2

AVERY RUNNING THRU THE RECORD BOOK
Chris Avery had just one rush last week, but the 22-yard scamper was enough for him to pass Chris Ryan to become the Rampage's all-time leading rusher. Here's a look at the top three rushers in team history.

Rk Player Yards Attempts TDs
1. Chris Avery 423 100 20
2. Chris Ryan 413 116 34
3. Marcellus Mostella 282 101 11

ONE RUSH=5TH IN AFL IN YARDS
Chris Avery rushed the ball just once last week and it was good enough to be ranked fifth in the AFL in rushing.

PLAYER YARDS ATTEMPTS
1. Robert Thomas, Georgia 39 8
2. Leon Murray, Nashville 36 7
3. Rodney Filer, Las Vegas 27 5
4. Danton Alexander, Nashville 25 6
5. Chris Avery, Grand Rapids 22 1

BISHOP CAN MOVE PAST COACH McEWEN
In this week's game, Michael Bishop needs just 53 passing yards to pass current Rampage head coach Sparky McEwen for sixth place in team history. Bishop also needs 18 attempts to pass Max Knake for sixth in pass attempts (he would pass McEwen and Robert Hall) and eight completions for sixth, passing Knake. With five passing TDs, he would be fifth all-time – passing Jason Martin. Bishop can also move up the all-time rushing list and with 30 yards can pass Thomas Bailey, Lincoln Coleman and Michael Baker for seventh.

RAMPAGE END 2-POINT DRAUGHT
Last week, QB Nick Browder ran in a two-point conversion in the final minute of the Rattlers game. That marked the first successful two-point conversion for the Rampage since May 11, 2003 when Clint Dolezel connected with Terrell Shaw against the Indiana Firebirds. Before Browder's two-point run, the Rampage had missed their previous eight, including one in 2003; six in 2004 and one from earlier in the Rattlers game.

JACKSON TOPS OVER LAST FIVE YEARS
Since entering the AFL in 2000, Chris Jackson has grabbed more receptions, gained more yards and scored more touchdowns than any other player in the AFL. Here's a look the top four players since 2000.

PLAYERS REC YARDS TDs
Chris Jackson, RAMPAGE 489 6,868 157
Greg Hopkins, Los Angeles 477 5,743 118
Damian Harrell, Colorado 464 6,829 141
Mike Horacek, New York 399 5,248 121

ACTION JACKSON – BY THE NUMBERS
It's pretty amazing to look at how much Chris Jackson has done in just five seasons. Here's a look at what he's done in his 65 career AFL games.

64 games with at least one TD
63 games with at least one receiving TD
43 games with at least 2 receiving TDs
28 games with at least 3 receiving TDs
15 games with at least 4 receiving TDs
6 games with at least 5 receiving TDs
2 games with at least 6 receiving TDs
1 games with at least 7 receiving TDs
34 100-yard receiving games
17 games with 10+ catches

* Only player to win the AFL Rookie of the Year, then capture the AFL Offensive Player of the Year.


* 8th all-time in AFL history in receiving touchdowns

* 1,200+ yards in 4 of 5 seasons

* 11th all-time in AFL history in scoring

"DOG" GONE IT
Cecil Doggette is the all-time leading tackler and leader in pass breakups for the Rampage. He is also all-time leader in pass breakups in AFL history.

AFL CAREER LEADERS - PASS BREAKUPS
Cecil Doggette, Grand Rapids 141
Chris Barber (retired) 133
Tracey Perkins (retired) 130
Mark Ricks (retired) 116

After last week's loss against Arizona, Doggette recorded 9.0 stops and three pass breakups. Just a week into his eleventh season, Doggette is tied for the AFL led in pass breakups, just as he was the leader of the league after the conclusion of last season.

2005 AFL PASS BREAKUP LEADERS
Cecil Doggette, Grand Rapids 3
J. Johnson, Chicago 3
Jones, Tampa Bay 3
Eddie Moten, Philadelphia 3

CECIL THE DIESEL
Cecil Doggette moved from eighth to sixth all-time in AFL history in tackles last week after recording a game-high 9.0 stops against his former team. With 2.5 stops, he can move past former Rampage DS Mark Ricks for fifth all-time. Here's a look at the top tacklers all-time in league history.

PLAYER TACKLES
1. Barry Wagner, San Jose 676.5
2. Damon Mason, Orlando 605.0
3. Darryl Hammond, Nashville 590.0
4. Cedric Walker, Austin 541.5
5. Mark Ricks (retired) 472.5
6. Cecil Doggette, Grand Rapids 470.5

TEAM CAPTAINS
The Rampage team captains for the season are...

Chris Avery Tony Bowick Cecil Doggette
Chris Jackson Otis Moore

LOOKING FOR A ‘SPARK'
Sparky McEwen's offenses over the past four seasons have scored more points and gained more yards than any team in Arena Football. After an offensive-anemic 2004 season, where the Rampage finished last in total yards and points scored. Here's a look at McEwen's averages from 2001-04 as an offensive coordinator and the Rampage's 2004 season.

SPARKY RAMPAGE
STAT 00-04 avg. 2004 Difference
Points Scored 56.5 36.3 30.2 ppg
Total Yards 294.3 228.4 65.9 ypg
Passing Yards 276.1 205.5 70.6 ypg
Offensive TDs 108 74 34 TD per season

HEAD COACHING CLASS OF 2005
Sparky McEwen is one of seven coaches that will be the head coach of new teams this season. Five of these seven will be making their head coaching debuts this season (Shell and Sperduto have previous head coaching experience).

COACH TEAM 2005 Record
Weylan Harding New York Dragons 0-0
Ron James Las Vegas Gladiators 1-0
Sparky McEwen Grand Rapids Rampage 0-1
Doug Plank Georgia Force 1-0
Todd Shell Arizona Rattlers 1-0
Pat Sperduto Nashville Kats 1-0
Chris Spielman Columbus Destroyers 0-1

HARD ROAD AHEAD
Despite having the worst record in 2004, the Rampage have the fifth hardest schedule based on 2004 records. To figure this out, you must take the amount of wins from the previous year's regular season record of the teams each team is scheduled to play and divide by 16. Those playing Nashville get a 0 for the games scheduled, since they are an expansion team. In contrast, the Crush are tied with Chicago for the easiest schedule.

TEAM Avg. wins by opponent (2004 records)
1. Orlando 8.938
2. Georgia 8.563
3. Los Angeles 8.188
3. Nashville 8.188
5. Grand Rapids 8.063
5. Austin 8.063
---------
16. Chicago 6.875
16. Colorado 6.875


NEXT OPPONENT
After this week's contest against the Crush, Grand Rapids will not play again until Saturday, February 19 when they host the Austin Wranglers at Van Andel Arena. This will make the earliest the Rampage have ever had their bye week. In 2001 when Grand Rapids won ArenaBowl XV their bye was in week four.

HEAD COACHES THIS WEEK

Mike Dailey
Colorado

Dailey enters his second season in Colorado and ninth as head coach in the AFL. He joined the Crush following 13 seasons in the Albany/Indiana Firebirds organization, including the final seven as head coach.

In his first season in Colorado, Dailey helped guide the Crush to the largest turnaround in AFL history, inheriting a 2-14 team and leading them to an 11-5 record in 2004, tied for the best in the league.

One of the most successful and well-respected coaches in AFL history, Dailey's teams have compiled an overall record of 75-53 record, a winning percentage of .591, and he ranks sixth on the AFL's all-time list for coaching wins (regular season and playoffs). Dailey's teams have made six postseason appearances and he has won three division titles.

Sparky McEwen
Grand Rapids

McEwen became the Grand Rapids Rampage's fourth head coach in team history on August 13, 2004. He was the Rampage's offensive coordinator during the team's best three years on the field (2001-03), which included winning ArenaBowl XV in his first season. During those three years, the Rampage's offense scored more points and gained more yards and points than any other team in the AFL.

For 2004, McEwen was the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator for the Okalahoma City Yard Dawgz of arenafootball2. The Yard Dawgz (10-6) finished with the af2's second-best scoring team, the third-best offensive unit and third-ranked passing offense in the 25-team league. His starting quarterback led the af2 in passing touchdowns (84) and finished fifth in passing yards.


RAMPAGE INJURY REPORT

PLAYER POS. INJURY STATUS
Raphael Ball DS Wrist Out – on I.R.
Clarence Coleman OS Hamstring Out – on I.R.
Anthony Hines WR/LB Groin Out – on I.R.
Sedrick Irvin FB/LB Elbow Out – on I.R.
Chris White OL/DL Ankle Out – on I.R.
Josh Bush WR/DB Hip Flexor Probable
Travis Reece FB/LB Low Back Probable

RAMPAGE KEYS OF THE GAME

HOLD ON TO THE BALL
Last week, the Rampage fumbled six times with two being turned over. The two turnovers resulted in 14 Rattler points and essentially a 28-point swing.

GET USE TO THE MILE HIGH
The altitude in Denver is a blessing for kickers and a nightmare for lineman. The thin air will help kickoffs and field goals for distance (in fact, the Rampage all-time long FG made was in Colorado last season: Stephen Scaldeferri's 57 yarder). For the lineman and other positions, the thin air can tire players easier. To help with this, the Rampage will be heading to Denver a day earlier.

PRESSUE DUTTON INTO MAKING MISTAKES
The Rampage have not had any luck in the previous three games against Crush QB John Dutton as the former ArenaBowl MVP has completed 79.0% of his passes for 815 yards with 17 TDs and no interceptions against the Rampage for an amazing 148.18 rating. In the three previous games, the Rampage have forced just two turnovers (both returned for scores in Grand Rapids' lone win in the series).

CORRAL HARRELL
In the three previous contests, Damian Harrell has been unstoppable as he has caught 23 passes for 385 yards and nine touchdowns.

BE HOME OPENER SPOILERS...AGAIN
The previous two seasons, both teams have been the home opener spoilers for the other team. Last season, Colorado beat the Rampage in their home opener in Grand Rapids. And two seasons ago, the Rampage beat the Crush in their first ever home game in Denver.

MARQUEE MATCHUPS

CHRIS JACKSON vs. DAMIAN HARRELL
Over the past five plus seasons, the top two players in the AFL in receiving yards and touchdowns have been Jackson followed by Harrell. These two great offensive specialist never go up against each other on the field, but statistically they will.

BISHOP vs. HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT
Michael Bishop will be making just his third AFL start and will do so in front of a sold out Pepsi Center – known as one of the loudest arenas in the AFL. Last week, the Rampage had issues holding onto the ball from the center-QB exchange. With a loud crowd, the center may not hear Bishop's calls and this may occur once again.

THE KICKERS
Rampage kicker Peter Martinez and Crush kicker Clay Rush have two of the most powerful legs in the AFL and with the extra thin air of the Mile High City expect many kickoffs to sail over the net structure and be touchbacks.

CONDITIONING OF THE TWO TEAMS
The Crush like to utilize a lot of no huddle when they are at home because their team is accustom to the thinner air. This tires their opponents quickly and is a huge advantage for Colorado. If the Rampage can keep up with the no huddle offense and then wear the Crush defense down with a dose of their own medicine, this game could go down to the last minute like the 2003 contest.

TEAM STATISTICAL COMPARIONS
Both teams enter the game with an 0-1 record and if you look at the stats both have below average offenses and top six defenses. Last week for both teams was hopefully an anomaly and expect a high-scoring game in the Mile High City this week. Here's a look at how these teams matchup compared with their stats through the first week of the AFL. Note that 17 or T16 means last in the AFL.
Statistical RAMPAGE CRUSH
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense T11 38 14 36
Scoring Defense 14 58 11 39
Total Offense 14 227 15 224
Total Defense 6 247 5 244
Pass Offense 15 208 14 224
Pass Defense 7 237 T4 227
Rushing Offense 8 19 16 0
Rushing Defense 5 10 8 17
Kick Returns-Avg. 1 27.9 7 18.6
Turnover Differential T14 -2 T5 0

AROUND THE ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Week two of the AFL season features two games on NBC this Sunday before the Super Bowl. In West Michigan, you can see the Philadelphia Soul take on the Chicago Rush at 1pm on WOOD-TV channel 8. Here's a look at the other games this weekend

Thursday, February 3
Orlando at Arizona 10:30

Friday, February 4
New Orleans at Nashville 8:30

Saturday, February 5
RAMPAGE at Colorado 2:00
Georgia at Los Angeles 3:00
Las Vegas at San Jose 10:30

Sunday, February 6
Austin at Tampa Bay 12:00
Philadelphia at Chicago 1:00 - NBC
Dallas at New York 1:00 - NBC
BYE: Columbus

2005 RAMPAGE GAME AWARD WINNERS

Wk Offensive Defensive IRONMAN
1 Bonner, ARZ W. Gaines, ARZ D. Graham, GR

2005 AFL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Wk Offensive Defensive IRONMAN
1 S. Stafford, TB D. Mason, ORL S. Scott, PHI

SERIES RECAPS: Grand Rapids 57, Colorado 55
Friday, February 7, 2003
Pepsi Center – Denver, Colorado (17,433)

MVP: Joe Douglass, Colorado WR/LB IRONMAN: Charlie Davidson, Colorado WR/DB

Trailing for most of the game, the Rampage used a Brian Gowins' 23-yard field goal with nine seconds remaining to run their record to 2-0. The victory marked the first time Grand Rapids has started the season with back-to-back road victories.

Two plays into the game, the Crush took a 7-0 lead when John Dutton hit Joe Douglass for a 27-yard score. After a stalled drive and missed field goal, the Crush took possession. On the next play, Ricky Ross picked up a fumble taking it into the end zone for Grand Rapids' first score. Terrill Shaw nabbed his first of team record 41 receiving TDs sandwiched between two Damian Harrell scores. Chris Ryan scored on offense and then defense in 1:37 as he rushed in from eight yards then scooped up a fumble and took it six yards for another. The Crush would then score offensively and defensively within nine seconds to give Colorado a 35-25 halftime lead.

The two teams traded scoring strikes all the way down to the last minute of the final frame when Dolezel hit Sean Riley to cut the Crush lead to 55-54. Grand Rapids elected to go for two and succeeded when Dolezel found Shaw all alone in the back of the end zone. Lineman Eric Gohlstin then recovered a Gowins' on-side kick at the Rampage 11-yard line, giving Grand Rapids the ball with a 1:00 left. Five plays and 31 yards later, Gowins was brought on for the game-winning field goal.

SERIES RECAPS: Colorado 55, Grand Rapids 37

Saturday, February 14, 2004
Van Andel Arena; Grand Rapids, Michigan (9,288)

The Rampage opened the scoring by taking the opening drive down for a score when new starting QB Robert Hall scooted through Crush defenders for a six-yard score. A missed extra point by emergency kicker Wesley Wilson, who was signed less than two hours before kickoff for the injured Nick Gatto, gave the Rampage their lone lead of the game. That lasted for four and a half minutes before Game Ironman Kevin McKenzie rushed in for a 3-yard touchdown. McKenzie would later return an interception for a touchdown and catch a third score for the touchdown tri-fecta.

On the following possession, the Rampage decided to go for it on fourth and five from their own 14. Crush defender Ron Rodgers broke up a would-be first down from the hands of Thomas Bailey and a play later Offensive Player of the Game John Dutton hit former Rampage star Willis Marshall on a 14-yard score.

In the second half, the Rampage outscored Colorado powered by two Steve Smith touchdowns – the first a 56-yard kickoff return and the other a five-yard pass with 40 seconds left in the game. Last week, Smith also returned a kick for a touchdown and grabbed another score. Strangely, last week he had seven returns for 168 yards and a score and against Colorado he had exactly the same totals. His 238 all-purpose yards against Colorado are a career high and rank tenth in team history.

Offensive Player: John Dutton Defensive Player: Rashad Floyd Ironman: Kevin McKenzie

SERIES RECAPS: Colorado 69, Grand Rapids 30

GAME ELEVEN: Friday, April 23, 2004
Pepsi Center; Denver, CO (15,930)

The game started like any other Arena game with both teams swapping scores and Grand Rapids even led 10-7 at the end of the first quarter. The brief lead was thanks to the strong leg of Stephen Scaldaferri, who booted a team-record 57-yard field goal. Grand Rapids took another lead late in the first half (23-21) when Chris Avery rumbled in from three yards with 30 seconds left.

Four Rampage turnovers flipped the game into a blowout. Offensive Player of the Game Damian Harrell finished with ten grabs for 176 yards and five receiving scores.

Offensive Player: Damian Harrell
Defensive Player: Rashad Floyd
Ironman: Willis Marshall

RAMPAGE QUOTES


Head Coach Sparky McEwen...

On the highlights of the Arizona game
I was really proud of our effort. Playing against a team like Arizona who was in the last three ArenaBowls and is arguably the best team in the league, I think our effort was there. Our special teams play was strong with our kicking, returning, and covering really coming together. Offensively I was disappointed. After watching the film with the guys, I think we are all on the same page now, and with some minor adjustments, we are on pace to be where we need to be. You have to crawl before you walk, so we are still a work in progress. On defense, I thought our covering was above average, but our overall pressure was just average. We didn't make the play enough, and so the theme of this week's practice is finishing the play off.

On the areas to improve
Our quarterback play was disappointing last game. There is a real emphasis on this position through the nature of our offense, and so we need consistency there, which we were lacking. Both Browder and Bishop are going to have a chance to earn their stripes and get better.

On the fumbles from the Arizona game
They are unacceptable, and it can't happen. Both our center and quarterback know this, and it was surprising that it happened because it wasn't a problem in training camp or the scrimmages. It really put us in a bad situation that we couldn't take care of the football. We can't put the ball on the ground and be competitive.

on Derin Graham's breakout performance
Graham was a real bright spot for us. We have coached him here before and knew what he was capable of. He was a real spark plug for us. When Hines went down, Graham was able to step in and he earned himself a spot. Other teams are going to have to prepare for us a little tighter on special teams now. We are really going to come together with the emergence of players like Graham.

On the Injury Situation
Hines is our number one concern right now. We need to get our number one draft pick back in the lineup. For the future, we need to get Coleman back to provide the quarterback with a safety blanket offensively, and take some of the pressure off Chris Jackson. Overall, we just need to get healthy.

Coach McEwen Looking Towards Game Two against the Colorado Crush

On the Crush Offense
We need to do something to disrupt Dutton. When he's hot, he is one of the best in the game. We need to pressure him and keep him out of his rhythm. Secondly, Damien Harrell is a fine player. We can't let him run free, and he is going to command attention in the secondary. Lastly, the offensive line is one of the better protecting lines in the league and they are a well-coached unit of blockers. They really open up the running game for Rich Young who is very powerful. He needs to be accounted for as a rusher and is a real difference maker.

On the Crush Defense
Rashad Floyd of the Crush, in their secondary causes me to have a lot of hesitancy about throwing in his direction. Along with Floyd their secondary is athletic and they run well which could give us some problems offensively.

On the Crush in general
They are one of the most well coached teams in the league. We have our work cut out for us in back to back weeks. It will be tough to go out to Colorado encountering the time change and the elevation issues; we are going to have to alter our game plan for this.

RAMPAGE QUICK HITTERS
Fast informative nuggets on Rampage players, coaches and the team
Note: bullet points in parenthesis with plus sign (+) indicate what that player needs to attain that note.

FB/LB Chris Avery
· all-time leading rusher in Rampage history
· 2nd all-time Rampage leader in rushing attempts (+2)
· all-time Rampage leader in rushing attempts (+17)
· 2nd all-time in Rampage sacks (+2.0)
· 6th career 30+ yard rushing game (+1) – rest of Rampage history has 6 total
· holds top 2 single-game rush yardage marks
· holds 3 of top 4 single-game rush yardage marks

QB Michael Bishop
· 5th all-time Rampage leader in passing touchdowns (+5)
· 5th Rampage QB to pass for 300 yards in a game (+1)
· 6th all-time Rampage leader in completions (+8)
· 6th all-time Rampage leader in pass attempts (+28)
· 6th all-time Rampage leader in passing yards (+53)
· 7th all-time Rampage leader in rushing yards (+8)
· 2nd 30+ yard rushing game – most by a Rampage QB (+1)
· all-time Rampage leader in rushing yards by a QB (+49)
· Was the starter for the Rampage's lone 2004 win (4/10/2004 at Detroit) (1-1 record as Rampage starting QB)
· won a Grey Cup championship ring with the 2004 Toronto Argonauts
· 1999 7th round draft pick of the New England Patriots
· 1998 Heisman Trophy runner up (Ricky Williams, Texas)
· 1998 Davey O'Brien Award winner (Division I-A top collegiate QB)
· 1998 Big XII Offensive Player of the Year

QB Nick Browder
· 12th QB in Rampage history to start a game (only 4 have at least a .500 record all-time – Dolezel, Kusick, McEwen, Bishop)
· 4-7 career AFL record as starting QB (3-5 with Philadelphia, 2004; 0-1 with Detroit, 2002; 1-0 with Buffalo, 2000; Grand Rapids with 0-1)
· 9th all-time in Rampage passing yards (+56)
· 5th Rampage QB to pass for 300 yards in a game (+1)

WR/DB Josh Bush
· 4th Rampage player with at least 2 kickoff returns for touchdowns (+1)
· 7th all-time in Rampage receptions (+2)
· 7th all-time in Rampage all-purpose yards (+127)
· 9th all-time in Rampage receiving touchdowns (+3)
· 1,000 career receiving yards (+195)
· 2nd career 100+ yard receiving game (+1)

DS Cecil Doggette
· 5th all-time in AFL tackles (+2.5)
· 30 career interceptions (+2) – also would give him 7 with Rampage (Tied with Mark Ricks for 2nd most in team history)
· all-time Rampage leader in interception return yardage (+41)
· 50 pass breakups with the Rampage (+4)
· AFL all-time leader in pass breakups (141)
· Currently 6th in AFL history in total tackles
· 2-time AFL All-Arena team selection
· has led his team last 7 years in tackles
· Rampage all-time leader in tackles and pass breakups
· Has appeared in three ArenaBowls (1993 with Detroit Drive; 1997, 2001 with Arizona)
· Has won an ArenaBowl title (Arizona, 1997) and NFL Europe title (Frankfurt, 1995)
· 29 pass breakups in 2004 (career high & 4th best in AFL single-season history)
· 15.0 tackles vs. Austin on May 27, 2004 – 3rd most in AFL history (career high/most in Rampage history)

OS Chris Jackson
· Catch a TD in 65 of 67 AFL career games (+1)
· Score a TD in 66 of 67 AFL career games (+1)
· 44th 100+ yard receiving game (+100)
· 11th player in AFL history with 1,000 career points scored (+28)
· 13th player in AFL history with 7,000 career receiving yards (+209)
· 18th ten+ reception game (+10)
· 15th player in AFL history with 500 career receptions (+11)
· 1,200+ yards receiving in 4 of 5 AFL seasons
· 2000 AFL Rookie of the Year
· 2003 AFL Offensive Player of the Year
· Only player in AFL history to be named the Rookie of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year
· 8th all-time in AFL receiving touchdowns

OL/DL Otis Moore
· play in his 132nd consecutive AFL game (+1)

FB/LB Travis Reece
· 25th player in AFL history with 500 career rushing yards (+26)

Head Coach Sparky McEwen
· First game as Rampage head coach
· 4th head coach in Rampage history
· Over last 4 seasons, no other team has scored more points or gained more yards than the offenses coached by McEwen (includes af2)
· 1 of 5 minority head coaches in the AFL (Arbet, San Jose; Harding, New York; Hohensee, Chicago; McClay, Dallas)
· 1 of 7 head coaches that are coaching with new teams this season
· 1 of 5 rookie AFL head coaches
· had a 2-1 record as starting QB of the Rampage in 1998
· still holds the team single-game record for rushing touchdowns (3, done twice)

SERIES HISTORY: Rampage vs. Colorado Crush
· Colorado leads all-time series 2-1
· Colorado has won last two (2004 season sweep)

TEAM NOTES
· First Rampage game every played in the month of January
· 800 rushing attempts in team history (+12)
· No players on active roster have every had a MFG return for the Rampage
· 13 straight home losses (including playoffs) – 2nd longest steak in AFL history (16 by Carolina from 2002-04)
· 1-3 all-time on Fox Sports Detroit
· 0-7 all-time on NBC (includes one playoff game)
· Tied for 5th hardest 2005 strength of schedule

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 2, 2005


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