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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Hot Questions

May 8, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Can former Giants QB DANNY KANELL turn around a sputtering Dragons offense?

Can intriguing rookie ANTONIO CHATMAN rise to the challenge, and fill the scoring shoes of JOE DOUGLASS?

Is this week, J.J. WASHINGTON's time to shine? With scoring leader CHRIS JACKSON out with an injury, the Avengers are counting on the second-year Ironman to step in as OS and pick up the slack - Jackson has accounted for more than 50% of the team's scoring.

Are JAMES HUNDON, JERRY REESE, and BARRY WAGNER the league's best receiving tandem? All three are among the top 15 in every receiving category, while Hundon and Reese are the only teammates to appear in the top 10-scoring list.

Can the Storm reverse direction despite an uncharacteristically leaky defense - and a case of fumbleitis? With two cogs from last year's second-ranked defense lost to free agency, it shows to the tune of 53 points per game (the return of lineman, JUAQUIN FEAZELL should help). The team also ranks next to last in turnover margin with 7 fumbles lost. However, last time TIM MARCUM's team went 0-3 was in 2000, a season in which they ultimately fell 11 points shy of an Arenabowl appearance.

What can the Rampage do to get back on track? Start with glue stick and by discarding the Welcome Mats currently placed in each end zone. The champs are dead last in turnover margin, while opponents have scored 14 times in as many attempts when inside the Red Zone.

When will JAY GRUDEN just simply take over a game and get the Predators back in championship form? With a game against the struggling Rampage this week, it could be a Gruden-Dolezel shootout -- the perfect scenario for one of pro football's prime time quarterbacks.

Is there a more dependable quarterback than San Jose's MARK GRIEB? He's been errorless so far this season with 19 touchdowns.

Does Buffalo's LAMONT COOPER eat turf? He's averaging a whopping 273 all-purpose yards per game and is on pace to better his own league record of 3,459 by - get this - 500 yards. (The closest challenger is New York's Steve Papin, who is averaging more than 50 yards less per game).

Who will score 100 points first, Arizona or Georgia? This week, the league's top two scoring teams face off in Atlanta, with the Rattlers' SHERDRICK BONNER on pace to eclipse his previous single season record of 72 touchdowns.

With kicker STEVE MCLAUGHLIN struggling, can the Destroyers' defense gel and put them in a position to win close games by making key stops and improving the pass rush? Veterans Corey Johnson and Carlos James need to bring along former af2 star, DWAINE CARPENTER while DAVID CALDWELL is currently doing double-duty as SILAS DEMARY and JERRY CRAFTS find their legs.

With Tampa Bay and Orlando struggling, are the Carolina Cobras a surprise choice in a somewhat sketchy southern division? Middle of the pack in most categories, vets like ANDRE BOWDEN, CONNELL MAYNOR, and MARRIO GRIER are starting to form a strong nucleus, and bringing along second-year intrigues like CARL BOND and AARON BAILEY.

What is Georgia's secret to leading the league in scoring? Simple, they're getting it done in every possible way - passing, rushing, fumble returns, kick returns, and interceptions, all for touchdowns. (KEVIN MCDOUGAL has passed for nine touchdowns as compared to SHERDRICK BONNER's 20 for the Rattlers, who are No. 2 in scoring this season).

Is last year's rushing champ, TRAVIS REECE the best player in the southern division? The Force has him to thank for a league-high five rushing touchdowns and some of the most bruising yards gained since BILLY STONE in 1987. He's been compared to guys like CHAD DUKES and RICK HAMILTON, and has already appeared in a championship game, last year as a rookie.

Is anyone taking the Gladiators seriously? After three seasons of sweeping the cellar of the eastern division, veterans like MIKE HORACEK, ALVIN ASHLEY, JAMES BOWDEN, and rookies DENNISON ROBINSON and JAY MCDONAGH have suddenly positioned the Gladiators as perhaps the surprise of the National Conference. Upcoming games against Carolina, New York, and Toronto will paint the picture much more clearly.

Is Los Angeles' TONY GRAZIANI a JAY GRUDEN-like, playoff caliber leader? With 51 "money" plays, he's quickly becoming known as a gutsy player, similar to Gruden's style during the early-to-mid 1990s. CLINT DOLEZEL is right behind him, with 50 plays which have resulted in either a first down or touchdown.

Where's SIAHA BURLEY? With the emergence of CLIF DELL as JAY GRUDEN's primary target, Burley hasn't been able to get untracked like last year, when he scored 34 touchdowns in only 12 games. He's got 14 "money" catches, but Gruden may be looking to find him more with Grand Rapids, San Jose, and Indiana over the next three weeks.

If former Seminole star, CLEVAN THOMAS this year's best rookie? he's leading the league's only unbeaten team in nearly every defensive category including returns and all-purpose yardage.

Facing Indiana, how will the Phantoms 16th-ranked pass defenders respond after being burned by Arizona's SHERDRICK BONNER for 362 yards and seven touchdowns last week? TY LAW, CHARLIE DAVIDSON, and DEL LEE form a capable group, but they'll need more stops to for a shot at shutting down high powered offenses. Law hasn't matched his effort in week one, when he had a pair of touchdowns and an interception against Tampa Bay.

In a tougher western division, the Dallas Desperados are emerging as an interesting threat albeit because of a pair of rookie receivers, DIALLEO BURKS (6-3) and ANDY MCCULLOUGH (6-4) giving ANDY KELLY targets in the form of other tall, sure-handed receivers like MIKE HORACEK and BARRY WAGNER.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 8, 2002


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