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Jacksonville, San Antonio Ready for CBS Sports Network

May 10, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release


CHICAGO - Coming off their first loss of the 2013 season, the Jacksonville Sharks (6-1) will look to get back on track with a trip to the Lone Star State to take on the San Antonio Talons (2-4). The contest, to be televised on CBS Sports Network at 9:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 11, will mark the first national television appearance for either team on "NET10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday" in 2013.

For the Sharks, Saturday is their chance to finally exhibit their talents under a national spotlight. For Jacksonville quarterback Bernard Morris, it's a chance to show how much he has grown. Last season, Morris established himself as a lethal running threat, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and finding the end zone 11 times on the ground. He did not finish in the League's top ten in pass efficiency rating, however, as he was haunted by a respectable, but not stellar, 4.2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. This season, Morris has established himself as one of the League's best dual-threat quarterbacks, coupling fine running with even better passing. He has thrown 19.5 touchdowns for every interception, and his completion percentage has soared from 62.2 percent to 69.3 percent. As a result, he now finds himself ranked fifth in the League in pass efficiency rating.

Jacksonville is no one-trick pony, however. Rendrick Taylor has also contributed to the League's best rushing attack, averaging 3.9 yards per carry, though he has just one rushing touchdown in the Sharks' last three games, after reaching the end zone four times against New Orleans alone. Meanwhile, Jeff Hughley, back from a brief stint in the National Football League, might be the best-known Jacksonville receiver, but he's far from the only one. Markee White has recorded a touchdown catch in every game this season and has already surpassed last season's total of 425 receiving yards with Arizona. Jeron Harvey, meanwhile, is coming off of a 16-reception, 143-yard, three-touchdown performance against one of the League's top defenses last week.

For the Talons, Saturday night represents a chance to reinsert themselves into the playoff race. Despite their 2-4 record, the Talons are just a game and a half off of the Central Division lead. Saturday is also a chance for the Talons to restore their prior Alamodome luster. In their inaugural season in San Antonio, they posted an 8-1 record at home. This season, they've won two out of three on the road, including an upset of Tampa Bay, but have lost all three of their home games. They will seek their first home win since July 13, 2012 on Saturday night.

A great deal of their difficulties have stemmed from the passing game. The team has started four different quarterbacks under center already this season, but none have been able to post a triple-digit passer rating in any game as of yet. The Talons' combined pass efficiency rating of 72.5 is the second-worst in the League, a few points ahead of the New Orleans VooDoo. When last year's signal-caller, Aaron Garcia, left for San Jose in the offseason, the Talons picked up GJ Kinne and Danny Southwick. When Kinne got the call from the Philadelphia Eagles a few weeks before camp, San Antonio brought in veterans Rohan Davey and John Dutton. However, both would end up suffering injuries early in the year, forcing the Talons to assess the free agent market once again, adding veteran Nick Hill and rookie Zach Frazer to the squad. Though both Hill and Frazer have suffered their share of injuries already as well, Hill is expected to start on Saturday.

The Talons' strength lies in their defense. Taking after head coach Lee Johnson, who brings a defensive background to the sideline, San Antonio has allowed a League-low 299 points per game this season. They've held opposing quarterbacks to a 57.3 completion percentage, the second-lowest total in the League, and have surrendered just 6.4 yards per pass play, the third-best total in the League. A lot of their success comes from up front, where they've accumulated 16 sacks, four behind Jacksonville for the League's best total. The Talons have seen six different players record sacks this season, and have had three games in which three different players have recorded sacks. Against Pittsburgh, four different San Antonio players came up with a sack.

For the Sharks, Jerry Turner and Rashaad Duncan have each exploded for three sacks in a game already this season, while Aaron Robbins recorded a sack in five straight earlier this season. Turner and Robbins are currently tied for second in the League in sacks while Duncan is tied for fourth.

"NET10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday" is set to kickoff on CBS Sports Network at 9:30 p.m. ET.

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