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Kansas City Brigade game notes

February 28, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


AT A GLANCE
Game: Kansas City Brigade (1-4) vs. Tampa Bay Storm (3-2)
Date: Sunday, March 5, 2006
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. (CST)
Site: Kemper Arena (16,200)
Officials: Referee-Pat Garvey, Umpire-Paul King, Head Linesman-Mike McCabe, Line Judge-Wayne Mackie, Back Judge-Dino Paganelli
Television: The WB Kansas City and Metro Sports will broadcast the game live with Dave Armstrong doing the play-by-play and Duke Frye and Jayice Pearson providing the color commentary.
Radio: The Brigade's flagship station, 97.3 MAX FM, will broadcast the game live with Chris Gervino handling the play-by-play and Stan Weber supplying the color analysis. The station will air a half-hour pre-game show beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Series record: The teams have never played
Last meeting: This is the first-ever meeting
Series streaks: The teams have never played
_________________________________________________________

OVERVIEW
The AFL's top offense and defense do battle in a divisional game, the Brigade's fourth in five weeks. Kansas City will have played its first round of divisional games with minimal success and there are no breaks in the schedule. The Brigade travels to Austin and faces Georgia at home in a span of three weeks following next Monday's game against Philadelphia at Kemper Arena.

Tampa Bay, a five-time ArenaBowl champion, is facing its fourth division opponent in a row. The Storm is 2-1 in the Southern Division thus far, losing only to Orlando at home by three points. Tampa Bay did narrowly defeat Georgia at home as the Force attempted a two-point conversion for the win with no time left on the clock.

Tampa Bay comes to Kansas City with the league's best offense, averaging 360 yards a game, including a league-high 348 passing yards. Quarterback Shane Stafford has certainly does his part, throwing for over 400 yards in consecutive games the last two weeks. The Storm's high-powered attack will have to deal with a truly outstanding defense for the first time this season. The Brigade leads the league in total defense, allowing only 235 yards per game, including just 216 passing yards.

The most important matchup to watch might be the Brigade offense against the Storm defense. Tampa Bay is 12th in total defense, giving up 265 passing yards a game, and has allowed more than 50 points three times this season. That could play right into the hands of a Kansas City offense looking to rebound from last week's low output.

THE SERIES
This will be the first-ever meeting between the Southern Division opponents.



UP NEXT
The Brigade finishes a two-game home stand against Philadelphia next Monday. Kansas City plays five of its next seven games at Kemper Arena. "The Hangar" has already developed a reputation for having an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd, providing a decided home field advantage.

THE SCHEDULES
All times CST

2006 Kansas City Brigade (1-4)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 29 at Dallas Lost 58-44
Feb. 3 at Orlando Lost 48-41
Feb. 12 AUSTIN Lost 37-33
Feb. 19 COLUMBUS Won 45-24
Feb. 24 at Georgia Lost 51-19
Date Opponent Time (CST) TV/Radio
Mar. 5 TAMPA BAY 3:00 p.m. MS, WB62/97.3 FM
Mar. 13 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 p.m. FSN/97.3 FM
Mar. 18 at Austin 7:00 p.m. MS, WB62/97.3 FM
Mar. 24 at New York 6:30 p.m. MS, WB62/97.3 FM
Apr. 1 GEORGIA 7:00 p.m. FSN/97.3 FM
Apr. 9 LOS ANGELES 12:00 p.m. NBC/97.3 FM
Apr. 16 COLORADO 12:00 p.m. NBC/97.3 FM
Apr. 21 at Nashville 7:00 p.m. MS, WB62/97.3 FM
Apr. 29 at Tampa Bay 6:30 p.m. MS, WB62/97.3 FM
May 6 ORLANDO 7:00 p.m. FSN/97.3 FM
May 12 at Utah 8:00 p.m. MS, WB62/97.3 FM

2006 Tampa Bay Storm (3-2)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 29 at Philadelphia Lost 52-34
Feb. 3 at Grand Rapids Won 51-43
Feb. 10 GEORGIA Won 61-60
Feb. 19 ORLANDO Lost 67-64
Feb. 25 AUSTIN Won 58-48
Date Opponent Time (CST) TV/Radio
Mar. 5 at Kansas City 3 p.m.
Mar. 12 DALLAS 11 a.m. NBC
Mar. 18 NEW YORK 6:30 p.m. FSN
Mar. 26 at Georgia 2:00 p.m. FSN
Apr. 1 UTAH 6:30 p.m. FSN
Apr. 7 SAN JOSE 6:30 p.m.
Apr. 15 at Austin 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 22 at Orlando 6:30 p.m.
Apr. 29 KANSAS CITY 6:30 p.m.
May 6 at Columbus 6:00 p.m.
May 13 at Nashville 7:00 p.m.



2006 STANDINGS
This season the playoffs will be separated into conferences with division winners receiving first round byes. The next four teams with the best records within each conference qualify for the postseason

NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Southern Division
Team W L Pct. PF PA
Austin 4 1 .800 258 220
Georgia 3 2 .600 272 206
Orlando 3 2 .600 228 241
Tampa Bay 3 2 .600 268 270
Kansas City 1 4 .200 182 218

Eastern Division
Team W L Pct. PF PA
Dallas 4 1 .800 270 239
New York 3 2 .600 277 295
Philadelphia 3 2 .600 245 221
Columbus 2 3 .400 184 206

AMERICAN CONFERNCE
Central Division
Team W L Pct. PF PA
Colorado 4 1 .800 275 266
Nashville 4 1 .800 270 178
Chicago 3 2 .600 278 265
Grand Rapids 2 3 .400 236 244

Western Division
Team W L Pct. PF PA
Utah 2 3 .400 288 286
Arizona 1 4 .200 186 231
Las Vegas 1 4 .200 234 286
Los Angeles 1 4 .200 226 277
San Jose 1 4 .200 241 269

WEEK 6 SCHEDULE (all times CST)

Friday, March 3
Columbus at New York, 6:30

Saturday, March 4
Austin at Georgia, 11 a.m.
Nashville at Arizona, 8 p.m.
San Jose at Utah, 8 p.m.

Sunday, March 5
Tampa Bay at Kansas City, 3 p.m.
Dallas at Chicago, 11 a.m.
Los Angeles at Orlando, 11 a.m.
Grand Rapids at Colorado, 2 p.m.
Philadelphia at Las Vegas, 6 p.m.

THE COACHES
Kansas City-Kevin Porter, first year
1-4 overall
Kevin Porter comes to the Brigade as its first head coach with a reputation as one of the AFL's finest young defensive minds. In his first season as the defensive coordinator with New Orleans in 2004, the VooDoo finished second in the league in scoring defense, surrendering only 721 points, sixth in rushing defense and fourth in passing defense.

Porter's previous head coaching experience was in arenafootball2 with the Macon Knights and Pensacola Barracudas. He is the winningest coach in af2 history with a 45-27 record and he led his teams to the playoffs every year, including a trip to the 2003 ArenaCup with Macon. Porter started his coaching career as the defensive backs coach of the Orlando Predators in 1999.

Porter was a third round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1988 NFL Draft and played five years at strong safety, the last two with the New York Jets. He recorded 290 tackles, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Porter was an honorable mention All-America as a senior cornerback at Auburn.

Tampa Bay-Tim Marcum, 12th year in Tampa Bay
122-58 in Tampa Bay
Tim Marcum enters his 12th season as head coach of the Tampa Bay Storm and his 18th overall as an AFL coach. A member of the AFL Hall of Fame, Marcum is the winningest coach in AFL history. He has won seven ArenaBowl championships and has coached in 10 of league's 19 ArenaBowls.

He comes into the 2006 season first all-time in AFL coaching victories (176), winning percentage (.718), games coached (245), and postseason victories (25). Marcum is also the only coach in AFL history to lead three different teams-Denver, Detroit and Tampa Bay-to ArenaBowl championships. He is a two-time recipient of the AFL Coach of the Year Award and received the AFL's Founder's Award in 2001.

Marcum owns a 121-57 overall record in Tampa Bay where he has logged 15 straight postseason berths. He began his AFL career in 1987 when he won the league's first championship and proceeded to lead Detroit to back-to-back championships the next two seasons. He went 50-10 during his five-year tenure in Detroit.

LOCAL ANGLE
B.J. Cohen was a member of Tampa Bay's 2003 ArenaBowl championship team. He earned All-AFL and All-Ironman selections that year. Storm OL/DL Nyle Wiren, a nine-year AFL veteran, had a stellar collegiate career at Kansas State. He was the all-time leader in sacks when he graduated and was an All-Big Eight selection in 1994 and All-Big XII selection in 1996. Wiren prepped at Wichita North High School.

STATISTICAL COMPARISON
A look at the offensive and defensive league rankings of the Brigade and the Storm:
Brigade Offensive Category Storm
10 Total Offense 1
10 Rushing offense 11
8 Passing offense 1
2 First downs/game 5
17 Third down efficiency 13
12t Fourth down efficiency 10t
18 Kick return average 15
18 Points/game 8

Brigade Defensive Category Storm
1 Total defense 12
9t Rushing defense 14
1 Passing defense 9
2 First downs/game 5t
3 Third down efficiency 10
12t Fourth down efficiency 7t
15 Kick return average 17
4 Points/game 14

INJURY REPORT
The Brigade's updated injury information for Week 6:
Player Injury Status
WR/LB James Jordan Knee Probable
OL/DL Abdul-Salam Noah Lumbar Probable
WR/DB Calvin Spears Hamstring Probable
Player Injury Status
FB/LB Jeremy Beutler Shoulder Questionable
DS Alvin Porter Elbow IR-Mar. 5
WR/LB Nathan Black Hamstring IR-Mar. 5
OL/DL John Hilliard Lumbar IR-Mar. 5
OL/DL Jon McCall Knee IR-Mar. 5
WR/LB Tremaine Neal Knee IR-Mar. 5
OL/DL Chad Pegues Knee IR-Mar. 5
DS Cliff Green Achilles IR-out for season

PLAYER POINTS
- Andy Kelly's added one touchdown to his stat totals in Georgia. However, he is still seventh in the league in yards, first in attempts and tied for first in completions. Kelly's 48-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith against Georgia was the second of that length of his career. He's thrown two 49-yard touchdown passes. One touchdown pass last week increased his career total to 733, still second all-time behind New York's injured Aaron Garcia with 757. Kelly continues to outpace all comers in career yards (37,978), completions (3,480) and attempts (5,580).

- Jerel Myers continues to play like a veteran in his rookie season. His 12 receptions against Georgia gave him four games with nine or more catches. The effort put him tied for third in the league with 46 receptions.

- Steve Smith's 48-yard touchdown catch was the longest of his six-year career. He has had a longer reception each season: 21, 33, 34, 45, 46, 48.

- Dawan Moss dropped one spot to sixth in the league in rushing with 58 yards.

- Denario Smalls remains in the top 15 in the league in solo tackles and total tackles.

- Tim Seder now leads the league in field goal attempts with 15. His 53.3 percent accuracy is eighth, as is his point total of 42.

- The Offense recorded 20 or more first downs for the fifth straight game and has now led in time of possession in four of five games. The Defense held Georgia to less than 40 offensive points, the third game in a row the Brigade has limited its opponent's point total.

BRIGADE HONORS
Players who have received a player of the game honor this season:
Offensive Player of the Game Stats
Andy Kelly, Week 2 vs. Orlando 33-56, 353 yds, 6 TDs
Jerel Myers, Week 3 vs. Austin 10 rec., 116 yds, 2 TDs
Jerel Myers, Week 4 vs. CLB 5 rec. 71 yds, 1 TD
ADT Defensive Player of the Game Stats
Denario Smalls, Week 4 vs. CLB 6 tkls (5 solo), four pass def., 1 forced fum., 1 fum. recovery, 2 int. (1 ret. 39 yards for TD)
U.S. Army Ironman of the Game Stats
Jacques Rumph, Week 4 vs. CLB 5 rec. for 46 yds, 1 rush for 1 yd, 4 tkls (3 solo)

WHEN STATS
The Brigade's record when this occurs:
When Record
At Kemper Arena 1-1
On the road 0-3
Scores more than 40 points 1-2
Scores less than 40 points 0-2
Allows more than 40 points 0-3
Allows less than 40 points 1-1
Scores first 1-0
When Record
Opponent scores first 0-4
Commits fewer turnovers 1-1
Commits more turnovers 0-3
Leads at halftime 1-0
Trails at halftime 0-4
Commits fewer penalties 1-3
Commits more penalties 0-1
Game decided by 7 points or less 0-2
Game decided by more than 7 points 1-2

SKY HIGH
The Brigade's individual season highs through Week 5:
High No. Player
Completions 33 Kelly, Week 2 at Orlando
Attempts 56 Kelly, Week 2 at Orlando
Passing yards 353 Kelly, Week 2 at Orlando
TD passes 6 Kelly, Week 2 at Orlando
Long pass 48t Kelly, Week 5 at Georgia
Receptions 12 Myers, Week 5 at Georgia
Receiving yards 116 Myers, Week 3 vs. Austin
TD catches 3 Jordan, Week 2 at Orlando
Long reception 48t Smith, Week 5 at Georgia
Rushing att. 5 Moss, Week 3 vs. Austin
Rushing yards 34 Moss, Week 3 vs. Austin
Rushing TDs 1 Douzart & Moss, Week 1 vs. Dallas
Moss, Week 3 vs. Austin
Long rush 19 Moss, Week 3 vs. Austin
Tackles 10 Smalls, Week 3 vs. Austin
Tackles for loss 1 Seven times, most recently
Hamilton & Cohen, Week 5 at Georgia
Interceptions 2 Smalls, Week 4 vs. Columbus
Forced fumbles 1 Moss, Week 1 vs. Dallas
Coleman & Spears, Week 2 at Orlando
Smalls & Pointer, Week 4 vs. Columbus
Fumble return 1 Moss, Week 1 vs. Dallas & Week 3 vs. AUS
Spears, Week 2 at Orlando
Smalls, Coleman & Cohen, Week 4 vs. CLB
Long kick return 29 Rumph, Week 1 at Dallas
Field goals 4 Seder, Week 4 vs. Columbus
Long field goal 43 Seder, Week 1 at Dallas

The Brigade's team season highs through Week 5:
High No. Game
Points 45 Week 4 vs. Columbus
Offensive touchdowns 6 (all passing) Week 2 at Orlando
Total offense 368 Week 2 at Orlando
Total plays 59 Week 2 at Orlando
First downs 25 Week 1 at Dallas
Time of possession 34:04 Week 5 at Georgia
Rushes 11 Week 4 vs. Columbus
Rushing yards 29 Week 3 vs. Austin
Defensive touchdowns 1 Week 4 vs. Columbus
Tackles 35 Week 2 at Orlando
Tackles for loss 3 Week 1 at Dallas
Week 5 at Georgia
Interceptions 2 Week 2 at Orlando
Week 4 vs. Columbus
Forced fumbles 2 Week 2 at Orlando
Week 4 vs. Columbus
Fumble recoveries 3 Week 4 vs. Columbus
Special teams touchdowns 1 (net recovery) Week 4 vs. Columbus
Penalties 10 Week 1 at Dallas
Largest Lead 21 Week 4 vs. Columbus
Largest Deficit 32 Week 5 at Georgia

TEAM FIRSTS
The Brigade has recorded a number of firsts in its inaugural season:
First Play
Completion, Week 1 vs. Dallas Kelly to Myers for five yards
First down, Week 1 vs. Dallas Kelly to Myers for nine yards
Rushing TD, Week 1 vs. Dallas Moss for one yard
Passing TD, Week 1 vs. Dallas Kelly to Myers for 20 yards
Field goal, Week 1 vs. Dallas Seder from 43 yards
Tackle, Week 1 vs. Dallas Pointer
Forced fumble, Week 1 vs. Dallas Noah
Fumble recovery, Week 1 vs. Dallas Moss
Fum. rec. for TD, Week 4 vs. CLB Coleman
Interception, Week 1 vs. Dallas Spears
Int. ret. for TD, Week 4 vs. CLB Smalls
Safety, Week 5 at Georgia Hamilton
Lead, Week 2 vs. Orlando 14-10 in second quarter



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 28, 2006


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