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Kansas City Brigade game notes

April 10, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Kansas City Brigade News Release


AT A GLANCE
Game: Kansas City Brigade (2-9) vs. Colorado Crush (8-3)
Date: Sunday, April 16, 2006
Kickoff: 12 p.m. (CST)
Site: Kemper Arena (16,200)
Officials: Referee-Steve Pamon, Umpire-Wes Fritz, Head Linesman-Neil Brunner, Line Judge-R.G. Detillier, Back Judge-Tony Lombardo
Television: The game will be broadcast nationally on NBC. Tom Hammond will do play-by-play and Pat Haden will be the color analyst. Lewis Johnson will patrol the sidelines.
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 11:30 a.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 Brigade played its best game of the year last week against the Los Angeles Avengers. The team looked like a well-oiled machine in all facets, setting a slew of single-game franchise records. Sanders and the offense looked completely comfortable and the defense stepped up and made a number of key plays when the team needed it. Kansas City must repeat its outstanding performance this week against a very tough opponent in the defending ArenaBowl champion Colorado Crush.

The difference in the game against LA was the play of the Brigade offensive and defensive lines, and this week hopes to be no different. Chris Sanders had plenty of time to roam the pocket and wait for his receivers to break coverage. A stout Crush defensive line will make it a long day for Sanders if he does not have good protection. Aaron Boone, Jerel Myers and James Jordan aspire to get open in the Crush secondary and could have another record-setting day if Sanders has time to find them.

The rotation of defensive lineman kept Avengers quarterback Sonny Cumbie on his back most of the game. It will be critical for the Brigade defensive line to get the same kind of pressure on Crush quarterback John Dutton. He will throw wherever and whenever he wants if he has enough time. The Brigade secondary will be concerned primarily with offensive specialist Damien Harrell, but their job will be much easier if BJ Cohen, Gillis Wilson, Cyron Brown and Bryan Henderson can wreak havoc in the Crush backfield.

The task this week is a formidable one. The Crush is an extremely talented, veteran team with arguably one of the best coaches in the league.



UP NEXT
Kansas City continues its tour of the American Central as it travels to the Music City to face the Nashville Kats (7-4), led by second-year quarterback Clint Stoerner.

THE SCHEDULES
All times CST
2006 Kansas City Brigade (2-9)
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
Mar. 5 TAMPA BAY Lost 69-59
Mar. 13 PHILADELPHIA Lost 54-24
Mar. 18 at Austin Lost 64-37
Mar. 24 at New York Lost 54-48
Apr. 1 GEORGIA Lost 55-47
Apr. 9 LOS ANGELES Won 62-45
Date Opponent Time (CST) TV/Radio
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 Colorado Crush (8-3)
Date Opponent Result Score
Jan. 29 CHICAGO Won 65-56
Feb. 5 at Georgia Won 61-59
Feb. 12 LAS VEGAS Won 65-55
Feb. 18 at Nashville Lost 58-36
Feb. 26 at Philadelphia Won 48-38
Mar. 5 GRAND RAPIDS Won 66-54
Mar. 10 at Chicago Won 49-42
Mar. 19 at Los Angeles Lost 60-57
Mar. 25 COLUMBUS Lost 65-21
Apr. 1 NASHVILLE Won 77-47
Apr. 8 at Grand Rapids Won 73-48
Date Opponent Time (CST) TV/Radio
Apr. 16 at Kansas City 12:00 p.m. NBC
Apr. 21 UTAH 8:00 p.m.
Apr. 28 ORLANDO 8:00 p.m.
May 6 at San Jose 9:30 p.m.
May 12 ARIZONA 8:00 p.m. FSN


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 7 4 .636 540 514
Georgia 7 4 .636 624 492
Orlando 7 4 .636 547 522
Tampa Bay 6 5 .545 582 591
Kansas City 2 9 .181 459 559

Eastern Division
Team W L Pct. PF PA
Dallas 9 2 .818 628 491
New York 6 5 .545 564 594
Philadelphia 6 5 .545 517 514
Columbus 5 6 .454 483 459

AMERICAN CONFERNCE
Central Division
Team W L Pct. PF PA
Colorado 8 3 .727 618 582
Nashville 7 4 .636 557 508
Chicago 4 7 .363 542 576
Grand Rapids 3 8 .272 506 597

Western Division
Team W L Pct. PF PA
Arizona 6 5 .545 515 528
Las Vegas 5 6 .454 556 577
San Jose 5 6 .454 584 592
Los Angeles 3 8 .272 534 637
Utah 3 8 .272 590 613

WEEK 12 SCHEDULE (all times CST)

Friday, April 14
New York at Columbus, 6 p.m.
Georgia at Orlando, 6:30 p.m.
Philadelphia at Nashville, 7 p.m.
Las Vegas at San Jose, 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 15
Tampa Bay at Austin, 7 p.m.
Grand Rapids at Dallas, 8 p.m.
Los Angeles at Utah, 8 p.m.
Chicago at Arizona, 9 p.m.

Sunday, April 9
Colorado at Kansas City, 12 p.m.

THE COACHES
Kansas City-Kevin Porter, first year
2-9 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.

Colorado-Mike Dailey, third year with Crush, 10th overall
32-14 with Crush, 96-61 overall
Mike Dailey became the Crush's second head coach on June 26, 2003. Dailey joined the Crush following 13 seasons in the Albany/Indiana Firebirds organization, including the final seven as head coach. One of the most successful and well-respected coaches in AFL history, Dailey's teams have compiled a winning percentage of 60.3 and have made seven postseason appearances, winning four division titles and two championships.

Last season under Dailey's guidance, the Crush captured its first Central Division title en route to claiming a 51-48 victory in ArenaBowl XIX, giving Colorado its first AFL championship in only its third year of existence. The Crush finished the year with a 13-6 mark, which included a franchise record seven-game winning streak during the regular season. With the team's win over Chicago in the American Conference championship game on June 5th, Dailey became the fourth winningest coach in AFL history, surpassing Perry Moss.

In his first season in Colorado, Dailey helped guide the Crush to the largest turnaround in AFL history. He inherited a 2-14 team and led it to an 11-5 record in 2004, tied for the best in the league. He also led the Crush to its first playoff appearance and first win, advancing to the AFL semifinals before falling nine yards short of up-ending top-seeded Arizona and earning a trip to ArenaBowl XVIII.

The Crush traded three players (Anthony Derricks, Delvin Hughley and Chris Janek) to Indiana for the rights to Dailey, whose Firebirds teams compiled a 63-46 record in his seven seasons. In 1999 Dailey led the Firebirds to their only ArenaBowl championship and 14-3 record, the best in franchise history. He was named AFL Coach of the Year following that standout campaign.

LOCAL ANGLE
The spotlight this week will be on the owners. NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, formerly of the Denver Broncos, is the CEO and co-owner of the Crush. He will face off against an old rival and a former teammate in Chiefs Ring of Honor member and Brigade Vice President Neil Smith. He terrorized Elway in their constant AFC West duels (Smith sacked Elway 14 times, the most by any player ever), and then the pair teamed up to win two consecutive Super Bowl titles in 1998-99.

Also part of the ownership group is Stan Kroenke of University of Missouri fame. Kroenke Sports Enterprises owns the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and the Pepsi Center arena. The company also owns the Colorado Rapids of MLS and the Colorado Mammoth of the NLL, and Kroenke is also co-owner of the St. Louis Rams. With the Crush's ArenaBowl championship last week, three of Kroenke's teams have won titles, including the Avalanche in 2001 and the Rams in 1999.

Three players on the Crush have local ties. Kicker Clay Rush was an All-MIAA and NCAA Division II All-American selection his senior year at Missouri Western University in St. Joseph. OL/DL Kyle Moore-Brown was part of a defensive line at the University of Kansas that included Gilbert Brown and Dana Stubblefield. OL/DL Craig Heimburger was an All-Big 12 selection as a senior at the University of Missouri.

STATISTICAL COMPARISON
A look at the offensive and defensive league rankings of the Brigade and the Crush:
Brigade Offensive Category Crush
10 (281.8) Total Offense 6 (290.0)
16 (5.6) Yards/play 9 (6.3)
9 (17.0) Rushing offense 10 (16.5)
9 (264.8) Passing offense 6 (273.5)
16 (4.0%) Pct. of INT/attempt 7 (2.5%)
8 (2.16) Sacked/100 pass plays 4 (1.14)
3 (21.4) First downs/game 2 (21.5)
16 (39.0% made) Third down efficiency 2 (57.5% made)
9 (47.4% made) Fourth down efficiency 3 (53.3% made)
17 (15.5) Kickoff return average 4 (19.0)
15 (37.5% made) Field goal percentage 2 (66.7% made)
14 (8.1) Penalties/game 9 (7.4)
18 (41.7) Points/game 3 (56.2)

Brigade Defensive Category Crush
2 (258.3) Total defense 3 (260.2)
4 (5.9) Yards/play 6 (6.1)
16 (24.5) Rushing defense 9 (19.9)
1 (233.8) Passing defense 4 (240.3)
18 (1.4%) Pct. of INT/attempt 7 (3.3%)
9 (2.99) Sacks/100 pass plays 2 (3.95)
10 (19.7) First downs/game 8 (19.0)
15 (50.7%) Third down efficiency 8 (43.8%)
9 (46.2%) Fourth down efficiency 15 (55.6%)
7 (17.2) Kick return average 11 (17.7)
16 (61.1%) Field goal percentage 12 (52.9%)
2 (8.2) Penalties/game 10 (7.4)
9 (50.8) Points/game 12 (52.9)

ROSTER MOVES
The Brigade has not made any roster moves for Week 12:

INJURY REPORT
The Brigade's updated injury information for Week 12:
Player Injury Status
FB/LB Chris Morant Shoulder IR-Apr. 16
FB/LB Dawan Moss Ankle IR-Apr. 16
OS Jacques Rumph Knee IR-Apr. 16
OL/DL Chad Pegues Knee IR-Apr. 21
DS Denario Smalls Knee IR-Apr. 21
DS Cliff Green Achilles IR-out for season
WR/LB Nathan Black Knee IR-out for season

POINTS OF INTEREST
- Aaron Boone, in only his second game with the Brigade, set franchise single-game records for receptions (13), yards (157) and touchdowns (5). He has 24 receptions for 7 td's total.

- For the third game in a row, Chris Sanders accounted for all of the Brigade offense. He set a team record with seven touchdown passes, and for the fourth straight game he scored on a rush. Sanders also made the pitch on Myers' rushing touchdown. His completion percentage of 81.3 easily set a team record and helped him crack the league's top 10 in the category.

- Jerel Myers is tied for fifth in the league with 81 receptions. With three touchdowns against LA, he has scored at least one in nine of the team's eleven games.

- Calvin Spears, playing for the first time this season at defensive specialist, had three pass breakups to set a franchise single-game record.

- The Brigade set a team record with 62 total points, besting its 59-point against Tampa Bay in Week 6. The team also set a record with 34 first-half points.

- For all of the close games the Brigade has played this season, last week against LA was the team's first come-from-behind victory. The Brigade was down 35-34 with 7:30 left in the third quarter. The team outscored the Avengers 28-10 the rest of the way.

- The Brigade scored on all but one possession, including on three drives after LA turnovers. The offense was also perfect inside the red zone, scoring touchdowns on all eight chances.

- With such a complete victory over LA came a compliment of awards. The Brigade earned all three player of the game honors, a first this season. James Jordan earned his second Ironman of the Game award.

- The Brigade has received a lot of media coverage lately for its work in the community. A recent fundraiser for the Northland Early Education Center, an organization dedicated to helping families with special needs children, raised over $1,000 from the auction of autographed merchandise. The team also helped build a house with Habitat for Humanity, a project in which over 20 players dedicated an entire afternoon of their day off. Players and Neil Smith have recently gotten involved with Operation Breakthrough, a center that helps children in poverty develop to their fullest potential in a safe, loving and education environment.

SOARING ATTENDANCE
The Brigade continues to fight for the top spot in the league in attendance through six home games. The franchise is currently second in average attendance with 15,494 fans per game:
Game Attendance
Week 3 vs. Austin 16,523
Week 4 vs. Columbus 14,632
Week 6 vs. Tampa Bay 15,227
Week 7 vs. Philadelphia 15,379
Week 10 vs. Georgia 16,032
Week 11 vs. Los Angeles 15,173
Total 92,966 (15,179 avg)

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. Columbus 5 rec. 71 yds, 1 TD
Steve Smith, Week 6 vs. Tampa Bay 11 rec., 124 yds, 4 TDs
Chris Sanders, Week 10 vs. GEO 29-41, 280 yds, 4 TDs; 9 rush, 12 yds, 3 TDs
Aaron Boone, Week 11 vs. LA 13 rec., 157 yds, 5 TDs

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)
Chris Pointer, Week 6 vs. TB 3.5 tkls (3 solo)
Calvin Spears, Week 11 vs. LA 4.5 tkls (3 solo), 3 pass def.

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)
James Jordan, Week 8 at Austin 5 rec, 101 yds, 2 TD
3 tkls (3 solo)
James Jordan, Week 11 vs. LA 2 rec., 46 yds, 3.5 tkls (2 solo)

WHEN STATS
The Brigade's record when this occurs:
When Record
At Kemper Arena 2-4
On the road 0-5
Scores more than 40 points 2-5
Scores less than 40 points 0-4
Allows more than 40 points 1-8
Allows less than 40 points 1-1
Scores first 2-1
Opponent scores first 0-8
Commits fewer turnovers 2-2
Commits more turnovers 0-7
Leads at halftime 2-0
Trails at halftime 0-8
Commits fewer penalties 1-4
Commits more penalties 1-5
Game decided by 7 points or less 0-3
Game decided by more than 7 points 2-6

SKY HIGH
The Brigade's individual season highs through Week 101:
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 7 Sanders, Week 11 vs. Los Angeles
Long pass 48t Kelly, Week 5 at Georgia
Receptions 13 Boone, Week 11 vs. Los Angeles
Receiving yards 157 Boone, Week 11 vs. Los Angeles
TD catches 5 Boone, Week 11 vs. Los Angeles
Long reception 48t Smith, Week 5 at Georgia
Rushing att. 9 Sanders, Week 8 at Aus & Week 10 vs. Geo
Rushing yards 30 Sanders, Week 8 at Austin
Rushing TDs 3 Sanders, Week 10 vs. Georgia
Long rush 19 Moss, Week 3 vs. Austin
Long kick return 46 Smith, Week 8 at Austin
Long MFG ret. 31 Rumph, Week 4 vs. Columbus
All-purpose yds 309 Smith, Week 7 vs. Tampa Bay
Tackles 10.5 Smalls, Week 3 vs. Austin
Tackles for loss 2.0 Douzart, Week 7 vs. Tampa Bay
Sacks 1 11 times, most recently Brown, Wilson and TEAM Week 11 vs. Los Angeles
Interceptions 2 Smalls, Week 4 vs. Columbus
Forced fumbles 1 10 times, most recently Pointer Week 11 vs. Los Angeles
Fumble return 1 12 times, most recently Johnson Week 11 vs. Los Angeles
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 11:
High
No. Game
Points 62 Week 11 vs. LA
Offensive touchdowns 9 (7 pass, 2 rush) Week 11 vs. LA
Total offense (yards) 371 Week 2 at Orlando
Total plays 59 Week 2 at Orlando
Pass attempts 56 Week 2 at Orlando
Pass completions 33 Week 2 at Orlando
Passing yards 353 Week 2 at Orlando
TD passes 7 Week 11 vs. LAd
Rushes 13 Week 10 vs. Georgia
Rushing yards 31 Week 8 at Austin
Rushing TDs 3 Week 10 vs. Georgia
First downs 25 Week 1 at Dallas
Week 10 vs. Georgia
Time of possession 34:07 Week 10 vs. Georgia
Turnovers 4 Week 7 vs. PHI
Tackles 39 Week 8 at Austin
Tackles for loss 5 Week 9 at New York
Sacks 4 Week 9 at New York
Interceptions 2 Week 2 at Orlando
Week 4 vs. Columbus
Forced fumbles 2 Four times, most recently Week 10 vs. Georgia
Fumble recoveries 3 Week 4 vs. Columbus
Defensive touchdowns 1 Week 4 vs. Columbus
Special teams touchdowns 1 (net recovery) Week 4 vs. Columbus
Week 7 vs. TB
Penalties 15 Week 8 vs. PHI
Penalty yards 71 Week 8 vs. PHI
Largest Lead 29 Week 4 vs. Columbus
Largest Deficit 42 Week 7 vs. PHI

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
Sack, Week 5 at Georgia Cohen
Forced fumble, Week 1 vs. Dallas Noah
Fumble recovery, Week 1 vs. Dallas Moss
Interception, Week 1 vs. Dallas Spears
Int. ret. for TD, Week 4 vs. CLB Smalls
Net rec. for TD, Week 4 vs. CLB Coleman
Safety, Week 5 at Georgia Hamilton
Lead, Week 2 vs. Orlando 14-10 in second quarter
50-point game, Week 6 vs. TB 59 total points
60-point game, Week 11 vs. LA 62 total points



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 10, 2006


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