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Nashville Kats game notes

February 20, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release


THE QUICK FACTS:
Game: Gr. Rapids Rampage (2-2) at Nashville Kats (3-1)
Date: Saturday, February 25
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. (CT)
Site: Gaylord Entertainment Center (15,711)
Officials: R- Pat Garvey, U- Paul King, HL- Mike McCabe, LJ- Wayne Mackie, BJ- Dino Paganelli
Television: None
Radio: Kats Radio Network. Flagship - 104.5 The Zone. Mike Keith (Play-by-Play), Larry Stone (Analyst).
Internet: Live stats available at www.arenafootball.com.
Series Record: Nashville leads 4-2
Last Meeting: Nashville 54, Grand Rapids 33 (5/7/05)
Series Streaks: Nashville won the last two meetings.
Last Week: Nashville 58, Colorado 36
Grand Rapids 66, San Jose 52
Coaches: Pat Sperduto, NAS (5th season; 41-28-1 overall) Sparky McEwen, COL (2ND season; 6-14 overall)

OVERVIEW: The Kats play their third consecutive division opponent as Grand Rapids comes to Nashville on Saturday night for a key Central Division battle. The Kats (3-1) need a win to stay atop the division standings, while a loss would drop them into a tie with the Rampage (2-2). Nashville's defense, which is allowing a league-low 36.8 points per game and leads the AFL with a +9 turnover margin has been excellent so far this season. However, the unit will have its hands full with a Grand Rapids squad that have scored over 60 points in their last two games - both wins. The Rampage have bounced back from an 0-2 start to post a pair of strong showing in recent weeks, due in large part to the strong play of new QB Chad Salisbury, who is 2-0 as a starter.

THE SCHEDULES:
2006 Nashville Kats (3-1)
Game Opponent Result Time/Score
Jan. 28 @ New York Won 57-28
Feb. 3 COLUMBUS Won 53-27
Feb. 12 @Chicago Lost 56-55
Feb. 18 COLORADO Won 58-36
Feb. 25 GRAND RAPIDS 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 4 @ Arizona 8:00 p.m.
Mar. 10 @ Utah 8:00 p.m.
Mar. 17 CHICAGO 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 25 SAN JOSE 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 1 @ Colorado 8:00 p.m.
Apr. 8 @ Las Vegas 9:30 p.m.
Apr. 14 PHILADELPHIA 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 21 KANSAS CITY 7:00 p.m.
Apr. 29 @ Grand Rapids 7:00 p.m.
May 6 @ Los Angeles 9:30 p.m.
May 13 TAMPA BAY 7:00 p.m.

2006 Grand Rapids Rampage (2-2)
Game Opponent Result Time/Score
Jan. 29 @ Columbus Lost 30-53
Feb. 3 TAMPA BAY Lost 43-51
Feb. 12 LOS ANGELES Won 66-41
Feb. 19 SAN JOSE Won 66-52
Feb. 25 @ Nashville 7:00 p.m.
Mar. 5 @ Colorado 2:00 p.m.
Mar. 10 @ Las Vegas 9:30 p.m.
Mar. 16 UTAH 6:00 p.m.
Mar. 26 @ Chicago 2:00 p.m.
Apr. 1 @ New York 6:00 p.m.
Apr. 8 COLORADO 6:30 p.m.
Apr. 15 @ Dallas 8:00 p.m.
Apr. 23 ARIZONA 1:00 p.m.
Apr. 29 NASHVILLE 7:00 p.m.
May 7 @ Austin 2:00 p.m.
May 13 CHICAGO 3:30 p.m.

THE SERIES: Nashville owns a 4-2 series lead over the Rampage. The two faced off twice last year in two regular season contests, with the Kats winning both. The first meeting (4/3/05), a 40-27 decision at Grand Rapids, marked the beginning of the Kats six-game winning streak, and the second (5/7/05), a 54-33 score at home, was the last win of that streak. It was the longest unbeaten streak in Kats history.

Date Result
7/1/99 Nashville 48, GRAND RAPIDS 47
7/29/00 NASHVILLE 54, Grand Rapids 17
6/8/01 Grand Rapids 60, NASHVILLE 54
8/19/01 GRAND RAPIDS 64, Nashville 42
4/3/05 Nashville 40, GRAND RAPIDS 27
5/7/05 NASHVILLE 54, Grand Rapids 33

KATS INJURY REPORT
Player Injury Status
Jarrick Hillery Elbow Doubtful
Tyrone Hopson Knee Questionable
Ronald Jones Elbow Questionable
Reggie Stephens Knee Doubtful

LAST MEETING:
Nashville 54, Gr. Rapids 33 (5/7/05 @ Nashville)
The Kats scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to preserve a 54-33 victory over the Grand Rapids Rampage to extend their unbeaten streak to six games. Nashville also shut down explosive Rampage quarterback Michael Bishop, who entered the game needing just 16 yards to break the AFL single-season rushing record. Bishop was held to minus-one yard rushing, and he was picked off three times, including twice by Jarrick Hillery, who was named Ironman of the game. Hillery caught two TD passes, ran for two more and had two long kick returns in addition to his two interceptions. Nashville quarterback Leon Murray continued his recent tear. The Kats' signal caller completed 19-of-24 passes for 201 yards and five touchdowns to garner Offensive Player of the Game honors.

KATS-RAMPAGE TIES: Rampage kicker Peter Martinez is from Nashville and played at Western Kentucky University... The teams played in ArenaBowl XV on Aug. 19, 2001, with the Rampage winning, 64-42... The home team has lost three of the five games in the series.

LAST WEEK:
Nashville 58, Colorado 36 (Feb. 18 @ Nashville)
Nashville scored a season high 58 points while holding the Crush to a season low 36 in its victory over previously unbeaten Colorado. Offensive specialist T.T. Toliver led the Kats with four touchdowns, a recovered fumble on a kickoff and added 50 receiving yards. Kats' QB Clint Stoerner completed 16-for-23 throws for 194 yards. Defensively, the Kats held Crush QB John Dutton to 285 yards with two TD's and two interceptions. Kats' defensive specialist and ADT Defensive Player of the Game Monty Montgomery, had one of those interceptions and added nine tackles. The Kats scored on every offensive possession except one midway through the 3rd Quarter. The win tied the Kats and Crush for the division lead.

Gr. Rapids 66, San Jose 52 (Feb. 19 @ Gr. Rapids)
The Rampage posted its first franchise win over the SaberCats at Van Andel Arena. With the 66-52 win, the Rampage has won four of its last five home contests and five of its last eight. Timon Marshall earned Offensive Player of the Game honors after posting career-highs in kickoff return yards (181) and all-purpose yards (262) with three touchdowns. The game featured seven lead changes with the Rampage taking control after Marshall's 40-yard score from QB Chad Salisbury with 2:37 left in the third quarter. Defensive Player of the Game Johnnie Harris intercepted San Jose QB Mark Grieb on the next SaberCats drive and finished with 4.0 tackles and a pass breakup. Salisbury improved to 2-0 as the Rampage's starting quarterback and finished the game 17-of-29 for 224 yards with five touchdowns passing, a touchdown rushing and an interception.

SERIES NOTABLES:
Grand Rapids QB Chad Salisbury played against the Kats as a member of the Columbus Destroyers last season, and he had a rough outing. Here were his numbers from that game:

Salisbury vs. Kats
Date Result Com-Att Yds Td Int
1/28/05 NAS 47, CLB 17-32 236 4 3
Totals 17-32 236 4 3

Kats receivers have had moderate success against Grand Rapids in the past few seasons. WR/LB Cory Fleming has not played against the Rampage in the last three years, and QB Clint Stoerner has never faced the Rampage in his brief career. Here is a look at the stats of some Kats receivers versus the Rampage:

Hammond Vs. Rampage
Date Result Rec Yds Td
3/9/03 GEO 70, GRR 54 2 24 1
5/1/04 AUS 40, GRR 27 4 27 1
3/3/05 NAS 40, GRR 27 3 22 1
5/7/05 NAS 54, GRR 33 2 14 0
Totals 11 87 3

Toliver vs. Rampage
Date Result Rec Yds TD
3/6/05 TBS 70, GRR 50 4 29 1
5/7/05 NAS 54, GRR 33 5 59 1
Totals 9 88 2

Bonner vs. Rampage
Date Result Rec Yds TD
3/29/03 GRR 48, CHI 34 5 40 1
4/27/04 CHI 54, GRR 46 5 80 1
Totals 10 120 2

THE COACHES:
Nashville - Pat Sperduto, 5th season
41-28-1 (.593) overall
Pat Sperduto is in his fifth season as head coach of the Nashville Kats. After struggling to a 1-7 start in 2005, the Kats first year back in Nashville after moving to Atlanta in 2001, Sperduto pushed the Kats to win five of their last eight games to finish 6-9-1. He was at the helm of the original Kats team from 1999-2001. Prior to last year, he spent the last four seasons as an assistant on the staff of the Tennessee Titans. He joined the NFL club after spending five seasons with the old Nashville Kats. He compiled a 32-18 record as head coach the last three seasons and led his team to back-to-back appearances in the ArenaBowl in 2000 and 2001. Sperduto replaced Eddie Khayat as head coach in 1999 and posted the best record of seven AFL coaches who took over new teams in 2000. Sperduto spent his first two years as defensive coordinator for the Kats and was elevated to assistant head coach in 1998. He is a three-time ArenaBowl World Champion, winning twice as a player for the Tampa Bay Storm (1991 and '93) and once as an assistant coach with the Storm (1994). Sperduto began his professional career as a player with the Canadian Football League's British Columbia Lions before joining the Tampa Bay Storm in the AFL from 1991-93.

Grand Rapids - Sparky McEwen, 2nd season
6-14 (.429) overall
2006 marks McEwen's second season as Rampage Head Coach & Director of Football Operations. During his first season, he was tasked with rebuilding a team that was statistically one of the worst in AFL history the year before. In light of that fact, his 4-12 record for the 2005 season is not a true measure of the accomplishments that McEwen is capable of as a professional head coach. The 2005 Rampage improved dramatically in nearly every offensive category and set some AFL records in the process. After a bumpy 1-11 start, McEwen won three of his last four games, including wins over the top three American Conference seeded teams in the playoffs (Colorado, Los Angeles and Chicago); Colorado would go on to become the ArenaBowl champions that year. Under McEwen's guidance, the Rampage were the most improved team in the AFL, averaging 11.3 more points and 45.7 more offensive yards per game than the previous year. The team also set team single-game records for most total yards (420 vs. Austin) and most rushing yards (122 at Colorado), while shattering team single-season marks for rushing attempts (164), rushing yards (766), average yards per rush (4.7) and rushing touchdowns (35).

2006 TEAM STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Category Kats Rampage
Scoring Offense 55.8 (3rd) 51.3 (11th)
Scoring Defense 37.0 (1st) 56.7 (14th)
Total Offense 278.5 (12th) 223.5 (17th)
Total Defense 235.5 (2nd) 298.3 (13th)
Pass Offense 255.8 (12th) 212.0 (16th)
Pass Defense 217.5 (2nd) 277.5 (13th)
Rushing Offense 22.8 (7th) 11.5 (11th)
Rushing Defense 18.0 (8th) 20.8 (10th)
Interceptions 6 (2nd) 5 (7th)
Turnover Margin +9 (1st) +2 (t-6th)
Kickoff Return Avg. 15.5 (14th) 21.6 (2nd)
Sacks By 12 (1st) 6 (5th)
Sacks Against 6 (15th) 3 (10th)

NOTES:
GETTING DEFENSIVE -Nashville's defense has clearly been the class of the league through the first four weeks of 2006, ranking first in four statistical categories and second in three more. The Kats rank as the stingiest team in the league, allowing just 36.8 points per game, and they also lead the AFL in yards per play (4.6), yards per pass play (5.4), sacks (12) and opponent field goal percentage (20.0). Nashville ranks second in total defense (235.5), pass defense (217.5) and interceptions (6). In week one, the Kats held the high-flying New York Dragons and legendary quarterback Aaron Garcia to just 28 points and 241 yards of total offense in a 57-28 win. In week two, Nashville continued to turn up the heat, holding a Columbus team that had scored 53 points in a week one win over Grand Rapids to just 27 in a 53-27 blowout. The Kats held the Destroyers to only 175 yards of total offense. In Chicago in week three, the Kats held Chicago to under 200 yards passing. Last week, Nashville held a Crush team that had led the AFL in scoring through the first three weeks to just 36 points and forced five turnovers. Through the first four games, Nashville leads the league with a +9 turnover margin and has given up a league-low 137 points.

RED-HOT STOERNER - Quarterback Clint Stoerner has been on a tear to start the 2006 season - his first with the Kats. The second-year player, who finished second in last season's Rookie of the Year voting as the starter for the Dallas Desperados, is currently the sixth highest-rated passer in the AFL. He has completed 84-of-136 passes (61.8%) for 1,053 yards, 18 TD's and just one INT in the first four games. Stoerner played three seasons in the NFL before bursting onto the AFL scene with Dallas last year and being named to the league's all-rookie squad. He set a Kats franchise record for passing yards in a game with 368 at Chicago two weeks ago. The previous record was 362 by Andy Kelly in 1998 overtime win at Milwaukee. In addition, the 54 passes he attempted in that game tied Kelly's mark originally set in a 1999 loss to Albany. Last week, against Colorado, he was 16-of-23 for 194 yards, five TD's and no picks.

LEGENDARY PAIR - In Cory Fleming and Darryl Hammond, Nashville features two of the top receivers in AFL history, and they are about to give the Kats a historic first. Cory Fleming became just the third player in league history to catch 800 passes in his career at New York in week one. With 797 career receptions, Hammond is just three catches shy of becoming the fourth player on that list. When he does, the Kats will become the first team ever to have two 800-catch receivers on the same roster.

OFFENSIVE U-TURN - Lost in the jaw-dropping performances by the Kats' defense is the fact that Nashville's offensive production has made a 180-degree turnaround from what it was at this point last season. Through the first four games in 2006, the Kats are averaging 55.8 points per game and 278.5 yards of total offense. That compares to a 44.5 points-per-game average through the first four weeks of 2005 and an average of just 259.5 yards per contest in the first four games last year. The Kats ranked dead last in the AFL in scoring offense in 2005 (41.8 ppg) and dead last in total offense (262.1 ypg). Nashville currently ranks third in scoring offense, and they have scored 53 or more points in every game so far this year after only crossing that plateau twice in 2005.

SACK ATTACK - The Kats lead the AFL with a whopping 12 sacks on the season, through week four. The team boosted its total with another sack in Saturday's game against Colorado. Nashville, which finished tied for the league lead in sacks last season with 24, nearly tied the AFL record for sacks in a game in its week one win at New York. The seven QB takedowns that the Kats registered against the Dragons were the most in team history and just one shy of the league record of eight. Six players have had sacks so far this season - Frank Carter (4), James Baron (2), Anthony Herron (2), Joe Minucci (2), Darryl Hammond (1) and Aaron McConnell (1). Carter's four in a game was the most in team history and ties him for third in AFL history. He currently ranks atop league sack leaders, and he, Baron, Herron and Minucci make up four of the 15 AFL players who have posted more than one sack so far this year. Last year, the Kats had six players who had at least three sacks on the year, while no other team had more than three players reach that mark. Of those six players, the Kats return four (James Baron, Rupert Grant, Aaron McConnell, Joe Minucci), plus they have added FB/LB Frank Carter, who tied for second in the league with nine sacks a year ago.

FORCING TURNOVERS - The Kats lead the Arena Football League in turnover margin with a +9 mark through four weeks. Nashville has forced 12 turnovers (six fumbles and six INT's) in the first three games, while committing only three (one INT and a pair of fumbles). The Kats forced a season-high five turnovers in Saturday's win over Colorado.

FULL MONTY - Kats DS Monty Montgomery has been a force in the secondary in the first four weeks, picking off four passes (tied for 2nd in the AFL), batting away six passes (tied for 8th in AFL), making 28.5 tackles (5th in AFL) and posting 4.5 stops on special teams (tied for 7th in AFL). Montgomery, who was a coveted free agent signee from New Orleans in the offseason, also forced and recovered a fumble at Chicago in week three. Last week, while covering one of the AFL's best receivers in Damian Harrell, Montgomery picked off a pass, batted down another and piled up nine tackles. He held the usually explosive Harrell to eight grabs for 94 yards and just one TD.

T.T. IS THE MVP - OS T.T. Toliver was chosen as the Offensive MVP of Saturday's win over Colorado after scoring four touchdowns in three different ways in the win. Toliver caught two TD passes, ran in a TD and also recovered a ball off the net for a score in the victory. He is tenth in the AFL with 386 receiving yards, and his 27 receptions has him tied for 16th in the league in catches. He had a game-high 12 catches for 144 yards and a TD at Chicago in week three, also scoring on a three-yard run. His 132 receiving yards at New York was the most of any player in the league in week one. He continues to show the "true meaning" of his initials by scoring two or more touchdowns in nearly every game he plays with the Kats. He has at least two TD's in nine of the 11 contests he has played in with the Kats since being acquired in a midseason trade with Tampa Bay last season. Toliver has proven to be an excellent pickup for Nashville. In fact, he was named Offensive MVP in each of his first three games he played with the team, and he got the same honor last week and in this year's season opener. Toliver, who was named to the league's All-Ironman squad as a WR/DB in 2004, had 55 receptions for 768 yards and 17 TD's with Tampa Bay and Nashville last season. He also had 14 rushes for 57 yards and three TD's, and he ran in a pair of key two-point conversions as well. The Bethune-Cookman product was a member of Tampa Bay's 2003 ArenaBowl championship squad, and he has spent time on NFL practice squads with the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and St. Louis Rams. Toliver has moved to offensive specialist this season after being a two-way player for his first four seasons.

NEWCOMERS MAKING BIG SPLASH - Nashville made a few well-publicized acquisitions in the offseason, and several of those have made key impacts in the first two weeks. FB/LB Frank Carter, who was signed as a free agent from Las Vegas, currently leads the league in sacks (4) and tackles for loss (5.5). Meanwhile, free agent pickup Monty Montgomery, whom Nashville signed away from New Orleans, has four interceptions, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and six pass breakups to go with a team-leading 28.5 tackles in the first four weeks. Quarterback Clint Stoerner, who was landed in a trade with Dallas, has thrown for 1,053 yards, 18 TD's and just one INT. Lineman Anthony Herron, who was activated from the Kats' exempt list after playing last season in the NFL, has two sacks so far. Wide receiver/defensive back Cornelius Bonner, who was also a free agent pickup in the offseason, has 18 catches for 235 yards and six TD's. Plus, he had a team-record 56-yard INT return for a score against Colorado, and has 15 tackles on the year. Nashville WR/LB Cory Fleming came over in a trade with Orlando, and he has three TD catches so far on the season.

SGT. CARTER - FB/LB Frank Carter has been a major addition for the Kats in 2006, after signing a free agent deal in the offseason. He currently leads the AFL in sacks with 4.0 and in tackles for loss with 5.5. He also has 9.5 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery so far this season. Offensively, he has gained 20 yards on 11 carries and scored two TD's.

SECOND-AND-LONG - The Kats have been the best defensive team in the AFL to this point on first down, holding opponents to 3.79 yards per play on first down. The league average is 6.14 yards.

PLAYING BY THE RULES - One of the biggest downfalls of the Kats last season was penalties, finishing as the league's seventh most-penalized team in 2005. So far in 2006, Nashville has turned that tide. Through four weeks, the Kats have been penalized only 23 times for 150 yards - the fourth-best mark in the AFL.

BONNER IS TRUE IRONMAN - WR/DB Cornelius Bonner has been a true example of an Ironman for the Kats so far this season, even winning AFL Ironman of the Week honors after Nashville's week two win over Columbus. For the year, he has 18 catches for 235 yards and six TD's. Plus, he had a team-record 56-yard INT return for a score against Colorado, and has 15 tackles on the season. Like Frank Carter, Bonner signed with the Kats as a free agent in the offseason after spending the last few years with the Las Vegas Gladiators.

OLD SCHOOL - This Kats team has a familiar look to it, as five players on this year's roster were also with the team in its previous version (1997-2001). OL/DL James Baron, WR/LB Cory Fleming, FB/LB Rupert Grant, WR/LB Darryl Hammond and WR/DB Jarrick Hillery all played with the old Kats, and all were on Nashville's back-to-back ArenaBowl squads in 2000 and 2001.

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? - Nashville began the 2006 season with a much different look than when it began the 2005 season. The biggest change is reflected in the years of AFL experience this year's roster has compared to last year's. When the Kats played their season opener at Columbus on Jan. 28, 2005, the active roster featured 24 players with a combined 46 years of AFL experience. When Nashville opened the year at New York exactly one year later, they featured 23 players with a combined 80 years of experience. That is an improvement of 34 combined years, and that does not include the nine years of AFL experience between injured reserve players Rupert Grant and Chris Angel. The 2005 opening week roster had 11 rookies, where this year's opening roster had only one - lineman Tyrone Hopson. The Kats have not activated a rookie for a game so far this season.

SUPER SOPHS - The Kats feature four of last year's AFL All-Rookie selections, easily the most of any other team. Nashville FB/LB Dan Alexander and linemen Aaron McConnell and Joe Minucci were honored for their outstanding rookie seasons in 2005, and the Kats got the All-Rookie quarterback (Clint Stoerner) in a trade with Dallas in the offseason.

STEPHENS RETURN GETTING CLOSER - Kats DS Reggie Stephens is likely to remain on injured reserve for at least another week after injuring his knee in the win over Columbus three weeks ago. Khalil Carter, who led the Kats with 10.5 tackles and two pass breakups is once again expected to start in his place.

SECOND(ARY) TO NONE - The Kats have put together one of the most formidable secondaries in the league, having picked off six passes and given up a league-low 5.4 yards per pass play through four weeks. The strength of this unit was on display in Nashville's victory over Colorado, when the Kats held the Crush, who had entered the game averaging a league-leading 63 points per game, to just 36 points. They also picked off two John Dutton passes in the game, and broke up six more.

NEW FACES - Nashville made some significant roster additions over the offseason, resulting in several new faces on this year's squad. One of the most notable is WR/LB Cory Fleming, who rejoins the Kats after a year in Carolina and three seasons with Orlando. He was the AFL Ironman of the Year in 2004. Nashville also signed first-team All-Arena FB/LB Frank Carter, as well as veteran WR/DB Cornelius Bonner, both of whom played for Las Vegas last season. The Kats also traded for QB Clint Stoerner, who started all 16 games for Dallas in 2005, and they signed defensive specialist Monty Montgomery, who was an AFL All-Rookie choice in 2004. A list of the new faces to the 2006 Kats:

Player Pos. Exp. Spent 2005...
Chris Angel DS 2 New York
Cornelius Bonner WR/DB 6 Las Vegas
Frank Carter FB/LB 4 Las Vegas
Cory Fleming WR/LB 9 Orlando
Anthony Herron OL/DL 1 NFL-Atlanta
Tyrone Hopson OL/DL R ----
Ronald Jones OL/DL R ----
Monty Montgomery DS 2 New Orleans
Clint Stoerner QB 1 Dallas

TITANS CONNECTIONS - Five of the 23 players on Nashville's active roster have spent time with the Tennessee Titans organization. FB/LB Dan Alexander and saw extensive playing time with the NFL club, while DS Rober' Freeman, WR/LB Jermaine Lewis, OL/DL Aaron McConnell and OL/DL Joe Minucci were all in camp with the Titans at some point. Head coach Pat Sperduto also served on the Titans' staff the four seasons between his stints with the Kats.

AMONG THE GREATEST - The Kats had two players on the recently-announced AFL's 20 Greatest Players of All-Time list. Lineman James Baron, who is widely considered the most dominant lineman to ever play the game, was ranked sixth. That is higher than any other non-quarterback or receiver. WR/LB Cory Fleming was tied for 14th on the list. Darryl Hammond, who was on the voting committee, also received votes. Nashville and Arizona were the only two teams to have two active players on the list.

FLEMING GETTING WARMED UP -After a relatively slow start to the 2006 season, WR/LB Cory Fleming got untracked last week against Colorado, catching five passes for 60 yards and one TD. One of the AFL's all-time greats, Fleming returns to the Kats in 2006 after spending the last three years with the Orlando Predators. He has posted 39 games with 100 or more receiving yards and 23 games with 10 or more catches in his nine-year career. He now has 815 career receptions, ranking him third all-time in that category. Fleming has earned first unit All-AFL honors four times, including 1997, 1998, 2004 and 2005, and he was named AFL Ironman of the Year, signifying the Arena Football League's best two-way player in 2004. He was tabbed AFL Rookie of the Year in 1997. His 815 career receptions ranks him third, all-time, behind Barry Wagner and Eddie Brown. He ranks third on the all-time list for career touchdowns (237) and fourth in receiving yards (9,879). Fleming has averaged 89 receptions, 1,073 receiving yards and 25 receiving touchdowns in his previous nine seasons in the AFL, despite missing all but five games in 2001 and the final four games of the 2000 season with injuries. Last season, he was named to the first-team All-Arena squad, catching 96 passes for 1,089 yards and 33 touchdowns for the Orlando Predators, and helping to lead the team to the AFL semifinals.

BARON OF DEFENSE - OL/DL James Baron is widely known as one of the AFL's all-time greatest linemen, and he has shown why so far this year. One week after getting two sacks and a tackle for loss at Chicago, Baron chipped in on 3.5 tackles in Saturday's win over Colorado. He has 41.5 career sacks, placing him third on the AFL's all-time list. He will move into second with two more full sacks. Last year, Baron sat out the first two games of the season with an ankle injury, ending his streak of 131 consecutive games played. He returned, registering 11 tackles, four stops for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a safety in his 14 games. Baron was recently named no. 6 on the list of the league's 20 greatest players, and he has been named the league's defensive player of the year once and lineman of the year twice. The former Virginia Tech standout earned all-Arena honors six times (1997-2002), including the first-team five times. He is a two-time member of the all-Ironman team (1999, 2001). His 26.5 career tackles for loss is the second-highest total in AFL history, and he was named to the AFL's 15th Anniversary all-time team at the 2001 ArenaBowl. Baron, who played three seasons with Chicago between stints in Nashville, was one of only two players to play in all 80 games with the previous Kats franchise, including 10 postseason contests (joining quarterback Andy Kelly). He is Nashville's franchise leader in sacks (28.5), and he also holds team records for sacks in one season (7.0).

SWEET 16 - Kats WR/LB Darryl Hammond is in the midst of his 16th year in the AFL (the longest tenure in Arena Football League history). He has 4.5 tackles and a 44-yard fumble return in last week's win over Colorado, continuing his string of game-changing defensive performances so far this season. His nine tackles at Chicago in week three led the team, and he also registered his first sack since 2002 in the game. He had a 49-yard interception return for a TD against Columbus three weeks ago, marking the seventh pick in which he has run back for a TD in his career. Hammond continued to defy Father Time in 2005, earning a selection to the league's All-Ironman team. He had 66 receptions for 632 yards, eight TD's and 42.5 tackles in 14 games played last season. In 2005, he became just the second player in league history to have 8,000 receiving yards and 30 interceptions in a career. San Jose WR/LB Barry Wagner is the only other player to have accomplished the feat. Hammond now has 8,521 receiving yards and 30 INT's. He is one of only three players in AFL history to surpass 600 stops (Wagner and Grand Rapids' Damon Mason are the other two). He is fourth in AFL history with 797 career receptions and ranks eighth on the league's all-time receiving-yards gained in a career with 8,521 yards. Hammond has returned seven interceptions for touchdowns in his career, tied for third-most in the AFL, and he ranks third in the league for career tackles with 647.0. He will join teammate Cory Fleming on the prestigious 800 career reception list with just three more catches.

HILLERY OUT AT LEAST ONE MORE WEEK - WR/DB Jarrick Hillery is on injured reserve and is expected to miss at least one more week after dislocating his elbow in the week one win at New York. Hillery proved in that game why he is one of the game's best all-around players, scoring TD's on a reception, rush and kickoff return. He had 139 total yards before being injured in the third quarter, and was named Ironman of the Game. Hillery is one of the Arena Football League's top Ironmen, having excelled in all facets of the game in his first five years in the league. The former Tennessee State star was selected to the All-Ironman team in 2001 and was an All-Rookie selection in 2000, while with the old Kats. He played with the Georgia Force in 2002 and 2003, and played last season with the Carolina Cobras. In his first six years in the league, Hillery made 214 tackles, caught 268 passes for 2,840 yards and 45 TD's, rushed for 393 yards and 28 more TD's on the ground and accumulated more than 2,000 yards and scored six times on kickoff and missed field goal returns.

GETTING HIS KICKS - Nashville kicker Tony Dodson has knocked home five of his eight field goal attempts (62.5%) so far this season, including a 53-yarder in the win over Columbus. He has also hit 26 of his 30 PAT attempts in the first four games.

SCOUTING GRAND RAPIDS
Grand Rapids enters its game at Nashville on a roll, having rebounded from an 0-2 start to win their last two games. The Kats will have their hands full when it comes to the Rampage offense. Nashville's stubborn defense, which is allowing the fewest points in the AFL over the first four weeks, will be facing a Grand Rapids squad that has scored more than 60 points in each of the last two games. Those big numbers have come on a combination of improved play from the offense and an opportunistic defense and special teams. The Rampage still rank 17th out of 18 teams in total offense and are the most penalized team in the AFL to this point.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
OS AARON BAILEY - One of the league's premiere offensive specialists, Bailey joined the Rampage as a free agent after playing the last two years with the New Orleans VooDoo. So far in 2006, he has caught 22 passes for 238 yards and five TD's. In his first two seasons in the AFL, the former NFL receiver caught 235 passes for 3,058 yards and 69 TD's.

DS JOHNNIE HARRIS - One of the best defensive specialists in AFL history, Harris is in his first season with the Rampage. He has made an immediate impact, earning AFL Defensive Player of the Week honors after the Rampage's win at L.A. in week three. In that game he had 10.0 tackles and an INT. He also had an INT and four more stops in last week's victory over San Jose.

QB CHAD SALISBURY - Took over as the starter for the Rampage in week three and has led Grand Rapids to consecutive victories. The 6'6 quarterback is 17-10, all-time, as a starter, and he is 33-of-56 for 401 yards, 11 TD's and two INT's.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 20, 2006


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