Orlando Predators Game Notes
May 7, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Orlando Predators News Release
Orlando Predators (10-4) vs. Carolina Cobras (0-14)
Date: Friday, May 9
Toe-to-Leather Time: 7:30 p.m. (EDT)
Site: TD Waterhouse Centre (16, 613)
Officials: Referee: David Lambros; Umpire: Al Granado; Head Linesman: Mike McCabe; Line Judge: Craig Wrolstad; Back Judge: Dino Paganelli ; Supervisor: Jim Lapetnia
Radio: WQTM 740 The Team (Marc Daniels and Tom Morgan)
TV: None
Streaks: Orlando has won four games in a row, Carolina has dropped 14 consecutive games
Series Record: Orlando Leads all-time series 5-0
Coaches: Orlando: Fran Papasedero (2nd Season, 19-12-0, .613); Carolina: Eddie Khayat (4th Season, 23-18-0, .561)
THE STAKES: After escaping Colorado last week with a 48-42 overtime win over the Colorado Crush, the Orlando Predators continue their quest to secure a first round playoff bye. The Predators, winners of four straight, are currently tied with San Jose and Los Angeles for the second best record in the Arena Football League. With those two teams scheduled to meet in the season finale and with San Jose scheduled to play top-seeded Tampa Bay this week, the Predators can guarantee themselves a top three finish simply by winning out. Although winless, Carolina will have ample incentive to play well. With a loss to Chicago last week, Carolina tied the 1996 Memphis Pharaohs as the only other AFL team to lose 14 games in a single season. The Cobras need a win in one of their two final games to avoid joining Maryland (0-4, 1989), Columbus (0-10, 1991), New Orleans (0-10, 1992), Milwaukee (0-12, 1994) and Memphis (0-14, 1996) as the only winless teams in Arena Football League history. The Cobras have been a mystery this season, having been extremely competitive in four games, while being blown out in 10 other games. It will be interesting to see which team shows up in Orlando on Friday night.
VOICES:
"Injuries will always be a part of the game. Losing Doug is tough for our line. But at the same time, it is going to be critical for someone else to step in perform. The playoffs are approaching and we can't feel sorry for ourselves because we lost a starter. Great teams overcome problems like that."
--OL/DL Ernest Allen
"We all kind of looked at each other and had the same thought. âNobody touches Jay on this play.' It really didn't need to be said. We all felt it. Fran told us that when a team is tired and things look their worst, that's when you need to suck it up and make a play. Everyone did their jobs on that play and we understand that is the difference between a championship clubs and a wannabes..."
--Lineman Fred Ray describing the huddle before Orlando converted a 4th and 17 play while trailing with less than a minute to play.
"What Todd Shell has been doing in New York is absolutely phenomenal. When you think that they started out so poorly, changed head coaches and are now playing without their two best players, it is unbelievable that they are in the playoff hunt. If this keeps up, he has my vote for Coach of the Year."
--Predators Head Coach Fran Papasedero on the amazing turnaround of the New York Dragons.
"Lamont Moore stepped it up big time when we needed a spark. He probably doesn't get the playing time he deserves but he's a team guy and would never complain about it. The bottom line is that we needed someone to make a play and he came through for us."
--Head Coach Fran Papasedero on the play of Lamont Moore in last week's overtime win over Colorado.
IF's
If the Orlando Predators defeat the Carolina Cobras on Friday, it would:
*Give the Predators an 11-4 record and drop Carolina to 0-15
*Give Orlando five straight wins
*Give Jay Gruden a 9-0 record as a starter in 2003
*Give Orlando a 6-2 mark at home this year
*Give the Predators an all-time record of 130-66-0
*Give the Predators a 4-2 record in the Southern Division
*Give the Predators 11 wins for 7th time in franchise history
*Give Fran Papasedero his 20th win as an AFL Head Coach
*Guarantee the Predators a first round playoff bye
*Give Orlando an all-time home record of 71-29
*Give the Predators six straight wins over Carolina
THE COLORADO GAME: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY-- The Good: The Predators went on the road and won a game on a day when the team was not hitting on all cylinders...Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre made a game-saving interception in the end zone in overtime to prevent a potential game tying touchdown...Lamont Moore, a reserve for most of the season, stepped up and made big play after big play to help Predators erase a late fourth quarter deficit. The Bad: Orlando's offense struggled a bit in the first half against a Colorado defense ranked near the bottom in most important categories, including scoring defense...the Predators hurt themselves with seven penalties that gave Colorado five key first downs. The Ugly: Doug Miller, a second-year lineman who was having an outstanding season, went down with a broken foot in the first quarter and will be lost for the season.
A LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT: Carolina has had a miserable season and made a coaching change last week -- bringing in senior advisor of football operations and long-time NFL coach Eddie Khayat as head coach to replace former Predators quarterback Mike Hold at that position. Khayat was the first head coach of the Nashville Kats in 1997 and led that expansion team to a then league record 10 wins in his first season. Although the Cobras are 0-14 and will be heavy underdogs this week, it should be noted that they have played several opponents tough this season and that a 2-11 Colorado team gave Orlando all that they could handle last week.
ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS: The Predators didn't get the help they wanted in trying to move up and claim a possible number one seed last week, but at the same time, Orlando's 48-42 win, combined with losses by Dallas, Grand Rapids, and Arizona opened up some breathing room between the Predators and those three teams that are vying for a top four playoff seeding. Essentially, if the Predators win this week, they will finish no lower than fourth overall in the Arena Football League final regular season standings and would insure themselves a first round bye and the quarterfinal home playoff game that accompanies it. But with several huge games to be played, Orlando will still be looking to secure at least a number two seeding if it can win out and have the right combination of losses by other teams in the final two weeks.
DRIVE TO ARENABOWL XVII: PREDS CAN CLINCH FIRST ROUND BYE THS WEEK: As mentioned earlier, Orlando didn't get much help in its quest to close in on Tampa Bay for the league's number one seeding last week, but because of losses by Grand Rapids, Dallas, and Arizona (all 8-6-0), the Predators can clinch a first round bye in the playoffs this week with a victory over Carolina. Currently, the Predators are in the number four slot, based on tie-breakers with Los Angeles and San Jose. Here is where the teams stand in the playoff race:
SERIES NOTES: A 2000 expansion team, Carolina was placed in the Southern Division, where it met Orlando twice. Orlando won the first game ever played between the two teams, 56-28, and completed the series sweep, 56-54, two months later. In 2001, Carolina was placed in Eastern Division and the two teams did not meet. Last season, the divisions were again realigned and Carolina was placed back in the Southern Division, where they played a home-and-home with the Predators. Orlando won both of those games, beating Carolina 33-30 in Orlando and winning the return game in Raleigh, 52-48. The Predators blew out the Cobras earlier this season, 70-42, but the victory proved costly as Orlando Predators quarterback Jay Gruden was lost for six weeks with torn ankle ligaments. The Predators lead the all-time series by a 5-0 margin.
Last Game: Orlando 70, Carolina 42 (Feb. 21, 2003) -- Jay Gruden threw for 154 yards and three touchdowns in the first half to lead the Orlando Predators to a 70-42 win over the Carolina Cobras. Gruden, who was injured in the first play of the third quarter, would miss the next six games with torn ligaments in his ankle. Connell Maynor replaced Gruden and threw for two touchdowns and ran for two, as the game's outcome was never in doubt. Kenny McEntyre stepped in front of a Robert Hall pass on the game's first play and returned an interception 15-yards for a touchdown. The Predators only led at half by six points, 34-28, but a 22-0 run in the third quarter proved to be the difference as the Predators went to 4-0 on the season.
FAMILIAR FACES: Perhaps no two teams in Arena Football League history are more closely entwined than the Orlando Predators and Carolina Cobras. Since the middle of last year, no fewer than 10 players have had history on both teams. Here are the connections:
2002: Carolina releases QB Connell Maynor and OL/DL Colin Greczek after fifth week of regular season. Both sign with the Predators and are in uniform two weeks later.
2002 Off-season: Predators acquire former Carolina Cobras players Cory Fleming (WR/LB), Brian Schmitz (K), Justin Cleveland (OL/DL), and Rob Davis (DS) via trade or free agency.
2003 Pre-Season: Predators sign former Carolina Cobras player Carl Bond after he was waived from Tampa Bay.
On the Other Hand: Carolina players Kelvin Ingram, Ty Law, and Tremain Jones played with the Predators at one time in their careers. Law and Jones are no longer with the Cobras.
Completing The Circuit: Orlando Predators offensive coordinator Bret Munsey served in a similar capacity at Carolina last season...Former Carolina Head Coach Mike Hold (dismissed in mid-season) played for the Predators during the 1993 season...Cobras Ownership Group/Senior Advisor Billy McGehee served in a similar capacity with the Predators in the 1991. Current Predators Head Coach Fran Papasedero played his final year (1997) at Nashville under current Cobras Head Coach Eddie Khayat. Finally, former Cobras players Kevin Gaines, Jack Jackson, Jon McCall, Antwaun Wyatt and Jerry Sharp are also former Predators players.
PREDATORS PRACTICE SCHEDULE FOR WEEK: This is going to be an extremely short week for the Predators. Orlando will practice on Wednesday (9-10:45 a.m.) and Thursday (9-9:30 a.m.) in the TD Waterhouse Centre. PREDATORS INJURY REPORT: MILLER MOST LIKELY LOST FOR THE SEASON Orlando Predators starting OL/DL Doug Miller suffered a "Jones" fracture of his right foot during Sunday's game with Colorado. The injury will most likely need surgery (will be determined by team doctors on Wednesday) and he will most likely miss the rest of the 2003 season. Other injuries to report:
Pos. Name Injury Status
OS Travis McGriff Concussion Probable
OL/DL Doug Miller Foot Out
FB/LB Ricky Wood Toe Fracture Questionable
DS Rob Davis Hamstring Questionable
A QUICK LOOK AT HOW THE PREDATORS 2003 ROSTER WAS BUILT:
Retained Orlando Free Agents (3): Connell Maynor, Fred Ray. Reggie Lee.
Signed Veteran Free Agents (4): Rob Davis, Ricky Wood, Chris Wallace, CJ McLain
Signed Rookie Free Agents (7): Travis McGriff, Thabiti Davis, Jerry Johnson, EJ Burt, Matt Sweeney, Kevin McLeod, Glenn Davis
Re-signed Veterans Not Eligible for Free Agency (10): Antonio Stanley, Jay Gruden (2nd year, 2-year deal), Lamont Moore, Rashad Floyd, Reggie Doster, Kenny McEntyre (2nd year 2-year deal), Doug Miller, Ernest Allen (2nd year-2-year deal), Colin Greczek, Duke Pettijohn
Obtained by Trade (3): Brian Schmitz, Cory Fleming, Justin Cleveland.
Released/Traded Players No Longer on Roster: Junior Lord (Traded)*, Carl Bradley (released), Bill Duff (released), Albert Connell (released), Herman Bell (released), Karl Bates (released), Adrian Burnett (released), Terrell Harris (released), Na Brown (released), Cameron Chance (released)*, Ronney Daniels (released), Andre Purvis (Released), Brian Goolsby (Waived)*, Carlos McLaurin (Waived), Bernard Brown (Waived), Ratcliff Thomas (Waived), Chris Coleman (Waived), Carl Bond (Waived), Rick Hamilton (waived), Vic Penn (Waived from Practice squad),
*Indicates on 2002 Preds Roster
THE LEGEND GROWS: Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre's penchant for making the big play at the key juncture of a game continued last week as he intercepted John Dutton in the end zone on the final play of the game to preserve Orlando's 48-42 overtime victory. McEntyre, who is rapidly closing in on the AFL career interception record brought his season total to nine with the pick. He also had a second interception in the game called back on a penalty away from the ball. He has 45 career picks in just 72 career games and counting playoffs, his total stands at 54 in 85 career games. McEntyre needs just five more picks in the regular season to tie former Durwood Roquemore (1988-96) for the most in Arena Football League history.
ORLANDO EXTEND AFL MARK: With an 10-4 start to the 2003 season the Predators have already assured themselves of a winning season for an AFL record 12th consecutive year. Orlando has also qualified for the playoffs for 12 straight seasons. Tampa Bay, Orlando's biggest rival, assured itself of a playoff spot last week and ups their AFL record for most consecutive post-season appearances to 13.
GRUDEN MAKES A DIFFERENCE: Although he continues to modestly deflect all the credit to his teammates, there is definitely something to be said about what Jay Gruden means to the Orlando Predators. Here is a comparison of the Predators with and without Jay Gruden as the starting quarterback this season:
Orlando With Jay Without Jay
Games 8 6
Record 8-0 2-4
Win Pct. 1.000 .333
Total Points 429 285
Average 53.6 47.5
ONE FINAL NOTE ON MAC: Counting playoffs, DS Kenny McEntyre has now started an Orlando Predators' record 85 consecutive games without missing a start to injury.
GRUDEN HITS 300 YARD MARK AGAIN: For a second consecutive week and third time this season, Predators quarterback Jay Gruden threw for 300 yards. Gruden completed 26 of 40 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns in Orlando's 48-42 win. His 324 yards was the fifth highest total in Gruden's Hall of Fame career and it marked Gruden's 12th career game of 300 or more yards. Six of the 12 games have come in the last two seasons with the Predators.
Arena Football League Stories from May 7, 2003
- Horsemen Smash Rays for Fourth in a Row - Kentucky Horsemen
- Miller Lost for Year, Preds Sign McKenzie - Orlando Predators
- Storm Set Sights on Number One Seed - Tampa Bay Storm
- Arizona Rattlers Game Notes - Arizona Rattlers
- Orlando Predators Game Notes - Orlando Predators
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