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Orlando Predators game notes

March 16, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release


Orlando (2-3) at Chicago (4-1)
Date: Sunday, March 21
Toe-to-Leather Time: 12 Noon
Site: All-State Arena (16,000)
Officials: Referee: Bill McCabe, Umpire: Doug Wilson,
Head Linesman: Royce Cooley; Line Judge: Kent Payne;
Back Judge: Jimmy Buchanan; Supervisor: Jim Lapetina
Radio: WQTM 740 The Team (Tom Morgan and Dan Pearson)
TV: NBC (Allen Bestwick, Ray Bentley and Mark Schanowski)
Streaks: Both teams come into the game with one-game losing streaks.
Series Record: All-time series is tied 2-2
Coaches: Orlando: Jay Gruden (7th season, 45-26, .634); Chicago: Mike Hohensee (11th season, 77-72, .517)

THE STAKES: After losing an emotional and hard-fought game against the Georgia Force, the Orlando Predators (2-3) find themselves needing a road win against an extremely talented Chicago Rush (4-1) team.

The Predators can ill-afford to fall further behind in the Southern Division race, especially after the expansion New Orleans VooDoo went to 5-1 on the season last week with a win over Detroit.

It will be a difficult challenge for the Predators, with starting quarterback Joe Hamilton (groin) and offensive specialist Travis McGriff (hamstring) questionable, and DS Michael Brown (hamstring), OL/DL Justin Cleveland (thumb) out.

If Hamilton can't go, look for veteran quarterback Connell Maynor (11th season, 1143-662-29; 58%, 8,577 yards, 146 TD) to get the start.

Chicago will be well rested for the game, getting a bye-week after losing a 47-53 road decision to Philadelphia in Week 5. Chicago began the season with four consecutive victories.


Orlando Predators (2-3-0) *All Times Eastern
Date Opponent W/L Score
Feb. 8 At Tampa Bay L 41-52
Feb. 13 Austin L (OT) 48-49
Feb. 28 At Carolina W 59-32
Mar. 6 Indiana W 50-38
Mar. 12 Georgia L 44-52
Mar. 21 At Chicago 12 Noon
Mar. 27 Las Vegas 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 4 At Columbus 12 Noon
Apr. 9 New Orleans 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 18 At Georgia 3 p.m.
Apr. 25 New Orleans 7:30 p.m.
May 2 Tampa Bay 3 p.m.
May 9 At New Orleans 3 p.m.
May 16 At Austin 3 p.m.
May 23 New York 3 p.m.
May 30 At Los Angeles 4 p.m.

Chicago Rush (4-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
Feb. 8 Grand Rapids W 50-30
Feb. 14 At New York W 56-54
Feb. 22 Colorado W 65-35
Feb. 29 At Indianapolis W 49-46
Mar. 7 At Philadelphia L 47-53
Mar. 21 Orlando 12 Noon
Mar. 28 Detroit 3 p.m.
Apr. 4 At Las Vegas 6 p.m.
Apr. 11 Tampa Bay 3 p.m.
Apr. 16 At San Jose 10:30 p.m.
Apr. 25 Los Angeles 3 p.m.
May 2 At Detroit 3 p.m.
May 8 At Grand Rapids 7:30 p.m.
May 16 Dallas 3 p.m.
May 23 Indiana 3 p.m.
May 30 At Colorado 4 p.m.

QUOTE/UNQUOTE
"Right now this team is sort of a mystery. I can't blame our effort, but it just seems we are missing something. I feel really good about this team and the talent on it. Obviously the injuries have played a part in it, but they are a part of the game."
--Head Coach Jay Gruden

PREDS HEAD COACH JAY GRUDEN
After spending the last two seasons as the team's quarterback, JAY GRUDEN returned to the bench as the team's head coach in 2004. Gruden began his coaching career in 1997, serving as offensive assistant for the Nashville Kats. One season later, the Predators made him the youngest head coach in the AFL. Gruden would go on to lead the Predators to three consecutive appearances in the ArenaBowl and a pair of championships. After guiding the Predators to a fourth consecutive trip to the playoffs, Gruden shocked the AFL world by announcing his intentions to resign in order to return to the playing field. In two seasons, Gruden directed the Predators to back-to-back appearances in the semifinals, falling one game short of his goal each season. In 2003, he recorded a 10-0 record with 49 touchdown passes and two interceptions as a starting quarterback during the regular season. Off-season surgery, combined with the tragic loss of former Head Coach Fran Papasedero in a June 19 traffic accident, resulted in Gruden returning to the sideline. Gruden will take a 45-26 (.634) all-time coaching record into the Georgia game. He is 37-24 in regular season games (.607) and 8-2 as a head coach in playoff games (.800).

ORLANDO PREDATORS
HEAD COACHING RECORDS
Coaches, Years Record Pct.
Jay Gruden, 1998-2001, 2004 45-26 .634
Fran Papasedero, 2002-03 22-13 .629
Perry Moss, 1991-97 67-31 .684
Chicago Rush Head Coach Mike Hohensee
Mike Hohensee has been associated with the Arena Football League for as long as the league has been in existence. In his 18th season, Hohensee started as a quarterback with the Pittsburgh Gladiators (1987-88), throwing for 2,031 yards and 39 touchdowns before his playing career ended with a neck injury. After serving one season as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bruisers, Hohensee became the then-youngest head coach in AFL history when he took over the Washington franchise in 1990. Other head coaching stops in the AFL included three years at Albany (1994-97), one in Anaheim (1997), and two in New England (1999-2000). He was named Head Coach of the Chicago Rush in 2001 and is signed to the Rush through the 2005 season. In his 10+ seasons as head coach, Hohensee is 77-72 overall, including a 72-65 record in the regular season and 5-7 mark in the post-season. A member of the AFL Hall of Fame, Hohensee holds the distinction of having played in the AFL, USFL, CFL, and NFL. He threw the first touchdown pass in Arena Football League history.

Quick Fact: Both Orlando Head Coach Jay Gruden and Chicago Head Coach Mike Hohensee are in the Arena Football League Hall of Fame.


SERIES NOTES
Although there is not a lot of history between these two teams, the Predators and Rush have played four emotionally charged contests in the past...Chicago made a name for itself early, defeating the Orlando Predators in the final game of their inaugural season, 55-41, in 2001...as luck would have it, that victory qualified the Rush for the playoffs and sent them to Orlando for a first round match-up where they proved their first victory was not a fluke by handily defeating Orlando for a second straight week by a 46-21 margin...Orlando gained a measure of revenge the next season, knocking off the Rush by a 49-38 score in Orlando...the teams met again last season, with rookie Travis McGriff scoring four times to help lead the Predators to a easy 47-35 win in the season opener...the game was not as close as the final score indicated, as the Predators defense did not allow a touchdown pass until the final minute of the game...Chicago and Nashville are the only two expansion teams in AFL history to beat the Orlando Predators twice in their first season...and the Rush are the only expansion team to win a playoff game against the Predators.

SERIES RECORDS
SERIES TIED 2-2
Date ORL CHI
July 21, 2001 41 55
July 27, 2001 21 46*
April 26, 2002 (H) 49 38
Feb. 2, 2003 (A) 47 35

*AFL First Round Playoff Game


IFs:
If the Orlando Predators defeat the Chicago Rush on Sunday, it would

...Give the Predators three wins in last four games
...Give the Predators a 3-3 record and drop Chicago to 4-2
...Give Jay Gruden an all-time coaching record of 46-26
...Give Orlando an all-time road record of 62-39-0
...Give Orlando an all-time record of 135-70-0
...Give Orlando 13 wins in last 17 regular season road games

PREDS MAKE SECOND APPEARANCE ON NBC
The Orlando Predators will make their second appearance of the 2004 season on NBC. Allen Bestwick and Ray Bentley will call the game between Orlando and Chicago which will be seen through much of the Southeast and Midwest. Orlando lost in its first NBC appearance this year, dropping a 52-41 decision to the Tampa Bay Storm in the 2004 season opener for both teams. Here is how the Predators have fared in appearance on NBC (6-4-0):

2004 at Tampa Bay (L) 41-52
2003 at Tampa Bay (L) 50-60*
New York (W) 69-62*
At Colorado (W) 46-40 (ot)
At Arizona (L) 36-62
Georgia (L) 36-38
At Tampa Bay (L) 32-52
At New York (W) 72-56
Dallas (W) 50-47
Tampa Bay (W) 54-51
At Chicago (W) 47-35

*AFL Playoff Games


How The 2004 Predators Were Built

Retained From 2003 (9): Travis McGriff, Connell Maynor, Cory Fleming, Kenny McEntyre, Fred Ray, Justin Cleveland, EJ Burt, Doug Miller and Reggie Lee

Veteran Free Agents Signed (6): Bret Cooper, Rupert Grant, William Gaines, Cecil Caldwell, Jermaine Smith, and Sean Riley.

Obtained by Trade (1): James Bowden

Rookie Free Agents (11): Idris Price, Jay Taylor, Joe Hamilton, Lin-J Shell, Marlon Moye-Moore, Arkee Thompson, Paul Young, Buck Gurley, Michael Brown.

Released/Traded Players No Longer on Roster:
Waived: Kevin McLeod, Antwuan Wyatt, Chris Sanders, Roy Stabler, Nate Bandy, Barry Hall, Anthony Bright, Tavares Jurineack, Joe Crear, Anthony McKenzie, Abdullah Wiggins, Paul Miranda, LaVar Glover, George Williams Traded: Thabiti Davis (Detroit)


PREDS NEWS, NOTES, TRENDS

McENTYRE LOOKS TO TIE/BREAK ALL-TIME
INTERCEPTION RECORD
With an interception last week against Georgia, Kenny McEntyre brought his career regular season total to 49. That moves him to within one interception of tying Durwood Roquemore for first place on the all-time AFL list for career picks. Roquemore played for three teams during his 10-year AFL career, including the Orlando Predators from 1991-96. McEntyre has almost matched Roquemore in just over five seasons of play (McEntyre played in just one regular season game in 1998). In addition, McEntyre has 10 post-season interceptions to give him 59 in just 93 career games. It is interesting to note that of the top five players in career interceptions, four have spent the majority of their playing career with the Predators.

AFL ALL-TIME LEADERS
INTERCEPTIONS
Name No. Years With Preds
Durwood Roquemore 50 1987-96 1991-96
Kenny McEntyre 49 1998-04 1998-04
Barry Wagner 41 1992-04 1992-99 Tracey Perkins 37 1991-01 ---
Chris Barber 35 1992-00 1996-98

PREDATORS HURTING FOR CHICAGO
The Predators may have to take on the 4-1 Rush shorthanded as several players were dinged up in the Georgia game on Friday. In addition to OL/DL Justin Cleveland (broken thumb), the Predators will be without the services of Michael Brown (pulled hamstring). In addition, quarterback Joe Hamilton (hamstring) and OS Travis McGriff (hamstring) are questionable.

McENTYRE IS TRUE IRONMAN
Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre has been one of the toughest competitors to ever wear a Predators uniform. Despite numerous injuries in his career, McEntyre has yet to miss a start since coming to the Predators in the tail end of the 1998 season. Counting the game against Georgia last week, McEntyre has now answered the bell for 93 consecutive games -- a team record.

TAYLOR HAS ROUGH WEEK, HAS FIRST KICK RETURNED FOR TOUCHDOWN
After an outstanding start to his Arena Football League career, kicker Jay Taylor had a rough week against Georgia thanks to three plays. The first play occurred in the third quarter when Markeith Cooper ran back a kickoff for a touchdown. It marked the first time in Taylor's career (including junior high, high school, college and pro) that he had one of his kicks returned for a touchdown. Late in the fourth quarter. Taylor missed an extra point that would have tied the game and later missed a short field goal that would have put the Predators in the lead. Head coach Jay Gruden says he has not lost an ounce of confidence in his kicker. "Jay has done a great job this season. We did not lose the game because of a couple of missed kicks, we lost because we did not do the things we needed to do to win. If we need a kick to win a game next week, there's no question I am going to let Jay try to make that kick."

JERMAINE SMITH IS ON SACK PACE
With five quarterback sacks in his first five games, OL/DL Jermaine Smith is on pace to shatter the Orlando Predators single season record of 9.5 set last season by rookie EJ Burt. Smith's total of five has already tied Curtis Eason for the eighth most in a single season by a Predators player. Surprisingly. Burt has yet to pick up his first sack of the season – again coming tantalizingly close on several occasions last week. "Just missing doesn't cut it," Burt says. "It's been frustrating, particularly since we have been doing a pretty good job as a team of getting to the quarterback. Hopefully, I can start contributing in this category this week." The single season list for most sacks in the regular season by a Predators player:

Player Year QS
1. EJ Burt 2003 9.5
2. Jerry Odon 1992 8
3. BJ Cohen 2000 6.5
4. Victor Hall 1994 6
Paul McGowan 1994 6
6. Paul McGowan 1997 5.5
Ernest Allen 2001 5.5
8. Jermaine Smith 2004 5*
Curtis Eason 2001 5

*Through five games

HAMILTON ON TARGET TO BECOME MOST PROLIFIC FIRST YEAR PASSER IN ORLANDO PREDATORS HISTORY
As the chart below indicates, rookie quarterback Joe Hamilton is on target to become the most prolific first year quarterback in Orlando Predators history. At his current pace, Hamilton is on target to throw 73 touchdown passes, which would break Jay Gruden's 2002 record for the most touchdown passes by a first-year Predators quarterback (68). He is also on target to break Gruden's first-year marks for passing yards (3,621) and completions (310). The stats of first-year Predators quarterbacks follows --


QB A-C-I Yards TD
Joe Hamilton*
Current 154-100-2 1218 23
16-game projected 492-320-6 3897 73
'02 Jay Gruden 501-310-20 3621 68
'01 Craig Whelihan* 377-244-12 3004 60
'99 Browning Nagle* 275-149-9 1999 39
'97 Scott Semptimphelter* 244-137-6 1879 36
'95 Pat O'Hara* 125-79-4 1194 22
'91 Reggie Collier* 195-94-5 1312 21
'91 Ben Bennett 81-42-2 540 6

*Indicates first year with Predators was also AFL Rookie Year

McKIBBEN STAYS BUSY
Offensive/defensive lineman Josh McKibben is probably one of the few AFL players that holds down a full-time job during the season. The AFL rookie lineman from the University of Central Florida is a projects manager for Nicholson Homes in Orlando. As soon as practice ends, McKibben is usually at a construction site by early afternoon. "Counting everything, I usually get close to the 40 hour work week in," McKibben said. "I am fortunate to have bosses that allow me to keep playing professional football." McKibben describes his job as a myriad of tasks -- "Right now I am working on land acquisition for a future development."

PREDATORS ALLOW FEWEST YARDS ON
FIRST DOWN
Among the 19 teams in the Arena Football League, the Predators were the toughest team in the Arena Football League to gain yardage on, allowing an average of just 4.29 yards on first down.

Rank Team Yds/Play Plays Yards
1) Orlando 4.29 106 455
2) Chicago 5.01 103 516
3) Tampa Bay 5.19 108 561
4) San Jose 5.30 113 599
5) Arizona 5.42 122 661

PARITY RAINS SUPREME IN AFL
When talking about parity in the Arena Football League, one only needs to look at perennial AFL powers Tampa Bay, Orlando and Arizona to realize how competitively balanced the Arena Football League has become. Consider the following:

Since the 1992 season, the Arizona Rattlers, Orlando Predators and Tampa Bay Storm have been the three most dominant teams in the Arena Football League as these three teams have:

*Combined to account for 15 of the 24 ArenaBowl participants

*Have won nine of the last 13 ArenaBowl titles

*Prior to this season, only twice in league history have all three of these teams lost in the same weekend (Week 2 of 2001 season and Week 1 of 2002).

Now consider the following:

*Earlier this season, all three teams lost at home on the same weekend for the first time ever.

*Through week 6 of the regular season, the same three teams lost on the same weekend for a second time this season.

BOWDEN TAKES ONE BACK
Excluding on-side kick returns, James Bowden's 55-yard kickoff return for touchdown marked the first time Orlando has run back a kickoff during the regular season for a touchdown since Week 5 of the 2003 season. Again, when on-sides kick returns are taken out of the equation, Orlando has just two kickoff returns for touchdowns in their last 37 regular season games.


KEY MATCH-UPS
ORLANDO AT CHICAGO

Predators Centers Fred Ray and Josh McKibben vs. Chicago Lineman James Baron
The two Orlando Predators centers will have five-time first team All-Arena lineman James Baron lined up over them for the majority of the game. Although not huge by lineman standards (6-4, 260), Baron is ultra quick and strong and has been a disruptive force for many years. How well McKibben and Ray can handle Baron's pass rush will go a long way to determining the outcome of this game.

Predators Lineman Jermaine Smith vs. Chicago Lineman John Moyer
This is a match-up of two players that were named first team All-Arena last season. Smith is off to a great start, recording five quarterback sacks in his first five games. He also has played well on offense, anchoring a line that has allowed only three quarterback sacks all season and none in the last three games. Preds head coach Jay Gruden calls Moyer one of the hardest working lineman in the Arena Football. "He reminds me a lot of Austin's Tom Briggs (the other first team All-Arena selection last year) but he's probably a little faster." Moyer has two sacks, six quarterback hurries and two recovered fumbles in his first five games. Both teams get after the other team's quarterbacks (Orlando 12 sacks, Chicago 5); and both do a reasonable job of protecting their quarterbacks (Orlando has allowed three sacks, Chicago 0).

Preds QB Joe Hamilton vs. Chicago Secondary
Chicago's pass defense is among the best in the Arena Football League, as they allow just 195 yards per game. The secondary, led by Corey Sawyer and Lindsay Fleshman have picked off six passes this season. Hamilton had to leave the game last week with a strained groin and may have limited mobility this week.

Predators Defensive Line vs. Rush QB Raymond Philyaw
Philyaw has been outstanding this season, completing 63.9% of his passes with 15 touchdowns and no interceptions in leading the Rush to a 4-1 start. Orlando Predators Head Coach Jay Gruden believes it is absolutely vital that Orlando's front four get pressure on Philyaw -- something that may prove difficult since he has not been sacked all season long. Philyaw is one of the most accurate passers in AFL history with 190 career touchdown passes and just 15 interceptions in his career.


PREDATORS PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Tue., Mar. 16 9-11 a.m. Thunder Field
Wed., Mar. 17 9-11 a.m. Thunder Field
Thur., Mar. 18 9-11 a.m. Thunder Field
Fri., Mar. 19 9-11 a.m. Thunder Field
Sat., Mar. 20 TBA TBA-Chicago

All Practices Open to the Media

NEXT WEEK
Orlando returns home for a Saturday night match-up with the Las Vegas Gladiators (Sat., March 27, 7:30 p.m.); while the Chicago Rush remain at home for a Sunday, March 28 game with the Detroit Fury (3 p.m. – EST kickoff).

This Week in the AFL
Thurs., Mar. 18 Austin at Detroit
New Orleans at Arizona
Sat., Mar. 20 Columbus at New York
Georgia at Indiana
Las Vegas at San Jose
Sun., Mar. 21 Orlando at Chicago
Colorado at Philadelphia
Tampa Bay at Carolina
Los Angeles at Dallas


2004 ORLANDO PREDATORS LEAGUE WIDE AWARDS:
QB Joe Hamilton
AFL Rookie of the Month – February

OL/DL Jermaine Smith
Ironman of the Week - Week 5 (Indiana)


US ARMY IRONMAN, BABY RUTH OFFENSIVE and ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE GAME (selected by media):
Week Opp. Player
1 At Tampa Bay O: Shane Stafford (TB)D: Shea Showers (TB)I: TT Toliver (TB)
2 Austin Wranglers O: Cory Fleming (O)D: Tom Briggs (A)I: Charlie Davidson (A)
3 Bye Week
4 At Carolina O: Joe Hamilton (O)D: Jermaine Smith (O)I: James Bowden (O)
5 Indiana O: Cory Fleming (O)D: Rupert Grant (O)I: Jermaine Smith (O)
6 Georgia O: Leon Murray (G)D: Dialleo Burks (G)I: Markeith Cooper (G)

2003 ROSTER MOVES
Date Action Player

1/31 Waived FB/LB Kevin McLeod, QB Chris Sanders, DS Marcus Smith, OL/DL Nate Bandy, OL/DL Barry Hall, OS Anthony Bright, OS Antwuan Wyatt, OL/DL Anthony McKenzie,DS Roy Stabler. Placed OL/DL Derrick Ham, WR/LB Michael Brown on IR
1/31 Trade Received WR/DB James Bowden from Carolina Cobras in exchange for future considerations
2/3 Placed on IR OS Travis McGriff
2/16 Waived DS Paul Miranda, DS LaVar Glover
2/23 Signed DS Sam Young, DS Arkee Thompson, OL/DL Josh McKibben
2/23 Activated from IR OL/DL Derrick Ham
2/23 Waived OL/DL Derrick Ham
2/25 Placed on IR OL/DL Cecil Caldwell and DS Arkee Thompson
2/25 Activated from IR DS Michael Brown
3/2 Waived WR/LB George Williams
3/4 Signed WR/DB Sean Riley

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