Orlando Predators game notes

March 29, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release


Orlando (3-4) at Columbus (1-6)
Date: Sunday, April 4, 2004
Toe-to-Leather Time: 12 Noon
Site: Nationwide Arena (17,078)
Officials: Referee: Tom McCabe; Umpire: Jeff Carr;
Head Linesman: Neil Brunner; Line Judge: Bob McElwee;
Back Judge: Joe Duncan; Supervisor Bob Mantooth
Radio: WQTM 740 The Team (Marc Daniels and Dan Pearson)
TV: None
Streaks: Orlando has won one in a row; Columbus has lost six in a row.
Series Record: Orlando leads all-time series 4-0
Coaches: Orlando: Jay Gruden (7th season, 46-27, .630); Columbus: Earle Bruce (4th season, 14-22, .389)


THE STAKES: After an impressive win over Las Vegas on Saturday night, the Orlando Predators return to action on Sunday against the 1-6 Columbus Destroyers. The Predators, who went to 3-4 on the season with the 60-43 win over Las Vegas, can get back to the .500 mark with a victory over the Destroyers.

The Predators may have to go into the battle short-handed, as the status of starting quarterback Joe Hamilton will not be determined until later this week at practice.

Back-up quarterback Connell Maynor played well in Hamilton's absence last week, completing more than 80% of his passes and accounting for seven touchdowns in the victory. Still, Head Coach Jay Gruden believes it is important for his team not to look past the Destroyers, despite their six-game losing streak.

"We have to avoid any type of let down," Gruden says. "We're not good enough to think we can just show up and win. Earle Bruce has been in the game a long time and has had two weeks to get ready for us. We need to play with the same intensity and fire that we had last week against Las Vegas."


Orlando Predators (3-4-0) *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 L 15-58
Mar. 27 Las Vegas W 60-43
Apr. 4 At Columbus 12 Noon
Apr. 9 New Orleans 7:30 p.m.
Apr. 18 At Georgia 3 p.m.
Apr. 25 Dallas 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.

Columbus (1-6)
Date Opponent Result Score
Feb. 7 At Indiana W 54-48
Feb. 13 Carolina L 53-54
Feb. 21 At Philadelphia L 34-56
Feb. 29 Dallas L 35-51
Mar. 5 At Arizona L 42-65
Mar. 13 Philadelphia L 41-43
Mar. 20 At New York L 41-62
Apr. 4 Orlando 12 Noon
Apr. 10 New York 7 p.m.
Apr. 18 At New Orleans 3 p.m.
Apr. 25 Tampa Bay 12 Noon
May 1 Carolina 7:30 p.m.
May 9 Georgia 3 p.m.
May 14 Grand Rapids 7 p.m.
May 22 At Dallas 8:30 p.m.
May 30 At Las Vegas 4 p.m.

QUOTE/UNQUOTE
"It was a long time in coming, but it felt good to get out there again. It may take another game or two to get rid of all the rust, but I thought it was a good first game back."

--2003 AFL Rookie of the Year Travis McGriff on his first game back after missing six games with a hamstring injury


IMPORTANT NOTICE
NO NBC FOR PREDS vs. COLUMBUS
The Arena Football League informed the Predators last Tuesday that their April 4 game at Columbus (1-6) was being dropped from consideration for NBC broadcast. Although the game will not be seen on television, fans can still tune in to WQTM 740 AM to listen to the game. Pre-game begins at 11:30 a.m. with Marc Daniels and Dan Pearson on the call.

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 46-27 (.630) all-time coaching record into the Georgia game. He is 38-25 in regular season games (.603) 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 46-27 .631
Fran Papasedero, 2002-03 22-13 .629
Perry Moss, 1991-97 67-31 .684
Columbus Coach Earle Bruce
A protégé of the legendary Woody Hayes, Earle Bruce is in his fourth season as an Arena Football League coach and his first with the Columbus Destroyers. Bruce first joined the AFL as Head Coach of the Cleveland Rockers in 1994. He also spent the 1995 season and part of the 1996 season with the St. Louis Stampede. He went 9-3 in the regular season and led the team to the playoffs in 1995. Counting a 1-6 mark this season, Bruce will take an overall record of 14-22 into this weekend's game. Bruce has more than 50 years of football coaching experience. In addition to his professional experience in the Arena Football League, Bruce has worked at the high school and college levels. He began his coaching career as a student assistant under Hayes after a knee injury ended his playing career at Ohio State in 1951. After graduation, he spent 13 seasons as a head coach at several Ohio high schools– going a combined going 82-12-3 while making stops at Mansfield, Salem, Sandusky and Massillon. Bruce capped off his high school coaching career with two undefeated state championship teams at Massillon. After serving as an assistant coach for six seasons at Ohio State, Bruce became head coach at Tampa in 1972, guiding that team to a 10-2 mark and a victory in the Tangerine Bowl. Bruce then spent six years at Iowa State, before returning to his Alma Mater – replacing Hayes in 1979. In nine seasons, Bruce was 81-26-1; winning four Big Ten titles (two outright) and was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1980. Other Head Coaching stints include stops at Northern Iowa and Colorado State. In addition to his duties with the Destroyers, Bruce works for WTVN radio, where he is an analyst on Ohio State Buckeyes football broadcasts.

Quick Fact: Former All-Pro linebacker Chris Spielman serves as the Destroyers Director of Football Operations; while former Ohio State star and current Tampa Bay Bucs Wide Receiver Joey Galloway is a limited owner of the franchise.

SERIES NOTES:
This is the Destroyers first season in the Columbus market after moving from Buffalo after the 2003 season...the team elected to retain its nickname and history, so the Predators lead the all-time series 4-0...Orlando is 3-0 in regular season games against the Destroyers and also defeated them 32-27 in a 2002 AFL First Round Playoff game...three of the four games were determined by eight points or less, but the Predators trounced the Destroyers by 43 points in the last game, a 66-23 decision, in Orlando last season...this is the first time the Predators have officially faced the Destroyers on the road, but the team did play a pre-season game against the Destroyers in Buffalo in 1999.

All-Time Series Results
Date ORL CAR
July 30, 1999 (H) 48 40
July 13, 2001 (H) 48 40
July 26, 2002 (H) 32 27*
Apr. 11, 2003 (H) 66 23

*AFL Playoff Game

FAMILIAR FACES
Columbus DS LaVar Glover went to camp with the Predators in 2004 and played the first two games with Orlando before being released...Predators WR/DB Bret Cooper played for the Buffalo Destroyers in 2002 and 2003...Columbus FB/LB Ricky Wood played the 2003 season with the Predators...WR/DB Titcus Pettigrew of the Destroyers went to training camp with the Predators a couple of seasons ago.

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 (5): Bret Cooper, Rupert Grant, Cecil Caldwell, Jermaine Smith, Sean Riley and Craig Whelihan.

Obtained by Trade (2): James Bowden, Greg Krause

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, Williams Gaines. Traded: Thabiti Davis (Detroit)


PREDS NEWS, NOTES, TRENDS

McENTYRE LOOKS TO TIE/BREAK ALL-TIME
INTERCEPTION RECORD
Kenny McEntyre's quest to become the Arena Football League's all-time interception leader was put on hold last week, despite four near misses. McEntyre (49 career interceptions), who is one pick behind Durwood Roquemore (50) for first place on the all-time list, intercepted a ball in the first quarter, only to see the play nullified on a roughing the passer penalty. Early in the second quarter, DS Sam Young deflected a ball high into the air on a pass play that McEntyre uncharacteristically dropped. In the third quarter, McEntyre batted a ball away from Marcus Nash and attempted an interception, only to have the ball tick the back wall of Orlando's shaved off end zone for an incompletion. Finally, McEntyre stepped in front of Nash in the 4th quarter, but also dropped a sure interception. "Should have had four of ‘em," McEntyre said. "Can't say anything about the one that called back because of penalty because I had three other opportunities I let slip away. The record will come, but I wish I could have done it at home."

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 42 1992-04 1992-99 Tracey Perkins 37 1991-01 ---
Chris Barber 35 1992-00 1996-98
MAYNOR'S BIG GAME
Predators back-up quarterback Connell Maynor should receive some consideration this week for AFL Offensive Player of the Week after an impressive performance against Las Vegas. Maynor came close to the Predators all-time pass completion percentage record, hitting 14 of 17 passes (82.4 %) for 243 yards and five touchdowns. He also was effective as a ball carrier, rushing five times for 17 yards and two more scores to account for seven touchdowns. Maynor's completion percentage fell just short of the team record of 89% by Ben Bennett (17 of 19) in a rout of Milwaukee in 1994.

Predators All-Time Top Completion Percentages
Single Game

1. Ben Bennett 89.4% 17/19 vs. Milwaukee (1994)
2. Ben Bennett 86.6 13/15 vs. Arizona (1992)
3. Pat O'Hara 83.3% 10/12 vs. Arizona (1995)
4. Connell Maynor 82.4% 14/17 vs. Las Vegas (2004)
5. Jay Gruden 78.2% 22/28 vs. Chicago (2002)


PREDATORS INJURY REPORT Vs. COLUMBUS
Joe Hamilton QB Knee Questionable
Connell Maynor QB Left Wrist Probable
Bret Cooper WR/DB Ribs Questionable
Justin Cleveland OL/DL Thumb Out
Michael Brown WR/DB Hamstring Out


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 Las Vegas last week, McEntyre has now answered the bell for 95 consecutive games -- a team record.


FLEMING KEEPS STING ALIVE
With his touchdown reception at the 12:08 mark of the first quarter of the Las Vegas game, WR/LB Cory Fleming has now caught at least one touchdown pass in 16 consecutive games with the Predators. Fleming has scored at least one touchdown in 22 of 24 career games with the Predators. Fleming had a huge game against Las Vegas, grabbing six passes for 112 yards (18.6 average) and two scores. It was Fleming's third 100-yard game of the season, ninth with the Predators and 31st in his AFL career.




PREDATORS RUNNING BALL IN 2004
The emergence of rookie FB/LB Marlon Moye-Moore, combined by solid seasons by quarterback Connell Maynor and veteran Rupert Grant has given the Predators a formidable running attack in 2004. After averaging just 7.5 yards per game in their first two contests, the Predators have compiled 222 rushing yards in their last five games (44.5 average), including a season-high 73 yards in the last game. With a 5.5 average per carry, Moye-Moore ranks first in the AFL among players with 10 or more carries.


AFL RUSHING LEADERS
TEAM YDS/GM
Orlando Predators 33.9
Detroit Fury 32.4
Chicago Rush 33.3
Georgia Force 24.9
Indiana Firebirds 24.3


INDIVIDUAL YARDS
1. Curran, New Orleans 190
2. McPherson, Indiana 144
3. McMillen, Chicago 130
4. Thomas, Georgia 121
7. Rupert Grant, Orlando 79
13. Marlon Moye-Moore, Orlando 66
22. Connell Maynor, Orlando 46


JERMAINE SMITH IS ON SACK PACE
With five quarterback sacks in his first seven games, OL/DL Jermaine Smith is still 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. 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



WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND FOR PREDATORS
What a difference a week makes! After playing the worst game in franchise history on Mar. 21 against Chicago, the Predators turned it around and played their best football of the season last weekend against Las Vegas. The chart below tells the story:

Chicago Las Vegas
Points Scored 15 60
Points Allowed 58 40
Sacks Allowed 7 2
Fumbles 4 0
Fumbles Lost 3 0
Opponents Fumbles 2 4
Opp. Fumbles Lost 1 3
Interceptions Thrown 3 0
Turnover Margin -5 +4
Kickoff Return Yards 2-30 6-85
3rd Down Conversions 2 of 7 2 of 4
Passing (a-c-i) 32-16-3 17-14-0
Completion % 50% 82.4%
Total Offense 155 304

FLEMING FOURTH IN RECEPTIONS
With six catches for 112 yards last week, Cory Fleming is currently fourth in the Arena Football League in receptions. Among players with 50 or more receptions this season, Fleming ranks second with a 13.4 average yards per catch.

AFL Receiving Leaders
Name Rec. Yards Avg. TD
1. Marcus Nash, LV 77 884 11.5 19
2. Siaha Burley, AZ 69 812 11.8 17
3. Todd Doxzon, Car 67 741 11.1 15
4. Cory Fleming, ORL 54 716 13.3 14
5. Cornelius White, Col 51 684 13.4 14
Jason Shelley, Dal 51 635 12.5 13
Lawrence Samuels,TB 51 616 12.1 5

ORLANDO DEFENSE TOUGH ON FIRST DOWN
After allowing just 92 yards on 20 first down plays last week against Las Vegas, the Orlando Predators defense remained the toughest team in the Arena Football League to gain yardage on during 1st down plays. For the season, the Predators have allowed 726 yards on 147 first down plays. Their 4.94 yards allowed on first downs is the lowest in the league and makes the Predators the only team to allow less than a five yard average on first down. Take away a 35-yard TD to Marcus Nash last week on first down and the Predators allowed just 3.0 yards per play on the other 19 first down plays.



PLAYERS TO WATCH
ORLANDO at COLUMBUS

Predators OS Travis McGriff
The 2003 AFL Rookie of the Year had an outstanding 2004 debut against the Gladiators last week. He caught three passes for 42 yards (14.0 avg.), including a fabulous 28-yard over the shoulder grab for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. In addition to a 4-yard touchdown reception earlier in the game, McGriff added 81 yards on five kickoff returns (16.1 average) to lead the Predators with 123 all-purpose yards. In addition, McGriff had an outstanding game blocking when he did not have ball – helping to spring several long runs.

Destroyers WR/LB Cornelius White
For the second week in a row, the Predators will face one of the top pass catchers in the Arena Football League. Last week, the Gladiators Marcus Nash grabbed nine passes for 153 yards to up his season totals to a league-leading 77 receptions for 884 yards. This week, the Predators face White, who is ranked fifth in the league with 51 catches for 684 yards and 14 touchdowns. Like Nash, White is a big target (6-1, 200).

Predators QB Connell Maynor
With Hamilton's status unclear, Maynor will enter this week as the Predators starter for a second consecutive game. After a rough outing in relief of Hamilton against Chicago two weeks ago, Maynor was sensational against Las Vegas last week. Should Maynor get the start this week against the Destroyers, Head Coach Jay Gruden will look for the same type of production from Maynor, that included five touchdown passes and a perfect passer rating of 158.333!

Destroyers WR/DB Sedrick Robinson
One of Columbus' top two-way players, Robinson is a savvy AFL veteran who contributes in all three phases of the game. Defensively, he has 12 tackles with an interception to go with 16 receptions for 223 yards (a 13.9 average) with two touchdown receptions. Robinson is also a major threat on kickoff returns, carrying an impressive 23.6 average with a couple of touchdowns on 21 returns.



PREDATORS PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Tue., Mar. 30 9-11 a.m. Thunder Field
Wed., Mar. 31 9-11 a.m. Thunder Field
Thur., Apr. 1 9-11 a.m. Thunder Field
Fri., Apr. 2 9-11 a.m. Thunder Field
Sat., Apr. 3 TBA Columbus

All Practices Open to the Media

NEXT WEEK
Orlando returns home for a key Southern Division match-up against division leading New Orleans. The game is scheduled for Friday, April 9 at the TD Waterhouse Centre. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Columbus remains at home for a Saturday, April 10 game with the New York Dragons.

This Week in the AFL
Thursday, April 1
Georgia at Detroit
Saturday, April 3
Indiana at Colorado
Austin at Los Angeles
Sunday, April 4
San Jose at Tampa Bay
Orlando at Columbus
Dallas at Philadelphia
Arizona at Grand Rapids
New York at Carolina
Chicago at Las Vegas

Bye Week – New Orleans

Last Weeks Scores
Indiana 45, Grand Rapids 42
San Jose 55, Los Angeles 52
Tampa Bay 53, Georgia 24
Orlando 60, Las Vegas 43
New Orleans 48, Carolina 31
Colorado 54, Arizona 46
Detroit 72, Chicago 71
Austin 65, Philadelphia 60


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)
7 Chicago O: Jeremy McDaniel (C) D: James Baron (C) I: Bob McMillen (C)
8 Las Vegas O: Connell Maynor (O)D: Doug Miller (O)I: Cory Fleming (O)

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
3/10 Placed on IR OL/DL Justin Cleveland
3/16 Placed on IR WR/DB Michael Brown
3/22 Traded From Indiana, OL/DL Greg Krause To Indiana: Rights to DS Khalil Carter
3/25 Activated from IR Travis McGriff
3/25 Signed OL/DL Greg Krause
3/25 Placed on IR FB/LB Idris Price
3/26 Signed QB Craig Whelihan
3/26 Released OL/DL William Gaines
3/26 Activated from IR DS Arkee ThomsonOL/DL Greg Krause



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 29, 2004


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