Philadelphia Soul game notes
Published on March 10, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Philadelphia Soul (2-3)
at Columbus Destroyers (1-4)
Site: Nationwide Arena (17,078)
Officials: Referee: Dennis Lipski, Umpire: Rick Nelson, Head Linesman: Rusty Spindel, Line Judge: Roger McMinn, Back Judge: Rich Wilborn
TUNE IN:
TV: UPN 57
Play-by-Play: Ari Wolfe
Color: Merril Hoge
Sideline: Rhea Hughes
RADIO: WNJC (1360-AM)
www.1360wnjc.com
Play-by-Play: Jacob VanRyn
Color: Darrin Kenney
COACHES:
Soul: Michael Trigg, 72-69 regular season, 3-7 postseason (75-76 overall)
Destoyers: Earle Bruce, 14-19 regular season, 0-1 postseason ( 14-20 overall)
THE MATCHUP: The Soul and Destroyers are facing off for the second time in three weeks. The Destroyers became the first win in the history of the Soul when the two teams first met on February 21st at the Wachovia Spectrum. The Soul handed Columbus a 56-34 beating. Nick Browder completed 18 of 22 passes for 228 yards in the win.
Philadelphia is coming off one of the biggest upsets of the Arena Football season after handing the Chicago Rush their first loss of the season last weekend at the Wachovia Center. Philadelphia improved to 2-3 with the 53-47 win as Chicago fell to 4-1.
PHILADELPHIA SOUL SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Date Opponent Time (ET) Result/Streak
2/8 NEW ORLEANS 3:00 L-34-42/L1
2/15 at Dallas 4:00 L-47-51/L2
2/21 COLUMBUS 7:30 W-56-34/W1
2/29 at Tampa Bay 3:00 L-37-40/L1
3/7 CHICAGO 12:00 W-53-47/W1
3/13 at Columbus 7:00
3/21 COLORADO 12:00
3/28 at Austin 3:00
4/4 DALLAS 12:00
4/17 at Carolina 7:30
4/24 NEW YORK 7:30
5/2 at Colorado 3:00
5/8 LAS VEGAS 7:30
5/15 CAROLINA 7:30
5/22 at San Jose 10:30
5/30 at New York 4:00
COLUMBUS DESTROYERS SCHEDULE AND RESULTS
Date Opponent Time (ET) Result/Streak
2/7 @INDIANA 7 p.m. W-54-48/W1
2/13 CAROLINA 7 p.m. L-53-54/L1
2/21 @Philadelphia 7:30 p.m. L-34-56/L2
2/29 DALLAS 3 p.m. L-35-51/L3
3/5 @Arizona 9 p.m. L-41-65/L4
3/13 PHILADELPHIA 7 p.m.
3/20 @New York 7 p.m.
4/4 ORLANDO 12 p.m.
4/10 NEW YORK 7 p.m.
4/18 @New Orleans 3 p.m.
4/25 TAMPA BAY 12 p.m.
5/1 @ Carolina 7:30 p.m.
5/9 GEORGIA 3 p.m.
5/14 GRAND RAPIDS 7 p.m.
5/22 @Dallas 8:30 p.m.
5/30 @Las Vegas 4 p.m.
What If...
If Philadelphia defeats Columbus, it would...
· Give Philadelphia their second win over the Destroyers
· Give Philadelphia their first victory on the road
· Give Philadelphia their second victory on UPN57
· Give Philadelphia their first victory at Nationwide Arena
· Place Philadelphia head coach Michael Trigg at .500 with a 76-76 career record including the postseason
The Coaches Corner
MICHAEL TRIGG: Hired to guide the expansion Philadelphia Soul, Trigg (72-69 reg. season, 3-7 post season) spent the last six seasons with the Grand Rapids Rampage. Trigg has led his teams to eight playoff appearances and an ArenaBowl in 2001, when he was also named AFL Coach of the Year. A veteran of expansion endeavors, Trigg spent 1994 as the head coach and general manager for the expansion Fort Worth Calvary (1994) and as head coach of the Milwaukee Mustangs (1995-97) he turned a 0-12 team into a two-time playoff participant and set the AFL record for single-season turnaround as he guided the Mustang's from 4-8 in 1995 to 10-4 in 1996.
EARLE BRUCE: Bruce began his coaching career in the AFL during the 1993-1994 season with the Cleveland Thunderbolts. He spent the 1994-1995 season with the St. Louis Stampede, making theirs the best record of an expansion football team at 9 and 4 and taking them to the playoffs. In 2001 Bruce coached the Iowa Barnstormers in the AF2 League. Bruce landed his first collegiate head coaching job at the University of Tampa in 1972, where he fashioned a 10-2 record, including a win in the Tangerine Bowl. He took over at Iowa State University from 1973-1978, where he guided the Cyclones to eight wins in each of his last three seasons. Bruce succeeded long-time coach Woody Hayes at Ohio State in 1979 and went on to compile an 81-26-1 record from 1979-1987 in Columbus. He led the Buckeyes to two outright Big Ten titles (1979, 1984) and two co-championships (1981, 1986) and was named the 1980 Big Ten Coach of the Year.
All-Time Winningest AFL Coaches
COACH TEAM WINS THIS WEEK
Tim Marcum Tampa Bay 160 vs. New York
Danny White Arizona 126 at Las Vegas
Perry Moss 86
Mike Hohensee Chicago 77 Bye
Michael Trigg Philadelphia 75 at Columbus
(Includes post season)
Slim Pickins
Nick Browder has thrown only three interceptions in 164 pass attempts or one INT every 54.6 attempts.
Att Comp. Yds TDs INT
164 100 1178 22 3
Tale of the Tape
Philadelphia Category (Rank) Columbus
45.4/g (14) Scoring Offense 43.6/g (17)
42.8/g (2) Scoring Defense 54.8/g (18)
257.4/g (10) Total Offense 1310 (9)
272.8/g (14) Total Defense 1316 (12)
72.0% (12) Red Zone Offense 60.0% (17)
56.5%(1) Red Zone Defense 71.4% (7)
229/g (13) Pass Offense 1188 (11)
246.4/g (13) Pass Defense 1160 (10)
28.4/g (5) Rushing Offense 122 (6)
26.4/g (16) Rushing Defense 156 (18)
25/430 Kickoff Returns 35/681
17.2 Kick Return Average 19.5
34/542 Combined Returns 38/768
15.9 Combined Return Average 20.2
-2 (12t) Turnover Margin -4 (16t)
2/11 Field Goals 3/11
0 (18t) Sacks By 2 (15)
5 (13) Sacks Against 1 (4)
18/34 52.9% Third Down Conversion 10/24 41.7%
2/5 40% Fourth Down Conversion 1/4 25%
41/263 (15) Penalties (#-Yards) 47/315 (18)
40/246 Opp. Penalties (#-Yards) 44/265
Red Zone Enforcers
The Soul defense is ranked first in the league in red zone defense. Soul opponents have had 23 possessions inside the 10-yard line and have only given up 13 TDs and 93 points.
Rank Team Poss Pts TD FG TD%
1 Phi. 23 93 13 2 56.5
2 Aus. 20 91 12 3 60.0
3 LV 22 108 14 4 63.6
4 Dal. 20 98 13 3 65.0
5 Detroit 15 71 10 1 66.7
Direct Connections
· Destroyers DS JoJo Polk was a member of Soul head coach Michael Trigg's 2001 Grand Rapids Rampage team which won ArenaBowl XV.
· Soul OL/DL Eric Gohlstin, a Cleveland, Ohio native attended Ohio State where Destroyers head coach Earle Bruce coached for eight years. Gohlstin also attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio.
· The Soul obtained OL/DL Donovan Arp from the Columbus Destroyers. Arp was waived from the Destroyers on 2/24/04 and signed by the Soul on 2/27.
· Destroyers WR/LB Corey Hill is a native of Yeadon, PA and attended Archbishop Carroll High School
· Destroyers WR/LB Cornelius White is a native of Langhorne, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia, and attended Neshaminy High School. White still resides in Philadelphia in the offseason.
Born To Be A Philly QB
Nick Browder grew up idolizing former Eagles QB Randall Cunningham, he wore the same number and emulated his play on the field, but that's not the only Eagles QB Browder would become familiar with. When Browder was signed by the Soul there's no doubt he recognized Soul president Ron Jaworski, a former Eagles QB, and growing up in Waukegan, Il he was close in proximity to another Eagles QB, Donovan McNabb, who attended Mount Carmel High School outside of Chicago while Browder attended Waukegan High School.
Makin' Plays
Nick Browder entered the Soul's inaugural season without much history. Through his four years in the AFL, Browder completed 51 of 91 attempts for 651 yards. In his first season with the Soul, Browder has nearly doubled those numbers, completing 100 of 164 pass attempts for 1178 yards and 22 TDs.
Browder Comp Att. Yds TDs
2000-2003 51 91 651 9
2004 100 164 1178 22
Homecoming King
One thing the trainers don't have to treat Sean Scott for is stage fright. In two games in front of his hometown crowd, Scott has pulled in 11 receptions for 129 yards and four TDs.
Scott had a team high five receptions for 67 yards in his Arena Football debut against the Columbus Destroyers (2/21). The following week Scott had three receptions for 55 yards and one TD at Tampa Bay (2/29). Last week against Chicago Scott had six receptions for 62 yards and a career high three TDs.
No stranger to pressure, Scott hauled in the game winning TD pass from former Eagles QB A.J. Feeley in the 2001 preseason finale against the New York Jets at Veteran's Stadium.
In Scott's Backyard:
Date Opp. Rec. Yards TDs
2/21 CLB 5 67 1
2/29 CHI 6 62 3
TOTALS 11 129 4
Slick Rick
One of the first players acquired by head coach Michael Trigg was one of his most familiar faces... and hairdos. WR/LB Ricky Ross was picked up by Trigg on November 7, 2003, less than two months after the launch of the Philadelphia Soul and Ross has proved to be a sound investment in the Soul's inaugural season.
"Trigg has been my man from day one," said Ross. "I've been with him for four years. He's been loyal to me, so I'm going to be loyal to him. It's just a great place for us to have an opportunity to come and show our skills."
After spending two nights in the hospital the fight a case of cellulitis, which sidelined him against Tampa Bay, Ross proved his health by connecting with Nick Browder for two TDs and rushing in for one from 19 yards out in a 53-47 win over the previously unbeaten Chicago Rush.
The team's leading receiver, Ross has hauled in 24 receptions for 306 yards and six TDs while rushing four times for 27 yards and two TDs.
Trigg, Party of 15
Soul Head Coach Michael Trigg didn't need a lot of time learning the names on the Soul roster, he's spent time with most of them in the past. The Soul have 12 players on the active roster that have spent time with Trigg, and all three members of the injured reserve are also Trigg veterans.
Here's a breakdown of Trigg's following:
#1 Ricky Ross
#4 Gary Compton (IR)
#5 Todd Hammell
#10 DeAuntae Brown
#12 Nick Browder
#17 Brian Leigeb
#21 Joe Todd
#36 Chris Ryan
#44 Travis McDonald
#50 Madison Johnson (IR)
#73 Michael Harrison
#75 Eric Gohlstin
#81 Derin Graham
#90 Patrick Scott
#91 Corey Mayfield (IR)
Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive
Player of the Game
2/8 NEW ORLEANS Aaron Bailey (NO OS)
2/15 @ Dallas Jason Shelly (Dal WR/LB)
2/21 COLUMBUS Nick Browder (Phi QB)
2/29 @ Tampa Bay Lawrence Samuels (TB WR/LB)
3/7 CHICAGO Nick Browder (Phi QB)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game
2/8 NEW ORLEANS Monte Montgomery (NO DS)
2/15 @ Dallas Kevin Aldridge (Dal FB/LB)
2/21 COLUMBUS Joe Todd (Phi DS)
2/29 @ Tampa Bay Nyle Wiren (TB OL/DL)
3/7 CHICAGO Dwayne Missouri (Phi OL/DL)
US ARMY Ironman of the Game
2/8 NEW ORLEANS Keita Crespina (Phi WR/DB)
2/15 @ Dallas Will Pettis (Dal WR/DB)
2/21 COLUMBUS Ricky Ross (Phi WR/LB)
2/29 @ Tampa Bay Lawrence Samuels (TB WR/LB)
3/7 CHICAGO Ricky Ross (Phi WR/DB)
Sean Scott (Phi WR/DB)
Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive
Player of the Week
Week 1 Matt Nagy (Car QB)
Week 2 Markeith Cooper (Geo OS)
Week 3 Nick Browder (Phi QB)
Week 4 Clint Dolezel (LV QB)
Week 5 Aaron Garcia (NY QB)
ADT Defensive Player of the Week
Week 1 Omarr Smith (SJ DS)
Week 2 Kevin Ingram (LA WR/DB)
Week 3 John Moyer (Chi OL/DL)
Week 4 Lawrence Samuels (TB WR/LB)
Week 5 Lamont Moore (NO WR/DB)
US ARMY Ironman of the Week
Week 1 Will Holder (NYD WR/DB)
Week 2 Kevin McKenzie (Col WR/DB)
Week 3 Rashied Davis (SJ WR/DB)
Week 4 Hunky Cooper (Ari. WR/LB)
Week 5 Jermaine Smith (Orl OL/DL)
Players to Watch...
Philadelphia
QB Nick Browder:
In his first year as a full time starter, the four year veteran of the Arena Football League has completed 100 of 164 pass attempts for 1178 yards and 22 TDs while only throwing three interceptions.
WR/LB Ricky Ross:
After fighting through a bout of cellulitis last week, Ross became the first 100-yard receiver in Soul franchise history by hauling in eight passes for 102 yards and three TDs. Ross also ran in a TD from 19 yards out. The team's leading receiver, Ross has 24 receptions for 306 yards and six TDs.
WR/LB Sean Scott:
In his second game in front of his hometown fans, Sean Scott recorded six receptions for 62 yards and three TDs. The Arena Football rookie has recorded 14 receptions for 184 yards and five TDs this season.
DS Joe Todd:
The team's leading tackler with 23.5 stops, Todd recorded an interception in two consecutive games (2/15, 2/21). Todd picked off Destroyers QB John Rayborn in the Soul endzone to set up a Tyronne Jones TD.
Columbus
QB Ryan Vena:
Vena started the first three games for the Destroyers but was pulled in favor of John Rayborn prior to last week. Vena returned as the starter against Arizona and completed 18 of 28 passes for 251 yards and two TDs. Vena has completed 72 of 108 passes this season for 886 yards and 13 TDs.
WR/LB Cornelius White:
The six year Arena Football veteran is the Destroyers leading receiver with 35 receptions for 474 yards and nine TDs. White is the ranked fifth in the league in receptions.
OS Coco Blaylock:
Tied for sixth in the AFL in receptions, Blaylock has recorded 32 receptions for 312 yards and four TDs. A return threat as well, Blaylock has 17 combined returns for 354 yards and one TD.
FB/LB Wilmont Perry:
Perry has rushed nine times for 16 yards and two TDs for the Destroyers this season.
That's a First...
First coin toss (2/8/04) â Soul won, elect to receive
First kickoff return (2/8/04) â Ricky Ross, 28-yard return
First play (2/8/04) â Derin Graham, 8-yard rush
First pass (2/8/04) â Complete to Derin Graham for 9-yards
First TD (2/8/04) â Nick Browder to Tyronne Jones for a 7-yard TD with 11:29 left in the first quarter
First rushing TD (2/8/04) â Browder 1-yard run with 13:11 remaining in the 4th quarter
First tackle (2/8/04) â Mike Harrison and Travis Seaton stop VooDoo kick returner Aaron Bailey after a 19-yard return
First FG Attempt (2/8/04) â Ken Hinsley's 25-yard attempt blocked by Gaylon Hyder
First TD against the Soul (2/8/04) â Four-yard rush by Dan Curran with 13:45 left in the second quarter. Brian Schmitz point after attempt failed.
First turnover (2/8/04) â Browder's pass intercepted by Monte Montgomery at the New Orleans 2 yard-line
First Interception (2/15/04) â Joe Todd intercepts Dallas QB Glen Gauntt in the Soul endzone with 1:21 remaining in the 1st quarter.
First Kickoff Return for a TD (2/15/04) â Tyronne Jones 54-yard return against Dallas
First successful field goal (2/21/04) â Ken Hinsley kicked a 24-yard field goal for the first of the season, and his career with 9:34 left in the first quarter.
First 100-yard Receiver (3/7/04) â Ricky Ross pulled in eight receptions for 102 yards and two TDs
Halftime Speech
Maybe it's the halftime speech, maybe there's something in the Gatorade, but the Philadelphia Soul have played like a different team in the second half.
The Soul have been outscored in the first half 110-94 but have outscored their opponents 133-104 in the second half and have recorded third quarter shutouts against the Columbus Destroyers and Chicago Rush.
Score by Quarters:
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Soul 38 56 53 80
Opponents 43 67 43 61
Movin On Up
Here's a look at where the Soul ranks among the league leaders:
Nick Browder:
· 3rd Down Passing â 4th (15-29-221 6TDs)
· 4th Quarter Passing â 5th (25-47-351 8 TDs)
DeAuntae Brown:
· Interception Leaders â 2t (2 INTs, 17 yds)
Ken Hinsley:
· Touchbacks on Kickoffs â 4t (10 TB)
Tyronne Jones:
· Kickoff Returns â 4th (10-235 yards 1 TD)
· Leading Scorers, Nonkickers â 12t (9 TDs, 54 pts)
Chris "Soul Train" Ryan:
· 3rd and 1 Rushing â 1t (3-3)
· Leading Rushers â 7th (15-56-4TDs)
Joe Todd:
· Interception Leaders â 2t (2 INTs)
Soul Defense:
· #1 defense inside the 20 â (23 possessions, 93 points, 13 TDs, 2 FGs)
2004 Record When...
Wachovia Center 1-1
Wachovia Spectrum 1-0
On the Road 0-2
Saturday 1-0
Sunday 1-3
On NBC 1-2
On UPN-57 1-1
Vs. East 1-1
Vs. Central 1-0
Vs. West 0-0
Vs. South 0-2
February 1-3
March 1-0
April 0-0
May 0-0
Score first 1-1
Opp Score first 1-2
Plus turnover ratio 1-1
Even turnover ratio 0-0
Minus turnover ratio 0-2
Secretary of Defense
His job is arguably one of the hardest in professional sports. Stop the offense in a league geared towards scoring. Coordinate the defense in a league where wide receivers get a head start on defensive backs. Good luck.
Soul defensive coordinator James Fuller has turned the Philadelphia defensive backs into one of the most dominating groups in the Arena Football League.
With a defense ranked 1st in the Red Zone and two DBs with two interceptions, Fuller's group has even recorded shut outs in the third quarter in two games and only gave up six points to Dallas in the third quarter. With a defense like this, Fuller is making the hardest job in sports look somewhat reasonable.
Feel the Buzzzzzz
The Arena Football League ranked #9 overall on the on Yahoo! Buzz Index for Tuesday, March 2nd. The AFL ranked #1 among "movers," with a 223.37% increase in just one day.
The AFL ranked higher than Allen Iverson (10), David Beckham (14), and the Los Angeles Lakers (19).
The Yahoo! Buzz Index is a measure of the percentage of users searching for that subject on a given day, multiplied by a constant to make the number easier to read.
More precisely, each point is equal to 0.001% of users searching on Yahoo! on a given day. For example, a buzz score of 500 for "AFL" translates to 0.5% of all users searching on Yahoo!*
(*Yahoo.com FAQ)
Your Attendance Please...
Attendance across the Arena Football League has increased 5% from the average of the first four games of the 2003 season. Overall, attendance has increased 12% the 2003 season.
The 2004 average attendance is 12,816 fans per game, up five percent from the 12,198 average after the first four weeks of the 2003 season. The 2004 average is up 12 percent vs. the 2003 season-average attendance of 11,397.
Weeks 1-4 Season Average
2004 12,816 12,816*
2003 12,198 11,397
*Weeks 1-4
Take Your Ball and Go Home!
One of the staples of the Arena Football League is the ability for fans to keep footballs that go into the stands. Philadelphia fans have sure taken to that rule.
In the first Arena Football game played in Philadelphia, all 28 balls the Soul equipment staff brought to the field went home as souvenirs. In the second home game, the Soul brought 16 footballs to the Wachovia Spectrum and only brought back two. Fourteen went into the stands to lucky fans.
So far the Soul has distributed 66 authentic footballs to fans ($5,279.34). This year the Soul are on pace to give away 176 authentic footballs. At their $79.99 retail price, that adds up to $14,078.24 worth of pigskin.
7-11 Jones
Soul OS Tyronne Jones was given the nickname "7-11" by OL/DL Madison Johnson when he noticed one thing in common with the convenience store and offensive specialist, they always seem to be open.
One thing that Jones does not have in common with a 7-11, besides Slurpees, is a concussion. Jones was forced to miss a majority of the Soul/Rush game after suffering a concussion early in the game.
Although he missed a large amount of playing time last week, Jones still ranks among league leaders in nonkicker scoring, tied for 12th place with 54 points on 9 TDs.
One of Nick Browder's favorite targets, Jones has recorded 23 receptions this year for 227 yards and seven TDs.
Ring the Bell
On Wednesday, March 3rd, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange's bell was rung a little harder when Soul WR/DB Keita Crespina, WR/LB Sean Scott and FB/LB Travis McDonald rang the opening bell to the Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
Philadelphia Soul President Ron Jaworski rang the opening bell earlier this year and Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street kicked off trading for the New Year on the floor of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange on Friday, January 2nd.
The Philadelphia Stock Exchange was founded in 1790 and trades nearly 2,100 stocks, 1,100 equity options, 15 sectors index options, and currency options and futures.
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