Philadelphia Soul game notes
February 15, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
SOUL vs. DRAGONS: THE FACTS
Date: Sunday, February 19, 2006
Kickoff: 3:00 PM
Site: Wachovia Center (Philadelphia, PA)
Officials: Referee: Dennis Lipski, Umpire: Rick Nelson, Head Linesman: Kavin McGrath, Line Judge: Darrel Leftwich, Back Judge: Rich Wilborn
THE GAME CAN BE HEARD...
On SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia with Jacob VanRyn handling play-by-play and former Soul WR/DB Keita Crespina adding color analysis.
THE GAME CAN BE SEEN...
The televised broadcast will be announced later in the week. The game will be called by Ari Wolfe (Play-By-Play), Bill Osborn (Color Analyst) and Rhea Hughes (Sideline Reporter).
THE SERIES - SOUL VS. DRAGONS
1-3
This will be the fifth meeting between the Soul and Dragons. New York has won three of four meetings against Philadelphia including a two game sweep last season.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
If the Soul win, it would
- Give the Soul a 2-3 record vs. the Dragons
- Give the Soul a 3-1 overall record
- Give the Soul a 3-0 home record
THE SOUL'S GAME vs. Orlando
Offensive Player of the Game: Jerrian James (ORL)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Jermaine Mays (ORL)
ARMY Ironman of the Game: Clif Dell (ORL)
ORLANDO - Joe Hamilton threw four touchdown passes and also ran for a score in the Orlando Predators' 47-33 victory over the Philadelphia Soul on Saturday night in the Arena Football League.
Hamilton was 11-of-20 for 225 yards, and Jerrian James led the Predators (2-1) in receiving with four catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns.
Matt Sauk was 32-of-49 for 271 yards and four TDs for the Soul (2-1).
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 SCORE
Philadelphia 0 10 15 8 33
Orlando 0 17 16 14 47
SOUL VS DRAGONS
BY THE NUMBERS
Statistical SOUL DRAGONS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Offense/Total Yards/Game 12 278.3 13 275.3
Offense/Yards/Game 16 5.3 5 6.8
Offense/Rushing Yards/Game 3 37.0 16 10.3
Offense/Rushing Yards/Attempt 8 2.5 7 2.6
Offense/Passing Net Yards/Game 12 241.3 9 265.0
Offense/Passing Net Yards/Play 13 6.4 7 7.2
Offense/Passing Pct. Intercepted 7 1.8 9 2.0
Offense/First Downs/Game 8 20.0 5 21.0
Offense/3rd Down Pct. 6 51.7 13 40.0
Ofense/4th Down Pct. 3t 3-for-4 11t 2-for-5
Kickoff Return Average 11 16.5 6 18.4
Offense/Points/Game 13 44.0 6 54.3
Field Goal Pct. 10t 50.0 10t 50.0
Penalties/Game 14 8.0 6 5.7
Defense/Total Yards/Game 9 275.0 18 337.3
Defense/Yards/Play 12 6.3 17 7.1
Defense/Rushing Yards/Game 16 26.7 15 26.0
Defense/Rushing Yards/Attempt 18 4.0 14 2.9
Defense/Passing Net Yards/Game 6 248.3 18 311.3
Defense/Passing Net Yards/Play 8 6.7 17 8.1
Defense/Passing Pct. Intercepted 1 4.8 10 2.7
Defense/Sacks Per 100 Pass Plays 2 5.41 6 2.61
Defense/First Downs/Game 2 16.0 18 24.3
Defense/3rd Down Pct. 7 41.7 17 66.7
Defense/4th Down Pct. 11 57.1 8 50.0
Defense/Kickoff Return Average 6 14.9 15 19.7
Defense/Points/Game 3 38.0 18 61.7
Defense/Field Goal Pct. 6 37.5 7 40.0
Defense/Penalty Yards/Game 4 44.3 5t 44.0
Total Offense 12 835 13 826
Total Defense 9 825 18 1,012
AFL: LEAGUE LEADERS AFTER WEEK 2
PHILADELPHIA SOUL TOP 20
Player Rank Category Stat
Sean Scott 2t Rushing Yards 63
1t Third-And-One Rushing 2-for-2
30t Third-Down Receiving 1
15t Receptions 21
15t Third-Down Receiving 3
17 Most Yards From Scrimmage 242
12t First Downs 15
12t Scorers (Non-kickers) 30
10t Special-Teams Tackles 3.5
Marcus Knight 19t Receptions 19
12t First Down 15
13 All-Purpose Yards 346
11 Missed-Field-Goal Returns 29
17 Combined Kickoff/Field Goals 16.6
Mike Brown 15 Rushing Yards 23
20 All-Purpose Yards 313
12 Kickoff Returns 18.0
4 Missed-Field-Goal Returns 49
6 Combined Kickoff/Field Goals 19.9
4t Interceptions 2
Todd France 9t Leading Scorers (Kickers) 26
4t Touchbacks 7
Eddie Moten 11t Interceptions 1
17t Combined Tackles 17.0
10t Passes Defended 4
Reggie Doster 11t Interceptions 1
Kevin Gaines 11t Interceptions 1
E.J. Burt 9t Sacks 1.5
13t Tackles For Loss 1.5
Ernest Allen 13t Sacks 1.0
Dwayne Missouri 13t Sacks 1.0
Raheem Orr 13t Sacks 1.0
Matt Sauk 1t Fumble Recoveries 3
J.J. McKelvey 10t Special-Teams Tackles 3.5
THE COACHES
Brett Munsey (First Season)
Bret Munsey becomes the third head coach for the Philadelphia Soul, as the organization heads into its third season in 2006. With an extensive coaching background, this will be Munsey's first head coaching position in the League.
Munsey, 37, joins the Soul after serving on Orlando's staff for three seasons under Jay Gruden. After joining the Predators in 2003 and serving as the team's offensive coordinator and wide receivers/defensive backs coach, he was promoted to assistant head coach in August of 2003. This role also included his director of player personnel and defensive coordinator roles throughout the last two seasons.
In 2005 the Predators finished with a 10-6 regular season record and lost in the conference finals to the Georgia Force. The team ranked third in the League in scoring defense (47.2 ppg), fifth in total defense (269.2 ypg) and second in pass rating defense (98.9).
In his role as defensive coordinator, Munsey organized Orlando's defensive game plans and served as defensive backs coach. His 2004 defense ranked first in the league in scoring defense (43.1), total defense (236.8 ypg) and pass rating defense (95.7).
The Soul look to capitalize on Munsey's defensive knowledge. Philadelphia was the worst in the League against the run last season, allowing 576 yards. They also allowed the second most touchdowns in the League and made the least amount of tackles. Cutting down on stats like these are Munsey's top priority.
In his role as assistant head coach, Munsey handled several administrative duties for the Predators -- including planning and conducting training camp, tryouts and player housing. He was also in charge of recruiting and handled contract compliance with the League.
In his first season with the Predators, Munsey served as offensive coordinator and coached the wide receivers and defensive backs.
Munsey came to the Predators from the Carolina Cobras, where he served as defensive coordinator. Under his guidance, the Cobras were ranked in the top five in the Arena Football League in many defensive categories and came within one play of earning a spot in the semifinals.
Prior to his stint in Carolina, Munsey served as head coach and director of football operations for the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the af2. During his first season as a head coach, Munsey led his team to a 14-2 regular season record (15-3 overall). His defense ranked in the top five in all major categories and three defensive players were named to the "All-af2" team.
Following that outstanding season, Munsey was named "af2 Coach of the Year" in a vote by his peers.
Weylan Harding (Second Season)
Weylan Harding begins his second season as the head coach of the Dragons in 2006. In his rookie season last year, he took the Dragons to their third consecutive Eastern Division Championship with a 10-6 record. He was also a runner up for Coach of the Year honors and mentored All-Arena and All-Rookie sensation DS Billy Parker. Running the Dragons' defense, Harding's defensive backs led the league in interceptions with 28.
Before joining the Dragons in August 2005, Harding has spent the previous three seasons as the Columbus/Buffalo franchise's defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. After his career as an AFL player concluded, Harding took his first coaching assignment with the Destroyers as their defensive backs coach for the 2000 season. Under his direct guidance, DS Prentice Taylor was an All-Rookie selection. The following season he mentored the defensive backs for the Rochester Brigade of arenafootball2, including former San Francisco cornerback Dwaine Carpenter who later followed him back to Buffalo. The Destroyers brought Harding back as their defensive coordinator in 2002. In 2003 the Destroyers' defense finished as the top-ranked unit in the AFL, allowing only 219.1 yards per game. His unit also finished second in the league in total defense with 238.5 yards per game, four in scoring defense with 46.9 yards per game and fourth in team interceptions with 21. He made the move with the franchise to Columbus for the 2004 season.
As a player, Harding was a defensive specialist for the Iowa Barnstormers - now the Dragons - Nashville and Portland before retiring as a player with Buffalo in 2000.
Harding had a standout collegiate career at Iowa State University where he was a key component to their defensive unit in the early '90s. In his junior season, he was named to the All-Big 8 team with 74 tackles and 21 pass deflections.
At Iowa State, Harding majored in English. He is currently single and resides in Oyster Bay, NY
2006 SEASON
Offensive Player of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 TB Tony Graziani (PHI)
2 LA Matt Sauk (PHI)
3 ORL Jerrian James (ORL)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 TB Kevin Gaines (PHI)
2 LA Ernest Allen (PHI)
3 ORL Jermaine Mays (ORL)
Army Ironman of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 TB Sean Scott (PHI)
2 LA Kevin Ingram (LAA)
3 ORL Clif Dell (ORL)
MILESTONE WATCH
PLAYER MILESTONE CURRENT NUMBER TO GO
Tony Graziani 400 Touchdown Passes 362 38
Kevin Gaines 500 Total Tackles 434 66
Also:
-Tony Graziani is the only quarterback in League's history to throw 90 or more touchdown passes in three consecutive seasons.
-Kevin Gaines is ranked ninth all-time in the Arena Football League in total tackles (434) and is sixth all-time in interceptions (36).
SOUL'S NOTES AND TRENDS
LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN
Against Orlando, the Soul had seven different receivers record catches in the game. The team record was set in the inaugural season when nine different players had catches (@ New York, May 30, 2004).
DWAYNE WAYNE
OL/DL Dwayne Missouri had his first career receiving touchdown pass against Orlando last week. The one-yard touchdown pass occurred in the third quarter with 5:10 to go. This is Missouri's fourth season in the AFL and third with the Soul.
FAMILIAR FACES
Soul FB/LB Wes Ours will be seeing a familiar face this week when Philadelphia hosts the Dragons. New York WR/DB Angel Estrada is a former college teammate of Ours. Both played college football at West Virginia. This game will mark the first time that Ours and Estrada will face one another on the field in the AFL.
SAUK'S START
Quarterback Matt Sauk put up impressive numbers during his first career start last week when he led the Soul against the Orlando Predators. He set a franchise record with 32 completions on 49 attempts for 271 yards with four touchdowns. Sauk's 49 attempts ranks him second in team history (Tony Graziani, 51 vs. Dallas, 5/22/2005).
RUN BY NUMBERS
Last week in Orlando, the Grey and Blue broke their all-time team rushing attempts record for the second time this season. They ran the ball 18 times and previously broke the record in the first game of the season by running the ball 16 times. Prior to this season, the record was 13 rushing attempts in a season.
NY vs. PHILLY, PART II
The Dragons will be heading to Philly this weekend for the second time in 2006; the two teams faced off in a pre-season match up at the Wachovia Spectrum in mid-January. The Soul dominated on defense, holding the Dragons to just 20 points. Philly upended New York unofficially, 59-20.
WELCOME HOME
New York OL/DL Joe Laudano returns to his old stomping grounds for Sunday's game. Laudano, a North Philadelphia native, started his last three years for Temple University. Also returning to the tri-state area is WR/DB DaShane Dennis of Wilmington, DE. Dennis played college ball for Delaware State University. Dennis also played for the Soul during the inaugural season in 2004.
FLIP THE SCRIPT
Last week, the Philadelphia Soul lost to the Orlando Predators 33-47, when, coincidentally, the Soul beat the Avengers the previous week by the same exact score, 47-33.
3,2,1 PICK OFF
Just three games into the 2006 season, the Soul's defense has racked up five interceptions. Mike Brown leads the team with two, followed by Kevin Gaines, Eddie Moten and Reggie Doster; each with one.
TOP IT OFF
WR/LB Sean Scott is ranked among the League leaders in several different categories. He is currently tied for second in rushing yards (63) and third-and-one rushing (2-for-2). He is also tied for 12th in first downs (15), receptions (22), 15th in third-down receptions (3) and 17th in yards from scrimmage (242). He keeps his impressive resume going as he is tied for 12th in scoring (30 points) and tied for 10th in special teams combined tackles (3.5).
TEMPLE TEAMMATES FACE OFF
Soul OL/DL Donny Klein welcomes his old college teammate Laudano, now a Dragon, back to Philadelphia. However, they'll be on the opposite sides of the football. Klein and Laudano played football together at Temple University for four years, where they both started. This will be the second meeting between the two as opponents. They met last season while Klein was a member of the ArenaBowl Champion Colorado Crush during the last week of the last week of the regular season (May 21, 2005).
THE BIG Z
QB Tony Graziani is 3-2 in games against the New York Dragons. In those games, he has connected on 113 of 188 passes for 1,301 yards with 28 touchdowns and three interceptions.
LEADER OF THE PACK
Graziani and Dragon's QB Aaron Garcia have taken different roads to get where they are now and the statistics from each of their first five AFL seasons are indicators of their differences. Graziani jumpstarted his arena career with numbers that nearly doubled those of Garcia. The numbers below are the totals of both players' first five seasons.
PLAYER COMP ATT YARDS TD INT
GRAZIANI 1,271 2,064 16,638 359 45
GARCIA 677 1,176 8,755 151 34
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