Philadelphia Soul game notes
April 3, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
WEEK 6 - SOUL VS FORCE: THE FACTS
Date: Monday, April 9, 2007
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
Site: Wachovia Center
Officials: Referee: Riley Johnson, Umpire: Rick Podraza, Head Linesman: Jullian Mapp, Line Judge: R.G. Detillier, Back Judge: Bud McCleskey
THE GAME CAN BE HEARD...
On SportsTalk950 in Philadelphia with Ari Wolfe handling the call.
THE GAME CAN BE SEEN...
Live on ESPN with Mike Greenberg handling the play-by-play and Mike Golic as the color analysis.
THE SERIES - SOUL VS. FORCE
This week's game between Philadelphia and Georgia will be the second meeting between the two teams. The Soul came away with the victory (57-41) during the final game of the regular season last year in Atlanta. Philadelphia made a comeback against the Force after starting the game down by 13 points. The Soul scored 29 unanswered to go a head 43-27 before going on to take the win 57-41.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
If the Soul win, it would
- Give the Soul a 2-0 record vs. Georgia
- Give the Soul a 5-0 overall record
- Give the Soul a 2-0 home record
SCHEDULES
Philadelphia Soul (4-0)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
-- BYE -- -- --
March 9 @ Nashville 8:00 W 63-30
March 15 @ Grand Rapids 7:00 W 69-40
March 22 Colorado 7:00 W 71-47
April 1 @ New York 1:00 W 65-60
April 9 Georgia 7:30
April 16 @ Dallas 8:00
April 23 @ Columbus 7:30
April 30 @ Chicago 7:30
May 5 Kansas City 7:00
May 14 New York 7:30
May 21 New Orleans 7:30
May 27 @ Austin 4:05
June 1 Dallas 7:30
June 9 @ Tampa Bay 7:30
June 16 Columbus 7:00
June 21 Orlando 7:00
All Times EST
Geoergia Force (4-1)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
March 3 @ Arizona 9:00 W 69-65
March 11 Austin 3:30 W 60-51
March 17 @ Tampa Bay 7:30 W 61-47
March 24 San Jose 7:00 W 64-62
March 30 @ Columbus 7:00 L 61-62
April 9 @ Philadelphia 7:30
April 15 Las Vegas 3:30
April 21 Dallas 7:00
April 27 @ New Orleans 7:00
May 4 Orlando 7:30
-- BYE -- -- --
May 19 Los Angeles 10:30
May 26 Tampa Bay 7:00
June 2 Columbus 7:00
June 9 @ Austin 8:30
June 15 @ Orlando 7:30
June 24 New Orleans 3:30
THE SOUL'S GAME VS. NEW YORK (Week 5)
Offensive Player of the Game: Tony Graziani (PHI)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Eddie Moten (PHI)
Ironman of the Game: Charles Pauley (PHI)
NEW YORK.-- Tony Graziani threw six touchdown passes to help the Philadelphia Soul beat the New York Dragons 65-60 on Sunday in the Arena Football League.
Graziani was 24-of-41 for 297 yards. Larry Brackins led the Soul (4-0) in receiving with eight catches for 105 yards and two touchdowns, and Charles Pauley had eight catches for 100 yards and two scores.
Rohan Davey threw three TD passes for the Dragons (1-3).
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 FINAL
Philadelphia 20 24 7 14 65
New York 14 14 14 18 60
THE COACHES
Bret Munsey (2nd Season) (13-7 regular season) (1-1 postseason)
Bret Munsey became the third head coach for the Philadelphia Soul and helped led them to their first postseason last year. He compiled a 9-7 regular season record for the first winning season in the Soul's three-year history. Following the 2006 season, he received a two-year contract extension through the 2008 season.
Munsey, 38, came to 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 his final two seasons there.
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.
Doug Plank (3rd Season) (23-14 regular season, 3-2 postseason)
Doug Plank enters his third season as head coach of the Georgia Force in 2007. In his first two seasons as Georgia's head coach, he has led the Force to a 22-15 overall record and a trip to ArenaBowl XIX in 2005. Under Plank's tutelage, Georgia has made consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in franchise history. In 2005, Plank was voted AFL Coach of the Year after leading the Force to a league best 11-5 regular season record and a 13-6 record overall.
In his second season as the Force's head coach, Plank drove the team to an 8-8 record and their second consecutive playoff berth. Plank secured his third playoff win in two seasons when the Force defeated New York in their Wild Card Game. His opportunistic defense returned seven interceptions for touchdowns during the regular season in 2006. The seven returns are a franchise-high and tied an AFL record.
In 2005, in his first season has a head coach, Plank led the Force to an 11-5 record. The 11-5 mark was the best record in franchise history and secured the Force's first Southern Division Championship and the number one seed in the playoffs. The Force went on to win the inaugural National Conference Championship game by defeating the Orlando Predators. The victory secured Georgia's place in ArenaBowl XIX.
Plank has coached in four of the last five ArenaBowls. He helped lead the Arizona Rattlers to three ArenaBowls as their defensive coordinator. In his final season with the Rattlers, the team finished with an 11-5 record and earned the top seed in the AFL playoffs.
A former member of The Ohio State University football team, Plank played in three consecutive Rose Bowls (1973-75). While at Ohio State, he played for legendary coach Woody Hayes.
Plank brings with him a wealth of football experience that includes an impressive career in the NFL. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 12th round of the 1975 NFL Entry Draft and started at safety for eight seasons. The "46 Defense" created by Buddy Ryan was named for Plank's jersey number and aggressive style of play. Plank was also the first Bears rookie to ever lead the team in tackles.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Offensive Player of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 BYE ---
2 @ NAS PHI - Tony Graziani
3 @ GRR PHI - Tony Graziani
4 COL PHI - Tony Graziani
5 @ NYD PHI - Tony Graziani
6 GEO
7 @ DAL
8 @ CMB
9 @ CHI
10 KCB
11 NYD
12 NOV
13 @ AUS
14 DAL
15 @ TBS
16 CMB
17 ORL
ADT Defensive Player of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 BYE ---
2 @ NAS PHI - Eddie Moten
3 @ GRR PHI - Eddie Moten
4 COL PHI - Eddie Moten
5 @ NYD PHI - Eddie Moten
6 GEO
7 @ DAL
8 @ CMB
9 @ CHI
10 KCB
11 NYD
12 NOV
13 @ AUS
14 DAL
15 @ TBS
16 CMB
17 ORL
Ironman of the Game
Week Opp. Player
1 BYE ---
2 @ NAS PHI - Sean Scott
3 @ GRR PHI - Mike Brown
4 COL PHI - Mike Brown
5 @ NYD PHI - Charles Pauley
6 GEO
7 @ DAL
8 @ CMB
9 @ CHI
10 KCB
11 NYD
12 NOV
13 @ AUS
14 DAL
15 @ TBS
16 CMB
17 ORL
SOUL'S NOTES AND TRENDS
4 for 4
For the fourth week in a row, Tony Graziani and Eddie Moten were named Offensive and Defensive Players of the Game. Graziani followed it up by being named the League's Offensive Player of the Week in Week 5 and Moten was recognized by the League twice as the ADT Defensive Player of the Week after his play against Nashville in Week 2 and this past week against New York.
WHAT'S GOING ON
Eddie Moten is in the process of testing his skills right now, but in a different way. For four consecutive weeks he has the task of defending former Offensive Player of the Year winners. It began two weeks ago when he was faced with containing Damian Harrell of the Colorado Crush (2005-06). He then faced Mike Horacek (2000) of New York and will take on Chris Jackson (2003) this week. Next week, it doesn't get any easier as he will take on Marcus Nash (2004) of Dallas.
WE'RE GOING STREAKING!!!
Speaking of Eddie Moten, he extended his streak of consecutive games with an interception making it seven dating back to last season. Last year, he tallied 13 to tie the record for most picks in a season and he has four so far this season in as many games. The record for most consecutive games with an interception is nine by Chris Poston (6/27/1992 - 6/11/1993).
ANOTHER STREAK?
Mike Brown is following behind Eddie Moten for the most consecutive games with an interception. Brown has caught an interception in three consecutive games.
L-BOOGIE
Larry Brackins had the best game of his AFL career with eight receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns. In his first game in Philadelphia during Week 4 against Colorado, Brackins had six receptions for 78 yards with three touchdowns.
UNBEATEN
Philadelphia will enter Week 6 of the season undefeated as they host the Georgia Force in their second home game of the season. This is the first time in Soul history they have gone undefeated in the first five weeks.
REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME?
First year head coaches with 10 or more wins including postseason in AFL history:
- Bret Munsey (2006-Philadelphia Soul, 10-7)
- Doug Plank (2005-Georgia Force, 13-6)
- Weylan Harding (2005-New York Dragons, 10-7)
- Jay Gruden (1998-Orlando Predators, 12-5)
- Fran Curci (1991-Tampa Bay Storm, 10-2)
- Perry Moss (1988-Chicago Bruisers, 11-2-1)
HIGH SCORE
In the previous four games, the Soul have scored more than 60 points per game. Last season, they only surpassed 60 points once and that was against the New York Dragons when they posted a franchise record with 75 on 2/19/06.
MILESTONE
With nine tackles last week, Eddie Moten surpassed 200 career tackles giving him 201 for his career and a team-high 25.5 so far this season.
C-MONEY
Charles Pauley already has 511 receiving yards in four games of play and has nearly surpassed his career high of 646 receiving yards he had last season with the San Jose SaberCats.
TRIPLE THREAT
Three Soul players, Dwayne Missouri, Bryan Save and Brian Mance, have two fumble recoveries each for the season. The League high for fumble recoveries this season is three.
WES EXPRESS
Wes Ours has compiled 65 receiving yards this season crushing his career high of 33 yards and giving him 98 receiving yards for his career.
HOMETOWN HIGH
With four games of action under their belts, the Soul have played in front of thousands of fans this season. The most fans to see the Blue and Grey play was in their only home game so far this season with 14,721. The next highest was last week against the Dragons with 8,729.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Larry Brackins is second in the League for the most special teams tackles with 6.5. He is just half a tackle shy of leader Matt Rupp (7.0, Arizona)
BACK AGAIN
Former Soul players Reggie Doster and Ernest Allen will return to Philadelphia to play their former team when Philadelphia hosts the Georgia Force. This will be the second time this season Doster will go up against the Soul. The first time he faced his former team was in Week 3 for Grand Rapids. As for Allen, he earned All-Arena second team honors while with the Soul in 2006. Accompanying Doster and Allen will be director of football operation Jim Kubiak who is the Soul's former offensive coordinator from last season.
BORN IDENTITY
Georgia Force WR Chris Jackson will be returning close to his hometown this week since he was born in Bristol, PA.
GIVE ME THE MIC
In the off-season, Force head coach Doug Plank works as an analyst for the Sports USA radio network alongside Tony Graziani. Graziani also works as a commentator for the network covering college football and NFL games.
TEAMMATES
Former teammates Tony Graziani and Chris Jackson will meet again when the Soul take on the Force this week. Graziani and Jackson played together for the Los Angeles Avengers from 2001-2004. They became very familiar with each other and Graziani helped lead Jackson in being named Offensive Player of the Year in 2003.
COMEBACK
The head athletic trainer for the Force, Nick Pituk is a graduate of Temple University (1999). He worked at Drexel University as well as an assistant athletic trainer.
T.O.P.
Philadelphia and Georgia are the two teams with the lowest amount of time in possession of the ball. Philadelphia is ranked 18th with an average of 26:47 followed by Georgia at 19 with an average of 24:54.
BIG MONDAY
This will be the first Monday Night Football game of the season for Philadelphia. Following this week's game, the Soul have the next three contests on Monday nights and finish out the season with six total Monday games including this week.
THE DUECE
This week's game is the second game of the year the Blue and Grey will be on ESPN2 with Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg handling the call. The first time they covered the Soul was in the season home opener against the Colorado Crush in Week 4. Philadelphia has seven total games on ESPN2 this season. Those seven appearances are the most by any team in the AFL.
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