Philadelphia Soul game notes
Published on April 11, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
Date: Monday, April 16, 2007
Kickoff: 7:30 PM ET
Site: American Airlines Arena
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 play-by-play and Director of Communications Brian Sternberg doing color commentary.
THE GAME CAN BE SEEN...
Live on ESPN with Trey Wingo handling the play-by-play and Mark Schlereth as the color analysis.
THE SERIES - SOUL VS. DESPERADOS
This week's game between Philadelphia and Dallas will be the seventh meeting between the two teams. The Soul came away winning the two game series last season against the Desperados with a victory in Texas (55-51) and then at the Spectrum in Week 15 (51-48). In those two contests, Eddie Moten intercepted Dallas quarterback Clint Dolezel four times.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
If the Soul win, it would
- Give the Soul a 4-3 record vs. Dallas
- Give the Soul a 5-1 overall record
- Give the Soul a 4-0 road 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 L 49-57
April 16 @ Dallas 7:30
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
Dallas Desperados (6-0)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
March 4 @ New York 11:30 am W 60-7
March 10 Tampa Bay 7:30 W 59-40
March 16 @ Kansas City 7:00 W 66-54
March 26 @ Orlando 6:00 W 70-49
March 31 Austin 7:30 W 68-64
April 5 Columbus 7:30 W 53-51
April 16 Philadelphia 7:00
April 21 @ Georgia 6:00
April 27 Nashville 7:30
May 4 @ Utah 8:00
May 11 Chicago 7:30
May 18 BYE -- -- --
May 26 @ Columbus 6:00
June 1 @ Philadelphia 6:30
June 9 New Orleans 7:30
June 16 New York 7:30
June 25 @ Colorado 9:00
All Times CS
THE SOUL'S GAME VS. GEORGIA (Week 6)
Offensive Player of the Game: Troy Bergeron (GEO)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Hamin Milligan (GEO)
Ironman of the Game: Chris Jackson (GEO)
PHILADELPHIA -- Chris Greisen threw seven touchdown passes to help the Georgia Force beat the Philadelphia Soul 57-49 in the Arena Football League.
Greisen was 22-of-29 for 344 yards, and Troy Bergeron led the Force in receiving with eight catches for 182 yards and four touchdowns. Chris Jackson added eight catches for 124 yards and two scores.
Georgia improved to 5-1 with Monday night's win in Philadelphia.
Tony Graziani threw three TD passes for the Soul, who lost for the first time in five games.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 FINAL
Georgia 14 21 13 9 57
Philadelphia 14 14 7 14 49
THE COACHES
Bret Munsey (2nd Season) (13-8 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.
Will McClay (4th Season) (33-20-1 regular season, 1-1 postseason)
Will McClay is in his fourth season at the helm of the Dallas Desperados after leading his 2006 squad to a league-record tying 13-3 record. The team fell one game short of reaching ArenaBowl XX, but McClay was honored as the AFL's Coach of the Year.
McClay was named the Desperados head coach on Feb. 5, 2004 - just three days prior to kicking off the 2004 season - after former head coach Joe Avezzano announced his resignation to return to the NFL. With a 6-10 record in his first year at the helm, McClay improved the club's record in his second season to 8-7-1 and accomplished the same feat in his third season, leading the Desperados to their best record in franchise history, 13-3, their second division title - first ever Eastern Division title - and the team's third trip to the postseason. He remained the team's defensive coordinator for thee years while serving as the club's head coach, but will hand the defensive coordinator role to James Fuller for the 2007 season.
McClay played a key role in bringing quarterback Clint Dolezel to help lead Dallas to the playoffs and their second division crown in 2006. McClay was also instrumental on re-signing key starters in Dialleo Burks, Will Pettis, Jason Shelley and the 2006 AFL Lineman of the Year Colston Weatherington. While still holding onto the role of defensive coordinator, McClay's defensive unit was the stingiest in the league, allowing just 44.4 points-per-game. His work allowed Dallas to become just the fourth team in league history to lead the league in points-per-game while giving up the fewest points on defense. The defense's success is evidenced by allowing just seven points-or-less in 30 quarters and pitching shutouts in 11 of those quarters.
In McClay's second season leading the Desperados in 2005, he improved the club's 6-10 finish in 2004 to 8-7-1, and his defense finished the 2005 season as the league's stingiest in opponents completion percentage, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete just 58.0% of their passes. His defense finished second in the league in passing yards-per-game allowed (238.3) and third in the league in yards-per-game allowed (261.8).
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 GEO - Troy Bergeron
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 GEO - Hamin Milligan
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 GEO - Chris Jackson
7 @ DAL
8 @ CMB
9 @ CHI
10 KCB
11 NYD
12 NOV
13 @ AUS
14 DAL
15 @ TBS
16 CMB
17 ORL
SOUL vs. DESPERADOS
BY THE NUMBERS
Statistical SOUL DESPERADOS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Offense/Total Yards/Game 13 288.3 (1,153) 4 315.2 (1,576)
Offense/Yards/Play 3 7.5 2 8.0
Offense/Rushing Yards/Game 6 23.3 (93) 13 16.8 (84)
Offense/Passing Yards/Game 14 265.0 2 298.4
Offense/Passing Yards/Play 3 8.6 1 9.0
Offense/Intercepted 8 3 12 5
Offense/Sacks Allowed 4 1 5 2
First Downs 16 18.3 (73) 8 21.2 (108)
Offense/3rd Down Pct. 2 14-of-21 (66.7) 16 7-of-17 (41.2)
Offense/4th Down Pct. 9 2-of-3 (66.7) 15 3-of-7 (42.9)
Kickoff Return Average 4 20.3 (17-345) 12 16.5 (28-463)
Offense/Points/Game 1 67.0 (268) 5 63.0 (315)
Field Goal Pct. 9 50% (2-of-4) 1 100.0% (1-of-1)
Penalties/Game 18 9.5 10 7.8
Penalties Yards/Game 14 52.5 (210) 3 37.2 (186)
Defense/Total Yards/Game 14 303.5 17 308.4
Defense/Yards/Play 6 6.2 3 5.8
Defense/Rushing Yards/Game 3 7.0 (28) 11 22.4 (112)
Defense/Passing Yards/Game 18 296.5 15 286.0
Defense/Interceptions 1 8 19 2
Defense/Sacks 1 8 4 9
Defense/First Downs/Game 1 19.0 19 23.2
Defense/3rd Down Pct. 9 48.6% (15-of-31) 3 38.5%(15-of-39)
Defense/4th Down Pct. 4 37.5% (3-of-8) 12 66.7% (8-of-12)
Defense/Kickoff Return Average 7 16.7 (29-484) 19 22.3(40-890)
Defense/Points/Game 4 44.3 (177) 12 57.4 (287)
Defense/Penalties/Game 16 6.8 7 8.0
Defense/Penalty Yards/Game 14 40.5 11 46.4
Points/Game Differential 1 +22.75 6 +5.60
Give-Aways/Take-Aways 1 7/16 (+9) 11 7/6 (-1)
MILESTONE WATCH
PLAYER MILESTONE CURRENT NUMBER TO GO
Tony Graziani 2,000 Completions 1,600 400
Sean Scott 300 Receptions 238 62
3,000 Receiving Yards 2,779 221
Johnnie Harris 300 Total Tackles 271 29
100 Pass Breakups 73 27
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.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 11, 2007
- Dallas Looks To Stay Undefeated In Eastern Division Showdown - AFL I
- "A-Team" dancers put on clinic - Los Angeles Avengers
- Dolezel Can Secure Another Spot In Record Books - AFL I
- Philadelphia Soul game notes - Philadelphia Soul
- Nelly Furtado To Perform At Colorado Crush Game April 20th - Colorado Crush
- Rampage's April 21 Home Game Sold Out - Grand Rapids Rampage
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