Preds face tough battle

Published on May 28, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release


A very talented Los Angeles team stands between the Predators and a playoff berth and 10-win season. Game time is 4 p.m. Sunday (NBC-WESH Channel 2 and 740 AM, WQTM).

Ideally, you would want to go into the most important game of the season injury-free, well-rested and with a solid week of preparation behind you. For Head Coach Jay Gruden and his Orlando Predators charges, this week has been anything but ideal.

Injuries, a stifling heat wave, having his team face a five-hour flight across the country, followed by a 1 p.m. game (Pacific) will present the Predators (9-6) with their biggest challenge of the 2004 season when they face the Los Angeles Avengers (9-6) in a game with key playoff implications for both teams.

"We have our backs against the wall and we have a long trip in front of us," Gruden said. "But it is definitely gut check time for this team. We know what is at stake and we know we can not use injuries or anything else for an excuse. Every team is beat up this time of the year."

Still, one has to feel for Gruden -- and his staff -- as the Predators try to post a 10-win season and qualify for a possible first round home playoff game. After all, he has had 12 key players miss a total of 59 games this season because of injuries. Offensive specialist Travis McGriff (hand), OL/DL Jermaine Smith (knee), WR/DB Sean Riley (ankle), FB/LB Marlon Moye-Moore (knee), and WR/DB Lin-J Shell (shoulder) -- all of which are starters or key reserves – will miss this week's game with injuries. Kicker Jay Taylor (hamstring), considered one of the top prospects for first team All-Arena and Kicker of the Year honors, is also listed as questionable with a hamstring injury.

A physical game with New York, combined with stifling heat in the mid-90s, forced Gruden to cut practices short this week when he did not have enough healthy wide receivers to practice.

In addition to the long flight, the Predators will be facing one of the Arena Football League's most dangerous offensive teams in the Avengers. "Ed Hodgkiss is a great offensive mind and his players are very good at executing his offense. They have been the best offensive team in this league for three years and we need to not only slow them down. If they are scoring 50 or 60 points a game, they are extremely hard to beat," Gruden said.

Gruden added that it will take a total team effort to sneak out of California with a win. "Defensively, we need to get some heat on their quarterback and keep him out of any sort of rhythm," Gruden said. "But that's only a third of the battle. We need to execute on offense and special teams. We need to control the ball on offense and limit the number of possessions for both teams. We lost last year's game on special teams when we allowed a huge kickoff return in the final seconds and failed to recover an on-sides kick. We will need to click in all three aspects of this game on Sunday."

Although the Predators are going into the game without their full arsenal of weapons, Gruden does feel good about the momentum his team has gained in recent weeks. In winning six of their last seven games, the Predators have taken over the top spot in the Arena Football League in total defense, pass defense and scoring defense and have allowed just 35.7 points per game over the past seven outings.

"For the last month and half, we have approached every game as a playoff game. Our guys have responded and had a great second half of the season," Gruden said. ‘But that all goes out the window if we lay an egg on Sunday. We need all 20 players we take to Los Angeles to play hard on every snap. We do not want to rely on the help of other teams to get into the playoffs."

The situation for the Predators is simple. Win and they not only qualify but could slip into the top four and host a first round playoff game next weekend at the TD Waterhouse Centre. Lose on Sunday and then Orlando needs to hope for either Tampa Bay, New York or Austin to lose or else the Predators will find themselves out of the playoffs. In that situation, a number seven seed is the best the team can hope for.

"All we want is a seat at the table," Gruden added. "To get there, we need to earn it by beating Los Angeles."

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 28, 2004


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