Quick Hitters

June 13, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

RUSHING TO THE DEFENSE: Since a 52-41 loss at Arizona in Week Six, the Chicago Rush (5-3) have outscored their last two opponents 97-31, registering the two best defensive efforts in team history with back-to-back wins against New Jersey (44-14) and Detroit (53-17). In three losses, the Rush has allowed 55.5 points.

WAKE ME UP FOR THE PLAYOFFS: The New York Dragons (2-6) are off to a rough start, but found themselves in a similar spot last year going 4-6 before winning four straight to earn a playoff berth. the road doesn't get much easier with Orlando, San Jose, and Chicago coming up, but head coach JOHN GREGORY knows a thing or two about winning down the stretch. in three previous seasons, including two with the Iowa Barnstormers, Gregory's teams have finished a combined 13-5 (72%) in the last six games of each season, tied for second-best among the league's current teams (San Jose 13-5; Tampa Bay 14-4).

ORDINARY HEROES, NO MORE: The Tampa Bay Storm (3-5) have used late game heroics to rebound from a 1-5 start, and have won two straight. MIKE BLACK made a 21-yard FG as time expired in a 53-52 win at Indiana and SCOTT MILANOVICH hit DAVID SAUNDERS for a 4-yard strike with seven seconds to go in a 48-45 thriller against Orlando last week. since stepping in for SHANE STAFFORD during a 45-49 loss at Carolina in Week Six, Milanovich has completed 55-of-92 passes (59.7%) for 652 yards, 12 TDs and two INTs in Tampa Bay's last two games.

FORCING THE ISSUE: Before holding their last two opponents to an average of just 28 points, including a 35-22 defeat of the Toronto Phantoms last week, the Georgia Force (3-5) had lost their previous five games, giving up 53.2 points per game. Here's a look at the Force defensive turnaround:

DEF. CATEGORY... LAST 2 WINS... PREVIOUS 5 LOSSES
Interceptions... 4... 5
Tackles for Loss... 3... 4
QB hurries... 4... 0
Pass Breakups... 8... 6

TURN ME AROUND, AND AROUND: The New Jersey Gladiators (5-3) are on course for the biggest turnaround in league history (see below) after finishing 2-12 last year. Last week, they beat Grand Rapids 70-42, the first win for a Jersey team against a defending champ since the former Red Dogs beat the Arizona Rattlers 64-57 on July 26, 1998. Coach FRANK HAEGE now has a 42-4 record in Arena Football games, which includes a 37-1 record with the Quad City Steamwheelers of arenafootball2. Here's a look at the league's best turnarounds of the '90s:

SIX GAME IMPROVEMENT:
San Jose 6-8 to 12-2 (1999-00)
Iowa 5-9 to 11-3 (1998-99)
Milwaukee 4-8 to 10-4 (1995-96)
Orlando 3-7 to 9-1 (1991-92)

FIVE GAME IMPROVEMENT:
Carolina 3-11 to 8-6 (2000-01)
Grand Rapids 6-8 to 11-3 (2000-01)
Iowa 7-5 to 12-2 (1995-96)
Albany 5-7 to 10-2 (1993-94)

WHO NEEDS PASSING! With 37.2 yards per game and 23 TDs, the San Jose SaberCats are the league's best rushing offense - and it could forecast a trip to the ArenaBowl if history proves correct. Here's a look at the teams in the last 5 championship games and how they ranked in rushing offense (CHAMPS IN CAPS):

TEAM, YR... YDS... AVG/G... RANK
GRAND RAPIDS, 2001... 271... 19.4... No. 6
Nashville, 2001... 490... 30.0... No. 1

ORLANDO, 2000... 515... 36.8... No. 2
Nashville, 2000... 515... 36.8... No. 2

ALBANY, 1999... 822... 58.7... No. 1
Orlando, 1999... 430... 30.7... No. 2

ORLANDO, 1998... 433... 30.9... No. 3
Tampa Bay, 1998... 337... 24.1... No. 6

ARIZONA, 1997... 713... 50.9... No. 5
Iowa, 1997... 319... 22.8... No. 8

STILL SCRATCHING AT 20-10: Chicago's Ironman of the Year, DAMEON PORTER burst onto the scene in 2001 and nearly became the first player in history to grab at least 20 TDs and 10 INTs in the same season (he finished with 18-12). This year, Porter along with New York's MIKE FURREY has a shot at the achievement, but it will take a big effort by each in the season's last six games. Here's a look at the numbers:

PLAYER... TD... INT... DOWN THE STRETCH
Mike Furrey... 15... 4 ... Needs to average 1.0 INT/Grab 5 more TDs
Dameon Porter... 5... 6... Needs to average 2.5 TDs/Grab 4 more INTs

'ANYONE UP FOR A GAME OF H-O-R-S-E?' No, the San Jose SaberCats aren't an NBA farm team, rather the highest scoring offensive unit this side of 16 seasons. Scoring 519 points in eight games (64.9 per game), the SaberCats are on target to tally more points than any other team in history. Last year 's New York Dragons currently hold the top spot with 898 points (64.1). In 2000, the SaberCats became the first team to average 60+ in one season, and could hold three of the top five positions in highest scoring offenses. The next highest scoring team this season is Dallas (56.1). San Jose is 40-of-43 (93%) in Red Zone efficiency. Here's a look at the top 10 juggernauts in league history:

TEAM, YR... PTS... AVG/G
New York, 2001... 898... 64.1
Albany, 1996... 873... 62.4
San Jose, 2000... 871... 62.4
San Jose, 2001... 831... 59.4
Albany, 1999... 822... 58.7
Albany, 2000... 815... 58.2
Indiana, 2001... 814... 58.1
Iowa, 1997... 803... 57.4
Grand Rapids, 2001... 801... 57.2
Iowa, 2000... 797... 56.9

MOON OVER DALLAS? NO LONGER: With 10 TDs this past week against Indiana, Dallas Desperados QB ANDY KELLY became the most prolific touchdown passer in pro football history. Kelly has thrown 444 TDs in nine AFL seasons (427); two in NFL Europe (17). WARREN MOON held the all-time record with 435 with 291 coming in the NFL; 144 in the CFL. Here's a look at the top 5 in history:

ALL-TIME PASSING TOUCHDOWN TOTALS
1.... Andy Kelly, AFL, NFLE... 444
2.... Warren Moon, CFL, NFL... 435
3.... Sherdrick Bonner, AFL... 423
4.... Dan Marino, NFL... 420
5.... Aaron Garcia, AFL... 415

THE CUP'S HALF FULL: With Detroit at 1-7, New York 2-6, and four teams with 3-5 records, there's still hope for those teams making the playoffs. Here's a look at teams with sub-.500 records after eight games that still made the playoffs (min. 14 games played), including 0-8 and 0-5 stumbles by 2000's Destroyers and 1999's Mustangs, respectively:

TEAM, YR... FIRST 8... FINISH
Detroit, 2001... 3-5... 7-7
Toronto, 2001... 3-5... 8-6
Buffalo, 2000... 0-8... 5-9
Tampa Bay, 2000... 3-5... 8-6
Milwaukee, 1999... 3-5... 7-7

BIG, FURY MONSTERS: Despite Detroit's sluggish start, two players have caught the attention of opposing quarterbacks - and they're not tricky DBs. R-KAL TRULUCK, last year's Rookie of the Year, and line mate KELVIN KINNEY combine to form the best sack duo in the league, rolling opposing passers nine times including Truluck's league high total of season (He's recorded 14.5 in 20 career regular season games).

HORN 'O PLENTY: Second-year Arizona Rattlers WR/LB CHRIS HORN is leading the league with 138 points through eight games... not since Firebirds star EDDIE BROWN in 1994 has a second-year player been crowned the league's scoring champ... Here's a look at first- or second-year standouts who have finished a season as No. 1 in scoring:

TEAM... NAME... TDs... POINTS... SEASON
1988... Carl Aikens... 22 TD... 132 points... 1st
1989... George LaFrance... 11 TD... 66 points... 2nd
1992... Stevie Thomas... 27 TD... 162 points... 2nd
1993... Barry Wagner... 28 TD... 170 points... 2nd
1994... Eddie Brown... 48 TD... 288 points... 1st
2002... Chris Horn... 23 TD ... 138 points, through 8 games... 2nd

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DID YOU KNOW?

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* In six seasons as quarterback of the Tampa Bay Storm from 1991 to '96, JAY GRUDEN went 6-0 in games following a loss to the Orlando Predators, the Storm's nemesis in the league's longest-running rivalry. Gruden is currently under center for the Predators and after his team lost to Tampa Bay last week, 48-45, history could make the New York Dragons Gruden's next victim.

* Last year, the Grand Rapids Rampage went 3-1 when allowing 70+ points compared to 0-2 this season (59-71 at Chicago, 42-70 at New Jersey).

* The Indiana Firebirds (3-5) have lost three home games by a combined nine points. last year, the team lost three of their last nine but went on to challenge Grand Rapids in the semifinals.

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WEEK NINE SCHEDULE (All times ET)

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TONIGHT -- THURSDAY, JUNE 13
Buffalo at TORONTO, 7:00 P.M. (Rogers Sportsnet Ontario)
FRIDAY, JUNE 14
Georgia at CAROLINA, 7:30 P.M. (HDNet, Turner South)
Detroit at INDIANA, 8:00 P.M. (Fox Sports Midwest)
SATURDAY, JUNE 15
Orlando at NEW YORK, 7:00 P.M.
Los Angeles at GRAND RAPIDS, 7:30 P.M. (WXSP-TV 18)
New Jersey at TAMPA BAY, 7:30 P.M. (Time Warner-Tape Delay)
Chicago at SAN JOSE, 10:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, JUNE 16
Dallas at ARIZONA, 4:30 P.M. (TNN)

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WEEK NINE INJURY REPORT

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***AS REPORTED TO THE LEAGUE OFFICE BY THURSDAY, JUNE 13***

BUFFALO DESTROYERS (4-4) AT TORONTO PHANTOMS (4-4)

BUFFALO: OUT: WR/DB Eddie Brown (hand), OL/DL Silas Demary (ankle); PROBABLE: OL/DL David Caldwell (Achilles), WR/DB Carlos James (elbow), OL/DL Eric Miller (elbow/groin).

TORONTO: None Reported.

GEORIGA FORCE (3-5) AT CAROLINA COBRAS (4-4)

GEORGIA: OUT: FB/LB Rupert Grant (L achilles), OL/DL Robert Gaddy (R knee MCL sprain) DS Quincy LeJay (R knee chronic ACL) K Stan Whitlock (L knee contusion); PROBABLE: WR/LB, L.C. Stevens (R ribs contusion), OL/DL Mike Lawson (R knee contusion).

CAROLINA: None Reported.

DETROIT FURY (1-7) AT AT INDIANA FIREBIRDS (3-5)

DETROIT: None Reported.

INDIANA: None Reported.

ORLANDO PREDATORS (3-5) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (2-6)

ORLANDO: OUT: FB/LB Brian Goolsby, DS Tommy Henry; DOUBTFUL: FB/LB Tommy Dorsey, QB Craig Whelihan; QUESTIONABLE: WR/DB Junior Lord, OL/DL Angel Rubio, WR/LB Damon Bowers.

NEW YORK: None Reported.

LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (4-4) AT GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (5-3)

LOS ANGELES: None reported.

GRAND RAPIDS: PROBABLE: DS Joseph Polk, WR/DB Jason Waters, OL/DL Lucas Yarnell.

NEW JERSEY GLADIATORS (5-3) AT TAMPA BAY STORM (3-5)

TAMPA BAY: None Reported.

NEW JERSEY: OUT: WR/DB Jamaine Williams (L Achilles rupture), WR/LB George Williams (L fibula fracture), DS Marc Williams (L knee tear), OL/DL Dwayne Sabb (L knee tear), QUESTIONABLE: OL/DL Karl Bates (feet inflamation), WR/LB James Bowden (L knee sprain), FB/LB Chris Pope (L groin strain), OL/DL Jamarr Ward (R knee strain).

CHICAGO RUSH (5-3) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (8-0)

CHICAGO: OUT: OS Joe Douglass (abdominal), PROBABLE: FB/LB Jamie Bowers (lower extremity), FB/LB Jamie McGourty (lower extremity), OS Antonio Chatman (lower extremity), WR/LB Anthony Ladd (upper body).

SAN JOSE: PROBABLE: FB/LB James Williams (plantar fascitis).

DALLAS DESPERADOS (4-4) AT ARIZONA RATTLERS (6-2)

DALLAS: OUT: OS Dialleo Burks (fractured R wrist), DOUBTFUL: DS Hassan Shamsid-Deen (sprained L knee), QUESTIONABLE: OL/DL Tom Briggs (sprained R ankle), OL/DL Shante Carver (sprained R ankle), PROBABLE: DS Tim Denton (strained L hamstring

ARIZONA: OUT: OL/DL Jeff Macrea (lower leg); QUESTIONABLE: DS Derek Stingley (shoulder), OL/DL Tim Croff (ribs), OL/DL Wendall Gaines (ankle); PROBABLE: OS Chris Horn (lower leg), DS Cecil Doggette (knee).

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