Shock Playoff Preview at Arizona
Published on August 11, 2015 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Spokane Shock News Release
SPOKANE, Washington (August 11, 2015) - The Shock (7-11, 2-4) will go on the road in the first round of the 2015 Arena Football League Playoffs to take on the Arizona Rattlers (14-4, 5-1) at the U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, August 15 with kickoff scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PDT.
This will be the 17th match-up all-time between the two teams with the Rattlers holding a 9-7 advantage. Arizona, the two-seed in the National Conference, edged the No. 3-seeded Shock two games to one in this year's three-game regular season series. The Rattlers own a 2-1 advantage in postseason play, having last defeated Spokane in the 2013 National Conference Championship Game.
The Rattlers closed out the final four weeks of the regular season splitting their final four games, which started with a Week 17 defeat at the hands of the Shock in Spokane by a final score of 45-52. Arizona would go on to win their Week 18 match-up against Los Angeles before falling on the road in San Jose. The Rattlers finished off regular season play at home against the Portland Thunder who they defeated 67-39.
Spokane experienced an up and down regular season but caught their stride in the final four weeks as they won three of their contests. After the Week 17 win against Arizona, Spokane defeated the Portland Thunder before going on the road for their final two games of the year where they fell to the Cleveland Gladiators in Week 19 and then locked up their No. 3 seed with a win in Las Vegas last weekend.
During the 2015 regular season, Arizona averaged 55.7 points per game (ranked fourth) and allowed 45.9 points per game to their opponents (ranked third). Spokane averaged 47.1 points per game offensively (ranked eighth) and allowed 53.9 points per game (ranked eleventh).
Turnovers and inconsistency on the offensive side of the ball has been difficult for Spokane to overcome this season as they have registered a turnover margin of -8. Arizona on the other hand, has posted the third-best margin in the AFL in 2015 with a +16.
Over the course of the Rattlers' last four games, quarterback Nick Davila has experienced his most difficult streak of games in 2015. Seven of Davila's 13 sacks this season came in two of those games as the Shock registered four and San Jose three. Four of his ten interceptions on the season also came in the final four weeks including a two-interception performance against Spokane in Week 17. He also fumbled four times (lost two) during Arizona's final four-game games.
Despite some offensive struggles in the final stretch, receiver Rod Windsor has been a constant threat for Arizona and finished the 2015 regular season ranked third in receptions per game (8.69), third in yards per game (109.6), sixth in receptions (139), fourth in receiving yards (1754), and sixth in receiving touchdowns (39). In his two games against Spokane this season (did not play Week 1), Windsor recorded seven receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns in the first match-up and in a losing effort in Week 17 amassed 15 receptions for 174 yards and two scores.
Arvell Nelson has started the last four games for the Shock and completed 82-of-138 pass attempts (59.4 percent) for 896 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions while being sacked nine times. He also added five rushing touchdowns.
Rookie receiver Anthony Amos has been the primary target for the Shock this season amongst a string of injuries and rotating lineups within the position group. Amos has recorded 110 receptions for 1,205 yards and 19 touchdowns on the year. He sat out last weekend against Las Vegas, but with receiver Rashaad Carter suffering a knee injury in the game, Amos will look to return to the lineup this weekend alongside Nick Truesdell (80 receptions, 977 yards, 23 touchdowns), Jabin Sambrano (37 receptions, 481 yards, nine touchdowns), and Braylon Bell (8 receptions, 113 yards, two touchdowns).
The battle in the trenches will be the highlight of this week's contest as both teams have struggled as of late to keep their signal callers upright.
The Arizona rushing attack is led by linebacker Tyre Glasper who tied for second in the AFL in regular season play with 11.5 sacks. Defensive lineman Michael McAdoo is just half a sack behind him at 11.0.
Spokane is led by veteran defensive end James Ruffin (11 sacks, ranked fifth) and linebacker Derrick Summers (9). While Arizona has only given up 15 total sacks on the season, their last four games has shown vulnerability to the pass rush. Spokane has struggled throughout the season to protect their quarterback as they have given up 36 total sacks on the year (ranked eleventh).
Game coverage will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the Shock-VPI Radio Network on AM 700 ESPN Spokane. The game will also be available for viewing on Fox Sports Arizona (locally) and online via WatchESPN.
Arena Football League Stories from August 11, 2015
- Sharks Playoff Fan Bus to Orlando Saturday - Jacksonville Sharks
- Arizona Rattlers 2015 National Conference Semi-Finals Game Preview - Arizona Rattlers
- Shock Playoff Preview at Arizona - Spokane Shock
- Predators Renew In-State Rivalry with Season on the Line - Orlando Predators
- Game Preview: National Conference Quarterfinal - Portland Thunder
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
