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Storm, VooDoo Square off on CBS Sports Network

May 3, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Tampa Bay Storm News Release


CHICAGO - Coming off perhaps the biggest win of the young Arena Football season, the Tampa Bay Storm (4-2) play host to the New Orleans VooDoo (1-4) in "NET10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday" action on CBS Sports Network. Kickoff from the Tampa Bay Times Forum is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on Saturday night.

The Storm will make their second straight appearance on "NET10 Wireless Arena Football Saturday," though this will mark the first time that the Tampa Bay Times Forum and its fanbase will get to host the CBS Sports Network showcase. Last week, the Storm provided a national audience with a back-and-forth upset victory, taking down the previously undefeated Spokane Shock, 70-62, at Veterans Memorial Arena.

The Storm bring one of the top quarterbacks in the League to the table. Adrian McPherson earned Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week honors after accumulating 10 total touchdowns, with seven coming through the air and three coming on the ground, against Spokane. It marked the second time this season that McPherson has put up 10 touchdowns in a single game. Against the Shock, McPherson completed 21-of-36 passes for 310 yards without throwing an interception. He has thrown just one pick all season long - best in the League among quarterbacks with 50 or greater pass attempts. McPherson will be without his favorite target in Week 7, as receiver Joe Hills was placed on the League's "Other League Exempt" list after signing a contract with the NFL's Carolina Panthers on Thursday. Receivers Greg Ellingson and Michael Lindsey will look to fill the void.

Looking to keep McPherson and the rest of the Storm offense in check is a New Orleans defense led by defensive back Demarcus Robinson. Robinson has a team-high 29 tackles on the season. Pressure from the front will be pivotal as usual for New Orleans, as the VooDoo are tied for fourth in the League with nine sacks this season, including two apiece by Michael Janac and James Bryant.

On the other side of the line, the VooDoo will lean on recently acquired Bill Stull to lead the charge. The third-year pro was assigned to New Orleans on April 25 and completed 8-of-14 for 97 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions in his first AFL action of the season last week. The team's opening day starter, Kurt Rocco, who set franchise records with 5,317 passing yards and 107 touchdowns last season, is expected to miss his second straight contest due to injury.

Stull will have his hands full with a Storm defense that has forced a League-high 20 turnovers this season, recovering 10 fumbles and notching 10 interceptions. They are on pace to force 60 turnovers this season, after finishing near the bottom of the League with a minus-10 turnover margin last year. Defensive back Chris Smith has led the way with four interceptions in the Storm's last five games. Not so coincidentally, the Storm have recorded multiple picks in four of their last five games.

Though the Storm lead the series 7-5, the two teams have split every year they have played with the exception of 2007, when the Storm swept the VooDoo.

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