Week 1 Game Preview - Blackjacks vs Soul
April 24, 2019 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Atlantic City Blackjacks News Release
The day most have had circled on their calendars is finally on the horizon. The Atlantic City Blackjacks will kick off its inaugural season Saturday, April 27 against the Philadelphia Soul at 3:30 p.m. inside the Wells Fargo Center. Fans can watch live on NBCSP+ or listen live on 97.3 ESPN.
"We are looking forward to our first game in the history of the Atlantic City Blackjacks," said Ron James, Head Coach of the Atlantic City Blackjacks. "Playing the Philadelphia Soul right out of the gates will let us know right away what team we have for the 2019 season. Philadelphia is a traditional powerhouse in the Arena Football League, and we will have to be well prepared to play such a well-coached, veteran laden team"
The Blackjacks are looking to make a statement to the League with their first game in franchise history. Strong starts are always important, but especially for an expansion team. The experienced coaching staff leading the mix of veteran and rookie players will make for a team that will compete right from the start. The Soul has won four straight season openers, so the Blackjacks are looking to end that streak on Saturday. Here are some matchups to look out for on the field when the two teams play.
The first battle the Blackjacks need to overcome is going to be the noise inside the Wells Fargo Center. It will be not be an easy first game for the Blackjacks as they play a solid Philadelphia Soul team looking to win its fourth overall ArenaBowl title. Last season the Soul finished with a 7-5 record led by Head Coach Clint Dolezel. They lost both their postseason games to the Baltimore Brigade. With that bitter taste in their mouth, expect the Soul to come out flying. The Blackjacks must weather the initial storm, so things don't get out of hand quickly. The home crowd will be something the Blackjacks must overcome as well; the Soul bring in some of the biggest crowds in the AFL with an average of 9,239 in 2018.
The key to winning this matchup is for the Blackjacks to stay focused and to not let the adrenalin take over right away. This game is a big part of history for every member of the Blackjacks, it's the first ever game for the franchise and everyone will be trying to make a great first impression. Without a doubt, the team is going to be fired up from the start following the locker room speech. It's important for the players to calm their nerves and anxiousness and just play the game Coach James has been showing them the previous two weeks. Mix in the crowd noise and commotion taking place out of the gate, the Blackjacks must communicate efficiently with the coaching staff and amongst themselves. The first quarter especially will be very exciting to watch for fans at the arena, listening on the radio, or watching at home.
The next order of business is to stop Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh by any means. Last season he threw for 69.4% completion, 1,728 yards, 36 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Soul will also have their two leading receivers back from the 2018 season in Darius Prince and Darius Reynolds. The first defensive possession for the Blackjacks is crucial, keeping the Soul off the scoreboard is the obvious best case, but not letting them score quickly is also just as important. The defense must be aware of the deep ball to start the game.
The Blackjacks defensive line must get to Raudabaugh as often as possible and the defensive backs need to keep the receivers at bay if they want to win this matchup. It will not be an easy task for the defense, every player must contribute in order to succeed. Throughout camp, both sides of the ball have looked promising but something about the Blackjacks defensive line looks special. The way they have been practicing and communicating show that this can be a group that will give opposing offensive lines problems all year. The combo of Antron Dillon and Monte Lewis is beginning to resemble a quarterback's worst nightmare. The chemistry between them is apparent and the other members of the line compliment them perfectly. If the line can get to Raudabaugh, the defensive backs will thank them greatly.
The final matchup this week is the importance of Randy Hippeard and the chemistry between his receiving core. Teammates LaMark Brown and Kendrick Ings have already played with Hippeard in previous seasons. The new faces will have to step up and be on the same page as Hippeard from the get-go. The men matched up against these wide receivers will most likely be Dwayne Hollis and James Romain. These two led he Soul in most defensive stats last season. With ten years of experience between them, teams and fans know what to expect. Solid defensive efforts every night, this will be a fun matchup to watch not only on opening day, but for the whole season.
In order to come out on top in this matchup, a few things must happen. First, the speed and effective route running of the wide receivers must be on full display to give Hippeard different options with the ball. Second, the offensive line must protect Hippeard and give him enough time to scan the field. Third, blocking up the field is crucial in arena football. With the field being only 50-yards, one big block on a defensive back can open enough space for the ball carrier to sprint into the end zone. If these elements can be executed properly, the Blackjacks should have no problem putting points up on the scoreboard.
Arena Football League Stories from April 24, 2019
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