Breaking it down – 2008 Week One

By Andy Lopusnak, ArenaFan.com

March 4, 2008

 

Each week during the 2008 Arena Football League season, I will be breaking down that week’s AFL action based on interesting statistical and historical notes, weekly leaders and other things from each game.

 

WEEK ONE RESULTS

Los Angeles 59, NEW ORLEANS 42

Dallas 51, GEORGIA 41

Tampa Bay 51, KANSAS CITY 49

Philadelphia 77, ORLANDO 56

Arizona 63, UTAH 62

COLORADO 50, Columbus 47

CLEVELAND 61, New York 49

CHICAGO 70, San Jose 47

Home team is in ALL CAPS.

 

WEEK ONE’S EIGHT GAMES FEATURED:

• Two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
• Three players with at least 2.0 sacks.
• Three QBs that tossed three interceptions.
• Three starting QBs were injured and likely will not play next week.
• Three kickoffs returned for touchdowns.
• Four players with 300 or more yards passing.
• Five players with 200 or more all-purpose yards.
• Five players with at least 10.0 tackles.
• Five fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns.
• Six kickers with at least ten points scored.
• Six non-QBs with at least four total touchdowns.
• Eight players with 10 or more receptions, including three from one team.
• 13 quarterbacks with at least five passing touchdowns.
• 16 players with 100 or more yards receiving.

 

UP, UP AND AWAY

Based on one week, the rules committee has made another great rule change for those of us who actually love high-scoring AFL action (for those that like lower scores…well, there’s always soccer and watching paint dry). The 2008 AFL’s first week was the highest scoring Week One in league history. In two seasons since adopting free substitution and with the new Jack linebacker rule being implemented this year, scoring has increased by 22.2 points per game in the opening week of AFL play compared to 2006. In 2007, scoring increased 10.6 points from 2006 and this year it increased 11.6 points from last season. Here’s a look at the Week One scoring averages per game for the last five seasons.

 

WEEK ONE AVERAGE POINTS SCORED PER GAME (BOTH TEAMS COMBINED)

YEAR	AVG POINTS
2008	113.4
2007	101.8
2006	91.2
2005	94.6
2004	90.0

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Twenty one years ago, Pittsburgh Gladiators quarterback Mike Hohensee connected on a 45-yard touchdown to Russell Hairston to usher in the AFL on the league’s first play from scrimmage. Friday night, New Orleans Wendall Williams one upped that historic play when he scored a touchdown on the very first play of the league’s 22nd season – a 54-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. It is thought that this is the first time in league history that the league’s first kickoff a season has been returned for a touchdown.

 

Then on the very first play from scrimmage in the same game, VooDoo defensive back Calvin Spears picked off Los Angeles quarterback Sonny Cumbie, which resulted in a New Orleans touchdown and a 13-0 advantage. The Avengers battled back with a 31-9 second-half rally to beat the VooDoo 59-42 thanks to three straight VooDoo drives that ended with QB Steve Bellisari tossing an interception.

 

ROAD WARRIORS

In the league’s first five games played, the home team lost all five contests with Los Angeles, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Arizona all gaining elusive road victories. The final three games featured the home team winning though– Colorado, Cleveland and Chicago.

 

OPPOSITE FORCE

Last season, the Georgia Force scored the most points in Week One in their 69-65 win at Arizona. This season, they were held to a league-low 41 points in the 51-41 home loss to Dallas. For the second-straight year, the Desperados held a team to league-low in points for the first week of the season. Last year, they topped New York 60-7.

 

WHAT A DIFFERENCE

Last season, Columbus, Orlando, Georgia, Utah, Kansas City and San Jose all won in Week One. This year, they all lost. Colorado, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Cleveland (then Las Vegas) and Chicago all lost last season at this time. All won this year.

 

JUST A BIT OUTSIDE

Kansas City and Utah had opportunities to win their respective games on the final play, but both teams’ kickers missed field goals from the mid 30-yard range as time expired. Peter Martinez missed a 37 yarder for the Brigade, while Steve Videtich failed on a 36-yard attempt for the Blaze.

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The wind took it, I guess,” Videtich told the Salt Lake Tribune about his 36-yard field goal attempt that hit the right upright as time expired in the Blaze’s 63-62 home loss to Arizona. If he would have made the field goal, Videtich would have become the league’s all-time leader in field goals made.

 

WHAT A CATCH

For the first time in league history, a team had two receivers with at least eight catches, 100 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. T.T. Toliver had eight grabs for 125 yards with four TDs, while and AFL rookie Chas Gessner chipped in 12 receptions for 110 yards with four TDs for Orlando. 

 

WHAT A CATCH, PART II

Another league receiving record was setting in a losing effort. This time when San Jose had three receivers all get at least ten catches, 100 yards receiving and at least one touchdown. James Roe had 12 grabs for 114 yards with a TD; Rodney Wright pitched in with 12 catches for 100 yards and two scores; and Cleannord Saintil added ten receptions for 129 yards with two TDs.

 

DOLEZEL DOWNED

Dallas quarterback Clint Dolezel was slammed into the turf in the fourth quarter of the Desperados’ win at Georgia when Force lineman Jermaine Smith blindsided him. Dolezel finished the final 10:48 of the game and tossed two touchdown passes. Professional football’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns is likely to miss anywhere between one and six weeks according to various sources with a possible separation on his throwing shoulder. Chris Saunders will replace Dolezel this week when Dallas hosts Columbus this Friday. Columbus beat Dallas in the playoffs last season.

 

"That's what it feels like," Dolezel told the Star-Telegram about a possible separation. "I've had a total separation and I felt no pain, which is bad usually. So pain is a good thing. I've got pain. It means things are still attached. That was my biggest worry, that it's not longer than a month.”

 

HEXED

New Orleans QB Steve Bellisari sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the third quarter of the VooDoo’s 59-42 loss to the Avengers. After getting a knee brace, he returned but tossed an interception on three consecutive drives. He will undergo tests this week to see if he will need surgery or will miss any playing time.

 

DRAGON SLAYED

Early in the second quarter at Cleveland, New York quarterback Aaron Garcia injured his knee after tossing an interception. He did not return and his future is uncertain at this time. Since 2005, Garcia has played in just twelve games due to various injuries. He was the league’s all-time leader in touchdown passes in 2005 when he was first hurt and has since been passed by Clint Dolezel, Sherdrick Bonner and Andy Kelly.

 

YEAR	GAMES	YARDS	TD	INT
2005	16	4,112	90	13
Since	12	3,205	76	9

 

‘SOUL’ MATES REUNITED

It had been four years since Philadelphia quarterback Tony Graziani tossed a pass to Chris Jackson, who had played with Grand Rapids and Georgia since 2005. On Saturday, he connected with his former Los Angeles Avengers teammate four times for touchdowns. From 2002-04, the Graziani-Jackson combination hit pay dirt 118 times – the most by any QB/WR tandem in the league during that timeframe.

 

CLEVELAND ROCKS

The last AFL team to call Cleveland home, the Thunderbolts (1992-94) won their first home game and so did the latest AFL team to call the city home – the Gladiators. The 61-49 victory over New York was the first AFL game played in Cleveland since August 13, 1994 when the Miami Hooters beat the home-standing Thunderbolts 43-40. After winning its first two home games to start 2-0 in 1992, the first Cleveland AFL team went 8-26 over the next three seasons.

 

CLEVELAND RUNS WILD AGAIN

Back in the Thunderbolts day, that Cleveland franchise consistently led the AFL in all rushing categories thank largely to QB Major Harris. This time around fullback Marlion Jackson is providing the ground attack. His 62 rushing yards vs. New York led the AFL in Week One and was more than the four best runners of the week combined. If he somehow continues this pace, he would end the season with 992 which is more than double the AFL record held by former Grand Rapids QB Michael Bishop, who ran for 459 yards in 2005.

 

SABERCATS STREAK ENDS

San Jose had won 13 straight games until turning over the ball five times, the most by a SaberCats team since 1999, in Chicago’s 70-47 win over the defending ArenaBowl champions.

 

GOOD BYE?

The Grand Rapids Rampage is the twelfth team in league history to open a season with a bye week. In the previous eleven season-opening byes those teams went on to the playoffs seven times, but none ever advanced to the ArenaBowl. The Rampage’s first game of 2008 will be this Monday when the team hosts San Jose.

 

For the opening game that occurred in Week Two, the previous eleven teams had a combined record of 6-5. Three of those five losses came against either the SaberCats (twice) or the Rampage (once). In 1995, the then-expansion SaberCats won the franchise’s first game when they stung Las Vegas. San Jose also ruined Arizona’s 2001 season opener. The Rampage spoiled the season opener for the Milwaukee Mustangs in 2000.

 

YEAR	TEAM	WEEK TWO RESULT	FINAL RECORD
2008	Grand Rapids Rampage	???	???
2007	Philadelphia Soul	WON – 63-30	8-8*
2006	Kansas City Brigade	LOSS – 48-41	3-13
2005	New York Dragons	WON – 55-45	10-6*
2004	Austin Wranglers	WON – 49-48 (OT)	8-8
2001	Arizona Rattlers	LOSS – 48-27	8-6*
2000	Milwaukee Mustangs	LOSS – 52-47	7-7*
1999	Buffalo Destroyers	LOSS – 59-26	1-13
1996	Albany Firebirds	WON – 63-32	10-4*
1995	Las Vegas Sting	LOSS – 32-27	6-6
1994	Massachusetts Marauders	WON – 31-30	8-4*
1989	Pittsburgh Gladiators	WON – 28-18	3-1*

* = advanced to playoffs

 

WEEK ONE’S TOP STATISTICAL PREFORMANCES

 

100-YARD RECEIVERS
PLAYER, TEAM	YARDS	RECEPTIONS	TOUCHDOWNS
Brent Holmes, Georgia	156	8	3
Mike Horacek, Kansas City	149	7	3
Anthony Armstrong, Dallas	135	11	2
Larry Brackins, Philadelphia	133	6	3
Troy Bergeron, Georgia	130	9	1
Kevin Swayne, New York	130	10	3
Cleannord Saintil, San Jose	129	10	2
Damian Harrell, Chicago	128	5	2
T.T. Toliver, Orlando	125	8	4
Timon Marshall, Los Angeles	116	9	3
James Roe, San Jose	114	12	1
Chas Gessner, Orlando	110	12	4
Kevin Nickerson, Arizona	110	9	3
Tradon Harvey, Arizona	102	8	2
Otis Amey, Cleveland	101	7	2
Rodney Wright, San Jose	100	12	2

 

300-YARD PASSERS
PLAYER, TEAM	YARDS	PASS TDs	INTERCEPTIONS
Mark Grieb, San Jose	353	5	3
Chris Greisen, Georgia	349	5	1
Shane Stafford, Orlando	323	8	0
Lang Campbell, Arizona	319	8	1

 

200 YARDS OR MORE ALL-PURPOSE
PLAYER, TEAM	ALL-PURPOSE	TOTAL TDs
Calvin Russell, Colorado	266	1
T.T. Toliver, Orlando	263	4
Wendall Williams	260	2
Kevin Nickerson, Arizona	246	4
Troy Bergeron, Georgia	201	1

 

DEFENSIVE LEADERS
PLAYER, TEAM	TACKLES	INT		SACKS		FF		FR		PBU		DEF TD
DeJuan Alfonzo, Chicago	5.0		1		0.0		0		1		0		1
Ernest Allen, Georgia	5.5		0		1.0		0		0		0		0
Chris Angel, Colorado	10.5		0		0.0		0		0		1		0
James Baron, Chicago	2.0		0		2.0		1		0		0		0
Levy Brown, New York	8.5		1		0.0		0		0		0		0
E.J. Burt, Utah	2.0		0		1.0		1		0		1		0
Nate Coggins, Columbus	10.0		1		0.0		0		0		2		0
David Crocker, Georgia	11.0		1		0.0		0		0		0		0
Rashad Floyd, Colorado	6.0		0		0.0		0		0		4		0
Johnnie Harris, Dallas	7.5		0		0.0		1		0		2		0
Brandon Hefflin, Cleveland	10.5		0		0.0		0		0		1		0
Joe Minucci, Cleveland	2.0		0		2.0		1		0		0		0
Dennison Robinson, Chicago	12.0		2		0.0		2		0		1		0
Karon Riley, Cleveland	4.0		0		2.0		2		0		0		0
Calvin Spears, New Orleans	5.5		1		0.0		0		0		0		0
Damen Wheeler, Los Angeles	3.0		1		0.0		1		1		4		1

 

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Philadelphia QB Tony Graziani was nearly flawless in the Soul’s 77-56 thumping of Orlando. He completed 15-of-22 (68%) for 257 yards with nine touchdowns, no interceptions and a passer rating of 147.2. His 15 completions averaged 17.1 apiece (Orlando averaged 10.2). He was not sacked in the game. His nine passing touchdowns are a new Soul team record.

 

HONORABLE MENTION: Orlando QB Shane Stafford tossed eight scores and 323 yards in the same game. He completed 69% of his passes for a passer rating of 129.0. The lone sour note for Stafford was the one time he was sacked, by Gabe Nyenhuis, which was fumbled and was the only turnover of the game by either team. Stafford had six of his passes broken up as well.

 

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

The entire defensive unit of the Chicago Rush dominated the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats. It seems borderline insane to pick one player from this team as the single defensive player of the week. Chicago forced five turnovers and sacked San Jose QB Mark Grieb twice. Defensive back Dennison Robinson led all AFL players in Week One with 12.0 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He also had a pass breakup in the end zone. WR/LB DeJuan Alfonzo had a 20-yard fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown, an interception and five tackles. He also recovered a fumble for a score on offense. Alfonzo’s interception came on third and goal with San Jose down just eight – it changed the dynamic from a close contest to a rout. Nose tackle James Baron, who signed just this week, pressured Grieb all night sacking him twice and forcing a fumble. The defense also forced San Jose two kick field goals twice when the SaberCats were in Chicago territory. San Jose, the league’s best team on third down last season, converted just two-of-six attempts Monday night.

 

HONORABLE MENTION: In a losing effort, Los Angeles defensive back Damen Wheeler forced a fumble, returned a fumble for a touchdown, posted an interception, broke up four passes and had 3.0 tackles. Wheeler’s 15-yard fumble return for a touchdown gave the Avengers their first lead of the game. His fourth-quarter interception of Steve Bellisari was the spark for Los Angeles’ comeback.

 

IRONMAN OF THE WEEK

Tampa Bay FB/LB Marvin Brown had a fantastic two-way game. All of his tackles (one solo, three assists) were on the goal line. He was key on the final two plays of the third quarter and first of the final stanza. Kansas City had the ball on the Tampa Bay three-yard line when Brown tackled WR Charles Frederick for a yard loss on first down, then he stopped John Fitzgerald on a QB sneak on second down. Brown finished off his impressive goal-line effort with an interception on third and goal to open the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay then marched down the field to go up 44-35 and eventually won 51-49. Additionally, he added a 7-yard catch and 2-yard run as Torrance Marshall’s backup (Marshall had a league-high four rushing scores).

 

HONORABLE MENTION: Arizona WR/DB Kevin Nickerson posted 246 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in the Rattlers 63-62 win over Utah. He caught nine passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns; added a four-yard rushing TD, returned two missed field goals for 22 yards and returned nine kickoffs for 120 yards. Nickerson also added a solo tackle in the red zone on defense.

 

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