Playoff Preview: Quarterfinal Matchups

July 29,2014



By CONOR VOLPE
Football is a team sport. Throughout a long season, every member of a roster makes contributions, big or small, that help determine the success or failure of the unit. That’s the beautiful thing about team sports – no one individual is solely responsible. The whole group must come together to win.
But when playoff time rolls around, things get a little different. The best of the best in the Arena Football League are set to square off this weekend and the margin for error is slim. In these hotly contested games, oftentimes one matchup can be that little difference that pushes a team over the edge. Whether it’s one unit against another, or two players battling on every snap, there are important matchups in every game that play a huge factor in the outcome.
Below are some of the key matchups in this weekend’s quarterfinal playoff contests where games will be won and lost.

Philadelphia Soul at Cleveland Gladiators

Key Matchup: Dan Raudabaugh vs. Cleveland Pass Defense

When: Saturday, August 2nd, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
TV: CBS Sports Network
Despite an up and down season, Philadelphia has consistently played the Cleveland Gladiators very tough. The Soul lost to the Gladiators by one point in Week 15 and by two in Week 11, both on the final plays of the game. A huge part of those impressive showings from the Soul has been the play of quarterback Dan Raudabaugh. Though he has been inconsistent at times this season, Raudabaugh has looked excellent in the two matchups against Cleveland, totaling 463 yards and nine touchdowns to only one interception while completing 72 percent of his passes. His steady play kept Philadelphia in each contest, and allowed Derrick Ross to do his thing down at the goal line, as the fullback has five touchdowns in those same two games. If Raudabaugh plays well again, there’s no reason that the Soul won’t have another opportunity to beat the Gladiators.
Of course, Cleveland would rather not have to squeak out another close win against Philadelphia. Though the Gladiators have made it something of a signature to pull out tight victories, sweating out every last second of a playoff game isn’t too fun. That’s where Marrio Norman, Dominic Jones, LaRoche Jackson and the rest of the Gladiators’ pass defense come in. If Cleveland wants a smoother first round contest, they’re going to need to knock Raudabaugh out of his comfort zone, because he’s certainly comfortable when he plays the Gladiators. The good news is that they’ve had success against the rest of the League and rank fourth in defensive pass efficiency so it’s not as if they don’t have the talent. Cleveland will rely on their secondary to rattle Raudabaugh a bit so the Gladiators’ fans don’t have to endure another nail-biter of an ending.

Spokane Shock at San Jose Sabercats

Key Matchup: Spokane Offensive Line vs. San Jose Pass Rush

When: Saturday, August 2nd, 10:00 p.m. ET
Where: SAP Center, San Jose, CA
TV: ESPN3
The Spokane Shock are a very complete team, but their offensive line has been their Achilles’ heel all season long. Since Erik Meyer’s return from an injury, they’ve been on a roll, averaging 65.5 points over the last four games Meyer started. The reigning MVP’s mobility has helped cover up some of the weaknesses up front, and as a result, the offense looks to be back and booming.
But San Jose looms in the first round, and they love to get after the quarterback. The pass rush has generated 39 sacks this season, which ranks second in the AFL. Sixteen of those came in the three times San Jose played Spokane. Meyer’s scrambling ability helps negate some of the pass rush, but in the two games he’s played against San Jose, the SaberCats have sacked Meyer 10 times. If the Spokane offensive line can fend off San Jose’s ferocious pass rush, the Shock will be in a great position to pull off the upset.

Pittsburgh Power at Orlando Predators

Key Matchup: Bernard Morris vs. Arvell Nelson and James Bryant

When: Sunday, August 3rd, 2:00 p.m. ET
Where: CFE Arena, Orlando, FL
TV: ESPN3
In three consecutive wins over Iowa, New Orleans, and Arizona, Bernard Morris has accounted for 25 touchdowns. In that streak to end the season, he also owned a stellar 20:2 touchdown to interception ratio and totaled 137 yards rushing with five rushing touchdowns. To say Morris is hot would be quite the understatement. He has gotten his Predators offense rolling, averaging 64 points per game in those last three contests. As of late, he seems to be the perfect blend of passer and runner, arguably the best dual-threat quarterback in the AFL.
It will be up to Pittsburgh Power linebackers James Bryant and Arvell Nelson to stop him. While Morris has wreaked havoc on opposing defenses as of late, Nelson and Bryant have made a habit of driving opposing offenses crazy all year. Nelson has picked off five passes from the Jack linebacker position and Bryant has notched 8.5 tackles for loss and nine quarterback hurries this season. Together, the duo has done plenty to give quarterbacks League-wide some serious headaches. But Morris will surely be their toughest task, as it will be the linebackers’ responsibility to keep him from running wild this weekend. Containment will be key, and anything else they can do to knock Morris off his groove would be great for the Power. If they can’t contain him, Pittsburgh’s first ever playoff game might not go so well.

Portland Thunder at Arizona Rattlers

Key Matchup: Portland Defensive Backs vs. Arizona Wide Receivers

When: Sunday, August 3rd, 6:00 p.m. ET
Where: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ
TV: ESPN3, Cox 7
Nick Davila is well on his way towards a Hall of Fame career in the AFL, but there’s no denying he has been surrounded by talent, particularly on the perimeter. With Rod Windsor, Tysson Poots and Maurice Purify catching passes, the argument could be made that Davila is throwing to three guys who could all be number one targets on any other team. Among the three, they have 293 catches for 3,948 yards and 100 touchdowns.
It’s safe to say that Portland’s secondary is going to have their hands full. Though Windsor has been the primary target this season, Davila and the Rattlers have been able to spread the ball around plenty. They’ll just go to whoever’s open. The good news for Portland is that the secondary is their strong suit. Between rookie Varmah Sonie and veterans Eric Crocker and Dwight McLean, they might just be able to matchup against the Rattlers’ receiving trio. The defensive backs are a huge reason Portland ranks sixth in passing defense efficiency and fifth best in passing yards allowed. Perhaps more importantly, they’re great at generating turnovers. In the games Davila and company have struggled, a large part of that has been due to interceptions. In the three games Arizona has lost this season, they’ve thrown five picks total. In their 15 wins combined, Davila has thrown seven. If Portland hopes to pull of the improbable, look for those Thunder defensive backs to do the implausible.