Shock, Thunder Battle for the Northwest on ESPN2

June 21,2015
By ANDY SROKA
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Spokane Shock (3-8) will visit divisional opponent and next-door neighbor, the Portland Thunder (3-8), as the teams attempt to end lengthy losing streaks. The two teams met in Week 3 when the Thunder edged out the Shock for a 47-43 win after scoring a touchdown late in the contest. Kickoff is set for 10:00 p.m. ET from the Moda Center in Portland, Ore., and can be seen live on ESPN2.
A 35-point second half was good but not quite good enough for the Spokane Shock to surge back into the lead of last week's loss to the Las Vegas Outlaws. While Warren Smith put together his fourth triple-digit passer rating in six games played as a rookie this season, he was constantly pressured by oncoming Outlaws pass rushers and it led to a pair of interceptions, one of which was returned for a score. Nevertheless, Smith's 65.8 completion percentage this season is among the best of all-time for a rookie quarterback -- a rookie quarterback hasn't finished a season with a completion percentage that high since Nick Davila (67.3) in 2010. There are many reasons to look forward to how prosperous a career Smith is capable of having, but in 2015, he's going to need some help.
Despite losing key talents on the outside in Mike Washington and Rashaad Carter, Smith has lifted receivers Anthony Amos and Nick Truesdell into real weapons. Last week, the two combined for 208 yards receiving and five touchdowns. It's been Truesdell who is finally finding the form to fill is 6-foot-7 frame. Smith has only just begun to feed Truesdell the ball as he bullies defensive backs around in the end zone, scoring eight touchdowns in his last three games. As for Amos, who seems to have captured the role as Spokane and Smith's first option, he'll combat a Thunder defense that's struggled to contain its opposition's go-to receivers. In Portland's last two games, the Rattlers' Rod Windsor and the KISS's Donovan Morgan each led their respective teams in receiving. That bodes well for the Shock's hope of getting more triple-digit yardage out of Amos, as he's grown accustomed to.
But, to thwart Spokane's on-the-rise unit of receivers, the Thunder will need a better effort from important pass rushers Marquis Jackson and Frank Trotter. It begins with those two. While Portland's secondary can occasionally lean on the steady play of rookie Osagie Odiase, they don't have the group of defensive backs that can frequently disrupt passing lanes. Their defense has the second-fewest interceptions (6) in the League this season. Their best bet against Smith will be to force him to float a pass or two by breaking past the lineman that surround him. It's the same way the Thunder defeated the Shock in early April. They forced then-starting quarterback, Danny Southwick, to throw three interceptions while enduring three sacks.
It's a recipe for success. But it isn't the only way to achieve it.
The Thunder enter Week 13 with some uncertainty behind center. In Week 12, Kyle Rowley underwhelmed against the Rattlers and head coach Mike Hohensee trotted out second-year quarterback Alex Carder in relief. Carder wasn't a whole lot better, but it might have been enough to earn a start against the Shock this week. Regardless of who's starting on Sunday night, they'll at least have the benefit of a quality group of receivers. Just like the Shock, the Thunder's best wide receiver, Jamar Howard, went down with an injury earlier this season and it required a cast of wideouts to step into the spotlight. The acquisition of Jared Perry has softened the blow that was the Howard injury. Perry has a touchdown reception in each of his seven games played for the Thunder this season and is coming off of his best performance in Portland, catching nine passes for 150 yards and four touchdowns.
And whoever is quarterbacking Sunday for the Thunder, they must find a way to integrate special teams dynamo, Duane Brooks. He has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in five of his last six games. As valuable as he is fielding kickoffs in his own end zone, he could be the type of talent that rights the ship in Portland -- offensively, anyway. Another kickoff return in Week 13 and he'll tie the single-season AFL record of seven.
Each team has elements to their offenses that are on the upswing. The Thunder have wide receivers V'Keon Lacey, Perry, and Brooks; the Shock have Amos, Truesdell and their promising rookie quarterback. It's their defenses that have had a hard time staying within reach of the lead. This game will feature the two worst scoring defenses in Arena Football, though, the Shock are the ones stuck at the very bottom of the basement, allowing an average of 58.5 points per game this season. It's a group that allowed another rookie quarterback, Las Vegas' Sean Brackett, to complete 13-of-21 passes for 208 yards, four touchdowns and rush for 27 yards and a score.
Spokane's defensive end James Ruffin is the type of pass rusher the Shock will need to perform on the national stage this Sunday night. When he plays well, so do the Shock. Getting to and bringing down -- or at least hurrying -- whomever is throwing passes to the Thunder's talented group of receivers has to be a priority for Ruffin and the rest of this defensive line.
Both squads are looking to eradicate a stretch of poor form in an effort to claw back into the race for the playoffs. Already in Week 13, the Shock and the Thunder are approaching must-win territory with 3-8 records this season if they want a chance at postseason play. It starts with a bout for Northwest territory bragging rights this Sunday night.