Shock go for it all
HATO REY, Puerto Rico – Rob Keefe took an ArenaCup 2006 analogy out for a test drive Friday.
The Spokane Shock were just finishing their final workout on the eve of tonight’s arenafootball2 championship game against the Green Bay Blizzard, and the Shock’s ace defensive specialist said the contrasts between the two are dramatic.
“They’re a real run-and-screen team,” Keefe said. “Inside the 10, they’re going to run the football. We understand that. They’re not going to beat us downfield. Us, we’re a passing team. It really shows the differences in Arena football.
“We’re kind of the Lamborghini and they’re sort of the Mack truck.”
The trophy dash starts at 4 p.m. PDT at the 16,000-seat Coliseo de Puerto Rico, which af2 officials hope will be at least half full for kickoff. It’s the seventh af2 title game and the first to feature an expansion team in the Shock, whose 16-2 record is the league’s best this season.
But the Blizzard (12-6) won 10 of 12 games after a slow start, including convincing wins over Memphis and Florida the past two weeks.
“They’re big and physical and they’re definitely well-deserving of being here,” said the Shock’s Chris Siegfried, the af2 Coach of the Year. “I’ve been very impressed on film. They don’t make a lot of mistakes, and their quarterback (James MacPherson) has done a real good job the last four or five weeks.
“I think it’s going to be one of the best ArenaCup matchups in a number of years. I don’t think it’s going to be a blowout, either way.”
That would go against the grain. Only one of the previous six ArenaCup games has been decided by fewer than 10 points, Quad City’s 55-51 win over Richmond in 2001.
In any event, a close game wouldn’t seem to favor either team. Spokane is 9-0 in games decided by five or fewer points, Green Bay 6-2.
But Siegfried isn’t so sure.
“I think the pressure is on us,” he said. “It seems like the vibe around is that we’re the underdog – and that’s fine. We weren’t supposed to be here, we weren’t supposed to be in the conference championship game, we weren’t supposed to beat Bakersfield or be in the playoffs.
“We’ve been the underdogs all season and that’s suited us fine. Our guys are nice and relaxed.”
While the Blizzard may be the biggest team the Shock have faced this year, MacPherson has actually been a hotter quarterback of late than his Spokane counterpart, Kyle Rowley. MacPherson has thrown for 605 yards in two playoff games, while Rowley’s 232-yard average is ninth among playoff quarterbacks.
But Blizzard coach Bob Landsee is just as wary as Siegfried.
“Kyle Rowley is a competitor – he has a quick release and the system he’s in right now suits him perfect,” Landsee said.
Shock treatments
Defensive specialist Isaiah Trufant, who aggravated his strained hamstring when he crashed into the dasherboards in the National Conference title game, is doubtful for the ArenaCup. “Right now, he’s not playing,” Siegfried said. … Voncellies Allen, the lineman signed to fill the spot of Jerome Stevens, who is getting married today, played this season for the Augusta Spartans of the American International Football League in his Georgia hometown. … Shock owner/CEO Brady Nelson was named af2 Executive of the Year at the league’s awards banquet Friday. … Shock players and coaches paid a visit to St. Jorge Children’s Hospital on Thursday morning. Lineman Kurt Sigler called it “very humbling. We’re here playing a game and that’s all we have to do. Some of these kids are terminally ill with cancer and it drove home how lucky we are to be here – one, to have our health, and two, to have this opportunity to play for a championship.”