03-08-2003 - BUF @ TB
Destroyers-Storm Game Preview
By Nathan Boudreaux
Buffalo (3-2) at Tampa Bay (3-2)?Saturday, March 8, 8:00 p.m.
When the Buffalo Destroyers head to South Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Storm, it will be a game of teacher vs. pupil. Destroyers head coach Ron Selesky spent a number of years on the Tampa Bay staff under head coach Tim Marcum before accepting his first AFL head coaching gig with Buffalo this season. Both the Storm and the Destroyers have identical 3-2 records but the clubs may be heading in opposite directions. Although Buffalo has won three of its last four games, the Destroyers posted a franchise-low 13 points in a loss last week versus Chicago. Tampa, on the other hand, has won two straight and is averaging 57.2 ppg.
Lead by QB John Kaleo (100 of 155 for 1,354 yards with 26 TD and 3 INTs), who is among the AFL league-leaders in almost every passing category, the Storm offense has been impressive. Rookie OS Freddie Solomon is fourth in the AFL in receptions (36) and receiving yards (578) to go along with 11 TD catches. Solomon is one of seven receivers in the league to average more than 100 yards receiving per game. The Tampa offense has also gotten a lot of support from WR/DB Lawrence Samuels (27-314-4), WR/LB Clif Dell (15-236-6) and WR/LB Gary Compton (12-110-3). The return of WR/LB David Saunders from injury last week gives the Storm another offensive weapon in an already crowded receiving corps. The offense hasn?t been Tampa Bay?s problem this season. Its biggest concern is on defense, especially in the defensive backfield. The Storm defense is yielding just over 50 points per game and has given up 60-plus points twice in five games. DS Corey Sawyer (17.5 tackles, 3 INTs) is having a good season, but Tampa is simply giving up too many touchdowns. After just intercepting six passes all of last season, Tampa has eight picks in five games this year, but according to Marcum, the secondary is making too many mental mistakes.
Buffalo should be able to score points against the Tampa defense, but after last week?s 13-point performance anything can happen. QB Tim Carey, filling in for starter QB Jeff Loots, struggled last week against a stingy Chicago Rush defense, passing for just 195 yards and a touchdown. Loots (44 of 77 for 673 yards, 13 TDs, INT in three games) is expected to come off injured reserve this week (shoulder) and should be in the lineup on Saturday. Buffalo also needs more production from their wide receivers. OS Gunnard Twyner (32-517-9) leads the club in every receiving category, but he has become Buffalo?s only offensive threat. The Destroyers got some early returns from WR/LB Cornelius White (17-242-5) and this week signed former Storm offensive specialist James Bowden. Bowden should be able to provide some much needed quickness to the Destroyers offense, but it may take a few games for him to feel comfortable in a new system. Defensively, the Destroyers have been solid, giving up just 39.6 ppg., which is second best in the league. OL/DL Silas Demary (2.0 sacks) leads the charge up front, while the secondary led by DS Dwaine Carpenter (28.0 tackles, 3 INTs) is tied for second in the AFL with nine interceptions.
If Buffalo is able to muster any kind of offense against an average Storm secondary, the Destroyers should be able to hang with Tampa Bay. Buffalo?s bend-but-don?t-break defense has carried the Destroyers to a 3-2 mark, but will get its toughest test of the year on Saturday. Buffalo faced a high-scoring offense similar to Tampa?s in Week 1 and fell 54-36 to Grand Rapids. The Storm are hot and riding a two-game winning streak and are 2-0 at home this season.
I feel this game will be a blowout!!
Buffalo is avg 80.6 ppg for both teams to Tampa 107.4 ppg for both teams.
This is gonna be a Tampa Blowout and it will go under!
PLAYING UNDER 99 2x
GL ALL! Countinguy
Destroyers-Storm Game Preview
By Nathan Boudreaux
Buffalo (3-2) at Tampa Bay (3-2)?Saturday, March 8, 8:00 p.m.
When the Buffalo Destroyers head to South Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Storm, it will be a game of teacher vs. pupil. Destroyers head coach Ron Selesky spent a number of years on the Tampa Bay staff under head coach Tim Marcum before accepting his first AFL head coaching gig with Buffalo this season. Both the Storm and the Destroyers have identical 3-2 records but the clubs may be heading in opposite directions. Although Buffalo has won three of its last four games, the Destroyers posted a franchise-low 13 points in a loss last week versus Chicago. Tampa, on the other hand, has won two straight and is averaging 57.2 ppg.
Lead by QB John Kaleo (100 of 155 for 1,354 yards with 26 TD and 3 INTs), who is among the AFL league-leaders in almost every passing category, the Storm offense has been impressive. Rookie OS Freddie Solomon is fourth in the AFL in receptions (36) and receiving yards (578) to go along with 11 TD catches. Solomon is one of seven receivers in the league to average more than 100 yards receiving per game. The Tampa offense has also gotten a lot of support from WR/DB Lawrence Samuels (27-314-4), WR/LB Clif Dell (15-236-6) and WR/LB Gary Compton (12-110-3). The return of WR/LB David Saunders from injury last week gives the Storm another offensive weapon in an already crowded receiving corps. The offense hasn?t been Tampa Bay?s problem this season. Its biggest concern is on defense, especially in the defensive backfield. The Storm defense is yielding just over 50 points per game and has given up 60-plus points twice in five games. DS Corey Sawyer (17.5 tackles, 3 INTs) is having a good season, but Tampa is simply giving up too many touchdowns. After just intercepting six passes all of last season, Tampa has eight picks in five games this year, but according to Marcum, the secondary is making too many mental mistakes.
Buffalo should be able to score points against the Tampa defense, but after last week?s 13-point performance anything can happen. QB Tim Carey, filling in for starter QB Jeff Loots, struggled last week against a stingy Chicago Rush defense, passing for just 195 yards and a touchdown. Loots (44 of 77 for 673 yards, 13 TDs, INT in three games) is expected to come off injured reserve this week (shoulder) and should be in the lineup on Saturday. Buffalo also needs more production from their wide receivers. OS Gunnard Twyner (32-517-9) leads the club in every receiving category, but he has become Buffalo?s only offensive threat. The Destroyers got some early returns from WR/LB Cornelius White (17-242-5) and this week signed former Storm offensive specialist James Bowden. Bowden should be able to provide some much needed quickness to the Destroyers offense, but it may take a few games for him to feel comfortable in a new system. Defensively, the Destroyers have been solid, giving up just 39.6 ppg., which is second best in the league. OL/DL Silas Demary (2.0 sacks) leads the charge up front, while the secondary led by DS Dwaine Carpenter (28.0 tackles, 3 INTs) is tied for second in the AFL with nine interceptions.
If Buffalo is able to muster any kind of offense against an average Storm secondary, the Destroyers should be able to hang with Tampa Bay. Buffalo?s bend-but-don?t-break defense has carried the Destroyers to a 3-2 mark, but will get its toughest test of the year on Saturday. Buffalo faced a high-scoring offense similar to Tampa?s in Week 1 and fell 54-36 to Grand Rapids. The Storm are hot and riding a two-game winning streak and are 2-0 at home this season.
I feel this game will be a blowout!!
Buffalo is avg 80.6 ppg for both teams to Tampa 107.4 ppg for both teams.
This is gonna be a Tampa Blowout and it will go under!
PLAYING UNDER 99 2x
GL ALL! Countinguy
