AFL on the NFL Network: Spokane at Iowa
By SCOTT COOLEY
Spokane Shock at Iowa Barnstormers (+6.5, 107)
The AFL game of the week features one of the top teams in the league as the Spokane Shock (11-2, 8-5 ATS) make their first NFL Network appearance when they meet the Iowa Barnstormers (6-6 SU, 7-5 ATS) Friday night.
Spokane has rattled off nine consecutive victories and locked up the Western Division with a win over Cleveland last Saturday. The Barnstormers all but extinguished their playoff hopes after a 52-42 loss to Oklahoma City last weekend.
Foot off the pedal?
Spokane may have locked up home-field advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs, but don’t expect this squad to put it on cruise control the final three games of the season.
Tampa Bay (10-3) is breathing down the Shock’s neck for best record in the AFL and which team comes away with that distinction will earn home-field in the Arena Bowl, should they advance that far. Spokane also plays its last three games on the NFL Network where players can audition for NFL scouts tuning in.
“I think it’s my responsibility to get the players seen,” head coach Rob Keefe said. “I’m going to put the best on the field every week. Somebody asked me the other day, ‘Do you want to lose before the playoffs?’ No, I think you want to win at everything you do all the time.”
So there’s the confirmation that Keefe won’t pull a Jim Caldwell and sit starters midway through the game.
Mustering motivation
Iowa must win its next three games and have Milwaukee lose its final three in order to earn a trip to the postseason. That’s a pretty tall order to fill considering the Barnstormers play three of the elite teams in the league beginning Friday.
"I told the team the season's not over, we still have a lot to play for,” head coach John Gregory said. “We have three games left, against three of the top opponents in the league."
Iowa plays Spokane, Milwaukee and Arizona to close out the season and is 1-5 this season against teams with a .500 record or better. The Barnstormers have remained competitive throughout the year behind a hard-nosed defense but these final opponents boast three out of the top four offenses in the AFL.
The Iowa defense may be able to limit the Shock’s No. 2-ranked scoring offense (63.7 ppg) but keeping up with them on the other side of the ball might be a problem. The Barnstormers rank third-to-last in the league in scoring (49.8 ppg) and total offense (278.1 ypg). Quarterback Ryan Vena has accounted for too many turnovers this season and bettors should heed the words of a professional handicapper before backing Iowa.
“Vena is not a long-term answer, he’s not a quarterback I have a whole lot of respect for,” said Ted Sevransky.
Travel log
After the Shock concluded their game last Saturday in Cleveland, the team was scheduled to fly back home Sunday. After arriving at the airport Spokane learned there had been an error in the travel arrangements and its return flight wasn’t until Monday.
The Shock went back to the hotel and relaxed in Ohio for the day and then returned home late Monday evening. They went through short film and conditioning sessions Tuesday, practiced lightly Wednesday and then flew out for Des Moines Thursday.
“What are you going to do, sit around and cry about it?” Keefe said of the botched travel. “Health is the main issue at this point for every team. It’s more honing in, getting healthy and focusing on what Iowa does.”
Being located at least a 1,000 miles from any other AFL team has its advantages when playing host but situations such as these have to wear on the Spokane players.
What have you done for me lately?
The Shock earned last week’s win in dramatic fashion. On Cleveland’s first possession of overtime, Spokane defensive back Travis Williams returned an interception 43 yards for the game-winning touchdown. The 62-56 victory allowed the Shock to cover the spread as 3-point road favorites.
Kyle Rowley completed 25-of-38 passes for 298 yards and seven scores while directing an offense that averaged 6.9 yards per play. “Baby” Huey Whittaker was the primary benefactor of Rowley’s proficiency, hauling in 11 balls for 153 yards and five touchdowns. The Shock are 3-1 ATS over their last four outings.
Two costly turnovers by the Barnstormers inside the 5-yard line proved to be the difference in the loss to Oklahoma City last Saturday. The Iowa defense, that had been relentless the previous two weeks, was only able to come away with one stop versus OKC.
"We just couldn't get them stopped," coach John Gregory said. "We were moving the ball well, but the two turnovers, that's what put us in a hole. Our defense wasn't able to make enough plays."
Iowa was installed as a 4-point road underdog in that game but the spread had moved to a pick ‘em by kickoff. The ‘Stormers are 3-3 SU and ATS in their last six games.