Arena Football League on NFL Network: Rush at Storm
By SCOTT COOLEY
Chicago Rush at Tampa Bay Storm (-5, 108)
Fourth of July fireworks will come early for arena football’s faction of followers. Friday night’s NFL Network game of the week showcases two of the top three teams in the league as the Chicago Rush (9-3 SU, 7-5 ATS) take on the Tampa Bay Storm (8-3 SU, 5-6 ATS).
Covers Expert Ted Sevransky said earlier this season that there are two head coaches he trusts in the AFL, one is Tim Marcum and the other Mike Hohensee – the pair will square off Friday.
"This team coming in (town) is for real," Marcum said. "They have nine wins for a reason."
What have you done for me lately?
These are two of the hottest teams in league with Chicago entering the game on a three-game winning streak while the Storm have reeled off six consecutive victories.
Both teams have been profitable to bettors as well. The Rush are 3-0 ATS during their streak and 5-1 ATS in their last six games. Tampa is also 3-0 against the number in its last three games and 4-2 ATS inside the team’s six-game run.
The Storm started the season flat-footed, dropping three of their first five games. But the defense has discovered itself (more on that below) and Tampa has outscored opponents by a 14.7 ppg margin over the last six, including a 39-point trouncing of Bossier last week.
“Marcum’s teams tend to get better as the season progresses,” said Sevransky. “If they aren’t good in April, they certainly have it going by July.”
But Tampa’s win streak could be a bit deceiving. Only one of the five teams (played Bossier twice) the Storm defeated over the six-game stretch holds a winning record. Chicago will be a true measuring block for Tampa, evidenced by the tighter line, after the team incurred spreads of 17 points or more the last two games.
UFL thwarts AFL
Two weeks ago, key players for the Chicago Rush were forced to miss a game because they were under contract of the United Football League. Quarterback Russ Michna, who leads the league in passing efficiency, and No. 1 wide receiver Sammie Parker were required to attend a mini-camp with the Las Vegas Locomotives.
Chicago opened as a 1-point home underdog in that game versus the Milwaukee Iron but as news broadened about the absence of Michna and Parker the spread moved to 9 points by kickoff.
Assembling a makeshift lineup where some players didn’t even practice with the team that week, Hohensee willed his squad to achieve the impossible by knocking off Milwaukee 63-56.
“There is no doubt tonight was one of the most rewarding victories in my coaching career,” Hohensee said after the game. “I’ve been saying all season that we have a special group of players here this year, and tonight’s performance should show everybody just what I’ve been talking about.”
Both Michna and Parker returned to the team for last week’s victory over Orlando, but it appeared Chicago’s signal caller was off after practicing on the larger, outdoor field the weekend prior. Michna struggled to find a rhythm through most of the first three quarters, finishing the night by completing 22-of-35 passes for 231 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.
But the Rush’s setbacks at the hands of the UFL haven’t stopped. Parker left the team for good this week to join the Locomotives in preparation for the start of their season, which begins in August. Parker leaves Chicago as the team’s leading receiver with 69 receptions for 1,040 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Defensive driving
The success of these teams over the last month can directly be linked to their defensive effort. The Storm boast the top-ranked defense in the AFL, holding opponents to an average of 51.4 points per game while Chicago ranks third in the league at 52.4 ppg.
The Rush secondary, which has consisted of the same three players all season, leads the league in interceptions (23) and is second in passing defense efficiency. Chicago’s rushing front four ranks fourth in sacks with 26.
Chicago is coming off a stellar defensive performance in a 55-42 win over Orlando. The Rush forced four turnovers and the 42 points were the fewest allowed by the team this year.
But as good as Chicago’s defense has been; Tampa’s veteran unit is performing better than any right now.
After allowing 60.8 ppg through the first four weeks of the season, the Storm have held opponents to 46.0 points per contest over the last seven games. Tampa held the opposition to 50 points or fewer in six of those seven outings and Marcum’s squad is 5-1 this season and 140-41 all time when accomplishing that feat.
Last Friday versus Bossier, the Storm supplied constant pressure on a rookie quarterback, forcing him into three interceptions and two fumbles. The veteran defensive line was led by Jermaine Smith who recorded 3.0 sacks, 11 quarterback pressures and a pair of forced fumbles.
"These guys are 30 and above and they're playing against a bunch of 24- to 26-year-old boys and they're wearing them out,” said assistant head coach Dave Ewart. “These are guys that have been doing this a long time. The good thing about this team is every player has their mind on one thing and that's winning a championship."
Infirmary report
Tampa Bay’s third-leading receiver, DeAndrew Rubin, will miss this week’s game after pulling a hamstring Friday. Rubin caught a touchdown in that game and has 42 receptions for 684 yards and 17 scores on the year. Veteran Sedrick Robinson will start in his place.
Parker’s exodus to the UFL leaves Chicago very thin at the wide receiver position. The team’s No. 2 and 3 receivers, Kenny Higgins and Nicheron Flowers, are still on injured reserve and Chicago’s fourth option sustained an ankle injury last week but is expected to be available.
That leaves the Rush with two inexperienced wideouts who were signed to the team on June 17. Syvelle Newton and Marco Thomas were active for that week’s game but neither played last Saturday. Expect to see linebacker DeJuan Alfonzo play both ways this week and assist the other three in the receiving corps.
Notes and trends
- Chicago will arrive in Tampa by plane on Thursday at midnight.
- Tampa Bay is the most penalized team in the league, yielding 78.4 yards per game in yellow flags.
- The Rush are 5-1 SU and ATS on the road in 2010.
- The Storm are 4-1 SU and 2-3 ATS at home this season.
- Chicago leads the all-time series against the Storm 2-1, winning the two most recent games (2008, 2004) by scores of 51-46 and 51-36.
- The head-to-head coaching record for this matchup is even a four games apiece.
- Tampa ranks fourth in total offense (324.5) while the Rush rank 10th (297.3).
- The Rush have allowed 10 sacks this season compared to Tampa Bay’s five.
- The Storm have accounted for 18 sacks while Chicago has registered 16.