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Florida Bobcats (0-0) at Cobras (0-0)
| Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: ESA TV: none Radio: Cobras Radio Network Internet: none Promotion: Arena Football 101 publication from the N&O for first 7,500 fans Pre-Game Band: Rocco's Collar |
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The start of the regular season delivers good and bad news to the Cobras.
On the plus side, they can toss out their 65-27 exhibition loss to Albany.
However, they must also discard their emotionally charged 44-39 preseason
win over New England.
The challenge presented by the Florida Bobcats – the team against which the Cobras make their regular season debut – may have seemed less daunting before the preseason started. The Bobcats went just 3-11 last season, won only one game on the road, finished the season with a seven game losing streak, went 0-6 against Southern Division opposition and have not won their past 20 divisional games. However, Florida’s new head coach Dave Ewart rallied his team to a 2-0 preseason mark, with wins over Tampa Bay and Houston. Fortunately, the Bobcats too must discard their exhibition record. As they will likely be doing all season, the Cobras will be looking to win twice – once on the field, and once at the gate. Was the respectable crowd of close to 9000 a one-time fluke for the Triangle’s first foray into arena football? Or was it held down by the Thursday game date and the exhibition billing? Friday night should provide interesting answers in this area as well. Winning may be the key to drawing fans, but the reverse could hold true as well. The louder the arena is, the better your chances, as the Cobras discovered at the end of the fourth quarter last Thursday. Cobras on Offense: The defense saved the offense last week, coming up with both the blocked field goal that was converted into a score and the Cobras’ first lead and with the defensive stand that prevented a New England comeback. For consistent wins, however, this dependence can not become a regular thing. The Bobcats’ defense gave up an average of 50.1 points per game last season, though their showing in the preseason was significantly better. The Cobras still must score, score, score, score, and Jack Jackson’s breakout last week will play a big part in that. Another key, however, is cutting down on dropped balls; perhaps the excitement of opening night contributed, but the Cobras could have had a lead in hand much earlier had several passes stayed in the receivers’ hands rather than bounding to the turf. Marrio Grier’s 27 yards last week represent about a third of the 118 that Florida’s leading rusher had all season, which points out one advantage that the Cobras have demonstrated: a superior ground game. The Cobras should be able to rely on Grier for several first downs and at least one score per game, which takes a load off of Jim Arellanes’ shoulders. Speaking of Arellanes, the current starter must shine – and shine bright – if he wants to keep his place in the lineup. The Albany Times-Union article that reported Jeff Loots’ trade to the Cobras saw it is a foregone conclusion that he would be starting soon after coming off of the Refused to Report roster. Hopefully, the Cobras will be able to hang onto Arellanes as well is this proves true, for Loots has received interest from the NFL. Finally, the Cobras have another weapon in their offensive arsenal – kicker Remy Hamilton. Hamilton has the leg to hit field goals from anywhere on the field. The Cobras should hope, however, that they don’t need to test this skill; touchdowns, not field goals, win AFL games. Cobras on Defense: The Florida assault – an attack that ranked next to last in the league last season – is led by the original ‘Air McNair,’ Fred (whose younger brother Steve plays for the Tennessee Titans.) McNair is only six yards away from becoming only the 13th AFL passer ever to reach 10,000 career passing yards. McNair’s main target is OS Curtis Caesar, who had 31 TD catches last season and shattered all sorts of Bobcats’ records. Controlling him will be prerequisite to winning the game – he is essentially the sole receiving threat. The defense must also keep FB/LB Michael McClenton, who scored eight times last season on the ground, out of the endzone. The best solution on defense may be pinning the Bobcats deep with Hamilton’s booming kickoffs then forcing field goals or turnovers. Last season, the Bobcats finished with a -11 turnover factor, which the defense should try to exploit. Turnovers, as well as providing great field position, get the crowd into the game. With the crowd in the game last week, the defense shut down New England’s final second drive and the Cobras won their first game ever. Prediction: Bobcats 48 - Cobras 45 Register your prediction in the CobraZone Forum! Look on the General Discussion board under the thread Florida Predictions.  |
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