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Carolina
New England
Cobras
vs. Sea Wolves
by Brian Distelberg,
CobraZone
 (1-7)  (5-4)
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Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Hartford
Civic Center
TV: WKFT TV-40
Radio: Cobras
Radio Network
Internet: WDRC-AM
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Who
Has The Edge? | Injury Report | Register
Your Pick
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WHO HAS THE EDGE?
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When
the Cobras have the ball... |
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Rushing - The Sea
Wolves' defense has yielded a generous 25.7 yards per game on the
ground, and the Cobras managed close to 50 in their preseason meeting.
Will Randy Neal, acquired several weeks ago, suit up? Advantage: Carolina |
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Passing - In general,
New England's secondary has been stringent, but it gave up 358 yards and
six touchdowns in a high-scoring -- even by AFL standards -- loss to San
Jose last week. With no protection, though, Fred
McNair didn't look so hot last week. Fortunately, the Sea Wolves
have only eight sacks this year. Advantage: Even |
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When
the Sea Wolves have the ball... |
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Rushing - The Cobras'
run defense has steadily declined this season, especially since the loss
of Brad Keeney to injury. New England's
Darren Williams, the team's leading rusher, has gained only 49 yards
though. Advantage: Even |
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Passing - New England
suffered a huge blow two weeks ago when they lost league MVP-candidates
QB Chad Salisbury and OS Damien Harrell to season-ending injuries. Since
then, they've lost two straight games. Backup Tim Carey, though,
has thrown nine touchdown passes and has a QB rating near 100. The
Cobras, meanwhile, let Milwaukee QB Kevin McDougal have a field day in
their secondary. Advantage: New England |
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Also... |
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Special Teams - K
Matt George is superb on extra points and OK, by AFL standards, on field
goals. Anthony Derricks has returned five kickoffs for touchdowns.
The Cobras' Remy Hamilton has been
awful on field goals, mainly because he is always kicking from beyond 40
yards away, Adrian Lunsford looks
lost returning kicks, and a special teams' miscue gave the Mustangs a quick
10-0 lead last week from which the Cobras never recovered. Advantage:
New England |
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Coaching - New England's
Mike Hohensee learned from the best: Albany's Mike Dailey. However, he
might have introduced unnecessary distractions into his locker room last
week by calling the San Jose Sabercats -- two of whom allegedly assaulted
one of his players -- and star WR/LB Barry Wagner "thugs." Coach
Kay might have lost some respect among his players this week as well by
threatening "consequences" that seemingly have failed to develop. Advantage:
Even |
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Intangibles - Will
the Cobras show up angry and desirous of revenge, or will they be dispirited
and resigned? Good question, one that could determine the outcome.
Be rest assured that no Sea Wolves want to lose to the Cobras and be forced
to chalk up their second loss to an expansion team in three weeks.
Advantage: ? |
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Prediction:
New England 52 - Carolina 42 |
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(partial)
INJURY REPORT
Due to incomplete
information from the teams, a full injury report is not available.
Cobras:
Out – FB/LB Marrio
Grier (ACL, MCL), OS Marlon Estes (achilles), OL/DL Brad Keeney (MCL),
OS Kevin Lee
Probable - OS
Dexter Dawson (knee), WR/DB Dave McLeod (back)
Sea Wolves:
Out - OS Damien
Harrell, QB Chad Salisbury
Register
your prediction in the CobraZone
Forum! Look on the General Discussion board under the thread
New England Predictions.
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