Amazingly, despite losing six of their last seven games the Rampage are still in the AFL playoff hunt.  In fact, despite being 3-8 on the season, Grand Rapids is still in the sixth and final spot for the American Conference tournament which will begin the final weekend in June.  Fortunately for the Raging Rhinos, both Kansas City (2-9) and Utah (2-10) are in their conference.   Six of the eight teams in the conference will make the playoffs.

The Rampage has already disposed of Kansas City twice so they would win the tiebreaker with the Brigade which effectively gives them a two game lead over KC.  The biggest game on the remaining Rampage schedule is a home matchup against the Blaze on June 1st.  A victory over Utah would all but assure Grand Rapids a spot in the playoffs.

The Rampage play only one team with a winning record in their final five games and that is the season finale at New Orleans.  They have a great opportunity to not only make the playoffs but perhaps even host a first round game.  They get to play Arizona and Colorado who are ahead of them and they already beat Los Angeles who is one game up on them at 4-8.  The table is set but before they eat they have to start playing better football.

They actually looked very sharp early in the Tampa Bay game but then the mistakes began to mount and Tampa got back in the game.  The biggest problem was turnovers.  You don’t win many games when you turn it over six times.  But I was impressed with the way they battled to the end.  That is something you can build on.

QB James MacPherson has shown flashes of brilliance this season but also has had some problems with interceptions, due mainly to inexperience.  Once he learns not to force the ball into tight spots, especially into the end zone, the number of picks should come down.  Better protection would also be nice as MacPherson has been sacked 17 times.

The offense has really missed the running threat of Chris Ryan who is on IR.  Terrell Browden can run fairly well and has done a decent job at the fullback spot, although his protection has been a struggle at times.  The entire offensive line is made up of rookies. The problem is sometimes they play like rookies.  But as they continue to progress under line coach Darrin Kenney this unit can become a strength.  But they do have some work to do.

The Rampage receivers are the bright spot on this team.  Kenny Higgins (80-1126-23 TDs) is explosive both going deep and running after the catch.  Cole Magner (26-291-5 TDs) was the best receiver on the field in the recent loss to Tampa Bay.  He runs excellent routes, has great hands and is a tough, hard-nosed competitor.  Chris Johnson (35-416-12 TDs) is outstanding at making tough catches near or in the end zone.  Jermaine Lewis (35-373-7 TDs) is a big red zone threat (when they use him) and is also playing well on defense.

The secondary has played fairly well, led by middle safety Ahmad Hawkins.  Hawkins is tied for fourth in the AFL with six interceptions.  William “Roc” Haith has been solid as the field corner but has yet to make an interception.  He does seem to come up with a big hit or two each game.  Chris Martin plays the backside corner and has two interceptions but has made the biggest impact on kick off returns.  He is fourth in the league with a 19.9 return average and has taken four kicks back for TDs.

Defensively, the problem has been an inconsistent pass rush.  The defensive line has been a revolving door with many players getting an opportunity.  Currently, one defensive end is Micheal McFadden and the other was Raheem Orr.  Orr was released this week. Both are quick edge rushers who are really undersized to be defensive ends.  They are more physically built to play the Mac linebacker position.  This becomes a problem defending the run on the goal line.  They also can be overmatched by bigger offensive lineman with good feet. 

The Rampage recently picked up Donavan Arp who is playing at the nose.  Arp is a good football player but has not played a lot at the nose and at 285 lbs. is also a bit undersized for that position.  He would actually be a better Mac linebacker, too.

Special teams have been solid for GR as kicker Brian Gowins has been very good.  He has made 75 out of 80 extra points and five of 12 field goals.  The Rampage also leads the AFL with five kick off return TDs.  They have played well in this phase of the game and will need to continue to do so if they hope to make a run into the playoffs.

The jury is still out on the 2008 edition of the Grand Rapids Rampage.  The one thing they do have is opportunity.  They play Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Columbus.  All have losing records and have been inconsistent.  Somebody has to rise to the top. 

Will it be the Raging Rhino’s?

After a dismal 0-2 start to the 2008 season the Grand Rapids Rampage began to live up to their name and their expectations. GR went on a rampage, raising its record to 2-2 after winning its next two games in spectacular record-breaking fashion. After hanging a league road record 92 points on Kansas City, the boys came home and dropped 84 on Los Angeles. It’s really hard to lose when you put 80+ on the board.

But just when it looked like they had things figured out the offense went dormant against New York failing to score until midway through the third quarter. Then the Rampage followed that effort up with a home loss to Orlando where another slow start killed them.  At 2-4, you wonder who they are. Will the real Rampage please step up?

The biggest change during the two game winning streak was the insertion of James MacPherson into the lineup at QB. He was nothing short of miraculous in his first two AFL starts. He threw a team record-tying (Clint Dolezel) nine TD passes vs. KC and then hit on 21 of 24 throws for five more TDs vs. L.A. Then the bottom dropped out the next two games as MacPherson threw five picks.

Still, you have to give Coach Thon a ton of credit. Things looked really bleak when GR was sitting at 0-2. Playing the previous two ArenaBowl champions after starting the year with a bye was a tough way to start his tenure in GR.  hey put up a good fight against the SaberCats but absolutely laid down against Chicago.  Many fans were thinking “here we go again” and “same old Rampage.” These thoughts are usually reserved for the Lions.

But those thoughts have surfaced again after the last two games. 

One of the problems the Rampage has faced is injuries. However, this is something that teams have to deal with every year. The key is having good depth and also a nice list of potential replacements if your guys start dropping like flies. This will be the biggest challenge for the Rampage as they look to right the ship.

There are some strong spots on this team, the primary one being the receiver position. Kenny Higgins has turned into a TD machine with 13 TD grabs on 39 receptions. That is a TD for every three catches which is the fifth best average in the AFL thus far. Anthony Hines and Jermaine Lewis are both proven playmakers and when Chris Johnson has been given a chance he has performed well.

The secondary is also a solid spot on this team. Ahmad Hawkins has four interceptions, including one he brought back for a TD. William “Roc” Haith has been strong at one of the corners. Chris Martin leads the team in tackles and has been an awesome weapon at returning kicks. Martin has four kick returns for TDs so far this year, including a team record three in the win over Los Angeles.

One of the biggest problems for this team is taking care of the football. Anyone will tell you if you don’t win the turnover battle in any form of football you are likely to lose. This is even more true about the arena game because possessions are so important. In the Rampage’s two wins they are plus nine in the turnover margin. In fact, they did not turn the ball over a single time in each of their victories. However, when they don’t take care of the ball, they don’t win.

Perhaps the biggest issue this team faces is up front on both sides of the ball. The Rampage has had trouble protecting their QB and getting after the opponent’s QB. This is the name of the game in the AFL: Get after theirs and protect yours. Injuries and lack of production has forced GR to make a slew of personnel moves to try to solidify the line play. Until this issue gets settled, expect an inconsistent performance.

Arena Football is a QB driven game. James MacPherson started like a house on fire but has since cooled off. Early on teams had no film of him to dissect and plan from. Now that he has been scouted a bit, teams have found ways to exploit his lack of game experience. The key for him will be growing into the position now that opponent’s have a bead on him. Of course, he needs protection or it won’t matter what he does.

The goal is for this team to make the playoffs, a feat they have not accomplished since 2002. The good news is all but two teams in the American Conference will qualify for the post season. The Rampage has a two game lead over winless Utah and Kansas City. I think five wins will get you into the playoffs so GR is almost halfway there. They have some key games coming up that they will need to win. The play Kansas City again in two weeks at home and host Utah on June 1st. If they can win those two and come up with another win along the way they will pretty much be a lock for the postseason.

However, if they can take care of the football and get better play up front, they can get on a roll and perhaps even host a first round game.  That, however, remains to be seen.

The first step of rebuilding a team is keeping the good parts you have as a nucleus to build around. The Arena Football League recognizes this and gives teams a window of opportunity to sign their own free agents before the rest of the league gets a shot at them. That time has passed and the free market is now open for business.
And business will be booming as there are a bevy of good Arena players on this year’s free agent list. However, many people don’t realize the AFL has a salary cap that is quite complicated.  Included in this cap are all the benefits a team provides for the players. In the AFL, this includes housing, food, travel, insurance benefits and worker’s comp, among other things. It creates quite a puzzle to be put together by “capologists” as they figure out their budget for the upcoming season.

The good news is I don’t have a budget. Nor do I have to deal with salary cap constraints. So with that in mind I will use this space to pick a team from the available talent pool without any consideration as to whether or not I can fit these guys under the cap. I do this because I can.

Quarterback

The AFL is a QB league, and this is the first and only place to begin. There are only a few proven AFL QB’s on the market this year but don’t be deceived as I once was. Mark Grieb is not going to leave San Jose. When I was coaching in Buffalo I tried to lure the West Coast Kid to the East Coast of Lake Erie but it wasn’t going to happen. However, I was glad to drive the price up and make the SaberCats have to dig a little deeper to keep him home. The only other QBs that intrigue me are Sherdrick Bonner and Ray Philyaw. The question is, does Bonner have enough left for one more title run? I think he does. As far as Philyaw goes, if you need a starter that is a proven winner who takes care of the football then look no further.

1.  Mark Grieb, SJS  Good luck prying him out of California.
2.  Raymond Philyaw, KCB  Kansas City would be crazy not to bring him back.
3.  Sherdrick Bonner, ARZ  He can still do it if he wants to.
4.  Nick Browder, DAL  Browder proved he can win with New York two years ago.

My Picks:  I sign Philyaw and Browder. 

Receivers

This is the most loaded position in free agency this year. There is an abundance of quality pass catchers available including some of the best in the game. Teams willing to spend some money can go out and buy a whole new group. There are also plenty of opportunities to add that one guy that can put you over the hump. Chicago’s Bobby Sippio is the most talented guy out there but he is playing for the Kansas City Chiefs and I think his Arena days are behind him so I won’t bother ranking him.

1.  Damien Harrell, COL Harrell is explosive and will make the impossible circus catches. He has made Crush QB John Dutton into an all-star. He can run the motion or play the backside.
2.  Chris Jackson, GEO  Jackson is the best route runner in the game. He is also a great kick returner.
3.  Ben Nelson, SJS Nelson is the best deep ball receiver in the game. He goes and gets it.
4.  Siaha Burley, UTA  Burley has a knack for getting open and is a tough competitor.
5.  Randy Gatewood, ARZ Gatewood is excellent in the red zone.  He knows the game as well as anyone in the league.
6.  Derrick Lee, GEO Lee is a big physical target who can go up and get it in a crowd. He also has the speed to get deep.

My picks:  I sign Harrell, Jackson, Nelson and Lee.

Fullback/Linebackers

With the change in the substitution rules last year you can now separate these positions a little bit but with only 20 guys dressing on game day they still have to be able to play both spots. One key thing not to overlook is pass protection. You need a guy who can carry the mail in the red zone and protect out in the field at fullback. Your Mac linebacker must be a good pass rusher, an excellent goal line run defender and a sure tackler.

1.  Rupert Grant, NAS Grant is a beast on defense and can get it done on offense.
2.  Frank Carter, UTA Carter is a finesse rusher who will get his sacks.  He is a big play threat on offense.
3.  Dan Alexander, NAS It’s hard to argue with the mind boggling rushing numbers he put up last year. He won’t give you much on defense but hid goal line running is among the best.
4.  Matt Kinsinger, SJS  Kinsinger is an excellent pass protector. He can also bring the heat.
5.  Chris Avery, GRR Avery is another guy who can do it on both sides of the ball.

My picks:  I sign Grant, Kinsinger and Alexander.

Defensive Backs

The most important position on defense is the middle defender. He has to be able to limit the production of the opponent’s best receiver who is coming at him full speed out of high motion.  The guy must have the ability to forget. He may get beat for three, four even five TDs in the game but if he can make that game-winning stop on the last drive all will be forgiven and forgotten.  I like to have some veterans back there who know the angles of the Arena game. The other big consideration is a guys tackling ability. You have to be able to get the man down.

1.  Rashad Floyd, COL  Floyd is a tackling machine who knows the AFL and its receivers and routes as well as any one. He can cover and will hit you. He will never quit.
2.  Johnny Harris, GRR  Harris is a savvy veteran who can still make plays.
3.  Lin-J Shell, ORL  Shell made a lot of plays before succumbing to injuries last year.
4.  Reggie Doster, GEO  Doster is a playmaker that helped Georgia’s big run last year.
5.  Damon Mason, AUS  See #2 above.

My picks:  I sign Floyd, Doster and Harris and find some rookies or af2 guys with talent to learn from this group.

Offensive Linemen

In past years you would have to lump all your linemen together as most of them played both sides of the ball.  Now you only have a couple of swing guys with the new substitution rules.  This really changes the way to build your team.  I would likely go for NFL talent on the offensive line but there are a few “road graders” out there in free agency.

1.  Adam Metts GEO  Metts is an excellent nose besides being a solid blocker. He is also a great locker room guy.
2.  Carey Clayton, NAS Clayton can play both G and Center which gives you flexibility and depth.
3.  Jerry Sharpe, ARZ  harpe proved he can still get it done and you won’t find a better clubhouse veteran.
4.  Jeff Chase, DAL Tough competitor at the Center position.
5.  Marcus Keys, GEO  Keys quietly gets the job done.

My Picks:  I sign Clayton and Metts, trade for Ernest Allen (Geo) and get me some NFL Beef.

Defensive Linemen

Many feel this is the most important position on the field. If you can get pressure on a QB you have a chance to make some plays or some stops. It all starts up front in football and the AFL is no exception. As my buddy Tim Marcum says, “You have to get after ther’n and protect your’n.”  There are plenty of proven pass rushers in this year’s market.

1.  Ken Jones, CMB  Jones has blossomed into a game-changing player.
2.  Silas Demary, LAA Demary is explosive and plays with an edge. He will get after you for 60 minutes every week.
3.  B.J. Cohen, KCB Cohen is as smart a defensive player as there is in the AFL.
4.  E.J. Burt, CHI Burt’s production was down a bit last year but nobody runs the hoop better than him.
5.  George Williams, SJS  Big George can still go. He is a beast at the Nose and can make plays in your goal line “Fat” package.
6.  Wendall Gaines, ARZ  Gaines has seen it all and can still do it all.

My Picks:  I would try to sign all six of them.

Kickers

One of the negatives is you have to have a kicker on your team. I liked the old days when you got one of your real ballplayers to kick for you. Like Wayne Walker for the Lions. But it is what it is. Kickers are very important in Arena. Onside kicks, extra points and kickoffs occur at a much higher rate in the AFL. So you have to have the best kicker possible regardless of how you feel about them.

1.  Remy Hamilton, LAA  Hamilton is the best kicker in the league and has been for the last three years.
2.  Peter Martinez, CLB  Who can forget how he hit iron on back to back kicks to upset Dallas in the playoffs last year?
3.  Brian Gowins, GRA  Former kicker of the year who still has tread on the tires.

My Pick:  I would overpay Hamilton.

These next two prospects are still coaching, as their teams have made the ArenaBowl, so the Rampage has yet to publicly discuss them.  In fact, I don’t know for sure these are the guys they are looking at, but they should be as both would be excellent head coaching candidates.

Skip Foster, Offensive Coordinator - Columbus Destroyers
Skip Foster is a proven winner in the Arena Football league.  He took over the expansion Austin Wranglers four years ago and led them to a 24-24 overall record and a 10-6 mark last year only to be fired after losing in the first round of the playoffs.  The Wranglers must be kicking themselves as they went 4-12 this season with new coach Brian Partlow while Foster is coaching in the Arena Bowl. 

Foster also won an af2 title in 2003 with the Tulsa Talons and his four-year record in the af2 was 44-10.  The man knows how to coach.  He has his Columbus team in the ArenaBowl largely because of the way the offense has been playing in the playoffs.  They have averaged nearly 66 points per game during the current four game-winning streak.

I interviewed Coach Foster for the offensive coordinator spot in Buffalo shortly before I resigned back in the fall of 2002 and was very impressed with his knowledge of the game.  He is an outstanding playcaller and also is meticulous in his preparation for each game.  His players get along with him very well.  He strikes an appropriate balance between being friendly with his players and also drawing the line when it comes to discipline.

Foster is also a solid personnel guy.  He knows the AFL very well and has an eye for picking talent that fits into what he likes to do.  He also knows the af2 extremely well and has many contacts that would give him a leg up in recruiting talent from that league.

Most importantly, Skip Foster is good people.  He is a football guy through and through.  He has everything you look for in a coach.  He has the know how, experience, the connections and the drive to succeed.  He would be a great addition to the Grand Rapids community as well.

Kevin Guy, Defensive Coordinator - San Jose Sabercats
Kevin Guy has paid his dues and is ready for a shot at a head coaching position in the AFL.  I spoke with him a few weeks ago when I was covering the San Jose/Colorado playoff game and was once again impressed with the way he carries himself.  He’s just a good dude.

Out of all the prospects mentioned here, I am convinced Kevin will win games.  He is just a winner.  His record backs that up, as he was the winningest coach in the history of the af2 coming into this season.  In just four years as a head coach in af2 he garnered 52 wins.  I’m no math major but even I can figure out that that equals 13 wins per season and a .732 winning percentage.

He played in the AFL for four years including a trip to ArenaBowl XIII with the Orlando Predators.  This is not an essential requirement for a coach but I think it helps add to the overall package.  He knows first hand, what the players go through.  He has been a defensive coordinator in the AFL for four years including the past two in San Jose.  His defense is one of the biggest reasons the Sabercats are in the ArenaBowl this year.  They were the second ranked defense in points allowed and turnovers forced (behind Chicago) which are the two most important defensive statistics in the AFL.

Guy also was the New Jersey Reddogs defensive coordinator in 2000 and held the same spot for the Florida Bobcats in 2001.  He actually was the interim head coach of the Reddogs for the last four games in 2000 so he has had head coaching experience in the AFL to go with his incomparable record as an af2 head coach.

As much as this is an offensive oriented game, defense still wins.  With Guy in charge you know the defense will be solid if not spectacular.  He also knows plenty of qualified people to bring in an excellent staff.  In fact, he brought in Jeff Jarnigan to San Jose this year to help improve the ‘Cat’s special teams.  The improved play in that facet of the game is one of the biggest reasons San Jose rebounded to have a big year.  If Guy comes to GR expect his buddy Jarnigan to be part of the package.  That’s a good thing.  Real good.

Guy is young, energetic and a tireless worker.  He would be an asset to the community and would be well liked.

There are some excellent coaches out there who could come in and get ‘er done.  Let’s take a look at some of them.

Steve Thon, Offensive Coordinator - Georgia Force
Steve Thon (pronounced Tun) just finished his third year as the play-caller for the Force.  This season may have been his best as he took a previously unproven QB in Chris Greisen and turned him into a record setting, All-Arena performer.  Greisen had thrown a total of 16 AFL passes before coming to Georgia to be the starter this year.  In Thon’s offense he threw for an amazing AFL record of 117 TD passes in leading the Force to a 14-2 regular season record.

As spectacular as this is, it is not the first time Thon has groomed a QB to greatness.  He taught the Arena game to former Rampage QB, Clint Dolezel back when he was the head coach of the Houston Thunderbears from 1998-2001.  Under Thon’s guidance Dolezel had the first 400+ yard passing game in AFL history.  He did the same with Dallas QB Jim Kubiak in 2003.  Thon was the O.C. of the Desperados when they led the AFL in offense, and he did it with Matt Nagy, who was Georgia’s QB in 2005 and 2006.

If anyone can turn recently re-signed Rampage QB Adrian McPherson into a topflight Arena signal caller it would be coach Thon.

Steve has a great history not only as a coach but also as a six-year player in the AFL beginning back in 1988.  He is a really laid back kind of guy who enters into a partnership with his players and they respond very well to him.  He knows all the tricks of the Arena trade through his vast experience.  He adds a mixture of scheme with the knowledge of what his players do best, along with a defense’s deficiencies and concocts superb game plans week in and week out.

Thon would be a great fit for our community as well.  He is a family man from the Chicago area and loves the idea of coaching in Grand Rapids.  He and wife Pam are the proud parents of two children.

You won’t find a nicer guy than Steve Thon.  Many people may consider this a knock when it comes to motivating players to win in pro football.  I am not so sure.  Despite what Bill Parcells may believe, you don’t have to be a jerk to win.  I believe Thon can get ‘er done.  It may cost the team more in replacement scoreboard light bulbs and electricity as his offenses will light it up but it would be well worth the investment.

Brian Schwartze, Director of Player Personnel/Secondary Coach - Chicago Rush
Brian Schwartze has been an outstanding defensive coach in his seven years in the AFL/af2.  He began his indoor coaching career as the assistant head coach of the af2’s Quad City Steamwheelers in 2000.  In two seasons the team won two Arena Cup titles.

From there Schwartze joined the NewJersey/Las Vegas Gladiators as the team’s defensive coordinator for two seasons.  Then in 2004 he took a position coaching defensive backs with the Chicago Rush and in 2005 added the duties of Director of Player Personnel.  His teams have made the playoffs in each of the seven years that he has coached Arena ball and three times his teams have won championships.

Coach Schwartze knows the Arena game extremely well and he also knows how to grind.  He has worked for Chicago head coach Mike Hohensee the past four years and that would constitute paying your dues and learning how to work smart and hard to get things done.  I know Coach Schwartze has arrived at the practice facility before 5 AM many a morning to get the field and practice plans ready for the Rush to get to work.

He has proven himself in regards to personnel as the talented Chicago roster testifies.  He knows the talent pool of the AFL but also knows the hidden treasures that can be gleaned from af2 rosters.  Chicago benefited this year with the likes of Rob Mager and Robert Boss whom they culled from the Duece.

I like Schwartze.  He is bright, driven, organized and meticulous.  I think he has a vision of the big picture.  The thing he lacks is the hardest to get and that is previous head coaching experience.  Perhaps taking an af2 head coaching job and putting his talents on display would help the resumé.   Schwartze has all the makings of being a fine head coach but until he gets a shot, I guess we will never know.

To be fair, Schwartze is also a family man who would flourish in and impact our community in a positive way.  He is a fun personality.  I remember last year during Chicago’s playoff run he would not talk with me on the field prior to the games.  He would get my attention and walk away.  When Chicago beat San Jose to go to the ArenaBowl he came up and gave me a big hug and said that he did not talk to me prior to an earlier game, which they won, he didn’t want to jinx things by saying hi to me and that he had to keep it up through the playoffs.  It worked well for him so I doubt if he will be calling me before he interviews for this job.

Pat O’Hara, Offensive Coordinator - Tampa Bay Storm
Pat O’Hara is a former three-time ArenaBowl Champion QB in this league having won two titles with Orlando (’98, ’00) and one with Tampa Bay (’03).  He knows what it takes to win and how to get ‘er done.  He has the least amount of coaching experience of all the candidates, as he has only coached in the AFL for past three years.

He got injured in 2005 and while on injured reserve manned the O.C. spot for the Storm.  In 2006 he was the back-up QB and also served as the O.C.  This past season he hung up the cleats and was strictly a coach.  He has also coached high school football in Florida for three years.

O’Hara has played for two of the best AFL coaches in the business in Jay Gruden of Orlando and Tim Marcum of Tampa Bay.  He is a smart guy who has soaked up a lot of knowledge during a 16-year playing career.  However, Marcum pretty much calls all of the plays for the Storm although O’Hara’s input has increased this year.  He also had a big hand in developing rookie QB, Brett Deitz this past season.  Dietz came in and led Tampa’s turnaround by winning eight of the nine games he started earning him Rookie of the Year accolades.

O’Hara is a long shot to get the position but that does not make him any less qualified.  He is bright, hard working and very knowledgeable concerning Arena football.  He understands game management and is well respected by players in this league.  He is also a perfect fit for the conservative family-oriented Grand Rapids community with his wife and two boys.

O’Hara may not be the top choice as a head coach but if the Rampage were to go with a defensive minded coach he would be a great choice to bring in as an offensive coordinator.  Another thing O’Hara has going for him is his relationship with the players in the AFL.  He works in casting for football movies and has found work for many AFL players as movie extras in the off-season.  Guys like him, trust him and would love to come to GR to play for him.

Towards the end of the Rampage’s disappointing season I was in the Van Andel Arena covering one of the games for FOX Sports Detroit.  After yet another troubling “come from ahead” loss, some of the more vocal fans began to call for Sparky McEwen ’s dismissal.  On the way out of the building I had three people ask or tell me I should be the next coach of the team.  Thanks, but no thanks.

Believe me, there is still a part of me that would love to give coaching in the AFL another shot.  The ideal job would be coaching right here in my hometown of Grand Rapids .  I wouldn’t have to uproot the family, and I could count on the support of the many friends I have in this community.  It could be a perfect situation.  Having worked with the Rampage this year as a blogger and TV announcer I have gotten to know team personnel and management and they are great people tow work with.  Scott Woodruff is going to be an awesome GM for the team.  But the reality is my knees are too bad to even consider it at this point.  Maybe after I get them replaced in a few years and my children will have left the nest things will be different.

I have been covering Arena Football for television and the internet during the five years since I resigned as the head coach and General Manager of the Buffalo Destroyers in 2002.  During that time I have had the pleasure of inspecting every program in the league up close and in person.  I have talked personnel and strategy with every coach in the game.  I have studied film of and interviewed countless players.  I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t throughout the entire league.

So it was very tempting to take my previous experiences and all of the knowledge I have accumulated and give it another shot. Who knows, maybe I could put together a group that could win it all.  Then I saw Columbus kicker Peter Martinez clang a couple of kicks off the iron in the Destroyers playoff upset of Dallas and realized I am quite happy without having to pin my success on the crazy bounce of a ball off of the iron. 

I haven’t tasted defeat since my Destroyers team lost to the Orlando Predators 31-27 in the opening round of the 2002 playoffs.  I don’t miss the losing, that’s for sure.  Being a TV analyst for the league allows me the luxury of time at home with the family, yet still getting to travel and to have relationships with coaches and players of the league.  I still get to speak the language, and I don’t have to hate anybody.  I was too competitive for my own good and didn’t care for anybody else but my own when coaching.  Now I have the freedom to love them all; well, most of them anyway.

Bottom line is I am not a candidate for the Rampage job.  But I do wish only the best for the Rampage organization. There are some excellent coaches out there who could come in and get ‘er done.  Let’s take a look at some of them.

Grand Rapids Rampage (4-11) @ Nashville Kats (6-9)

THE GAME
The Rampage will finish up the 2007 season on the road against the Nashville Kats on Saturday night with kickoff set for 8 pm.  GR beat the Kats earlier in the year at Van Andel Arena 71-55.  This will be the 10th meeting between the clubs with the Kats holding an edge with a 5-4 record.  GR also beat Nashville in Arena Bowl XV back in the good old days.

Grand Rapids is coming off of a loss in their home finale in a wild one with Tampa Bay.  The game included an amazing 11 turnovers, including a team record seven by the Rampage.  Nashville lost a close one 66-63 at Kansas City.  Before the game Jeff Smoker, the Kats’ rookie sensation QB was suspended for violating team rules.  Matt Kohn got the start and hit on only 50% if his passes with five TDs and two interceptions.  Nashville lists Kohn as the probable starter in their pre-game notes, but chances are Smoker will play.

THE STAKES
The Rampage are playing for “pride” and future employment as their playoff aspirations went out the window two weeks ago.  Jobs will be on the line.  The Kats are still in the playoff hunt as they can grab the sixth and final spot in the American Conference.  With a win over GR and a Utah loss at Los Angeles the Nashville will get in by virtue of a tiebreaker since they beat Utah earlier in the year.

SCOUTING REPORT - NASHVILLE OFFENSE
With Kohn starting at QB it will be tough to know how Nashville will respond on offense.  Regardless of who is the QB you can bet they will play with a chip on their shoulder, as they don’t like GR, and the previous loss does not sit well.  Kohn should be much better his second time out, and there is still a chance Smoker could play.

The Kats have found a new weapon on offense in C.J. Johnson.  He accounted for 399 all-purpose yards, including a team record 302 return yards with two for TDs last week.  He was also the leading receiver with six catches for 97 yards and three more TDs to give him five on the day.

Rookie standout Kenny Higgins is the other consistent threat.  Higgins is closing in on team records as he has 93 catches for 1375 yards and 23 TDs.  He is a quick, shifty receiver who can get six quick.  Maurice Brown is the third guy and is coming back after missing three games with a hamstring injury.

When you talk about Nashville’s offense you have to feature the running game because of their record setting fullback and the league’s leading rusher, Dan Alexander.  Dan is the man, make no mistake.  He has a record shattering 40 rushing TDs (Bernard Hall, 26) on the year and also leads the AFL with 393 yards on a league record 159 attempts.  He rushed for 71 yards and five TDs in a game earlier this year.  He’s a beast and can take over a game, making the Kats dangerous in the red zone.

SCOUTING REPORT - NASHVILLE DEFENSE
Nashville is finally getting healthy on the defensive line.  The pass rush is the usual strength of a Pat Sperduto coached team and this group is no exception.  Nashville has led the AFL in sacks the past two years.  James Baron, Joe Minucci and Aaron McConnell comprise the relentless front three.  Baron may have lost half a step, but he is still one of the top pass rushers in the game with his get-off.  Minucci is a tireless rusher and when healthy this D-line is one of the best in the AFL. 

Liam Ezekiel is the Mack linebacker and leading tackler on the team with 77.  The rookie gets better every week.  The secondary features the AFL’s leading interceptor in the “Birdman” Ahmad Hawkins.  Hawkins has 13 thefts, which ties the AFL single-season record, and he has done so in just 14 games.  He has returned two of his picks for TD’s and Nashville has turned nine others into a TD.  He plays the field-corner and is very good at helping on routes and seeing the entire field.  Veteran Chris Pointer and rookie Keon Raymond (68 tackles, 3 interceptions, 7 passes defensed) make up a pretty solid secondary.

It all revolves around the pass rush and Hawkins making plays for the Kats “D”.  They have just recently gotten healthy up front and can be a dangerous team.  The team goes as the defense goes.  They are not a big shootout type of team.  Their best chance is to grind it out on the ground and play good defense.  The Kats are definitely not your usual AFL team.

SCOUTING REPORT - NASHVILLE SPECIAL TEAMS
Kick returner, C.J. Johnson has returned the opening kickoff for a TD the past two games in a row and has three for TDs in that span.  He is a threat to go the distance every time.  Kicker Jason Witczak is one of the tops in the AFL hitting over 90% of his extra points but is only 4 of 13 on field goal attempts.

KEYS TO THE GAME
Despite losing handily to Tampa Bay last week for the most part; the Rampage played hard.  Only at the very end did the fight go out of them.  I expect that they will be professional and go out and give it their best effort.  If they do they can beat this Nashville team.

They must protect QB Adrian McPherson early and often.  He can make some plays out of nothing with his feet, but you can’t let him get tattooed all night long.  Against Tampa Bay the protection broke down too often and gave up game changing plays.  GR can’t have that happen against Nashville as the team feeds off the pass rush. When the Kats rush gets it going it seems to pick up the rest of their game.  Keeping the likes of Baron, Manucci and McConnell quiet is no easy task.

To say that the Rampage have to do a better job of protecting the ball is an understatement.  A team record seven turnovers were committed including five fumbles in last week’s loss.   To have a chance to win GR must win the turnover battle like they did when they beat Nashville earlier this year.

However, this is a different GR team this time around.  Chad Salisbury is out, Adrian McPherson in, and Marshall gone.  McPherson showed some improvement in a lot of areas last week.  He consistently hit the check downs, was very accurate and his throws were timely.  He even broke loose on a couple of scrambles.  The next step is to limit or even eliminate the bad plays.  Granted, they were not all his fault, but he has to take better care of the ball, period.

A win would be very big for Sparky McEwen and his football team.  They say you are only as good as your last game and this is the one that will sit in everybody’s memory bank in the off-season.  A win would be a step forward.

Tampa Bay Storm (7-7) @ Grand Rapids Rampage (4-10)

THE GAME
The Rampage were officially eliminated from the playoffs after losing in Chicago last week, but there are still two games left to play.  The final home contest is Saturday evening at 7 p.m. against the resurgent Tampa Bay Storm at the Van Andel Arena.  Tampa Bay began the year with five consecutive losses but has clawed its way back.  They qualified for a playoff spot with last week’s win over Philadelphia. The Storm have a 5-1 record all-time against GR. 

The Storm have won two-straight and had a four-game winning streak that sparked their turnaround.  Storm Coach Tim Marcum has coached in 10 of the 20 Arena Bowls, winning seven titles, but this may be one of the finest efforts he has ever put together.  The team has weathered several storms throughout the season, which has exposed and anchored their character.  Everybody pretty much wrote Marcum’s boys off, but they have thrived on the adversity.   The bad bounces they were getting earlier in the year have now turned in their favor.

THE STAKES
GR is reduced to playing for pride and for future jobs.  Tampa Bay is playing to host a game in the first round of the playoffs.  With a win in either of their final two games the Storm will host a first-round playoff game.  In dealing with all of the injuries this year GR has been able to assemble a pretty talented roster.  It is important for them to play well and continue to build the program.

SCOUTING REPORT - TAMPA BAY OFFENSE
The Storm struggled at the QB position early on as John Kaleo and Stoney Case each took a shot at it.  Both lost the job through a combination of ineffectiveness and injury.  That was when Coach Marcum plucked Brett Dietz from another team’s practice squad and the rest, as they say, is history.  Dietz is one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the Year.  He has a 5-2 record as a starter and has developed quickly into an effective and explosive AFL QB.

Dietz is completing 67% of his passes which is outstanding, especially for a rookie.  He has thrown 38 TD passes and just six interceptions.  His accuracy and touch make him very effective but the most impressive thing has been his composure.   The kid has been unflappable.  This is pretty important when playing for the old-school taskmaster, Marcum.

The Storm is the only team in the AFL to have three receivers with over 1000 yards.  But only two of them are currently on the active roster as T.T. Toliver had a run-in with Marcum and was put on the “left Squad” list.  This meant an automatic 2-game suspension for Toliver.  He met with Marcum earlier in the week and was officially released. The Storm may be better off without him.  One of the all-time greats, Lawrence Samuels (109-1022-14 TDs) is having another outstanding campaign and Terrill Shaw (83-1120-20 TDs) is still one of the smoothest in the game.

When Toliver split, it gave rookie Hank Edwards the shot he had been waiting for and he has responded-- big time.  In the past two games Edwards has made 16 catches for 219 yards and six TDs.  T.T who?  Edwards worked hard and kept his mouth shut on the practice squad and it has paid off, and his teammates love him for it.

Marcum is the same guy, who believes in the same things and calls the same plays as he always has.  He knows what he knows and it has been good to him.  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.  This philosophy has caused the coach problems before, which led to Bobby Sippio’s release last year and word is that it was part of the dispute with Toliver.  One thing I love about Marcum is that he sticks to his guns no matter what anyone else thinks.  And why not, he has the rings to back it up.

SCOUTING REPORT - TAMPA BAY DEFENSE
The Storm defense has led the charge in the team’s turnaround.  In the team’s seven wins they have allowed only 45.8 points per game.  It starts up front with the pass rush.  Veteran Tom Briggs has shown he can still bring the heat as he leads the team with five sacks.  Tim McGill also can bring it as he has four sacks.

The secondary features veteran Jeroid Johnson who is tops on the team with 85 tackles, 8 interceptions and 17 passes defensed.  Tracho Rachal has been playing well at corner and has 49.5 tackles and one pick.  Khalid Naziruddin and fellow rookie Ron Rogers round out the secondary.  Tampa is primarily a man-to-man coverage team, which Marcum calls “dude” coverage.  You take that dude; I’ll get this dude…

The Storm has only 10 sacks as a team but has made 17 interceptions.  Three of those picks have come from veteran Jack Linebacker Lawrence Samuels.  Samuels plays his position as well as anyone in the AFL and is one of the true “Ironmen” left in the AFL as he starts both ways.

SCOUTING REPORT - SPECIAL TEAMS
Coach Marcum is notorious for going through kickers, but he has found a keeper in rookie Seth Marler.  Marler has hit on 78 of 83 PATs and has made 12 of 15 field goals.  His 80% conversion rate on field goals is tops in the league.  He has 26 touchbacks on kickoffs, which is good for 8th in the AFL.

Karl Williams, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer receiver is the return man now that Toliver is gone, and he brought back the opening kickoff last week 55 yards for a score.  He averages 17.2 yards per return.  Tampa Bay is ranked 15th in kickoff coverage allowing 18.5 yards per return.

KEYS TO THE GAME
The Rampage have to be disappointed in their performance in Chicago last week.  They stumbled out of the gate and fell behind 14-0 to the Rush and never really mounted much of a threat after that.  The offense had its lowest point output of the year with 32.  A big part of the problem is the lack of time QB Adrian McPherson has had in Coach Sparky McEwen’s system.  However, with another week of work together he should be better this week.  He did pick things up in the 4th quarter against the Rush.

There were a couple of bright spots on the offense as Clarence Coleman had a solid game.  He grabbed a pair of TD passes and was good running after the catch and also recovered an onside kick.  Jerome Riley came back off of injured reserve and was the team’s leading receiver with eight catches.  Riley was named Ironman of the Game for the fifth time in ten games played, as he had an interception on defense. However, Cornelius Bonner had his worst game with the Rampage, dropping three passes, two of which would have been for TDs.

The Rampage also missed Chris Ryan, who missed the game with an ankle injury.  Up until that time Ryan had been the only player to play every snap on offense for GR this year.  Hopefully he will be recovered enough to play in this one, if not, Johnny Balous will likely play FB again.

Tampa Bay has excellent speed at the receiver position which may give GR problems in the secondary.  Rampage fans all remember Terrill Shaw who was the Arena Bowl XV MVP with GR.  He is playing very well and Hank Edwards has been unstoppable in the two games he has played.  A good pass rush will be essential this week or those guys will be running free all over the field.

The bottom line is how will GR respond to the disappointment of missing the playoffs for the fourth-consecutive year?  Will they come out and fight for a full 60 minutes or will they fold up with nothing other than pride to play for?  We’ll get the answer on Saturday night.

Grand Rapids Rampage (4-9) @ Chicago Rush (9-4)

THE GAME
The Rampage take on their divisional rival, the Chicago Rush, at Chicago’s All-State Arena Saturday night at 8:00 p.m.  Chicago beat GR week 8, 75-54, at Van Andel Arena earlier this year.  In that game Grand Rapids jumped out to an early lead only to crumble in the second half.  As has happened too often this season, the Rampage blew a big 3rd quarter lead as they were ahead by 13.  The Rush scored 34 unanswered points to run away with the game.  Chicago has won three in a row in the series and has a 9-5 edge overall against the Rampage.  This will be the 15th meeting between the two teams, making it the longest rivalry in GR history.

THE STAKES
The Rampage actually still harbor slim play-off hopes.  They need a lot of things to fall their way but have not been officially eliminated.  Their only chance is to run the table and hope for help.  Another loss is certain elimination.  Chicago has clinched a play-off berth and is fighting for a Central Division crown.  They lead KC by a game and Colorado by a game and a half.  The division winner gets a bye in the first round.  Chicago also is still in the running for the best record in the conference and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.  They trail San Jose (10-3) by one game but own the head to head tiebreaker over the Sabercats.

SCOUTING REPORT - CHICAGO OFFENSE
He’s baaaaack!  The Rush have been without superstar Bobby Sippio for the past three and a half games and won just one of them.  They should get Sippio back this week, which makes them a completely different team.  Before he got hurt, Sippio was tearing up the league.  He had 41 of Chicago’s 49 TD receptions and had taken over several games while leading the Rush to an 8-1 record.

His absence has likely only served to make Chicago stronger in the long run.  They had to rely on other receivers, especially Rob Mager.  Mager actually played his first game for the Rush in the first meeting with the Rampage.  He fumbled early in that game but came back to score a couple of TDs.  In 10 games he has 60 catches for 676 yards and 10 TDs and a pair of rushing scores. In last week’s loss to Los Angeles he was the leading receiver with 10 catches for 125 yards and three TDs. 

Chicago also added another threat to the offense as they signed Etu Molden after he was waived by Las Vegas.  Molden is Chicago’s all-time leading receiver who was waived by the team during training camp.  He replaces Andy McCullough who was cut last week to make room for Molden.

In Sippio’s absence, DeJuan Alfonso has been playing receiver and Jack linebacker.  Alfonso is an excellent receiver, but Chicago would much rather he play strictly on defense where he is a game-changer.

The glue that holds it all together is QB Matt D’Orazio.  He continues to grow as an Arena QB.  He is big and strong in the pocket and has a good feel for the pass rush.  He also can make plays with his feet as he has rushed for a career high 11 TDs.  He has thrown a career best 66 TD passes and only eight interceptions.

SCOUTING REPORT - CHICAGO DEFENSE
The strength of the Rush team is the playmaking ability of the defense.  They have players across the boards that get ‘er done.  Alfonso is one of the ringleaders as he leads the AFL with four defensive TDs.  He is also tops with five fumble recoveries and has thrown in four interceptions.  Chicago leads the AFL with 35 takeaways and also a plus-20 turnover margin.

The leading interceptors are DBs Dennison Robinson and Jeremy Unertl with five each.  Rookie James Saddler rounds out the secondary in place of the injured Jonathan Ordway. 

The pass rush has been a little inconsistent lately.  E.J. Burt is the leading sacker with five but hasn’t recorded one since week five.  John Moyer is as good as it gets at Mack linebacker both at bringing the heat (2 sacks) and stopping the run.   DE Joe Peters has shown vast improvement this year.  He is a solid pass rusher (2 sacks) and is also very good against the run.

Chicago has had a knack for making big plays in the second half giving them a chance to win games.  In five of their victories they have overcome double-digit deficits. Even in their loss at LA last week the defense made a late stop to put the outcome of the game into the hands of the offense.  Unfortunately they went four and out and lost on a last second field goal.

Not only does this group lead the AFL in forcing turnovers, but they make you earn everything you get.  Seldom do you see them blow coverages allowing easy scores.  This means they are a well-coached team and the credit goes to Defensive Coordinator Walt Housman and DB Coach Bryan Schwartz.

SCOUTING REPORT - CHICAGO SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker Dan Frantz has struggled on field goals this year hitting on just eight of 22 tries.  He is better at PATs going 82 of 92.  He is an accomplished onside kick artist.  The Rush are a good kick coverage team but really miss Ordway in the return game.  Mager and Russell Shaw have been sharing the duties and are solid, if unspectacular.

KEYS TO THE GAME
Remember in the movie “Dumb and Dumber” when the hot chick told Jim Carey that his chances to have her were one in a million?  Carey got all excited and said, “So you’re telling me I got a chance!”  That is how the Rampage must approach the rest of the season.  They can’t worry about the ducks that have to fall in a row, rather they just have to focus on the one thing they can control—this game.

Congratulations are due to Timon Marshall who deservedly signed an NFL contract with the Chicago Bears this week and will be in Chicago for mini-camp this weekend.  Chicago plucked returner/receiver Rashied Davis out of the AFL last year so you know they will give him a chance to succeed.  That’s great for Timon but creates problems for Sparky McEwen’s offense as the biggest threat he had is now removed.

To compound matters, QB Chad Salisbury is likely out for this game after being knocked out of last week’s loss to KC.  He has a sprained ankle and bruised ribs but may be available in a back-up role.  This puts Adrian McPherson behind the center, auditioning for the job next season.  McPherson began the year as Austin’s starter before being released mid-way through the year.  He is the top running QB in the AFL, but his problem has been taking care of the football.  His TD to interception ratio isn’t very good.  He has tossed 42 TD passes and 11 interceptions.  He can be one of the top QBs in this league if he can cut down on the picks.  But that takes time.

Then there is the issue of defense for the Rampage.  They are the worst in the AFL in points allowed—the only defensive stat that really means anything.  For whatever reason, the defense has been extremely inconsistent.  Too often communication errors or mental mistakes leave guys wide open for easy TDs.  This is the main area the team needs to improve if they plan becoming a contender. 

Chicago has a lot to play for and have won 10 of their last 11 games at home in the All-State Arena.  Their fans get into it and know the game, making it a tough place to play.  With Sippio back and the Rush coming off of a loss looking to build momentum for the playoffs, a victory will be a tall order for GR.  This is just the kind of game GR could pull out—or they could fold up their tents.  We’ll see.