AZ-Cleveland: How it will go:

Gladiators are American Conf/ Eastern Div leaders at 6-3 with a Home record of 4-1 & Away of 2-2. I see the Gladiators losing this game and control of their conference and division as the Power continues it’s rise.  The only place they have a matchup edge is their Sack Master Anthony Hoke with 6.5. They hold a paper edge in kicking. This won’t help this week.

Cleveland’s Matt Denny is in the AFL top ten with 2 FG’s & 46 FG’s for 52 PTs,  QB Kurt Rocco is getting better and has 30 TD’s and 7 Int’s.

The Rattlers are National Conf/ West Div leaders at 8-2

And are 4-1 Home, 4-1 Away. The points for and against are misleading because of who and the Div/Conf both teams play in.

Offense: AZ  Davila has the leagues best QB rating, 60 TD’s and only 6 INT’s. Throw in the league’s top two pass catchers in Windsor and Harvey plus the punch of Armstrong when they need a ground game and the Rattlers should dominate. If they can improve their kicking game, then they will roll. AZ sackers  Tyre Glasper 5.5, Anttaj Hawthorne 4.5. Plus INT’s AZ Virgil Gray, Vince Hill 5 each

Rattler HC Kevin Guy’s toughest job is trying to keep his players on their best level for the entire game. Everyone they face from here on is going to use the Rattlers as their “Season Making” game. Stats mean nothing when a team has so much to gain by beating a top team like AZ.

For Cleveland to win in the Snake Pit they must force turnovers, they won’t get the STOPS unless AZ plays slack. Don’t expect this game to go down to the last 45 sec’s with AZ holding only a 9 point lead this week. I have the Rattlers beating the Glad/ er, Sadiators by 3 TD’s. In fact this game could and should be over at the end of the third quarter.

There is a phrase that Rattlers HC Kevin Guy never wants to hear again in relation to his team. “Hold On”.  There is a saying, “Luck is what happens when preparation and opportunity meet.” No one in the AFL prepares his men better then “KG”. So if that is the case, he is one unlucky Guy lately. He knows his team has had many great opportunities, shoot, they created them because of their great preparation. So what’s the dealio, yo. 

Either the Rattlers have more luck than talent or, some of last year’s flim flam and shenanigans are making a comeback.  KG will sort it out and if they don’t get the stops and takeaways this week and own the game from start to finish. I think we can see some new defensive positions open up at practice next week.

In the AFL the Rattlers are close to being a complete team, one that does not rely on one great player to hold them together. Close, but not there yet. Cleveland is going to be a pop quiz for the Rattlers. Question is simple, who wants to keep playing pro football and who wants to be “what’s his name.“

A quick recap of last weeks “Shoot Out” with New Orleans, the day the Big Easy, Wasn’t. QB Davila put up 7 TD’s again. Trandon Harvey, TH had 4 TD catches PLUS a KOR for another TD. Rod “Can’t Lose” Windsor grabbed 2 TD passes. LB Kevin McCullough and DB Virgil Gray snagged INT’s. DB Vince Hill had a pick that stopped another VooDoo TD late in the game. 

The “Hold On” player was DB Marquis Floyd with his onside kick recovery and 10 yard run for a TD.  Question of the day was how in the heck did the Rattlers let a rusty arm VooDoo QB D. just D. Bryant make his season debut and play like he was Aaron Garcia….?????????????? Really? COME ON…. Hence my earlier reference to possible defensive changes… Hmmmm… This game is going to be on Fox Sports Network 7 PM…. Be there, or at least see there.