2016 Arena Football League Season Preview

(photo credit: stripehype.com)

There will be eight teams competing in the 29th season of the Arena Football League. Since there is only eight teams in the league, each team will compete in the playoffs, regardless of record. There will also be a new Arena Bowl champion in August, as the defending champion San Jose Sabercats folded shortly after the 2015 season ended.

Just about each team seems to be in contention for Arena Bowl XXIX, based on their performances last season, The Philadelphia Soul won 15 games in 2015, the most in franchise history. The Jacksonville Sharks overcame the inevitable and went all the way to Arena Bowl XXVIII after starting the season 1-5. The Arizona Rattlers, who had won the last three Arena Bowls, fell one game short from going to their fifth straight Arena Bowl in 2015.

Then there are teams who have yet to show that they are serious contenders. The LA KISS are going into their third season in the AFL. They have a combined record of 7-29 in their first two seasons. The Cleveland Gladiators finished 8-10 in 2015 after reaching Arena Bowl XXVII in 2014.

With each team automatically in the postseason, anything can happen. We could see an upset in the Arena Bowl as big as the LA KISS' upset win over the San Jose Sabercats in the 2015 regular season. The season kicks off tomorrow, with Arena Bowl scheduled to be played in the beginning of August.

Storm Look to Bring the Thunder in 2016

(photo credit: oursportscentral.com)

The Tampa Bay Storm will be celebrating their 25th season in the Arena Football League in 2016, making this season special for all the citizens of Tampa Bay. Last season, the Storm finished 7-11 and missed the playoffs. They will look to turn that around in 2016.

This season is one where the Storm, along with the other seven teams in the Arena Football League, will play in the postseason, regardless of record. For the Storm, they will still be looking to get the highest possible seed in the American Conference and hopefully gain homefield all throughout the postseason as well.

Their season begins on April 1 against their rival in the Orlando Predators. This will be the first game of the 2016 season to kick off. The kickoff time for this game was switched from 7:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. After the game against the Predators, the Storm will travel to Cleveland to take on the Gladiators. This is one of three games out of the next four on the road.

After the game in Cleveland, the Storm travel to Arizona to take on the Rattlers before heading back home to take on the other team in Florida, the Jacksonville Sharks in Week 5 after a bye week in Week 4. The next two games are on the road, against the Philadelphia Soul and the Orlando Predators. Six of their final 10 games are at home, and they will close out the season in Jacksonville on July 31.

Rattlers begin #RedemptionTour2016

(photo credit: goldstar.com)

Last season, the Arizona Rattlers were the three time defending ArenaBowl champions. They were being talked about as the most dominant team in the history of the sport. But instead, all anyone remembered about the 2015 Rattlers is the way their season ended.

Leading by four in the Western Conference Championship against the San Jose Sabercats, the Rattlers lost in the most controversial finish in AFL history as Eric Meyer found Reggie Gray for a touchdown, even though replays clearly show him being knocked out of bounds at the one yard line. As a result, Arizona lost the game 70-67, and with it, their chance at a fourth straight title.

The Rattlers future as AFL greats seemed in jeopardy, but not until the Sabercats announced back on November 12 that they were ceasing operations. Because of this, the Rattlers were once again in the drivers seat for the Arena Bowl.

The Rattlers are entering the 2016 season as the heavy favorites to win the title because they have won the Arena Bowl three out of the last four seasons and had made five straight, almost six straight appearances in the Arena Bowl. Not only are they bringing back quarterback Nick Davila, but their offense is reloaded. Wideouts Rod Windsor and Mike Washington give them potent weapons on the offensive side of the ball. They also are bringing back a familar face to Arizona: receiver Maurice Purify. Their chance for redemption begins  in Portland against the Steel on April 1.

Sharks Announce 24-Man Roster

(photo credit: jaxsharks.com)

After all the preparation, planning, and a successful training camp, the Jacksonville Sharks have officially announced their 24-man roster for the 2016 season, set to kick off on April 2 in Anaheim against the LA KISS.

While the roster does stay mainly unchanged (14 players on last year's American Conference champion squad return), the Sharks made a few changes on the offensive side of the ball, and some significant changes on the defensive side of the ball in an attempt to bring back "Sacksonville".

Jacksonville returns four All-Arena players from 2015: OL Mo Ruffins, FB Derrick Ross, and WRs Joe Hills and Tiger Jones. Under center, Tommy Grady will return for his second season in the red and black (sixth overall in the AFL), coming off a 4,660 passing yard, 95 TD performance last season.

The new offensive faces feature QB Sean Brackett, WR Roger Jackson, and OL Duke Robinson. Bracket will replace Lee Chapple as Grady's backup, having thrown for 1,114 yards and 23 scores as a rooke in Las Vegas last year. Jackson, who spent 2015 in New Orleans, caught 74 passes for 926 yards and 16 TDs, which means he'll be a nice complement as one of the #3 receivers rotating with London Crawford. The Sharks did add Jacksonville University standout WR Andrew Robustelli to the roster, but will start the season on Injured Reserve.

Along the front three, Ray McNeil and Cornelius Lewis support an offensive line that led the league in only allowing eight sacks in 2015.

The defensive front four has been overhauled, and will be led by two veterans: MLB Dexter Jackson, who spent the last two years with the Tampa Bay Storm, and DE Khreem Smith, who has 8 years of experience between the AFL and the CFL. The other DEs will be rookie Laith Wallschleger and veterans Anthony DeGrate, Jason Holman, and Antron Dillon.

At nose guard, Jacksonville will look to veteran Mark Weivoda and newly acquired Chuckie Hunter to put pressure up the middle on opposing QBs. Joe Sykes, who rewrote the league's defensive record books last season as a lineman, is currently contemplating retirement and has not reported to the team this season. If he decides to hang up the cleats, he'll be sorely missed.

While the front four will completely change, the secondary will stay pretty much the same. All-Arena DB and 2015 Rookie of the Year Greg Reid will return for his second season, and fan favorites Laroche Jackson and Micheaux Robinson come back home to Jacksonville. David Hyland and All-Arena JLB Alvin Ray Jackson round out the rest of the defense.

Here's the official list of the 24-man roster:

• QB: Tommy Grady and Sean Brackett
• FB Derrick Ross
• OL: Mo Ruffins, Ray McNeil, Cornelius Lewis, Duke Robinson, Jason Holman (who will also play DL)
• WR: Tiger Jones, Joe Hills, London Crawford, Roger Jackson, Andrew Robustelli (IR)
• DB: Greg Reid, Laroche Jackson, Chris Smith, David Hyland (who will also play WR and JLB), Micheaux Robinson, and Alvin Ray Jackson (who will also play JLB)
• MLB Dexter Jackson
• DE: Khreem Smith (who will also play NG), Laith Wallschleger, Mark Weivoda (on IAR), Antron Dillon, Anthony DeGrate
• NG Chucky Hunter

Portland Steel Hope New Name and Look Create New Success

Logo via Portland Steel Twitter (@pdxsteel)

The first two seasons the Portland franchise experienced as the Thunder had their unique mix of success and failure. One would not place much value on consecutive 5-13 records, but they finagled their way into the playoffs each time. The first of those, in their 2014 expansion year, saw a matchup that was a surprisingly close 52-48 loss against a 15-3 Arizona Rattlers squad that went on to win the Arena Bowl. In their 2015 campaign, the Thunder again defaulted into a playoff spot, this time a 55-28 drubbing at the hands of the the 17-1 San Jose Sabercats, who also went on to be Arena Bowl champions.

The franchise has had a tumultuous 2015-16 offseason, leading to big changes. After their elimination from the playoffs, the team parted ways with head coach Mike Hohensee and his entire staff. In September, the Thunder hired Andy Olson to take over. In January, due to discrepancies between team owner Terry Emmert and the league’s medical insurance policies, AFL officials were forced to assume control of the team. Since Emmert owns the rights to the name, logo, color scheme and identity, the league re-branded the team to the Portland Steel. They subsequently let go of Olson and his entire staff, replacing him with Ron James as head coach and general manager.

What to Watch For:

Offensively, Portland looks to improve an offense that ranked seventh out of 12 in points per game and was third-worst in the league in total yards. The Steel are without starting quarterback Kyle Rowley, and instead turn to 34-year old journeyman Danny Southwick to lead the offense. In his second stint with the franchise Southwick looks to improve a passing game that was among the worst in the league. Rowley ranked near the bottom of the league in yards per game, yards per attempt, and completion percentage, while having the second-most interceptions. Looking to lead the receiving corps are Jared Perry and Colt Lyerla. Perry is entering his fifth year in the league, and second with Portland. He led the team last year with 100 receptions for 1,297 yards and 29 touchdowns, finishing sixth in the league in yards per game. The recently-acquired Lyerla gives Southwick a formidable target due to his size and athleticism.

There is also much to be sought after on the defensive side of the ball. In 2015, Portland ranked last in the league in points allowed per game and were fourth-worst in yards allowed per game. They had the second-worst third down conversion percentage against, and were in the bottom half of the league in sacks and turnovers created. The defense will continue to look for contributions from third-year linebacker Bryce Peila and defensive back Dwight McLean, who returns to Portland after a year with Las Vegas. McLean has 10 interceptions, 51 pass breakups and eight forced fumbles in his six years in the league. Peila brings his 11 interceptions, 15 pass breakups and five fumble recoveries in just two years with the team.

Mark Your Calendar:

The Arena Football League season starts with just eight teams this year. The eight teams are split into two conferences: The American Conference will have the Jacksonville Sharks, Orlando Predators, Philadelphia Soul, and Tampa Bay Storm. In the National Conference, the Steel will compete against the Arizona Rattlers, Los Angeles KISS, and Cleveland Gladiators. Per the new alignment, all eight teams will make the playoffs where there will be Conference Semifinals and the Conference Championship, leading to Arena Bowl XXIX.

The season starts by hosting the Arizona Rattlers in the Steel home opener on Friday, April 1. The Rattlers will be looking to start another championship season after falling in the conference championship to eventual-champion San Jose last year. The Steel will look to impress their fans with their new name and create some momentum to start the season and continue in their two other matchups with the Rattlers on April 30 and June 11.

Where the Steel will look to take the most advantage of their schedule is in their contests with the Los Angeles KISS and new divisional rival Cleveland Gladiators. Neither team is particularly strong as they finished with respective 4-14 and 8-10 records last season.

Additionally, the Steel will look to make use of a late-season, four-game homestand from June 20 through July 16 in games against Cleveland, the Philadelphia Soul, the Orlando Predators, and the Jacksonville Sharks. The season finale is against the KISS and, if the previous seasons are any indication, will likely be the determining factor of their playoff seeding.

Gladiators Want to Rebound in 2016, Make Another Title Run

(photo credit: clevelandgladiators.com)

For all the highs the Cleveland Gladiators enjoyed in 2014, they faced almost as many lows in 2015. Dropping from 17-1 and an ArenaBowl appearance to 8-10 and a quick playoff exit, the Gladiators look to show that 2014 was the real norm and that Cleveland won't be easily forgotten.

Knowing they'll be in the playoffs for the third straight year, the Gladiators have to get back to the defensive form that allowed the third fewest points just two years ago, and not the second most from last year.

Where they have to take a step forward on defense, they need to take at least three steps forward on offense. Yes, Dominic Jones, the team's leading tackler (82.5) is gone. Yes, Joe Phinisee, who led the team with four interceptions is also gone. However, the biggest missing piece of last year's puzzle is Shane Austin. The quarterback who garnered serious All-Arena considerations after throwing for 4,651 yards and 101 TDs against only 18 picks with a 107.36 rating is now suiting up for Portland.

In his place: backup Chris Dieker, who threw a total of 13 passes in 2015; and Dennis Havrilla, who saw action in five games with the Las Vegas Outlaws last year (58.5% completions, 722 yards, 14 TD, six INT, 85.5 QBR). To say this will be a wide open battle is an understatement.

As an additional blow, Amarri Jackson, the Gladiators' third leading receiver, left for greener pastures, forcing even more weight on Collin Taylor's shoulders. Yes, Dominick Goodman is back and activated from the PUP list, and Taylor he's shown he can be the #1 or #2 (144 rec, 1,597 yds, 43 TD), but such a big loss means there will be some patchwork going on to figure out who the eventual starting pivot will throw to.

Continuing the bad blows, the schedule dealt yet another bad hand. Due to the Republican National Convention arriving to Quicken Loans Arena, the entire home schedule is front loaded. In fact, by Week 10, the Gladiators will complete their home regular season, starting with a three-game homestand, followed by another three-game stint, then back-to-back. In the final eight weeks of the regular season, Cleveland will have two three-game road trips followed by two byes, the second of which being Week 18, meaning they'll have to sweat out that final week watching and waiting to see who and where they'll play in the quarterfinals.

If there was any advantage to take for Cleveland, it's that first half of the season. For the Gladiators to have a chance to replicate that magical 2014 run, they need the hottest of hot starts. That team went 9-0 at home and started 9-0 before losing to Pittsburgh in Week 12.

They'll need to essentially replicate both here in 2016. Philadelphia, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Arizona, the pundits' picks for the top four, all visit the Q before Week 10, and the Soul will come by twice. Cleveland needs to win at least three of these five games, preferably all five, to build a cushion towards a surprise home game in the first round.

As much as home games are crucial, a stretch run will really test the team. Cleveland needs momentum from their last six games to give themselves a chance to avoid being one-and-done. If they earn, for example, the #5 seed, they could easily go against one of those four teams. If it's Philadelphia, they'll be fresh off a Week 15 visit. Jacksonville? Week 16. Arizona? Week 17. Orlando? Week 11.

Players to Watch:

Can Chris Dieker take the starting quarterback job? Can he have even a fraction of Shane Austin's success from the past two years? If he can get to at least 80 TD passes, there could be something there.

Who will be the #2 receiver? There were only three other receivers outside of the Gladiators' top 3 that played at least 15 games. There were also five receivers who suited up for five games or less throughout the course of the 2015 season. Josiah Holt? Devin Wilson? Larry Beavers? Who will it be?

On defense, Laroche "Action" Jackson went back to Jacksonville, almost the entire defense (save for Joe Powell and Randy Colling) are gone. Who can account for Willie McGinnis' 13 tackles for loss? Who can account for losing more than 15 sacks? How can this overhauled D step up and help out what could be an anemic offense?

If Cleveland can go at least 6-2, or even with a chance, 8-0 at home, and win at least two of those four highlighted road games, then the Gladiators could once again have a say as to who lifts the trophy at the end of the season. They may not capture home field like two years ago, they may not even get a home game this year, but don't expect this team to take yet another step back.

Fans may not be happy with 8-10, but there could be some cheers for 10-8, which could be good enough for the fifth seed, if not better. At worst, the city of Cleveland can relish in the fact that they won't have another last place team. Leave that for Portland and L.A. to figure out.

Soul Soar With Big Expectations in 2016

(photo credit: phillyvoice.com)

Last season came to an abrupt end for the Philadelphia Soul. They made it all the way to the American Conference Championship game, where they played the Jacksonville Sharks. The Sharks had come all the way down from a 1-5 record to be able to reach the conference championship game. The Sharks went into Vorhees, NJ and were able to pull off the upset, ending the Soul's season.

In 2016, the Soul will be one of eight teams playing in the Arena Football League after the folding of the defending champion San Jose Sabercats. The Soul finished the 2015 season with a 15-3 record, the best record in franchise history and one of the best in league history.

In 2016, the Soul will have a few new coaches alongside head coach Clint Dolezel and assistant head coach Phil Bogle. Bernie Nowotarski as joined the team as their defensive backs coach after former DB coach Derek Stingley resigned. He brings 10 years of arena football experience with him. He won two championships while in the Indoor Football League, American Indoor Football Association,and American Indoor Football. He was also named coach of the year in 2009 and 2013, when he won the two championships.

Criswell brings nine years of arena football experience to the Soul himself, eight of which he led his teams to the postseason, including an Indoor Football League record 13-2 season with the then inaugural Richmond Revolution in 2009.

The Soul's journey to Arena Bowl XXIX begins on April 1, when the team travels to Cleveland to take on the Gladiators. In Week 2, the Soul will host the Sharks in a rematch of the American Conference Championship on April 11. The game against Jacksonville is the first of a three-game homestand. The other two games will be against the Gladiators and the Portland Steel.

After a game in Los Angeles against the KISS, the Soul host the Tampa Bay Storm, Arizona Rattlers and Orlando Predators in another three-game homestand. Six of their final eight games are played on the road, including the final two games in Florida against the Sharks and the Predators. The Soul will look to redeem themselves and reach Arena Bowl XXIX and win their first championship since 2008.

LA KISS Will Look to Compete in 2016

(photo credit: discussions.godandscience.org)

The LA KISS have struggled to find their footing in the Arena Football League. The KISS were 4-14 last season and they were last in the National Conference- West Division. Despite the terrible year last season, the KISS won’t have to worry about having a good enough record to make the playoffs. With the Arena Football League trimming down to eight teams, every team, regardless of record will make the playoffs. Last season, the KISS struggled on both sides of the ball. The KISS ranked 11th out of 12 teams in total offense last season. LA averaged 40 points per game and they recorded 319 first downs last season. LA was also the second to worst defense in the AFL last season.

They only had 14 sacks and 14 interceptions last season. However, the KISS did a good job of revamping their roster over the offseason. The KISS will have a stretch in May where they will play three of four games on the road. LA will be playing four games on national television this season, including their first two game being televised on ESPN2. LA is a revitalized squad that has a chance of making a run in the playoffs this season. With the dominant San Jose Sabercats gone, the field is wide open.

The KISS brought in AFL Hall of Fame defensive back Omarr Smith to be their next head coach. It’s been a busy offseason for Coach Smith and the rest of his staff as they continue to overhaul their roster. There have been 19 acquisitions assigned to the team since the start of free agency. Most notable of these are defensive ends Derrick Summers from Spokane and Rodney Fritz from San Jose, defensive back Terrance Smith from Jacksonville and former Gladiator wide receiver Amarri Jackson.

Summers and Fritz join Los Angeles with the hope of developing a consistent pass rush from the defensive line.

Summers earned Second Team All Arena honors in 2011, and he has 152 tackles and 38 sacks in his career. The strength of the KISS defense is their defensive backs. Rayshaun Kizer and Terrance Smith have combined to play 11 seasons. Kizer earned First Team All-Arena honors in 2010 with the Orlando Predators after recording a league high 26 interceptions. Kizer has 435 tackles and 57 interceptions in his career. Smith earned First Team All Arena honors with the Jacksonville Sharks in 2012. Smith has played both offense and defense during his career. 

Smith has 1,429 receiving yards, and he has 282 tackles and 31 interceptions in his career. On the offensive side of the ball there is a quarterback competition. Smith is bringing three year quarterback Nathan Stanley with him from San Jose. 

In 2015, Stanley threw for 723 yards and 20 touchdowns as a backup last season for San Jose. Stanley threw for 2,436 yards and 50 touchdowns in his rookie season. He will battle with Joe Clancy, a second year quarterback who played eight games for the KISS last season. Captain and wide receiver Donovan Morgan had a spectacular campaign in 2015. He ranked second in the AFL in receiving yards (2,074) and he was tied for most receiving touchdowns (44).

Morgan also reeled in 132 catches which was seventh most in the AFL. Looking for a quality wide receiver to line up alongside Morgan, the KISS brought in Amarri Jackson. Jackson in his one season for Cleveland had 1,173 yards and 24 touchdowns. The LA KISS finally have the offense and the defense to be real contenders in the Arena Football League. 

Orlando Predators Look to Win a Championship in 25th Season

(photo credit: orlandosentinal.com)

The Orlando Predators will open up their 25th season in the Arena Football League against state rival Tampa Bay Storm on April 1. 

The rivalry dubbed the “War on I-4” is named after the highway that connects the two central Florida cities. The teams have faced off every season since 1995, meeting twice in the Arena Bowl Championship. Both teams have lasted longer in their city than any other franchise to date. 

The Storm will host the Predators at the Amaile Arena in Tampa Bay. 

Offense outlook

The Predators are coming off 12-6 season that ended with a first-round postseason loss to the Jacksonville Sharks. After a strong regular season the Predators exited much earlier than expected but the team is expecting major success in 2016.

The bright spot for the Predators in 2015 was veteran AFL quarterback Randy Hippeard. Hippeard completed 247 passes, connecting for 61 touchdowns and 2,997 yards. He finished the season wit the highest QB rating in the AFL at 133.5. 

The Predators also hope running back Bernard Morris will bolster the rushing attack in short yard situations. Morris, a former Predator quarterback transitioned to running back after during the 2014 season and has contributed in all aspects of the arena game. Last season he finished with 272 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, ranking fourth in both categories. 

Special teams was also strong area for the Predators last season, receiver Brandon Thompkins had six kickoffs returned for touchdowns and 1916 return yards, earning All-AFL second team honors. Also, kicker Mark Lewis finished third in total points among kickers with 135 points. In a fast pace game special teams can often be the most important aspect to a successful season.  

Orlando Predators ranked third in the AFL in scoring with 56.8 points per game.

Defense outlook

Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.

Even after winning the South Division for the second year in a row, the Predators defense was lackluster. Ranking in the bottom of nearly every category in 2015 the coaching staff is hoping a revamped defense will bring Orlando to the next level. 

Orlando had only 18 sacks, 29 turnovers and 17 interceptions last season, which caused the Predators to make a couple key off-season additions.

They went out and signed three veteran defensive lineman Mike Lewis, Donte Paige-Moss and Willie McGinnis. Lewis has 52 1/2 sacks in six AFL seasons Paige-Moss had 8 1/2 sacks for the 2015 AFL Champions San Jose SaberCats. Putting pressure on the quarterback is essential to strong AFL squad and in effect will cause turnovers that lead to scoring opportunities. 

The last addition on defense was the signing of NFL hopeful Varmah Sonie. The defense back had 13 interceptions for the Portland Thunder over the past two seasons. His talents have caught the eye of the three NFL teams in Florida who will be keeping tabs on his performance this season. 

With these key additions the Orlando Predators hope their defense can put them over the edge to compete for a championship. Its been 10 years since the Predators last played in the Arena Bowl. 

Furthermore, the AFL will shrink to eight teams in 2016, down from 12 last season, and play two less regular season games. In addition, the AFL has changed its playoff format, with all eight teams will reaching the postseason. The two conference champions will receive top seeds, with the other teams seeded based on record, regardless of conference.

2016 Schedule:

April 1: at Tampa Bay Storm, 7:30 p.m.

April 9: vs. Portland Thunder, 7:30 p.m. 

April 15: at Jacksonville Sharks, 8 p.m.

April 23: vs. LA Kiss, 7:30 p.m.

April 29: at Cleveland Gladiators, 7 p.m.

May 7: vs. Arizona Rattlers, 7:30 p.m.

May 13: vs. Tampa Bay Storm, 7:30 p.m.

May 21: at Philadelphia Soul, 6 p.m. 

May 28: vs. Jacksonville Sharks, 7:30 p.m.

June 5: at LA Kiss, 6 p.m.

June 11: vs. Cleveland Gladiators, 7:30 p.m.

June 18: at Jacksonville Sharks, 7 p.m.

June 24: vs. Tampa Bay Storm, 7:30 p.m.

July 9: at Portland Thunder, 10 p.m.

July 15: at Arizona Rattlers, 10 p.m.

July 30: vs. Philadelphia Soul, 7:30 p.m.

Steel Offer Free Admission For Opener Against Rattlers

Photo: Portland Steel

In a fan-friendly move to boost attendance and generate more interest for their 2016 makeover, the Portland Steel announced they will be offering general admission tickets free of charge for their home and season opener against the Arizona Rattlers on Friday, April 1.

To acquire tickets, go through Ticketmaster here. There is a maximum of four tickets per customer, and quantities are limited, so fans should jump on this opportunity soon. Current season ticket holders will not be forgotten in the fray. Their tickets will be upgraded to the first ten rows of select sideline sections.

These efforts are part of the Steel's plan to #FillTheBowl at the Moda Center for the national television audience on the CBS Sports Network.

LA KISS to host Intrasquad Scrimmage

(photo credit: sportsworldnews.com)

The LA KISS announced on Thursday that the team will be holding an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, March 19 at the Honda Center, the home of the KISS. The scrimmage will begin at 11  a.m.and the doors will open at 10:30 a.m. The game is open to the public and there is no cost to attend the scrimmage. Parking will also be free of charge.

Fans will get a first look at the team as many hopefuls battle for the final roster spots. “We are excited to host an intrasquad scrimmage this Saturday to show our fans what the new LA KISS team looks like, KISS CEO Joe Windham said. We have a lot of optimism for this team and the coaches are looking forward to getting the season underway.” KISS owners Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons and Don McGhee will all be in attendance for the scrimmage.

Fans will also have the opportunity to test drive available seating locations. Fans who purchased season tickets will have the chance to scout their seating locations. Fans who purchased Premium Sideline Season Tickets will have the chance to meet Simmons and Stanley during the game. Fans who still haven’t purchased season ticket packages will have the chance to do so tomorrow. The KISS kick of their season on April 2 against the Jacksonville Sharks.

Sharks to Host Media Day

(photo credit: jaxsharks.com)

The Jacksonville Sharks will open up their doors to the media at the team's 2016 Media Day on Tuesday, March 29. Media Day will be held in the Main Lobby of Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, near the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame, beginning at 2 p.m. This event will serve as an opportunity for members of the Jacksonville media to meet several elite players of arguably one of the best rosters of the Arena Football League ahead of the season.

Both Operating Manager Jeff Bouchy and head coach Les Moss will address those in attendance, and will then join players for one-on-one interviews with members of the media.

The following players are scheduled to be available for interviews at Tuesday's media day:

• QB Tommy Grady
• WR Tiger Jones
• DL Joe Sykes
• DB Greg Reid
• FB Derrick Ross

Please read below for more specific information regarding the Sharks Media Day:

What: Jacksonville Sharks press conference to introduce the 2016 team.

Who Can Attend: Members of the media, season ticket holders, corporate partners, and the general public.

Where: The Main Lobby of Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A. Phillip Randolph Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL 32202

When: Tuesday, March 29, 2 p.m.

Sharks Complete Coaching Staff for 2016

(photo credit: zimbio.com)

In some of the final preparations for the 2016 Arena Football League season, the Jacksonville Sharks have announced their coaching staff. Along with Les Moss, who will begin his seventh season as head coach, Offensive Coordinator Raymond Philyaw, Lineman/Linebackers Coach Mike Grissom, and Assistant Coach/Head Equipment Manager Erik Gibson.

(photo credit: jaxsharks.com)

This will be Philyaw's third stint as an offensive coordinator, previously guiding the San Antonio Talons and New Orleans VooDoo. As a player, he spent 10 years becoming one of the league's best all-time quarterbacks while at the helm of four different franchises, including starring for the Indiana Firebirds and leading the Cleveland Gladiators to the National Conference Championship.

He completed his career in 2010, having amassed 26,552 passing yards at a 65.6% completion percentage, and 507 touchdowns against only 59 interceptions. Prior to his time in the AFL, he played for the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Indoor Football League's Madison Mad Dogs.

Mike Grissom, who played nose guard for four years the University of Central Florida, becoming team captain in the process, has developed a coaching career here in Jacksonville. He was the Assistant Defensive Coach at the Bolles School from 2005-2012, and then moved on to Edward Waters College to be the Linebackers Coach and Running Game Coordinator in 2013.

Erik Gibson, the new Assistant Coach/Head Equipment Manager, is another local product. A native of Middleburg, FL, he played tight end for five af2 teams in his career, including the Jacksonville Tomcats. Gibson played under legendary coaches Perry Moss (Les' father), Mike Neu, and Bret Munsey in that time.

To round out the staff, the Sharks hired Brian Campbell as Video Coordinator of Football Operations.

Steel Acquire WR Lyerla in Trade With Arizona

(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

The Portland Steel announced a trade that sends offensive lineman Jordan Mudge to the Arizona Rattlers in exchange for wide receiver Colt Lyerla.

Lyerla's college career as a tight end bristled with potential but was cut short by personal problems and off-field issues. During the 2012 season, his sophomore year, he amassed 25 receptions for 392 yards and 6 touchdowns. Mel Kiper Jr. had him listed as the number two tight end prospect for the 2014 NFL Draft, behind current Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Austin Seferian-Jenkins. 

However, his junior year of 2013 was cut short after a violation of team rules, which also led to his withdrawal from school. These actions were compounded by a cocaine-possession charge just weeks later. NFL scouts touted his athletic ability and talent, but were unwilling to draft him due to his personal problems.

The Green Bay Packers signed Lyerla as an undrafted free agent following the 2014 draft, but a training camp injury left him without a roster spot. After a year out of the game, the Rattlers made him a member of their team on Nov. 5. The trade with Portland was finalized on Thursday.

If he can avoid issues off the field, Lyerla's size (6'4", 245 pounds) and quickness (4.61 seconds in the 40-yard dash) make him a viable offensive threat for the Steel. Portland's head coach, Ron James, claimed "Colt is a tremendous talent. We’re eager to see how his skills translate to the arena game."

Mudge played nine games for the Steel in 2015 before a Week 11 injury sidelined him for the rest of the year.

Sharks Land Veteran CFL Defensive End

(photo credit: cfl.ca)

Not to be outdone by their outdoor neighbors, the Jacksonville Sharks looked north of the border to add another piece to their championship puzzle. This week, the team announced that they've been assigned Khreem Smith.

The 6'4", 265 lb. Oklahoma State alum is familiar with the 50-Yard Indoor War, as he won an ArenaBowl with the Chicago Rush in 2006, his rookie season. That year, his 22.5 tackles, eight sacks, six forced fumbles, two pass break-ups and a blocked kick was enough to net a spot on the All-Rookie team and Second Team All-Arena honors. His sack total was the third highest in single-season franchise history, and his forced fumbles led the league that year.

He spent time in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs before returning to the Rush in 2008. He came back to the AFL again with the Milwaukee Iron in 2010, where he was named First Team All-Arena, and spent 2011 with the Spokane Shock.

Smith then ventured north himself after the 2011 season, joining the BC Lions to start at defensive end. Picking up where he left off, he recorded 147 tackles, 36 sacks, and six forced fumbles in a five-year stint that included a victory in the 99th Grey Cup over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2011.

A native of St. James, Jamaica, Smith started his football career at Carol City High School in Miami, where he was named First Team All-State, MVP of the Dade/Broward County All-Star Game, and defensive MVP of the Florida Shrine Bowl.

In college, he played defensive end for Garden City Community College in 2000. Starting every game that season, he received an honorable mention for the All-Jayhawk Conference team. At Oklahoma State, he recorded 94 tackles (65 solo), 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception, garnering Second Team All-Big 12 honors in 2003.

Wizards to Create AFL Team for 2017

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The Washington Post reported this afternoon that Ted Leonsis, the owner of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Washington Mystics, will announce next week that he is now the owner of an Arena Football League franchise. 

The acquisition of the as-yet unnamed team will be formally announced at a news conference on Wednesday at Verizon Center. Leonsis, AFL commissioner Scott Butera, league officials and team ownership representatives, possibly to include fellow AFL owners Ron Jaworski and Gene Simmons, will be in attendance.

Reports of the Wizards and the AFL go back to November, when ArenaFan.com's Adam Markowitz reported that Leonsis was going to bring the AFL to D.C. Several months later, Leonsis has sealed the deal, and our nation's capital will get it’s first AFL team since 1987.

The Wizards will become the second NBA franchise to have ownership of an Arena Football League team. The other is Dan Gilbert; who in addition to owning the Cleveland Cavaliers and Lake Erie Monsters, is the owner of the Cleveland Gladiators. It was long believed that the San Antonio Spurs would be the second NBA team to get into the league, but an expected announcement at the home opener on Oct. 30 was scratched when the Board Of Directors voted to play the 2016 season with only nine teams (At the time, San Jose has since left). 

Rattlers Sign Mike Washington

(photo credit: azcentral.com)

The Arizona Rattlers recently added more firepower to their already talented wide receiver corp. Last week the Rattlers acquired wide receiver Mike Washington, giving quarterback Nick Davila a new weapon for his offense.   

Washington played for the Pittsburgh Power from 2011-2013 and the Spokane Shock from 2014-2015. While with Pittsburgh, Washington set single-season franchise records with 136 receptions for 1,595 yards and 36 touchdowns in 18 games. Washington was ranked as the 30th best player in the AFL Top 50 players of 2014. Washington joins Rod Windsor, Kerry Reed, Marquee White, and Chase Deadder on Arizona's receiver corp.

The five-time Arena Bowl champion Rattlers will open the season on Friday, April 1 against the Portland Steel on CBS Sports Network.

Portland Steel Announce Coaching Staff Additions

 On Friday, Portland Steel general manager and head coach Ron James announced the addition of wide receivers coach Kirk Broussard, offensive line coach Ron McBride, and defensive coordinator Will Mulder to the coaching staff for the 2016 season. From a league press release, James said, "We have assembled a strong coaching staff, complete with good teachers of the Arena Football game. It will be my pleasure to coach alongside some of the hardest working, dedicated professionals in the business."

Kirk Broussard (Facebook)

Kirk Broussard spent 2015 as the Tight Ends Intern Coach for the Buffalo Bills, and has other NFL experience with the Detroit Lions in 2013 as Running Backs Coaching Intern. Broussard has also spent time in the American Indoor Football Association, the Indoor Football League, and the Canadian Football League in various positions including assistant head coach, offensive coordinator, and director of player personnel.

Ron McBride (Pinterest)

Ron McBride has most recently served as offensive line coach for the Utah Blaze in 2013 but is most well known for his time at the University of Utah where he spent 13 years building up a previously abysmal Utes program that had gone 28 years without a bowl game appearance. From 1990 to 2002, McBride led them to six bowl games and an overall record of 88-63. His success is overshadowed by Urban Meyer, who coached the team to a 22-2 record during his two years as McBride’s successor before moving on to his great success at Florida and Ohio State. McBride followed his time at Utah with one year as Kentucky’s inside linebackers coach, but returned to being a head coach at Weber State University for a seven-year stint.

Will Mulder (AFL)

Will Mulder returns to the Portland organization as defensive coordinator after spending last season as defensive backs coach with the Spokane Shock. In Mulder’s previous round with Portland, he guided the team to becoming one of the best defensive passing units in the league.






Ron James had more comments regarding his revamped staff: “I’m excited to see these coaches help our team to reach their fullest potential this season. Their guidance will be an integral part of our process, as we strive to bring Portland a great brand of football.”


The Steel begin training camp on Wednesday, March 9 as they prepare for the start of the AFL season. Their first game is against the Arizona Rattlers on Friday, April 1 at home in the Moda Center. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network.

Dominick Goodman Returns to Gladiators

(photo credit: clevelandgladiators.com)

On Thursday, the Cleveland Gladiators announced they were assigned WR Dominick Goodman.

Goodman, 29, returns for his sixth season with the Gladiators, looking to extend his franchise records in receptions (727), receiving yards (7,280), and touchdowns (132). During his five-year career, Goodman has earned All-Arena honors twice, including being named First-Team All-Arena in 2014 when the Gladiators went on their historic 17-1 regular season that ended with an appearance in ArenaBowl XXVII. ‘Goodie’ also earned Second-Team All-Arena honors in 2012.

“It’s great to have Goodie back with us for another season,” Head Coach Steve Thonn said. “Dominick’s numbers speak for themselves. His positive attitude, leadership skills, and relationships he builds with his teammates add to the culture we have been able to build here.”

The sure-handed 6’1”, 210 lb. Cincinnati native known as "Goodie" played his high school ball at Colerain High School in Cincinnati, OH, where he earned All-America honors while leading the Cardinals to a Division One State Championship and a #5 national ranking. He followed up a stellar high school career by playing college ball at the University of Cincinnati, where he currently ranks fourth on the Bearcats career receiving list with 120 receptions.

Gladiators Keep Dominic Jones as DB Coach

(photo credit: clevelandgladiators.com)

The Cleveland Gladiators couldn't let a talented player like Dominic Jones get away. After a four-year AFL career that saw him net 337.5 tackles, nine interceptions, seven touchdowns, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and two franchise records, the team announced he'll be staying on as the new defensive backs coach.

The Second Team All-Arena kick returner in 2013 is a rookie behind the bench, but the 5'9", 190-lb back has never been intimidated by any challenge.

“I’m excited, obviously I played the majority of my career in Cleveland so to be able to continue that in a coaching aspect under Coach [Ron] Selesky and Coach [Steve] Thonn, two of the best minds in the AFL, I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity. I’m just happy to be able to stay in the game.”

As someone who always played bigger than their size, Jones brings a level of physicality unmatched by anyone in the league. His skill and leadership both on the field and on the sideline helped create Cleveland's own "No Fly Zone," a secondary that propelled the team to one of the best seasons in Arena Football League history, going 17-1 and reaching ArenaBowl XXVII,

“We are very excited to have DJ back with our organization as part of our coaching staff,” said COO/VP of Franchise Operations Mike Ostrowski. “His passion and knowledge for the Arena game and the leadership qualities he demonstrated for many years on the field will be a tremendous benefit to our players.”

Head coach Steve Thonn was the first to mention Jones’ playing days, and how they'll translate to helping develop players as part of a coaching staff.

“It’s great to have DJ join our coaching staff, his experience as a player in this league will be extremely valuable in assisting our defensive backs. He also brings that element of intensity to the staff that he showed when he was on the field.”

Ostrowski seconded the opinion, and offered his own take about an instant advantage the Gladiators now have with a former player of Jones' caliber on the sidelines.

“Having him in the locker room every day working with our guys and providing that strategic edge in the way he sees the game as a former player will be a huge asset for us. Along with Coach Thonn, Selesky and Smith, DJ will be a great addition to our group.”

While Dominic already knows what to expect from his guys going into training camp and the 2016 season, making the transition from player to being a coach will be tough to get used to, but he’s excited for what lies ahead.

“It’s going to be bittersweet, I’m going to have those same butterfly jitters that I got as a player. I don’t think you ever really lose that. I’ll just need to get myself into a different routine, maybe change up my music list a bit. It’ll be new for me but I just have to find my groove.”

“I want our guys to create their own identity,” Jones added. “I want those guys just coming into the league to make a mark for themselves. I want them to get out there and appreciate the game that they’re playing because you never know when it’s going to be gone. Within that, I expect the guys to go out there and play for each other.”

Defensive backs coach will not be the only hat Dominic dons this year, as he will remain a key Gladiators ambassador, representing the team at events and appearances in the marketplace, furthering develop relationships with the youth, high school, and college football community, and participating in various Gladiators community relations efforts in Northeast Ohio.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Jones started his collegiate career at the University of Minnesota, where he tallied 137 tackles in two seasons as a Golden Gopher. He transferred to Otterbein University for his senior season, where he earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference, All-Region, and First-Team All-America honors.

Sharks Announce Training Camp Schedule

(photo credit: jaxsharks.com)

In the leadup to the 2016 campaign, the Jacksonville Sharks announced their training camp schedule earlier this week. Allowing for two scheduled team tryouts, the second of which on March 6, the 2016 training camp will begin on March 11, 22 days before they open the season against the Los Angeles KISS.

The team will start with two days of meetings and physicals, then will take the field for the first time on Friday, March 11 at 8:30 a.m. The first practice in full pads will be on Sunday, March 13.

During camp, the team headquarters will be the the Ramada Inn in Baymeadows, located at 9150 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256.

On Saturday, March 19, the Sharks will hold a season ticket pick-up event featuring an exclusive VIP meet and greet at Plantation Park, located at 3060 Race Track Road, Fruit Cove, FL 32259. The event will be exclusively open to all 2016 season ticket holders and sponsors, and will be located on the turf field. Season ticket pick-up and the handing out of gifts will be from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, with practice running from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The final hour of the event will feature the introduction of, and a performance by the Attack Dance Team at 11:10, a speech by head coach Les Moss at 11:25, and a player meet, greet, and autograph session until noon.

March 20 will be an off day for the players, and they will return to the field on the 21st for the remainder of camp. Training camp concludes on the 25th, when the Sharks will submit their initial 24-man roster for the 2016 season.

All training camp practices are scheduled at Plantation Park. However, practices for Saturday the 12th and Sunday the 13th will be held at the Orange Park Athletic Association located at 1086 Fromhart Street, Orange Park, FL 32073. Practice will typically run from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

After each practice, Sharks players and coaches will be available to members of the media. As a courtesy, media who plan to attend practice are asked to notify the team in advance by contacting the Sharks' Director of Multimedia, Steven Shotola, at steven@jaxsharks.com.

Please refer to the information below for a comprehensive list of key practice dates, times, and locations leading up to kicking off the 2016 AFL season. Please note that these practices are weather permitting, and there are other factors that could affect the schedule, as well.

• March 9, 10: Physicals and Team Meetings
• March 11: Practice, 8:30 a.m. - Noon, Plantation Park (3060 Race Track Road, Fruit Cove, FL)
• March 12, 13: Practice, 8:30 am - Noon, Orange Park Athletic Association (1086 Fromhart Street, Orange Park, FL)
• March 14-18: Practice, 8:30 am - Noon, Plantation Park (3060 Race Track Road, Fruit Cove, FL)
• March 19: Season Ticket Holder Pick Up: 9 a.m. - Noon -- Practice, 9:30 a.m. - 11 a.m, VIP Meet and Greet Event, 11:10 am - Noon, Plantation Park (3060 Race Track Road, Fruit Cove, FL)
• March 20: Day Off
• March 21-25: Practice, 8:30 a.m. - Noon, Plantation Park (3060 Race Track Road, Fruit Cove, FL)
• March 25: 24-Man Roster Finalized

Storm Acquire Gerald Young

(photo credit: reviewjournal.com)

The Tampa Bay Storm have picked up wide receiver and kick returner Gerald Young. Young is in his third year in the league. He started his Arena Football League career in 2014 with the Orlando Predators. He caught 24 passes for 355 yards and six touchdowns. He also led the team with 38 kickoff returns for 739 yards.

In 2015, he played five games with the Las Vegas Outlaws. He caught 22 passes for 293 yards and one touchdown as a wide receiver. As a kick returner, he had a much bigger impact. He returned 42 kick returns for 1,003 yards and five touchdowns. In one of those games, against the Arizona Rattlers, he set an Arena Football League single-game record with for missed field goal returns. He returned two of them for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

Before entering the AFL, Young played football at Charleston Southern. He finished his collegiate career as the school's all-time leader in kick returns (102) and all-purpose yards (5,864). He would become a three-time All-Big South Conference selection and also was a member of the Big South All-Decade Team.

AFL Makes New Rule Changes for 2016

(photo credit: stripehype.com)

The Arena Football League has made many different rule changes in preperation for the 2016 season, which begins April 1. New rules include:

- no more Official Review during the last minutes of each half of games nationally televised. Each team's challenges will be controlled by the head coaches. Each coach gets two challengwes per game, and if a coach succeeds on two challenges, they will be awarded a third challenge.

- A play will be blown dead if the ball carrier loses their helmet.

- A personal foul penalty will be addressed if any opposing player(s) tries to pry their opponent from a pile-up of any sort.

- the kicking team is allowed a maximum of five players on either side of the kicker at the time the ball is kicked.

The 29th season of the Arena Football League kicks off April 1 with the Cleveland Gladiators hosting the Philadelphia Soul and the Tampa Bay Storm hosting the Orlando Predators in the "War on I-4".