2016 Week 9 Preview: Predators vs Sharks

(photo credit: orlandosential.com)

The 3-4 Jacksonville Sharks haven't had a lot to celebrate this season, which makes the short week after a blowout win against the 0-7 Portland Steel a bit of a blessing in disguise. However, while the fans will still be ecstatic to pack the bus to the Jungle to face the 7-1 Orlando Predators, the players - and possibly the coaches - are feeling something completely different.

These two teams met at Sea Best Field in Week 3, where the Predators came away with a 63-56 win, and yes, the two will meet again in Jacksonville in Week 12, but for now, this is the game that means the most to both teams.

These two are almost exactly the same two teams not only from last season, but from that same meeting. Orlando was able to pounce on every mistake that the Sharks made, and actually came from behind in the last three minutes to get that win. Jacksonville, for their trouble, played up to the level of competition that night. However, that's been the problem.

When great teams like Philadelphia, Orlando, and Arizona come calling, Jacksonville plays like a team that can beat just about anyone (they are 1-2 in those three games, but Orlando and Arizona, both undefeated at the time, won by a mere touchdown, with the Rattlers needing overtime).

But when teams like LA and Cleveland are on the other sidelines, things tend to snowball. A loss to a mediocre KISS team that's just now coming on, a 19-point blown lead to a Gladiators team struggling to even keep a healthy quarterback, and not one, but two winless teams hanging tough for long stretches of the game.

Jacksonville is the same team from last year in that regard. At this time of the season, there were calls for Les Moss to be fired after an 0-4 start as a league favorite. This year, the rumblings are starting all over again after a team stumbling out of the gate yet again (the Sharks are only one game ahead of last year's pace after seven games, as they were 2-5). Those rumblings could get much, much louder if the Predators leave with another victory on Friday night.

However, to avoid the doom and gloom, there is indeed a legitimate bright light at the end of the tunnel. Randy Hippeard is indeed human, as his performances post-Arizona have been weak. Tampa Bay got to Hip twice, and so did Philadelphia. The Storm held the ball for long stretches of time to slow the tempo down, and the Soul used a strong run game and a stiff defense to build a cushion.

Jacksonville has shown they can do both. If they give Derrick Ross a bit of room, he can take off and take pressure off Tommy Grady to throw the ball down the field. Their defense made Shane Austin miserable and snatched four of his passes, if they can get just one or two from Hippeard, that alone could turn the game around.

Basically, they have to combine what they did against Portland and in the first few weeks of the season and play a near perfect game against a near perfect team. Difficult, but not impossible. London Crawford came back just in time to create the best receiving trio in the league, and Jacksonville keeps making moves to bolster a strong defensive front to maintain pressure.

The only thing to watch out for is the mental toughness. Orlando is now a strong, tough, physical team, and the Sharks can't afford to crumble when a pass is dropped, or a ball sails wide, or there's a fumble or close pass or whatever else can go wrong. It will happen. It always happens. Jacksonville has to get over it and know they can complete the next play.

If they can, this sets up a string of meaningful games for both the team and the rest of the league. If there's going to be a race for the rest of the regular season, the Sharks have to be in it. Otherwise, they'll be left in the dust.