Week Eight: Chicago, Iowa, and Kansas City losses

Once again, I didn't get a chance to catch the Chicago or Iowa games.  Another heavy Scouting event kept me away from home and by the time I got home, the games were over.  All I could do is check the scores and head to bed.

I didn't figure that Iowa would win, but I didn't figure that they would lose as badly as they did.  I would have save that score difference for the Kansas City game, taking the Command to 0-6.  But the Sabercats handled the Barnstormers, beating them 76-33.  Iowa was never really in the game, scoring wise.  They were out scored in the first two quarters, then failed to score at all in the final two.

Chicago managed to lead the game until the final two minutes, only to lose the game by one point.  I was looking at Chicago winning by a narrow margin, not losing by a narrow margin, and it leaves me wondering if the Chicago Rush may have gotten a little over confident after their great start.

What surprised me, when I got home on Monday evening ... Scouts again ... was that Kansas City was actually in the game.  But it didn't last long.  A muffed kick-off reception gave Tampa Bay an instant touchdown, and then an on-side kick attempt failed and Tampa Bay took a commanding lead and kept it.  So, Kansas City goes 0-6.

Week Nine:

The San Antonio Talons take on the Command in Kansas City.  This will only be the third home game that the Command have played this season, and I would hold my breath for a big turn out of what fans the team has left.  San Antonio comes into the game second in the conference with a record of 4-3.  Kansas City is last in the same conference, and there is no reason, especially after watching their Tampa Bay game, to think that they will break their losing street.

The Iowa Barnstormers will take on the Rush in Chicago.  If Chicago walks into this game too confident in their record, Iowa will hand them another loss.  Iowa has proven themselves quite the opponent on the road.  However, if Chicago can fix their problems, then Chicago should win this game.  Where do I stand?  I am going to go with Chicago.  I think that two loses will be enough to wake Chicago up and they will resume their quest for the Arenabowl.

So, my predictions?  Chicago over Iowa, San Antonio over KC.

A final note:  At the end of the Kansas City game on the NFL network, one of the Tampa Bay players was given a 'player of the game' award of a Net10 cell phone with three months of free service.  Has it gotten that bad that this would be a prize that an Arena Football Player would hang onto?

Arena Football Week Seven

Well, I didn't get to watch the Arena Football games this weekend, I had to settle for checking the final scores on the three teams that I'm following.  Interesting enough, all three games went as I called them for this week, with Chicago beat Milwaukee, but the Barnstormers and the Command both lost their games this week.  So Chicago is now 5-1 (as is the Philadelphia Soul).  Kansas City is now 0-5, and Iowa is now 3-3.

So, what of the changes that Kansas City has made?  They apparently aren't making a difference yet, and there is none of this "building for the future" since the Arena Football League has a very high turn over rate from year to year, thanks to the League breaking the Union in 2011 and driving the money player get into the basement.  So, to be honest, don't expect things to get better until the turnover hits the true weaknesses in the team, the ownership and coaching staff, and that's not going happen until the team goes financially under.  To be frank, I don't expect to see an AFL team in Kansas City much longer.

So, let's talk Week 8.  

Kansas City (0-5) at Tampa Bay Storm (3-3):  I'll make this short and sweet.  Kansas City is going to come out of week eight 0-6.  I don't see them beating anyone on their schedule this year, not unless there are some serious changes in the team's performance.  It makes no difference if the team is home or away, the team isn't going to play any better, and attendance at the Sprint Center is going to continue to go downhill.

Chicago Rush (5-1) at San Antonio Talons (3-2):  Chicago is 1-1 on the road, while San Antonio is 2-1 at home.  I will give the Talons a slim chance of taking the game, but the Rush have the overall better record when it comes to points scored and in the teams that they have faced to get their record.  Its going to be close, especially with the Rush being on the road, but I think that Chicago will manage to pull this one out and go 6-1.

San Jose Sabercats (4-2) at Iowa Barnstormers (3-3):  You really can't count the Barnstormers out, especially with the fan support that they get.  Unfortunately, they have a better record on the road than they do at home.  The Sabercats are 1-2 on the road, the same stat that Chicago has at home, but they are 4-2 overall.  I really find myself wanting to go with Iowa, especially when they can pull off victories over opponents such as Arizona, but with their record at home, the Sabercats will likely take it.

So, my predictions for Week 8.  Tampa Bay over KC, Chicago over San Antonio, and San Jose over Iowa.

Iowa Defeats Arizona

It appears that I had it backwards for this week in the AFL.  I took Chicago to barely beat Georgia, and I figured that Arizona would easily handle Iowa.  Instead, Iowa squeaked past Arizona and Georgia handled Chicago.  Sigh.

With Severe Weather rolling through Des Moines Iowa, Tornadoes being reported to the south, and a game delay caused by a power outage at the arena, the Iowa Barnstormers not only managed to keep the game close, in fact tied at half time, and then take the day by two points - 56 to 54.  The Barnstormers managed to take two interceptions from Davila and recover two fumbles to keep themselves in the game early.  So, the Iowa Barnstormers take second place in their conference with a record of 3-2.

Attendance:  7921 - Almost the total attendance for Kansas City after two home games.  There should be no doubt after last night that the Barnstormer fans love their team.

As for next week:  The Barnstormer are at Utah against the 3-2 Blaze who, who just won against 1-3 Jacksonville Sharks and who handily defeated the Iowa Barnstormers at home in week 2.  This is going to be a close one if you look at the stats.  Utah is 1-1 at home while the Barnstormers are 2-0 away.  Utah is averaging 62 points a game while Iowa is averaging 58.  So here is a chance to Iowa to show how they can rise to the occasion again.  But don't be surprised if Utah comes out on top.

I'm gonna have to say Utah over Iowa, barely, although I would love to see if the other way around.

Georgia Force Hands Chicago First Loss

If Chicago had to lose a game, one could have hoped that it would have been one of those nail biters.  I remember someone asking me last week if Georgia was that good when I said that Chicago would have to be careful.  The massive loss that Georgia suffered at the hands of the Soul would be an igniter, and it wasn't long into the game that Georgia had a commanding lead.  With a 20+ point scoring spree in the 3rd Quarter, Chicago gave fans watching on Ustream a glimmer of hope that they could make a comeback, but it just wasn't to be the case this time.

But Chicago is still on top of the league.  They will share the top slot with the Arizona Rattlers unless the Iowa Barnstormers can pull off an upset, and they've been keeping the game close coming into half-time.  

What's next for Chicago?  The Milwaukee Mustangs go to Chicago next week.  Milwaukee may be able to give the Rush a run, and if Chicago was in Milwaukee, I would give the Mustangs a little better chance of winning, but I'm going to go with the home team advantage, and call this one for Chicago, now that the pressure of a perfect record is gone.

Easter Bunny at Chicago Rush vs KC Command

"You call that a Flip?"  The words caused me to smile as someone dressed up in a really ... well ... lame Easter Bunny costume palm flipped the coin at the beginning of the Chicago Rush, Kansas City Command game on April 7th.  The comment was made by one of the members of the Kansas City Command, and I would have to agree with him.  That wasn't much of a flip.  Of course, Kansas City lost the flip and Chicago deferred for Kansas City to receive the opening kick off.  Most people like to receive the kick off to open the second half, not the first.

Now, I'm not the only one who had comments to make about the Easter Bunny.  Watching the game on Ustream, the chat comments during the half-time show Easter Egg hunt said it all.  If I was Chicago, I would seriously reconsider using that costume again ... and Kansas City ... don't even think about it.

Kansas City Tease - A Tease?

Finally, the Lady Arena Football League has posted their 2012 game schedule.  Problem is, the Kansas City Tease are not on it.  In fact, the LAFL has only four teams playing in 2012 according to the schedule that they have posted on their official website (http://www.ladyarenafootballleague.com).  When you go to the Kansas City Tease Facebook Page, well, no one is really talking, its like the team has gone back into hibernation.  Their official Web Site (http://www.kctease.com) offers NOTHING in any information for this team.  So, what is it?

I had a man come in and say that he has watched them practicing.  I see on their facebook page that one other person "misses" seeing them practice.  So there was an attempt to start a team in Kansas City, but after two years of 'trying' to start a team, if they haven't figured it out yet, then maybe someone else needs to try.  So much for my dismay with the KC Tease.

What of the LAFL?  There are four teams scheduled to start competing on May 19.  Are they going to stream their games via Ustream or another service?  I would love to see a really good Female Football game, I have seen hope in the LFL, break a little further away from the pubescent wet dream sales pitch and get down to real Arena football and you would have a die hard fan here.  But let's quick teasing and let's get this going, because the Arena Football League is actually losing fans due to their ... lack of real talent and entertainment value.

Rush Go 4-0, KC Goes 0-4

Let me start off by pointing out the obvious.  The plan of replacing both Quarterbacks on Monday and bringing in not one, but two Rookie Quarterbacks to take on Chicago may not have been the smartest idea.  But it may actually rank above keeping the kicker.  The first half for Kansas City was absolutely dismal.  A touchdown early, missed PAT, not once, but twice.  That's right, twice.  KC got a second chance for a PAT and the kicker missed it a second time.  Then the team could not get down the field, so two attempts for field goals in the first quarter were ... wide right ... wide left.  Add two interceptions and coming out of the first half, the story was being told.  Kansas City is not to win this game.

And it didn't get any better.  KC managed to get a little pressure on the Rush QB in the second half, but they were unable to get their game together and Kansas City dropped their fourth game in a row, this time to Chicago.

Now, let's talk about next week.  Chicago is going to Georgia, who just suffered a massive loss to Philadelphia.  The Soul came within 7 points of the AFL single game record (99 points) and laid down a 92-42 win over the Force.  But I wouldn't discount the Force.  When you look at their stats, the Force is scoring 49.75 points per game and they are 1-1 at home.  Chicago is 1-0 away, and average over 60 points per game, and scored 62 points against the Barnstormers on the road.  If go on the stats, Chicago should win this game, but how long can Chicago keep it going, and how pissed off is Georgia?  I am going to stick my neck out and give Chicago the benefit of the doubt and stick with them this week.  Chicago, barely over Georgia.

Kansas City?  Right now, I doubt they could beat the bye.  And going up against the San Jose Sabercats, who have beaten the Arizona Rattlers, does not leave much hope of not going 0-5.  But KC has a bye week to try and get their team together for week seven.

Now, let's look at the Command's season so far.  They have played the Gladiators, first in their division, the Rattlers, first in their division, and the Rush who are first in our division.  The only chance they've really had so far is the Jacksonville Sharks, and its not going to get any better.  Kansas City is the lowest scoring team in the AFL, and the game against Chicago didn't improve their per game points scored average.

Barnstormers Even Their Record 2-2

If you watched the first half of the game, you might have been a little concerned.  The game ran pretty even, both teams failed to score on their first possession, then scored quickly.  The Barnstormers scored on a fumble in the end zone in the second half, then did what they do best, came out strong in the second half to take the game.  It works when you're playing teams like Pittsburgh.  It doesn't work against teams like Chicago and it won't work when the Arizona Rattlers come to Iowa next week.

Arizona is now 3-1 after a narrow win against last place division partner Spokane.  But if the Rattlers got too confident and cocky, it won't carry over into next week against Iowa.  I fully expect to Arizona to come to Des Moines fully loaded, and while it may be a close game, and the Iowa fans may have a few moments to be excited, I think the Rattlers will pull it out in the end and extend their stats to 5-1 and put Iowa back below .500.  Arizona will be coming into Iowa on a three game winning streak.

Now, I tried to watch the game on Ustream, but ended up just minimizing the screen and listening to the game on the headphones.  I don't know exactly what was up, I get the feeling that Ustream was cutting the video to block the commerical breaks.  It was fun, however, listening to the off-air comments of the radio announcer at times, but let's face facts, Ustream is not Nifty TV.

So, week six ... Arizona over Iowa.

KC Command Worst In League Honors

The Kansas City Command are sitting with a dismal record of 0-3 after Week Four.  They would likely be 0-4 if it wasn't for their early bye week, especially when you look at the league stats after the first four weeks.  The Kansas City Command rank last in Scoring Offense, Pass Offense, Total Offense, Pass Efficiency, First Down, Third Down Conversions, and Field Goals.  They ranked next to worst in allowing their opponents to convert on fourth down, and the dismal stats go on and on and on and on.

Those stats are about to get worse, and they are going to allow the Chicago Rush to break the "curse" of being picked the number one team when they go to Chicago this weekend, and instead of fulfilling their destiny and winning the game, they are going to stack more pitiful numbers on their already horrible stats.

But let's face facts.  When you look at the attendance across the league.  When you look at the points scored, and you take the time to watch some of the other games around the league, its easy to see that we're getting exactly what the owners are willing to pay for ... and that's far from the cream of the crop.  I heard one person state that the player turnover across the league is approaching 80-85%.  Players are not willing to put their bodies through the rigors of Football for pennies on the dollar.  It's gotten to the point where Players cannot afford to take time away from what have become their 'real jobs' in order to pursue what is not basically a hobby of playing football.  The team owners, and the owners of the new AFL have put this league back ... well one person said ten years, I would say its is far more than that.  Remember the base pay for an AFL player is now only around $400 per game, versus almost $6,000 per game before the league collapsed a few years ago and this new ... pseudo AFL ... arose.

The Kansas City Command need to do something fast.  They can use the excuse of competing against a KU Final Four match to explain away their last home game attendance of 2,833.  But what about the fact that they had less than 6,000 the home game before, and with all the promotions they are running, they will unlikely do any better the next home game.  The league needs to do something fast.  They are losing AFL fans at a high rate of speed.

Yes, I am spending a lot of time pointing out how bad things are in the AFL.  Suggestions?  How about we get back to what made the league great?  Cater to the Fans once again, going to an AFL game use to be a lot of fun.  Pay more money so you can get some better players.  We used to see some incredible football in the final minutes of a game, not any more.

league stats:  http://www.arenafootball.com/statsdrilldown/CONFLDRS.HTM