QUICK FACTS: Game: Arizona Rattlers at San Jose SaberCats
Date: Sunday, April 2, 2006
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. (Pacific)
Site: San Jose, Calif.
Arena: HP Pavilion (14,041)
Television: NBC (Ted Robinson, John Jackson, Raaj Mathai)
Radio: ESPN Radio 860 AM (Kent Derdivanis, Dale Hellestrae)
Series Record: Arizona leads 13-10 (1-3 in postseason)
Last Meeting: San Jose 58, Arizona 50 – February 12, 2006 at US Airways Center
Officials: Perry Havener (R), Tom Laverty (U), Rusty Baynes (HL), David Meslow (LJ), Barry Anderson (BJ)
Head Coaches: Arizona – Gene Nudo (first season, 5-4) San Jose – Darren Arbet (eighth season, 76-37, 9-4 in playoffs)
THE SERIES: The Rattlers will meet their division rival for the 28th time. Only Orlando and Tampa Bay have met more often. Arizona holds a 13-10 regular season advantage, with a 7-6 record at San Jose. The SaberCats hold a 3-1 postseason advantage. Two of the four Rattler playoff losses to the SaberCats were in ArenaBowls (2002, 2004). Last season, the teams split with each team winning at home. The last time a team swept the regular season series was in 2004 when the Rattlers took both regular season battles but lost to San Jose in the championship.
THIS WEEK’S QUOTES: Rattler head coach Gene Nudo on last week’s win against Los Angeles: “It was an encouraging victory, but I still think there are a lot of areas that we can improve upon. I was happy to see our guys play with a no-quit attitude and that they were able to come out re-charged and focused in the second half. There were numerous players that stepped up for us and had a great game.”
Nudo on San Jose: “They are fighting for consistency just like we have been. A major reason for some of their problems has been because they have been playing with so many new people. We know their record is not a direct reflection of their team, especially since they beat us earlier in the year by eight points. They have a lot of talented guys that are just starting to get on the same page.”
Nudo on what to focus on this week: “This game is no bigger than the last four games that we have won. We just need to continue to prepare one game at a time and not look ahead. Even though we have been winning, we still need to address areas where we have been weak. We need to improve our kick coverage and our running game, especially in goaline situations.”
THE “IF” SECTION If the Rattlers defeat San Jose it would:
- be their fifth consecutive overall victory
- be their second consecutive road win
- be their 12th win in their last 17 games
- give them a 5-2 record in the Western Division
- give them a three game lead over San Jose
- give them their first victory on Sunday
PLAYERS TO WATCH THIS WEEK: San Jose WR/LB Ben Nelson: In just five games, Nelson has broke out as San Jose’s top offensive threat, catching 40 passes for 542 yards and eight touchdowns. In his last three games, he has hauled in 33 catches for 465 yards and seven touchdowns. With those kinds of numbers, the emerging star could become a strong candidate for “Rookie of the Year”. This week, Nelson could pose the biggest challenge for a Rattler secondary that has shut down big name receivers in recent weeks.
Arizona OL/DL Wendall Gaines: Gaines, who came off the injured reserve list last week, made an impact in a major way by applying constant pressure on L.A.’s quarterback and recording two sacks in the fourth quarter. On his final sack, he stripped the ball away to seal Arizona’s victory. Offensively, the Ratters may look to Gaines, especially in redzone situations, as they have struggled to get the ball into the endzone from short yardage. San Jose’s front line will face a big challenge trying to keep Gaines, who is sixth in the league in sacks with four, away from their quarterback.
THE RATTLERS ARE … • 4-2 at US Airways Center
• 1-2 on the road
• 3-0 when they score more than 50 points
• 1-0 when they score 60 or more points
• 5-4 when they allow less than 60 points
• 4-2 when they allow less than 50 points
• 2-0 when they allow less than 40 points
• 3-2 when they score first
• 2-0 when they commit fewer turnovers
• 1-3 when they commit more turnovers
• 4-1 when a player scores three or more touchdowns
• 0-1 when they score two or more TDs on the ground
• 4-1 when Sherdrick Bonner throws five or more TDs
• 2-1 when Damien Groce scores two or more TDs
• 2-0 when Damien Groce catches seven or more passes
• 0-1 when Bo Kelly scores two or more TDs
• 1-3 when they commit fewer penalties
• 3-1 when they record at least one sack
• 1-2 when they go scoreless for at least one quarter
• 0-0 when they pitch a shutout in a quarter
• 2-0 when the game is decided by 7 or fewer points
• 3-1 when leading at halftime
• 1-3 when trailing at halftime
INJURY REPORT Arizona DOUBTFUL: OL/DL Sebastian Barrie (L Shoulder); DS Wendell Davis (L Quad); OS Damien Groce (R Shoulder); OL/DL Anthony Hutch (L Great Toe); DS Corey Johnson (L Knee); WR/DB Darrell Jones (R Ankle); DS Clarence Lawson (L Hamstring); WR/DB Jeremiah Pope (Finger); WR/LB Wilson Thomas (L Elbow); OL/DL Mark Tucker (R Hamstring); FB/LB Steve Warren (L Bicep); WR/DB Talib Wise (L Ankle)
PROBABLE: OL/DL Kelvin Ingram (R Calf)
San Jose OUT: WR/DB Marquis Floyd (Quad/Groin); WR/DB Jason Geathers (Hamstring)
DOUBTFUL: DS Rufus Brown (Wrist); WR/LB Fred Coleman (Ankle); OL/DL Alan Harper (Illness); OS Atnaf Harris (5th MT Stress Fracture); FB/LB Jajuan Huddleston (Finger); OL/DL Joe Jacobs (Back Spasms); QB Chris Lewis (Lower Back); OL/DL Chuck Reed (Knee); OS Calvin Schexnayder (Ankle); OL/DL Fitu Tu ’ua (Finger); WR/DB Rodney Wright (Foot); OL/DL George Williams
(Knee)PROBABLE: OL/DL Julius Gant (Quad); FB/LB Brian Johnson
