DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Cleveland Gladiators

Didn't see a thread on this so...

For those who don't follow the Gladiators closely (or at all) but are interested, they just wrapped up their first season in Cleveland last night with a win over the defending American Conference champion Columbus Destroyers. They wound up with a respectable 9-7 record and several players at the top of statistical categories. QB Raymond Philyaw was second in the league in passer rating, FB Marlion Jackson led the league in rushing yards, and WR Otis Amey led the league in TD receptions with 50.

Most importantly for them, though, is that last night's win secured them a playoff berth, and subsequent losses by New Orleans last night and New York today means that they'll be playing their first playoff game at the Q a week from tomorrow, June 30th at 7pm. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

I got to go to a pair of games this season (including last night's win), and followed several more on radio or TV. I remember before the season hearing Bernie on WKNR talking about making it to the playoffs in their first season and hearing how excited he was about the team, and I'm happy to be a supporter of Bernie and a winning Cleveland sports franchise. I hope the team is able to make Cleveland their home for a long time.

Anyone else follow the team and excited about this?

I really wanted to check em out this year but they were always playing at times I couldn't. I did get to see one game on TV but it was a replay and that sucked. Hopefully I can get out of work early enough to catch the last half of the game.
I'm pumped for Bernie and excited for the team making the playoffs in their first year here! Thats cool as hell! I really wish the game was next Sunday so I could go check it out.

I looked for them several times on ESPN2, but never saw any one of their games aired. If I'm home next weekend when they play (contemplating going to a wedding of a girl I work with), I'll have to check it out.

open bar?

Congrats to Cleveland,not bad for the 1st year. C-bus went from the Championship game to a 3-13 season

Yeah. And the hall is less than 5 minutes away, and they have great food, as I've been there many times. Tempting....very tempting.

We are hosting the playoff game, Monday June 30th.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow. Ill probably try and go, should be fun.


Ive had free tickets to the game the last 2 weeks and was unable to go, Id like to make this game.

I've gone to two Gladiators games this season, and they were a blast! I'm definitely surprised more people aren't coming to their games, but I hope that place is rocking for the playoffs!

It hurts them that they aren't ever on tv.

Some of their games were on, including last weeks.

Their games have been on FSN for at least the past 4 weeks...

Never tried FSN. Probably why I've never seen them.

I think FSN had the entire second half of the season, except for one game that was on another station.

http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/afl/news/story?id=3462164

Orlando at Cleveland
Monday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN360.com
These are two strong organizations with veteran players and while they may not quite be in the elite category, this shapes up to be a very competitive game. They are well coached and the only thing that seems to hold them back from elite status is their consistency. They seem to struggle in their ability to put a complete game together. Cleveland does have excellent offensive balance with a strong passing game led by QB Raymond Philyaw and a physical run game led by FB Marlion Jackson. The Gladiators are also capable of playing a cleaner offensive game than Orlando with fewer mistakes. However, both defenses will probably neutralize each other. The Predators have a hall of fame coach with a lot of veteran players and they have been in this situation before and Cleveland hasn't.


Orlando keys to success
1. Play a complete game: As well coached as this veteran team is, they just don't look in sync every week and don't play consistent football in all phases. When their offense plays well, they seem to struggle on defense and vice-versa. Plus, they tend to hurt themselves with turnovers and penalties, which is not indicative of a Jay Gruden team. Cleveland is a very efficient team, especially on offense and it doesn't turn the ball over often or give away offensive possessions. Orlando cannot get sloppy in this game. The Predators need to capitalize on almost every possession and match Cleveland in terms of efficiency.
2. Play good run defense: The Predators face the best rushing attack in the AFL. Jackson has scored 23 rushing touchdowns and this team is not afraid to run the ball in the middle of the field or in the red zone. The Predators do not have a great run defense and they are not overly physical inside. If they allow Jackson to run wild when Cleveland is in scoring position, they will be in trouble. The Predators must get a couple of defensive stops in the red zone, which probably means stopping Jackson.

3. Pressure Cleveland QB Raymond Philyaw: He is very cool under pressure and he does a great job of not forcing passes into coverage. He has thrown only 10 interceptions in 525 passing attempts for a sparkling 124.5 quarterback rating. He faces an Orlando secondary that can look good one week and so-so the next. This group has a lot of experience, but they are not a great matchup group and they don't have a lot of speed. That puts pressure on the guys up front to make Philyaw uncomfortable and either force him into hurried throws or flush him out of the pocket. If he has time to sit in the pocket Orlando will be in trouble.


Cleveland keys to success
1. Spread the ball around on offense: This has been a very good pass offense in 2008, despite the fact that the Gladiators lack a franchise receiver. However, they have done an excellent job of developing somewhat-unknown guys into stars. Robert Redd does a great job of moving the chains in the middle of the field, but Otis Amey is the big scorer and red zone option. Orlando has a very productive defensive back in Kenny McEntyre (eight interceptions) and another solid veteran, Ahmad Carroll, but the Predators' secondary has been a little up and down. Philyaw should be able to find good matchups, if he has time to let his receivers separate.
2. Pound the rock: Jackson leads the league with 356 yards and 23 rushing touchdowns. He is especially effective in the red zone and he really makes it tough for defenses when they are close to the goal line. That is not good news for an Orlando run defense that struggles to make short-yardage or red zone stops versus the run. Cleveland ran the ball a whopping 154 times in the regular season, so we know the Gladiators are willing to use the run this week to keep Orlando off-balance.

3. Protect the secondary with a strong pass rush: This is not a great matchup for the Gladiators' secondary. This group tends to struggle versus elite receivers, especially in man-to-man situations. They do not have a defensive back who can matchup up with Orlando's best receiver, T.T. Toliver. If the Gladiators don't make QB Shane Stafford uncomfortable in the pocket, he will find matchups that he likes and pick them apart. Cleveland does not have an elite pass-rush, but Orlando's offensive line has shown stretches of inconsistency. When Stafford does not have great protection, he is not the same quarterback.



Prediction
These teams appear to be evenly matched and both are good, but not quite elite. They are capable of playing with anybody, but they seem to struggle on a weekly basis to put a complete game together. Both defenses are much better when the pass rush up front helps the secondary. Both quarterbacks, Stafford and Philyaw, are capable of putting up big numbers, but the edge in offensive consistency must go to Cleveland. Philyaw has a great passer rating and a very effective run game. This game is a big deal in Cleveland and it will have a great fan base, which will keep the Gladiators going. This really looks like it will be a Gladiator victory.
Gary Horton, a pro scout for Scouts Inc., has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called The War Room.

Anyone watching?

34-33 Cleveland up at halftime.

I've been to a Chicago Rush game and watched a few minutes here and there......Arena football is quite fun to watch.

The Gladiators are looking pretty good...coming from behind and having bad breaks the first half.

I like seeing a few fans in the stands sporting Browns jerseys!

WOW..........touchdown Cleveland!

I loved the interview with Bernie in the first half.....talking about the compassion with the team players and management....Bernie is a very good dude that knows the game of football.

Good game so far, but Cleveland really needs to score a touchdown and then force a turnover and put the game out of reach. Orlando has missed three PATs...that's going to come back to bite them in the rear. Time to make them pay for it.

It was total crap that the DB from Orlando didn't get flagged for trying to throw Cleveland's receiver over the wall after he'd been whistled out of bounds, even though Cleveland got flagged for a late hit on the prior possession.

Game is too close to call now (48-46 C-town)....then again, it's the AFL. No lead is safe.

A timely turnover (like that pick by Cleveland in the endzone at the end of the first half) can be huge.

some of the celebrating in this game is ridiculous...there are more touchdowns than first downs...

This is the first time I have seen the team so far this year I made it home from work just in time,,woo! Now that I have seen the uni's live I dig em.

...And there's another reel of Cleveland's struggles. They never stop on ESPN, do they?

62-60 Cleveland with six minutes left to play.

CAN'T WE GO ONE DAMN IMPORTANT GAME without some jackass bringing up "the drive", "the shot", "the fumble", and the rest of our woes?? Unfriken real And arena football at that,,they can't even let us enjoy this without making us remember that old horsecrap

I'm glad I missed that. I just wish we could have a game that doesn't come down to the final seconds.

Fumble!

Cleveland "forces" a fumble, get the ball back with two minutes left to play.

That was a nice break. First n goal!

How about that one girl in the crowd?

Cleveland up 69-60.

32.7 seconds left........still a 9 point lead.

lol,,ohh God a fumble

Game over, Cleveland wins!

I thought the NBA was bad when there was 30 seconds on the clock and it would feel like 20 minutes. That was crazy.

Well, a Cleveland football team just won a playoff game. Lets hope the other football team can follow the lead.

I don't watch much Arena Football - that was pretty exciting. I'm glad Cleveland won it.

The only bummer for me was seeing that idiot Dawg Pound Mike getting more camera attention. Other than that it was a good game to watch.

Quote:

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I think ESPN just hates ohio.

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Its a joke lighten up

j/c, I was at this game and it was the most fun i've ever had *minus a Browns game, of course*. Did it sound as loud on TV as it was there? Because that place was louder than it was during a Cavs game.

Bernie is doing an awesome thing with this team.