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August 20, 2019
0

The 2019 Tour Championship: FedExCup Meets Silly Season

Category : 2019 FedEx Cup , 2019 Tour Championship , Bobby Jones , Brooks Koepka , East Lake FedEx Cup , FedEx Cup , Golf , Justin Thomas , PGA , PGA Tour

This season Brooks Koepka played 20 events. He won three and finished in the top ten on eight separate occasions. He won the PGA Championship, finished as runner up in the Masters and the US Open. The Open Championship was his worst major; he finished tied for fourth.

Justin Thomas played 19 events. He won once. Thomas did not finish in the top ten in a single major, was outside the top 30 at the Players Championship and skipped the PGA Championship due to injury.

Koepka ranks #1 on the 2019 PGA Tour money list. Thomas holds the eighth slot on the money list. Heading into the 2019 Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, Justin Thomas currently holds a three-shot lead over Brooks Koepka. The tournament does not start until Thursday.

Seriously?

Seriously.

In an effort to build drama and make the scoreboard easier to read on Sunday afternoon, the PGA Tour complicated everything else related to the Tour Championship and the FedExCup.
The History
First awarded in 2007, the FedExCup was designed to increase attention for PGA Tour golf after the majors ended each season. Players accumulated points throughout the year, then played in four “playoff” events culminating with the top 30 point winners playing in the Tour Championship. The winner of the FedExCup enjoys an extremely large payday; Justin Rose won $10 million in 2018.

Since its inception, two winners were crowned at the Tour Championship, the winner of the tournament and the winner of the FedExCup. The tournament winner was based on strokes taken over 4 days. The Cup Champion decided based points won over the season, with an emphasis on the four playoff events. In eight of the 12 times that the FedExCup has been awarded, the winner of the Tour Championship also was the FedExCup.
Big Change
Disliking the “confusion” of following both a golf tournament and the winning of points to decide who wins the FedExCup, the PGA Tour brought changes format in 2019. In order to make it easy to see who is winning, the winner of the Tour Championship IS the winner of the FedExCup. 30 players tee off Thursday, August 22 hoping to claim first place and the staggering $15 million prize.
What about the Points?
Instead of having the year-long points leader becoming the FedExCup winner, the Tour Championship is now handicapped. Driving golf purists crazy, the player who has generated the most points is given 10 strokes BEFORE play begins.

That is right, Justin Thomas is already 10 strokes under par; the event hasn’t started yet. Naturally, his 10 strokes have a name, “FedExCup Starting Strokes”. There is a certain irony that this event is played at East Lake in Atlanta, the home of golf purist, the legendary Bobby Jones.
Koepka is in Third!
What isn’t Koepka the leader? Again, to drum up interest in post-major events, the PGA Tour greatly weighted points to winners of two playoff events. Seemingly a good guy, and obviously a great player, Thomas did not play nearly as well as Koepka this year, but he won the BMW Championship last weekend and collected 2000 FedEx Cup points. The BMW had a limited field of 70 players.

By contrast, Koepka won the PGA Championship, finished second at the US Open, T2 at The Masters, and T4 at the Open Championship. For these combined accomplishments, Koepka nabbed a combined 1295 points. Since Koepka ranks third in FedExCup points, he receives 7 starting strokes and begins the 2019 Tour Championship three shots BEHIND Thomas. Players ranked #26-30 do not receive any starter strokes. They enter the competition 10 shots off the lead.
TV or Sports, which comes first?
All major sports need to bend to the realities of TV and the bottom line. Sunday night baseball on ESPN, Thursday night NFL games, US Open tennis matches that end at 2 AM in New York, these are but a few examples. But, changing the scoring to give someone a lead before the start?

What’s next? The Dallas Cowboys start with a 10 point lead over the Falcons because they are more likely to draw viewers next week? Start the New York Yankees with a 4 game lead in the AL East?

That said, 30 of the world’s best golfers will tee it up Thursday at East Lake. While Bobby Jones may have refused golf prize money and remained an amateur, now the money is just too significant. Even at 10 shots back, players are eager to get in the competition for the $15 million first prize. For the player who finishes 30th of 30, there is still $395,000 in prize money. Of course, they accept the silliness of starter strokes and give it a go. Wouldn’t you?

MAIN PHOTO

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August 16, 2019
0

Top 5 Reasons the Jacksonville Sharks will Win the 2019 NAL Championship

Tags : : Pickford

Category : Carolina Cobras , Football (US/Canada) , Indoor Football , Jacksonville Sharks , James Fuller , Lee Johnson , NAL , National Arena League , Siaha Burley

Previously, we released our five reasons why the Cobras would win the 2019 NAL Championship game. With the big game getting closer and closer as each second passes, it is time to reveal our five reasons why the Jacksonville Sharks will win the 2019 NAL Championship game.
Top 5 Reasons the Jacksonville Sharks will Win the 2019 NAL Championship
5. Quarterback Toss-up
This one may sound a bit confusing when first seeing it. Like what in the world does a “Quarterback Toss-up” mean? Right now, there is no confirmed starter for the Jacksonville Sharks when it comes to the Quarterback position. In our 2019 NAL Championship Preview, we broke down the numbers for the two quarterbacks combined. Jonathan Bane this season is 160-of-290 (55.17%) for 1,844 yards, 39 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Mike Fafaul is 123-of-183 (67.21%) for 1,319 yards, 35 touchdowns, and only five interceptions. With no confirmed starter, the Cobras don’t know who to primarily focus on. Last playoff game against the Lions, Fafaul was the starter and went down with an injury. Bane went in and lit up the Lions defense. It was almost as if the Lions didn’t prepare for Bane at all. If the Cobras focus on one quarterback more than the other, then there could be issues for the Cobras.
4. League-Leading Defensive Line
The Sharks have the best defensive line in the league, based off of the statistics. Together, their line has forced 31.5 sacks (average of 2.25 per game), nine pass breakups, six quarterback hurries, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, and one safety. If the Sharks defensive line can force pressure on Cobras Quarterback Chalres McCullum, then McCullum will make mistakes to benefit the Sharks.
3. Best Receivers in the NAL
The Sharks starting three receivers are also statistically the best in the league. Combined, they have 231 receptions for 2,536 yards and 61 touchdowns. No team in the league this season has been able to shut down all three receivers on the field at the same time. There were some games where they shut down a receiver to slow down the Sharks offense, but there has not been a single occasion where all of the Sharks receivers were stopped.
2. Coaching Staff
This season is Head Coach Siaha Burley’s third season with the Jacksonville Sharks. He led the team to the championship in 2017, a game that he ultimately won. In 2018, his 10-6 record gave his team a trip to the playoffs. Finally, this season’s 13-1 regular season record and 1-0 post-season record sent him and his team to the 2019 NAL Championship game. Burley doesn’t do it all on his own. He also has a great group of coaches along-side of him. Defensive Coordinator James Fuller and Offensive/Defensive Line’s Coach Lee Johnson also help control this team. This coaching staff is a team of Head Coaches, meaning that all three coaches on this team have either been or will be great head coaches in arena football. Last season, Fuller was the Maine Mammoths HC and led his team to one of the largest win-streaks in NAL history. In their final seven games, they managed to win six of them.
1. Home Field Advantage
This one sounds very cliché, but it is very true for Jacksonville. In their 10 seasons, the Sharks have hosted nine playoff games and won seven of them (77.78%). The fanbase that averages over 9,000 per game in 10 years has been known to get rowdy, especially in the playoffs. The arena gets loud during regular season games, but it gets even louder in playoff games. With crazy fans like The Sideline Bullies, The Painted One, and many more, there is no running away from Shark fans, no matter where the players are on the field.

The Jacksonville Sharks host the Carolina Cobras this Saturday, August 17, 2019 in the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 7:00 pm for the third NAL Championship. The winner of this game will earn their second NAL title.
Follow Us for More Information
The LWOS Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages is the best place to go for news on anything that happens in the NAL and other indoor and arena leagues. Our website is also a great place to go for more information.The post Top 5 Reasons the Jacksonville Sharks will Win the 2019 NAL Championship appeared first on Last Word on Sports.

August 16, 2019
0

Life Post-Jeremiah Masoli for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Tags : : Pickford

Category : BC Lions , Brandon Banks , CFL , Dane Evans , Featured , Football (US/Canada) , Hamilton Tiger-Cats , Jeremiah Masoli , Luke Tasker , orlondo steinauer , Uncategorized

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have begun their journey without CFL all-star Jeremiah Masoli and the team has shown promise. Clearly, Dane Evans has a lot to prove but he is starting to settle in with the offence and offensive coordinator Tommy Condell. It takes time for players and coordinators to develop a relationship, but Evans and Condell are on their way.

Masoli and Condell developed a successful relationship, but after Masoli ‘s knee injury, Evans was projected into the spotlight. The Tiger-Cats have shown production through all phases. But, will they manage to continue their success as the CFL season continues?
Passing Game
Since losing Masoli to injury the Tiger-Cats have gone 1-1. Both games were competitive and gave the league a chance to see new starting quarterback Dane Evans. The B.C. Lions game allowed Evans to show what he is capable of.

Playing in front of an energetic fan base, he put up some reasonable numbers and threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Banks returned from injury and played another sensational game. Banks is currently leading the league in receiving yards and second in receiving touchdowns.

Banks is not the only playmaker amongst the wide receiving core. Bralon Addison has accumulated 412 yards receiving and Jaelon Acklin is a solid possession receiver. Luke Tasker has struggled as of late, but do not be surprised if he plays a bigger role deeper into the season and in the playoffs.
Running Game
Losing Maleek Irons for six games hurts the Cats. Cameron Marshall, Irons’ replacement, debuted against B.C. last week and had seven carries for 40 yards.

The offensive line held the Lions to zero sacks. Unfortunately, Darius Ciraco was placed on the one-game injured list and didn’t play against B.C. Ti-Cats fans hope to see him back within the next couple games as he is a vital component of the offensive line.

Hamilton needs consistency in their ground game in order to relieve the pressure off Dane Evans. As the season runs deeper, the Tiger-Cats offence could become much more dangerous as they already are. It will also be intriguing to see how Evans game develops.
Defence
Defensively, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats lineup with a high caliber defence, highlighted by their defensive line.

Ja’Gared Davis was a massive addition to there d-line this year. He is currently tied for second in the CFL in sacks with six and has recorded 37 tackles, which is eighth-most among the league. The seven above him are either linebackers or defensive backs. Leading Hamilton in tackles is middle linebacker Justin Tuggle with 40.
Secondary
The secondary has young players such as Frankie Williams and Tunde Adeleke. Delvin Breaux is a member the Tiger-Cats want back in there secondary as he was put on the one-game injured list and did not play last week against B.C. Overall, the Tiger-Cats have a highly skilled defence on paper, but last week’s outing showed weaknesses and this Saturday’s game against Ottawa will be important to gain some lost confidence.
Special Teams
Jeff Reinebold continues to show why he is in the conversation as the best special teams coordinator in the CFL. The Tiger-Cats special team units are never overlooked by there opponent.

Leding the league in punt return yards and fourth in kickoff return yards, Frankie Williams is becoming a respected returner in the CFL. It also doesn’t hurt when you can put Brandon Banks — who leads the league in field goal missed return yards with 235 — in the end zone when the opposing team is attempting a field goal.

But what makes all this work is the coaching of Jeff Reinebold. He puts together schemes and plays that virtually make these speedy returners untouchable. Great blocking and exceptional return play make for a dangerous return game.
Final Thoughts
If the offence can stay consistent, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be in this year’s Grey Cup. Their defence has some of the top players in each positional group and their special teams groups are explosive.

Losing your starting quarterback and running back to season-ending injuries is often diminishing to any football team. But head coach Orlondo Steinauer has managed to create an environment that brings players together and ultimately leads to continuity among all. The Tiger-Cats play this Saturday in the Nation’s capital.

Main image credit:
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August 16, 2019
0

Montreal Alouettes Have Another Shot at a West Division Foe

Tags : : Pickford

Category : BJ Cunningham , Calgary Stampeders , CFL , DeVier Posey , Featured , Football (US/Canada) , Montreal Alouettes , Uncategorized , Vernon Adams Jr. , Week 10 , William Stanback

With 2:41 left in the third quarter, the Montreal Alouettes were down just 17-10 to the West Division Saskatchewan Roughriders. Then, nobody can quite wrap their heads around what happened next. Hostile weather consisting of lightning and heavy rain would sweep over McGill causing a delay that would inevitably end the match.

Yes, with still an entire quarter and then some to play, the Roughriders were awarded a victory and the Alouettes a loss for their efforts. Even Saskatchewan fans didn’t feel entirely great about how they acquired a W for the win column, well some did.

Montreal, on the other hand, is left to quickly regroup. They now head west to take on a perennial contender in the Calgary Stampeders. The Alouettes are 1-2 against western opponents in 2019 and with the narrative growing once again on how much stronger the West is than the East, the Als find themselves needing to make a statement game just one week removed from being robbed the chance to do so at home.
Offence
Perhaps Montreal’s biggest catalyst for their early string of contention has been quarterback, Vernon Adams Jr. Unfortunately, since their last game against Ottawa, Adams has been out with a concussion. They have sorely missed plays like this one:

Vernon Adams Jr. (@bigplay_va) spots @QuanBray WIDE OPEN for a 75-yard TOUCHDOWN give the @MTLAlouettes a 15-12 lead!#CFLGameDay pic.twitter.com/hIiK5ozTj9
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) July 13, 2019

Adams has a humble five touchdowns to three interceptions on the season. However, his five rushing touchdowns as a quarterback is second among quarterbacks and tied for third in the league overall with just William Powell and Cody Fajardo in front of him. The Alouettes will need Adams to have a monster performance with it being reported that William Stanback will miss Saturday’s contest.
DeVier Posey In, B.J. Cunningham Out
An unfortunate wrist injury sustained by B.J. Cunningham will likely sideline him for the remainder of the 2019 season. While still not ideal for Montreal, the impact of this injury is softened by the return of former Grey Cup MVP, DeVier Posey. He has appeared in just three games before going down with an injury. Still, it’s Posey’s past work that should have Montreal fans the most excited. His 2017 campaign saw him put up 744 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games played.
Protection Up Front
Before any of this can become reality, the Montreal Alouettes need to figure out their protection upfront.

Another scoop and score for the @sskroughriders defence! 😮#CFLGameday pic.twitter.com/kZuDPJs4jx
— CFL on TSN (@CFLonTSN) August 10, 2019

Through seven games this season, they’ve allowed 17 sacks which lands them sixth in the league. This offensive line hasn’t been horrible this season.
Defence
The prospects of the Stampeders having Bo Levi Mitchell back may not bode well for the Alouettes. Calgary’s offence has maintained pace under the control of Nick Arbuckle, however, let us not forget what Mitchell is capable of.

George Johnson’s article on stampeders.com beautifully outlines the impact of Bo Levi Mitchell. In Johnson’s article, Mitchell is compared to sugar in Kool-Aid, LeBron on the Lakers and a healthy Boobie Miles on Friday Night Lights. High praise and well deserved at that from many of his teammates.
Exceeding expectations
During the Montreal Alouettes three-game winning streak, they allowed 436 yards to the Tiger-Cats, 365 to the Redblacks and 320 to the Eskimos. They went as far as to keep the Eskimos offence from scoring. Their home loss to Ottawa consisted of allowing just one touchdown offensively and 241 yards.

Furthermore, Montreal’s defence did a tremendous job keeping Cody Fajardo and the Saskatchewan offence in check. However, Calgary presents a different challenge and they’ll need more from their front seven to have a chance on Saturday. With only seven sacks, the Alouettes are tied for dead-last in the league for sacks, though they were able to get to Fajardo twice last week.

Rookie defensive coordinator, Bob Slowik has worked hard to get up to speed with the Canadian game. If they are able to keep a potentially “rusty” Mitchell in check and perhaps break out some more special teams magic, this game may swing wide-open.
Why This Game is so Important
The common thought process in any league is that inter-divisional games trump outer-division games in terms of importance. This is mostly true across the board in terms of tie-breakers. However, in Montreal or Ottawa’s case, it’s almost pre-determined that they will be facing a Western Division team come playoffs with the crossover. With how tight the West Division is, anyone from Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Calgary or Edmonton are potential opponents. If there was any time to begin to gain traction and confidence against the “almighty” West Divison, it would be now.

Saturday’s forecast calls for cloudy with sunny breaks. It’s just the reigning Grey Cup MVP and the champions standing in the way of the Montreal Alouettes and a confidence-building victory. If they pull it off, it’ll be their first win against the Stampeders at McMahon Stadium since Week 1 of the 2009 season.

Main image credit:
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August 15, 2019
0

Top 5 Reasons the Carolina Cobras will Win the 2019 NAL Championship

Tags : : Pickford

Category : Carolina Cobras , Charles McCullum , Cody Saul , Columbus Lions , Football (US/Canada) , Indoor Football , Jacksonville Sharks , Joe Harris , Massachusetts Pirates , National Arena League

The National Arena League (NAL) championship game is just over 48 hours away. The players are doing everything they can possibly do to stay healthy and not injure themselves. The Jacksonville Sharks (14-1) host the Carolina Cobras (10-5) this Saturday night at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 7:00 pm in the third NAL Championship. The Carolina Cobras are just about ready for battle, which is why we are revealing five reasons why the Carolina Cobras will win the 2019 NAL Championship.
Top 5 Reasons the Carolina Cobras will Win the 2019 NAL Championship
5. Abscence of Cody Saul (Possibly)
Jacksonville Sharks Jack Linebacker Cody Saul is currently suspended by the NAL for running onto the field into an altercation after the Columbus Lions @ Jacksonville Sharks playoff game on August 6. It is unclear as to whether he will play this weekend or not. As of right now, he leads the league in the most tackles this season at 64. In the last four games, Saul has been able to intercept five passes and take three to the house for a touchdown. His efforts not only help the Sharks defense, as he also plays Wide Receiver on the offense. While that wasn’t his primary position this season, Saul still managed to catch 11 passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns. His dual-threat ability will definitely help the Cobras figure out how they can take down the Sharks. This isn’t really anything that the Cobras can do to change the outcome of the game, but it’s definitely something that they can take advantage of.
4. Late Season Motivation
The Cobras won the championship last year and it seemed to carry over to this season as well since they dominated teams late in the season. They performed two complete shutout games. While it was against the Orlando Predators (2-12) both times, it is still almost impossible to completely shut out a team in football, let alone, arena football. Against the New York Streets, they put on a 46-0 shut out before they had to forfeit the game due to a security breach. This ball that they have rolling definitely transferred into the playoffs as they got by the Pirates with hardly any issues in the second half of the game.
3. Clicking Offense
Charles McCullum and Co. had a rough start to the season, losing their main receiving group. The only receiver to stay from last season is Jordan Jolly. This year, Jolly put up record-breaking numbers. He caught 104 passes for 1,210 yards and 31 touchdowns (all three of which are either tied or broken records). Thankfully for the Cobras, they were able to trade for a deadly receiver in Lavon Pearson with the Massachusetts Pirates. Pearson helped the Pirates go to the playoffs last season and did a great job with the Cobras this season. He caught 45 passes for 586 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Cobras lost one of their best Offensive Lineman earlier this season. Joe Harris was a key part in the Cobras success, but the Cobras were able to make the necessary changes to make everything work. It all went as planned since they made it to the championship game.
2. Last Year’s Dominance Transferring to This Year
The Cobras had the best team last season even though their record didn’t really show it. In the playoffs, they were a completely different team than they were in the post-season. They smacked the Jacksonville Sharks and won by almost 30 points and put a beating on the Columbus Lions with a 66-8 score, which is probably going to be the worst NAL championship game ever when it comes to point differential. Knowing that the players and coaches have the ability to do this, they are going to follow through with it. During the first playoff game this season, the Cobras had a slow start, but eventually held the Massachusetts Pirates to not a single touchdown in the second half. Obviously the Cobras won as they put up a 30-26 close game.
1. Defense Wins Championships
The Carolina Cobras have the best defense in the NAL at the moment. They beat the Sharks in just about every defensive category. They don’t have as many turnovers as the Sharks, they don’t allow as many yards, first downs, points, or even wins, but they sure do know how to stop their opponents. This top-defense will have their chance to hush the doubters this Saturday and prove that they can carry this Cobras team to their second consecutive title. This Cobras 2019 NAL Championship game could be one of the best games that the league has seen.
More Exciting News to Come!
Later today, we will reveal the Top Five Reasons why the Jacksonville Sharks will win the 2019 NAL Championship. Tomorrow, we will reveal the Official NAL awards shortly after they come out. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and our Indoor Football website to stay up to date on everything.The post Top 5 Reasons the Carolina Cobras will Win the 2019 NAL Championship appeared first on Last Word on Sports.

August 14, 2019
0

San Diego Strike Force reveal Re-design

Tags : : Pickford

Category : Football (US/Canada) , IFL , Indoor Football , Indoor Football League , San Diego Strike Force

The San Diego Strike Force are moving from the blue-and-white.

It was announced a short time ago that the team would be re-designing it’s look after the end of their 1-13 initial season in the Indoor Football League.
San Diego Strike Force reveal Re-design
The jerseys were revealed a short time later and, on Wednesday afternoon, the full look was released to the public.

The team revealed new primary and secondary logos as well, that work amazingly with the jerseys and are themed around fighter pilots.

The full slate of logos can be found below, with the primary logo being on the left side.

The team also put out some new helmets that resemble the World War ll air crafts.

These were originally planned for the team’s first year in the IFL, however were never used on the field during the 2019 season.

The new look features three different helmets with the home and alternate lids resembling the planes and the away ones containing the team’s secondary ‘SD’ logo.

The jerseys that the team will be using can be seen below, with Flight Suit home uniform, the interceptor white road uniform, and the stealth look for the alternates.

Strike Force general manager Ryan Eucker also revealed that San Diego would be hosting the IFL’s annual league meetings as well.

The meetings are usually held in Las Vegas, and while it doesn’t really have much barring on what goes on there, a change is still being made.

The 2020 IFL season will kick off in February, but the schedule will likely not be out until November.

You can keep up with all of our indoor football coverage by following LWOS Indoor Football on social media. All of the links to our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be reached by clicking on the respective sites here.The post San Diego Strike Force reveal Re-design appeared first on Last Word on Sports.

August 14, 2019
0

Cobras visit Jacksonville for 2019 NAL Championship

Tags : : Pickford

Category : Brandon Behr , Brandon Rutherford , Carolina Cobras , Charles McCullum , Football (US/Canada) , Indoor Football , Jacksonville Sharks , Jonathan Bane , Mike Fafaul , NAL Championship , National Arena League

The third National Arena League (NAL) Championship is almost underway as the number one Jacksonville Sharks (14-1) host the number two Carolina Cobras (10-5). The winner of this game will win the 2019 NAL championship, The winner of this game will also win their second NAL Championship since the Sharks won in 2017 and the Cobras won last year in 2018. Last season, the first playoff game between the two was a blowout in the Cobras favor. They won 73-48 to advance to the 2018 NAL Championship. This year, the league and both teams hope for a closer game.
Cobras visit Jacksonville for 2019 NAL Championship
On paper, these two teams are very close to each other, which means that this game should go down to who has the ball last. Both offenses are top-notch in the league as well as the defenses. This 2019 Championship game could be the closest final game that the NAL will have in a very long time.
Offensive Matchup
While it is unclear as to who is the starting quarterback for the Sharks is, there is no doubt that both of their quarterbacks have great talent in arena football. Together, both Jonathan Bane and Mike Fafaul had a combined 283-of-473 (59.83%) for 3,163 yards, 74 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions in the regular season. Charles McCullum, on the other hand, is 232-of-394 (58.88%) for 2,883 yards, 66 touchdowns, and 15 touchdowns.

The Sharks top the Cobras in Scoring Offense (57.5-51.4), Total Offense (244.4-230.8 ypg), Total Offensive Touchdowns (99-89), Rushing Offense (21.3-17.9 ypg), Rushing Touchdowns (25-20), Pass Efficiency (104.2-103.3), Passing Offense (223.1-212.9 ypg), Passing Touchdowns (74-69), Interceptions Thrown (17-18), First Down Rushing (34-26), First Down Passing (169-167), Third Down Conversions (46%-40.3%). Fourth Down Conversions (38.2%-27.3%), Allowed Sacks (11-24).

The Cobras have the Sharks beat in the following Offensive Categories: Average Yards Per Play (6.2-5.8), Yards Per Completion (11.8-11), First Downs (239-237), and Red Zone Offense (84.3%-82%).
Defensive Matchup
The Sharks and Cobras have very similar defenses and are very close on the stats in just about every category. The Sharks defense has the Cobras beat in the number of interceptions (36-28), Interception Return Yards (288-173), Interceptions Returned for a Touchdown (6-3), fumble recoveries (14-13), Opponent Third Down Conversions (26.7%-27.7%), Opponent Fourth Down Conversions (32.7%-39.6%), and Sacks (40-36).

The Cobras defense has the Sharks beat in a lot of categories, which is very interesting because the Sharks have the Cobras beat in the majority of the offensive categories. The high-powered offense will go up against the high-powered defense, and the same thing goes for the Cobras offense versus the Sharks defense.

The Cobras have the Sharks beat in Scoring Defense (31.1-33.9 ppg), Total Defense (181.6-190.1 ypg), Rushing Defense (15.9-19.3 ypg), Defensive Pass Efficiency (95.4-95.9), Pass Defense (165.6-170.9), Fumble Return Average (20.2-4), and Fumbles Returned for a Touchdown (4-2).
Special Teams Matchup
If the game went down to the final kick of the game, whether it was a PAT or Deuce, it is looking like the Sharks would be able to win in that case. The Sharks have the Cobras topped in PAT percentage. Sharks Kicker Brandon Behr is 94-of-107 on PAT’s (87.85%). Cobras Kicker Brandon Rutherford is 39-of-46 on PAT’s (84.78%). Both numbers are really great and are the highest in the league.

Where the Cobras barely get the Sharks is the Field Goal percentages. Behr, this season, is 1-of-6 on Field Goals (16.67%) whereas Rutherford is 1-of-5 (20%). Both percentages are really low, but it is also uncommon to find a kicker in arena football to nail every field goal through the nine foot wide goalpost.

The deuces is where the Sharks change the game. Behr has made a total of 25 this season, counting post-season (23 in the regular season). Rutherford had a shorter season than Behr, but still managed to make six.

Behr averages almost two deuces a game and about seven PAT’s a game, which puts up an average of almost 11 points per game, which makes a major difference between a winner and a loser in arena football.
Final Conclusion
The Sharks offense has proven that they are the best in the league, as they are statistically better than the Cobras in just about every category. The Cobras defense, to counter that, is statistically the better defense between the two teams. Like mentioned earlier, the top offense going against the top defense will be one worth watching.

On the other side of things, the Cobras offense is still a great group. If they weren’t, then they wouldn’t play in this game. The only issue that the Cobras could have is turnovers. The Sharks defense may allow more yards and a higher percentage on third and fourth down, but the turnovers that the Sharks force is much more significant than the Cobras. Forcing eight more interceptions and receiving one more fumble than the Cobras all season could be the difference in the game between who wins this game.

Of course, we can’t forget about the kickers. Later in the season, the Sharks have been able to score more touchdowns, which means that Behr’s PAT percentage is boosted. If the game is back and fourth and could be determined by who misses the game-winning PAT, there is no telling who is going to miss that game-winner because both kickers have over an 80% PAT average.
More Exciting Pieces to Come
Since the championship game is getting closer, we are bringing more content to NAL fans and indoor football fans. Tomorrow, we will reveal our Top Five Reasons why the Cobras will win the Championship as well as the Top Five Reasons why the Jacksonville Sharks will win the Championship game.

After that, we will release the official 2019 NAL Awards as they are released to the public. Be sure to check out Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and our Indoor Football website to stay updated on what is to come.The post Cobras visit Jacksonville for 2019 NAL Championship appeared first on Last Word on Sports.

August 13, 2019
0

2019 LWOS NAL First and Second Team All-NAL Announced

Tags : : Pickford

Category : Carolina Cobras , Columbus Lions , First Team All-NAL , Football (US/Canada) , Indoor Football , Jacksonville Sharks , Massachusetts Pirates , National Arena League , New York Streets , Orlando Predators , Second Team All-NAL

The National Arena League (NAL) Championship is just days away. This means that the First and Second Team All-NAL awards are going to be released within the next day or so. Up first, we are announcing our 2019 LWOS NAL First and Second Team All-NAL players.
2019 LWOS NAL First and Second Team All-NAL Announced
First Team All-NAL Offense
Quarterback: Charles McCullum, Carolina Cobras – 232-of-394 (58.89%) for 2,883 yards, 66 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions
Wide Receiver: Devin Wilson, Jacksonville Sharks – 102 receptions for 1,179 yards and 29 touchdowns
Wide Receiver: Jordan Jolly, Carolina Cobras – 104 receptions for 1,210 yards and 31 touchdowns
Wide Receiver: Bones Bagaunte, Columbus Lions – 99 receptions, 995 yards, 29 touchdowns
Fullback: Alstevis Squirewell, Jacksonville Sharks – 51 rushes, 163 yards, 9 touchdowns
Offensive Lineman: Chad Kolumber, Carolina Cobras
Center: Derrick Zeigler, Jacksonville Sharks
Offensive Lineman: Jabari Buckley, Jacksonville Sharks
First Team All-NAL Defense:
Defensive End: Nick Woodman, Jacksonville Sharks – 39 tackles (15 TFL), 12.5 sacks, 7 pass breakups, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
Nose Tackle: Toby Johnson, Massachusetts Pirates – 13.5 tackles (8.5 TFL), 7 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 pass breakups
Defensive End: JD Griggs, Massachusetts Pirates – 26.5 tackles, (12 TFL), 9.5 sacks, 5 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Mac Linebacker: Zack Brown, Jacksonville Sharks – 31 tackles (13 TFL), 7.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 forced safety
Jack Linebacker: Cody Saul, Jacksonville Sharks – 64 tackles, (3.5 TFL), 8 interceptions (3 returned for touchdowns), 4 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries
Defensive Back: Seth Ellis, Jacksonville Sharks – 44.5 tackles (1 TFL), 13 interceptions (1 returned for a touchdown), 25 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble
Defensive Back: Michael Green, Carolina Cobras – 62 tackles (3 TFL), 1.5 sacks, 10 interceptions, 34 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries
Defensive Back: Laurence Austin, Massachusetts Pirates – 63 tackles, (0.5 TFL), 10 interceptions, 23 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble
First Team All-NAL Special Teams:
Kicker: Brandon Behr, Jacksonville Sharks – 94-of-107 PAT (87.85%), 1-of-6 FG (16.67%), 23 deuces
Kick Returner: Tony Goodman, Jacksonville Sharks – 15 kick returns, 401 yards, 2 touchdowns
Second Team All-NAL Offense:
Quarterback: Sean Brackett, Massachusetts Pirates – 244-of-396 (61.62%) for 2,523 yards, 57 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions
Fullback: Quayvon Hicks, Massachusetts Pirates – 39 rushes, 155 yards, 6 touchdowns
Wide Receiver: Mardy Gilyard, Massachusetts Pirates – 84 receptions, 950 yards, 29 touchdowns
Wide Receiver: Rob Jones, New York Streets – 65 receptions, 859 yards, 20 touchdowns
Wide Receiver: Paris Mack, Columbus Lions – 50 receptions, 871 yards, 14 touchdowns
Offensive Lineman: Aundrey Walker, Columbus Lions
Center: Thomas Claiborne, Massachusetts Pirates
Offensive Lineman: Mike Williams, Jacksonville Sharks
Second Team All-NAL Defense:
Defensive Lineman: Steve Miller, Carolina Cobras – 36 tackles (13 TFL), 9 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 forced safeties
Nose Tackle: Bill Vavau, Carolina Cobras – 10 tackles (6.5 TFL), 1.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, 3 blocked kicks
Defensive Lineman: Jonathan Taylor, Jacksonville Sharks – 15 tackles (8 TFL), 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced safety
Mac Linebacker: Shawn Loiseau, Massachusetts Pirates – 13.5 tackles (4 TFL), 3 sacks, 1 interception, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble
Jack Linebacker: Kavika Luafatasaga, Massachusetts Pirates – 39 tackles, (2.5 TFL), 5 interceptions, 7 pass breakups
Defensive Back: Chucky Williams, Massachusetts Pirates – 51.5 tackles (2 TFL), 11 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery
Defensive Back: Markus Smith, Jacksonville Sharks – 50 tackles (1 TFL), 8 interceptions (2 returned for touchdowns), 14 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
Defensive Back: Dallas Jackson, Orlando Predators – 38 tackles (1 TFL), 3 interceptions, 19 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries
Second Team All-NAL Special Teams:
Kicker: Mike Weaver, Massachusetts Pirates – 54-of-65 PAT (83.08%), 5-of-11 FG (45.45%), 11 deuces
Kick Returner: Cedric Poole, Carolina Cobras – 17 kick returns, 311 yards, 1 touchdown
Follow Us on Social Media!
Now that we have released our First and Second All-NAL Teams, up next is the NAL Championship Preview tomorrow. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and out Indoor Football website to stay up-to-date on everything that is happening.The post 2019 LWOS NAL First and Second Team All-NAL Announced appeared first on Last Word on Sports.

August 13, 2019
0

2019 LWOS NAL Honorable Mentions

Tags : : Pickford

Category : AJ Harmon , Carolina Cobras , Chris Sanders-McCollom , Columbus Lions , Football (US/Canada) , Indoor Football , Jason Gibson , Michael Green , NAL , National Arena League

The 2019 LWOS National Arena League (NAL) awards have come to a conclusion as we announced all of our NAL selections for each award. There were multiple players who stood out this season that don’t deserve to go unnoticed. All players and coaches fought until the end for the 2019 season and it all showed. Michael Green, Chris Sanders-McCollom, and Jason Gibson are going down as our LWOS Honorable Mentions for the 2019 season.
2019 LWOS NAL Honorable Mentions
Defensive Back Michael Green, Carolina Cobras
Up there with our Defensive Player of the Year was Green. All season long, Green served to be one of the best defensive backs in the league, and proved that he is worthy of being in the top two or three. This season, Green finished with an incredible 10 interceptions for 81 yards and one touchdown. He also had 62 tackles, just two shy of the league-leader in 2019. Green also broke up 34 passes, forced two fumbles, and recovered two fumbles on the year.
Wide Receiver Chris Sanders-McCollom, Columbus Lions
Sanders-McCollom was on his way to become the best Lions receiver in 2019 until a late-season injury popped up and took him down until the playoffs. In his 10 games with the Lions, Sanders-McCollom totaled 59 receptions for 654 yards and 17 touchdowns. In the same amount of games, Paris Mack was able to have nine less receptions for 871 yards and 14 touchdowns (217 more yards).
Head Coach Jason Gibson, Columbus Lions
Gibson entered the 2019 season going back-to-back in NAL Championship appearances. In 2019, Gibson looked to make a third consecutive visit to the game. Having a 2-5 start to the season, Gibson was able to get things rolling and finish with a 6-8 record. Things started to click with the Lions late in the season as they had a healthy team for the first week all season. But then, Center AJ Harmon went down with a season-ending injury. Gibson had to figure something out quick before the playoffs started. Every game against Jacksonville, no matter where it’s played, is always a close game. The Lions just needed that one piece to the puzzle to defeat Jacksonville. Entering the playoffs with a fully-healthy receiving group, the Lions were in high-hopes that their O-Line could keep the Sharks D-Line off the quarterback. Falling short in the playoffs, Gibson’s season came to a close. Finishing the season with a three-game win streak is definitely something to look back on.
LWOS NAL First and Second Team All-NAL Up Next!
The NAL Honorable Mentions is a wrap for all of the individual LWOS awards for the 2019 season. Later today, we will announce our First and Second Team All-NAL awards. The league will release all of their awards during Media Day on Friday, August 16.The post 2019 LWOS NAL Honorable Mentions appeared first on Last Word on Sports.

August 12, 2019
0

Jawad Yatim Named LWOS Executive of the Year

Tags : : Pickford

Category : Chucky Williams , Devonn Brown , Dexter McCluster , Football (US/Canada) , Indoor Football , Jawad Yatim , John Griggs , Kavika Luafatasaga , Lavon Pearson , Lawrence Austin , Mardy Gilyard , Massachusetts Pirates , National Arena League , Sean Brackett , Shawn Loiseau , Thomas Owens

As the LWOS National Arena League (NAL) awards are nearing to an end, we previously mentioned that the Jacksonville Sharks won multiple awards. Now we are diving right into the Executive of the Year Award, which is a tough one to choose from because all executives in the NAL have helped the league grow in the 2019 season. The 2019 LWOS NAL Executive of the Year award winner is Jawad Yatim of the Massachusetts Pirates.
Jawad Yatim Named LWOS Executive of the Year
To start the season, the Pirates brought back the base of their offense and defense from the 2018 season. The 2018 MVP, Quarterback Sean Brackett. Wide Receivers Mardy Gilyard, Thomas Owens, Devonn Brown, and Lavon Pearson also returned to the team to help the Pirates to a successful season. On the defense, Lawrence Austin, Chucky Williams, Kavika Luafatasaga, John Griggs, Shawn Loiseau, and many more were able to return to the team. Surely this team would be the best team in the league to start, right?
Rough Start for Pirates
The Pirates had to face the Cobras in the first two weeks of the NAL season. This meant that it either was going to be a great start or a horrible start to the season. Unfortunately for the Pirates, things took a turn for the worst, being outscored by 58 points in both weeks combined. The Pirates would ultimately have a 1-4 start, which knocked them to last place in the league at one point.
Win-Streaks to Send Pirates to Playoffs
This is where Yatim and Co. got the ball rolling. They signed multiple players from the National Football League (NFL), including Wide Receiver Dexter McCluster. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, and Tennessee Titans. The signings that Yatim made helped the team to a six-game win streak. The win-streak was the second-longest win streak in the NAL this past season. To keep their streak alive, the Pirates had to face the Jacksonville Sharks. Unfortunately, they lost to the Sharks to end their streak, then lost to the Sharks the following week. Thankfully for the Pirates, they were able to finish strong against a struggling New York Streets team. That gave the Pirates an 8-6 record after the horrid 1-4 start.

Not only did Yatim turn the team around, he was also able to get the Pirates and the NAL on the map. A Tweet from Ian Rapoport was sent out stating that McCluster was signed by the Pirates. Doing things like this will get teams and the league on the map, which would translate to more people attending games. More people going to games would lead to more merchandise being sold and more revenue to the team.
More Awards to Come
The LWOS team can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We have one more award, which is the Best Mascot before we move to the First and Second All-NAL teams.The post Jawad Yatim Named LWOS Executive of the Year appeared first on Last Word on Sports.

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