Post by Banana Cat on Dec 27, 2011 4:17:12 GMT -5
The winner joins Philly in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
www.lfl360.com/articles/game-20-preview-orlando-fantasy-tampa-breeze/
www.lfl360.com/articles/game-20-preview-orlando-fantasy-tampa-breeze/
GAME 20 PREVIEW | ORLANDO FANTASY AT TAMPA BREEZE
By: Jim Wallin (LFL360.com)
26 Dec 2011
Two well-armed armies converge on the same battlefield this week with ultimate survival hanging in the balance as the No. 2 Orlando Fantasy (2-0) invade west-central Florida to face the No. 5 Tampa Breeze (2-1). The stakes are high as the winner of this game will clinch a playoff berth by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker and face the No. 1 Philadelphia Passion in the Eastern Conference Championship Game.
ORLANDO FANTASY
The Orlando Fantasy enter the action playing perhaps as well as any team in the league, outscoring their first two opponents (Baltimore Charm, Cleveland Crush) by a combined 84 points. Orlando’s offense (52 ppg., leads LFL) is powered by three key free agent pickups from Miami in QB Anonka Dixon, who many experts compare to Michael Vick for her athleticism, mobility and electrifying highlight-reel moments, RB Etta Paul, who is turning in one of the most productive individual efforts this season and WR Taylor Thompson, who is a big play threat in the red zone and, in addition to returning stand-outs TE J.J. Thacker and WR Jenny Kraus.
Orlando’s top-ranked defense (10 ppg. allowed) features the merciless defensive front-three of Thacker, Vonshari “The Beast” Hoardes and Jeannette McCoy, who possess not only significant pass rushing and run-stopping abilities but have the ability to create turnovers with regularity. The Fantasy secondary, headlined by Deidre Strickland and Lauran Ziegler is a hard-hitting, opportunistic unit that has shown flashes of brilliance in shutting down opponents’ passing games, although they remain susceptible to the deep ball.
TAMPA BREEZE
After enduring what could have been a demoralizing 48-0 opening loss to Philadelphia, the Tampa Breeze have instead responded with a two game winning streak and now eye a return trip to the postseason and a re-match with the Passion.
Powering the Tampa charge is the vast improvement of QB K.K. Matheny as a signal-caller, the return of stand-out running back Tiffani Powers, WR Bryn Renda and impact rushing and receiving threats in Saige Steinmetz and Adrian Purnell. The Breeze can hurt opposing defenses in many ways and quite possibly have the most talented offense in the league.
Tampa’s defense has struggled so far this season (27.6 ppg. allowed) and, while star safety Liz Gorman is one of the most productive players in the league and the defensive front-three of Steinmetz, Purnell and Courtney Wilder, when healthy, are extremely talented, the seven defenders on the field will have to turn in their best effort of the season to continue playing beyond tonight.
GAME BREAKDOWN:
Stadium : St. Pete Times Forum – St. Petersburg, FL –Artificial Turf, Indoors
KICKOFF: 9:00 p.m. ET
Players to Watch:
ORLANDO: QB ANONKA DIXON | RB ETTA PAUL | WR JENNY KRAUS | S LAURAN ZIEGLER | WR TAYLOR THOMPSON
TAMPA: QB K.K. MATHENY | OL/LB ADRIAN PURNELL | OL/DL SAIGE STEINMETZ | WR/S LIZ GORMAN | DE COURTNEY WILDER | WR/S BRYN RENDA
Key Match-ups:
– Anonka Dixon’s mobility versus Tampa’s front three.
– Tampa’s passing game against the opportunistic Ziegler, Strickland and the Fantasy secondary.
– Orlando’s WR Thompson, WR Kraus, TE Thacker versus talentedsafeties Gorman and Renda.
2010 Result: Tampa DEF. Orlando 47-6 (Orlando, FL)
By: Jim Wallin (LFL360.com)
26 Dec 2011
Two well-armed armies converge on the same battlefield this week with ultimate survival hanging in the balance as the No. 2 Orlando Fantasy (2-0) invade west-central Florida to face the No. 5 Tampa Breeze (2-1). The stakes are high as the winner of this game will clinch a playoff berth by virtue of a head-to-head tiebreaker and face the No. 1 Philadelphia Passion in the Eastern Conference Championship Game.
ORLANDO FANTASY
The Orlando Fantasy enter the action playing perhaps as well as any team in the league, outscoring their first two opponents (Baltimore Charm, Cleveland Crush) by a combined 84 points. Orlando’s offense (52 ppg., leads LFL) is powered by three key free agent pickups from Miami in QB Anonka Dixon, who many experts compare to Michael Vick for her athleticism, mobility and electrifying highlight-reel moments, RB Etta Paul, who is turning in one of the most productive individual efforts this season and WR Taylor Thompson, who is a big play threat in the red zone and, in addition to returning stand-outs TE J.J. Thacker and WR Jenny Kraus.
Orlando’s top-ranked defense (10 ppg. allowed) features the merciless defensive front-three of Thacker, Vonshari “The Beast” Hoardes and Jeannette McCoy, who possess not only significant pass rushing and run-stopping abilities but have the ability to create turnovers with regularity. The Fantasy secondary, headlined by Deidre Strickland and Lauran Ziegler is a hard-hitting, opportunistic unit that has shown flashes of brilliance in shutting down opponents’ passing games, although they remain susceptible to the deep ball.
TAMPA BREEZE
After enduring what could have been a demoralizing 48-0 opening loss to Philadelphia, the Tampa Breeze have instead responded with a two game winning streak and now eye a return trip to the postseason and a re-match with the Passion.
Powering the Tampa charge is the vast improvement of QB K.K. Matheny as a signal-caller, the return of stand-out running back Tiffani Powers, WR Bryn Renda and impact rushing and receiving threats in Saige Steinmetz and Adrian Purnell. The Breeze can hurt opposing defenses in many ways and quite possibly have the most talented offense in the league.
Tampa’s defense has struggled so far this season (27.6 ppg. allowed) and, while star safety Liz Gorman is one of the most productive players in the league and the defensive front-three of Steinmetz, Purnell and Courtney Wilder, when healthy, are extremely talented, the seven defenders on the field will have to turn in their best effort of the season to continue playing beyond tonight.
GAME BREAKDOWN:
Stadium : St. Pete Times Forum – St. Petersburg, FL –Artificial Turf, Indoors
KICKOFF: 9:00 p.m. ET
Players to Watch:
ORLANDO: QB ANONKA DIXON | RB ETTA PAUL | WR JENNY KRAUS | S LAURAN ZIEGLER | WR TAYLOR THOMPSON
TAMPA: QB K.K. MATHENY | OL/LB ADRIAN PURNELL | OL/DL SAIGE STEINMETZ | WR/S LIZ GORMAN | DE COURTNEY WILDER | WR/S BRYN RENDA
Key Match-ups:
– Anonka Dixon’s mobility versus Tampa’s front three.
– Tampa’s passing game against the opportunistic Ziegler, Strickland and the Fantasy secondary.
– Orlando’s WR Thompson, WR Kraus, TE Thacker versus talentedsafeties Gorman and Renda.
2010 Result: Tampa DEF. Orlando 47-6 (Orlando, FL)