Post by Banana Cat on Jan 11, 2012 18:53:19 GMT -5
www.lfl360.com/articles/game-22-preview-toronto-at-orlando/
GAME 22 PREVIEW | TORONTO TRIUMPH AT ORLANDO FANTASY
By: Jim Wallin (LFL360.com)
Two teams with different agendas meet in the final regular season Eastern Conference match-up as the Toronto Triumph (0-3) and Orlando Fantasy (2-1) look to end their respective seasons on a high note.
TORONTO TRIUMPH
The expansion Toronto Triumph enter what presumably will be their final appearance in the LFL’s U.S. league, hoping to improve upon a most difficult inaugural season in advance of their entrance into LFL Canada in Fall 2012.
The Triumph possesses the lowest scoring offense in the league (6.6 ppg.) and a defense that statistically has shown to be extremely challenged (54.6 ppg. allowed) against the most difficult schedule in the league. Now,with a season-ending injury to their statistical passing and rushing leader, starting quarterback Donna Paul (PCL Strain), the Triumph offense will be hard-pressed to improve, as Marifé Villagonzalo (2011-12: 1/6, 6 YDS.) makes her debut at quarterback.
In spite of the dark clouds surrounding Toronto’s season thus far, a silver lining has appeared in the emergence of tight-end Davine Burton and leading receiver in wide-out Crystal Hall on offense as well as her contributions on defense. Hall will now step in for the injured Kaye Rowe at linebacker as Triumph Head Coach Don Marchione looks to find consistency in a season full of constant change.
ORLANDO FANTASY
Coach Doug Miller’s Orlando Fantasy enter the action on the heels of a heartbreaking, last-minute loss to rival Tampa that propelled the Breeze to a playoff berth while leaving the Fantasy on the outside of the now settled Eastern Conference playoff picture.
As disappointing as the loss and subsequent elimination may be, the Fantasy are a much improved team from 2010 and now have the opportunity to finish the franchise’s second campaign with a winning record.
Now employing a quarterback-by-committee, Jeannette McCoy and Anonka Dixon lead a dangerous but inconsistent passing attack that has yet to establish dominant play across-the-board this season. McCoy possesses better pocket presence than Dixon, however, the two-time All-Fantasy selection is quite possibly the most athletic player at her position in the game, channeling NFL star Michael Vick in his early professional career. If Orlando’s passing game is to get going, it will be due to the star power at the position, including former All-Fantasy players Jenny Kraus and Taylor Thompson.
The top-ranked Fantasy defense is headed by a dangerous front-three in J.J. Thacker, Vonshari Hoardes and Jeannette McCoy as well as one of the best performing secondaries in the league. Lauran Ziegler and Deidre Strickland have played exceptionally well this season, forming a formidable tandem that has proven quite opportunistic and is a big reason for the unit’s success this season.
TORONTO TRIUMPH KEYS TO VICTORY:
*Control time of possession.
*Focus all efforts on stopping Fantasy running game.
*Play conservative offense; focus on gaining 3-4 yards/play.
ORLANDO FANTASY KEYS TO VICTORY:
*Rattle rookie quarterback early, force quick decisions.
*Play most aggressively on offense to expose talent gap.
*Stifle Toronto on both sides of ball by halftime.
INFORMATION CENTER
VENUE: CITRUS BOWL (OUTDOOR ARENA — GRASS SURFACE)
KICKOFF: 9:00 p.m. ET
INJURIES:
TORONTO: QB PAUL (PCL STRAIN-OUT), LB ROWE (FINGER – OUT)
ORLANDO: NONE REPORTED
LFLFANTASY.COM PLAYERS TO WATCH:
TORONTO: TE BURTON | WR/LB HALL | QB VILLAGONZALO | RB DECKER
ORLANDO: QB DIXON | QB/LB MCCOY | RB PAUL | WR KRAUS | DE HOARDES | S ZIEGLER
2010 RESULTS: No previous meeting.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE:
TORONTO: .750 (9-3)
ORLANDO: .410 (5-7)
J.ROOD’s MGM RESORTS INT’L BETTING LINE: Fantasy -24.5 OVER | UNDER 58.5 TOTAL POINTS
By: Jim Wallin (LFL360.com)
Two teams with different agendas meet in the final regular season Eastern Conference match-up as the Toronto Triumph (0-3) and Orlando Fantasy (2-1) look to end their respective seasons on a high note.
TORONTO TRIUMPH
The expansion Toronto Triumph enter what presumably will be their final appearance in the LFL’s U.S. league, hoping to improve upon a most difficult inaugural season in advance of their entrance into LFL Canada in Fall 2012.
The Triumph possesses the lowest scoring offense in the league (6.6 ppg.) and a defense that statistically has shown to be extremely challenged (54.6 ppg. allowed) against the most difficult schedule in the league. Now,with a season-ending injury to their statistical passing and rushing leader, starting quarterback Donna Paul (PCL Strain), the Triumph offense will be hard-pressed to improve, as Marifé Villagonzalo (2011-12: 1/6, 6 YDS.) makes her debut at quarterback.
In spite of the dark clouds surrounding Toronto’s season thus far, a silver lining has appeared in the emergence of tight-end Davine Burton and leading receiver in wide-out Crystal Hall on offense as well as her contributions on defense. Hall will now step in for the injured Kaye Rowe at linebacker as Triumph Head Coach Don Marchione looks to find consistency in a season full of constant change.
ORLANDO FANTASY
Coach Doug Miller’s Orlando Fantasy enter the action on the heels of a heartbreaking, last-minute loss to rival Tampa that propelled the Breeze to a playoff berth while leaving the Fantasy on the outside of the now settled Eastern Conference playoff picture.
As disappointing as the loss and subsequent elimination may be, the Fantasy are a much improved team from 2010 and now have the opportunity to finish the franchise’s second campaign with a winning record.
Now employing a quarterback-by-committee, Jeannette McCoy and Anonka Dixon lead a dangerous but inconsistent passing attack that has yet to establish dominant play across-the-board this season. McCoy possesses better pocket presence than Dixon, however, the two-time All-Fantasy selection is quite possibly the most athletic player at her position in the game, channeling NFL star Michael Vick in his early professional career. If Orlando’s passing game is to get going, it will be due to the star power at the position, including former All-Fantasy players Jenny Kraus and Taylor Thompson.
The top-ranked Fantasy defense is headed by a dangerous front-three in J.J. Thacker, Vonshari Hoardes and Jeannette McCoy as well as one of the best performing secondaries in the league. Lauran Ziegler and Deidre Strickland have played exceptionally well this season, forming a formidable tandem that has proven quite opportunistic and is a big reason for the unit’s success this season.
TORONTO TRIUMPH KEYS TO VICTORY:
*Control time of possession.
*Focus all efforts on stopping Fantasy running game.
*Play conservative offense; focus on gaining 3-4 yards/play.
ORLANDO FANTASY KEYS TO VICTORY:
*Rattle rookie quarterback early, force quick decisions.
*Play most aggressively on offense to expose talent gap.
*Stifle Toronto on both sides of ball by halftime.
INFORMATION CENTER
VENUE: CITRUS BOWL (OUTDOOR ARENA — GRASS SURFACE)
KICKOFF: 9:00 p.m. ET
INJURIES:
TORONTO: QB PAUL (PCL STRAIN-OUT), LB ROWE (FINGER – OUT)
ORLANDO: NONE REPORTED
LFLFANTASY.COM PLAYERS TO WATCH:
TORONTO: TE BURTON | WR/LB HALL | QB VILLAGONZALO | RB DECKER
ORLANDO: QB DIXON | QB/LB MCCOY | RB PAUL | WR KRAUS | DE HOARDES | S ZIEGLER
2010 RESULTS: No previous meeting.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE:
TORONTO: .750 (9-3)
ORLANDO: .410 (5-7)
J.ROOD’s MGM RESORTS INT’L BETTING LINE: Fantasy -24.5 OVER | UNDER 58.5 TOTAL POINTS