Post by Banana Cat on Jan 24, 2012 4:07:46 GMT -5
www.lfl360.com/articles/2012-eastern-preview-breeze-passion/
EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
1.23.12
By Jim Wallin (LFL360.com)
The war for Eastern Conference supremacy reaches its climax in one final battle as the well-armed Tampa Breeze and undefeated Philadelphia Passion prepare to engage each other in an all-or-nothing, do-or-die death-match.
TAMPA BREEZE
Tampa enters their second final-four as one of the hottest teams in the league, thanks to a three game winning streak, including a nearly heart-stopping 20-18 win over the inter-state rival Orlando Fantasy to clinch a second consecutive playoff berth. Third-year coach Yo Murphy employs a balanced offensive attack and a bend-but-don’t-break defense that is predicated on forcing turnovers, similar to the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
On offense, veteran quarterback K.K. Matheny, whose 142.0 Quarterback Efficiency Rating ranks second in the league is flanked by leading receiver Bryn Renda (7 REC., 77 YDS., 2 TD) and tight-end Adrian Purnell (4 REC., 54 YDS., 3 TD) to account for the LFL’s 5th-ranked passing attack. After a season-ending injury to star contributor Saige Steinmetz, the revolving door of running backs has finally stopped turning, as three-year veteran Liz Gorman (16 ATT., 70 YDS., 2 TD) has emerged as a key contributor to the Breeze ground game.
Defensively, no mention of the Breeze would be complete without first highlighting former Defensive Player of the Year, safety Liz Gorman. Gorman is a fearless defender who ended the regular season at the top of the heap league-wide in tackles (31 tackles), while her teammate, safety Bryn Renda, is tied for the league lead in interceptions. Up front, rookie defensive-end Courtney Wilder is tied for third in the league in tackles and linebacker Adrian Purnell statistically shines as one of the best all-around defenders in the game.
PHILADELPHIA PASSION
After sustaining a heartbreaking one-point-loss in Lingerie Bowl VIII, the defending Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Passion are hoping to rewrite history this season and now find themselves only one win away from earning another opportunity. Passion Head Coach Chandler Brown’s team completed an undefeated season, attaining league-best statistics in point differential (+176 — 63 points higher than second-ranked team), turnover differential (+8), touchdowns (28) and total offense (224.5 YPG.).
The Passion are led into battle by a living legend, reining LFL Offensive Player of the Year, running back Marirose Roach, who has set the league ablaze with her legendary exploits on the field, including multiple Game MVP Awards. Roach’s impact goes much further, as the league’s leading rusher (373 total yards) and scorer (16 TD) has also seen time at quarterback, where she leads her team in quarterback efficiency rating. In total, Roach accounts for 54.3-percent of the total yardage accumulated by the top-ranked offense. Other key contributors to Philadelphia’s unquestionable success is QB Christy Bell (, RB Jenny Butler (20 ATT., 148 YDS., 4 TD) and leading receiver Tyrah Lusby (5 REC., 116 YDS., 2 TD)
Defensively, Roach also stars in the secondary as well, tied for the league lead in interceptions, however, Philadelphia’s second-ranked unit is much deeper than one player. Talented defensive-end Shanae’ Thomas is third in the entire league in tackles (21 tackles) and multidimensional star Jenny Butler statistically falls right behind Thomas for fourth in the same category (20.5 tackles). Roach, Butler and Thomas are leaders on a swarming and unforgiving Passion defense that also features the likes of 2010-11 All-Fantasy selection CB Jaleesa McCrary and hard-hitting defensive-end Angela Perfetto.
2011 REGULAR SEASON MATCH-UP
On September 9, 2011, the Passion demolished the Breeze 48-0 behind the dominating performance of Marirose Roach (9 rushes/103 yards, 5 TD) and through the precise execution of their violent-hitting, no-nonsense defense that stifled the visitors at nearly every turn.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Philadelphia and Tampa shared two common opponents (Cleveland Crush, Toronto Triumph) in their respective regular seasons and emerged from those games unscathed. The Passion defeated Cleveland, 60-18 and Toronto by a record-setting 74-0 score. The Breeze overwhelmed Toronto 48-14 and narrowly escaped a valiant effort by the Cleveland Crush for a 31-29 victory.
GAME INFORMATION
VENUE: CITIZENS BUSINESS BANK ARENA (ONTARIO, CA–INDOORS, ARTIFICIAL SURFACE)
BROADCAST: SUNDAY, 1.29.2012, 4:00 p.m. ET | 1:00 p.m. PT, MTV2 (LIVE)
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
BREEZE | QB – K.K. MATHENY, RB/S – LIZ GORMAN, TE/LB ADRIAN PURNELL, WR/S – BRYN RENDA
PASSION | RB/S – MARIROSE ROACH, RB/S – JENNY BUTLER, WR – TYRAH LUSBY, DE – SHANAE THOMAS
TAMPA TEAM OFFENSE: 147.5 YPG. (LFL RANK: No. 9)
PHILADELPHIA TEAM OFFENSE: 224.5 (LFL RANK: No. 1)
TAMPA TEAM DEFENSE: 174.3 YPG. ALLOWED (LFL RANK: No. 9)
PHILADELPHIA TEAM DEFENSE: 115.5 YPG. ALLOWED (LFL RANK: No. 2)
PREVIOUS MEETING: PHI DEF. TAM 48-0 (2011), Sun National Bank Ctr. – Trenton, NJ
1.23.12
By Jim Wallin (LFL360.com)
The war for Eastern Conference supremacy reaches its climax in one final battle as the well-armed Tampa Breeze and undefeated Philadelphia Passion prepare to engage each other in an all-or-nothing, do-or-die death-match.
TAMPA BREEZE
Tampa enters their second final-four as one of the hottest teams in the league, thanks to a three game winning streak, including a nearly heart-stopping 20-18 win over the inter-state rival Orlando Fantasy to clinch a second consecutive playoff berth. Third-year coach Yo Murphy employs a balanced offensive attack and a bend-but-don’t-break defense that is predicated on forcing turnovers, similar to the NFL’s Chicago Bears.
On offense, veteran quarterback K.K. Matheny, whose 142.0 Quarterback Efficiency Rating ranks second in the league is flanked by leading receiver Bryn Renda (7 REC., 77 YDS., 2 TD) and tight-end Adrian Purnell (4 REC., 54 YDS., 3 TD) to account for the LFL’s 5th-ranked passing attack. After a season-ending injury to star contributor Saige Steinmetz, the revolving door of running backs has finally stopped turning, as three-year veteran Liz Gorman (16 ATT., 70 YDS., 2 TD) has emerged as a key contributor to the Breeze ground game.
Defensively, no mention of the Breeze would be complete without first highlighting former Defensive Player of the Year, safety Liz Gorman. Gorman is a fearless defender who ended the regular season at the top of the heap league-wide in tackles (31 tackles), while her teammate, safety Bryn Renda, is tied for the league lead in interceptions. Up front, rookie defensive-end Courtney Wilder is tied for third in the league in tackles and linebacker Adrian Purnell statistically shines as one of the best all-around defenders in the game.
PHILADELPHIA PASSION
After sustaining a heartbreaking one-point-loss in Lingerie Bowl VIII, the defending Eastern Conference Champion Philadelphia Passion are hoping to rewrite history this season and now find themselves only one win away from earning another opportunity. Passion Head Coach Chandler Brown’s team completed an undefeated season, attaining league-best statistics in point differential (+176 — 63 points higher than second-ranked team), turnover differential (+8), touchdowns (28) and total offense (224.5 YPG.).
The Passion are led into battle by a living legend, reining LFL Offensive Player of the Year, running back Marirose Roach, who has set the league ablaze with her legendary exploits on the field, including multiple Game MVP Awards. Roach’s impact goes much further, as the league’s leading rusher (373 total yards) and scorer (16 TD) has also seen time at quarterback, where she leads her team in quarterback efficiency rating. In total, Roach accounts for 54.3-percent of the total yardage accumulated by the top-ranked offense. Other key contributors to Philadelphia’s unquestionable success is QB Christy Bell (, RB Jenny Butler (20 ATT., 148 YDS., 4 TD) and leading receiver Tyrah Lusby (5 REC., 116 YDS., 2 TD)
Defensively, Roach also stars in the secondary as well, tied for the league lead in interceptions, however, Philadelphia’s second-ranked unit is much deeper than one player. Talented defensive-end Shanae’ Thomas is third in the entire league in tackles (21 tackles) and multidimensional star Jenny Butler statistically falls right behind Thomas for fourth in the same category (20.5 tackles). Roach, Butler and Thomas are leaders on a swarming and unforgiving Passion defense that also features the likes of 2010-11 All-Fantasy selection CB Jaleesa McCrary and hard-hitting defensive-end Angela Perfetto.
2011 REGULAR SEASON MATCH-UP
On September 9, 2011, the Passion demolished the Breeze 48-0 behind the dominating performance of Marirose Roach (9 rushes/103 yards, 5 TD) and through the precise execution of their violent-hitting, no-nonsense defense that stifled the visitors at nearly every turn.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Philadelphia and Tampa shared two common opponents (Cleveland Crush, Toronto Triumph) in their respective regular seasons and emerged from those games unscathed. The Passion defeated Cleveland, 60-18 and Toronto by a record-setting 74-0 score. The Breeze overwhelmed Toronto 48-14 and narrowly escaped a valiant effort by the Cleveland Crush for a 31-29 victory.
GAME INFORMATION
VENUE: CITIZENS BUSINESS BANK ARENA (ONTARIO, CA–INDOORS, ARTIFICIAL SURFACE)
BROADCAST: SUNDAY, 1.29.2012, 4:00 p.m. ET | 1:00 p.m. PT, MTV2 (LIVE)
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
BREEZE | QB – K.K. MATHENY, RB/S – LIZ GORMAN, TE/LB ADRIAN PURNELL, WR/S – BRYN RENDA
PASSION | RB/S – MARIROSE ROACH, RB/S – JENNY BUTLER, WR – TYRAH LUSBY, DE – SHANAE THOMAS
TAMPA TEAM OFFENSE: 147.5 YPG. (LFL RANK: No. 9)
PHILADELPHIA TEAM OFFENSE: 224.5 (LFL RANK: No. 1)
TAMPA TEAM DEFENSE: 174.3 YPG. ALLOWED (LFL RANK: No. 9)
PHILADELPHIA TEAM DEFENSE: 115.5 YPG. ALLOWED (LFL RANK: No. 2)
PREVIOUS MEETING: PHI DEF. TAM 48-0 (2011), Sun National Bank Ctr. – Trenton, NJ