PREDS TOP FORCE IN ATLANTA
Courtesy: Orlando Predators
Release: 02/16/2008
http://www.orlandopredators.com/


The Predators came to Georgia looking for consistency in all phases of the game and they found it at the Atlanta Falcons practice facility.

On offense, quarterback Shane Stafford threw three touchdowns of nine, 11, and 18 yards respectively. The Preds opening drive ended when Stafford found wide receiver T.T. Toliver open in the end zone on an 11-yard strike. The second drive had the same result as Stafford found Toliver for a touchdown, this time from nine yards out. Stafford played in three of Orlando’s five possessions in the scrimmage and managed to score on all three. Fullback Odie Armstrong provided the Predators final score of the scrimmage on a two-yard run over the left side. As a team, the Predators finished the game with four touchdowns in five possessions.



“I was happy with the offensive performance,” head coach Jay Gruden said. “Overall, T.T. had a good day and Shane did some good things.”



The story of the day was the defense Orlando provided as they stopped the Force on eight of nine possessions. The Force did not manage to score on their first three possessions; two were stopped on fumbles and one came on downs. Their first and only score came on their fourth possession. Preds defensive backs Ahmad Carroll and Nick Allison had forced fumbles and Jason Perry had the Preds only interception.



If there is one asterisk to be put by this performance, it is that the Force were without quarterback Chris Greisen, who broke the league record for touchdown passes in a season in 2007. They were also without star receiver Troy Bergeron Saturday.



“We have high expectations for our defense this year, it just started today [Saturday],” Gruden said.



Multi-tasker Stevie Baggs had another solid performance for the Preds on defense. He disrupted and put pressure on Georgia’s quarterbacks all morning long. As mentioned in Friday’s report, Baggs plays three positions on defense that allow the coaches to get to see him make plays all over the field. The former Bethune-Cookman Wildcat puts time in as both the “Mack’ and “Jack” linebacker as well as defensive end.



“My size is with linebacker, but I have a love for rushing the passer,” Baggs said after recording a sack in the scrimmage. “If I had to choose one position I would choose “Mack” because it gives me a chance to show both, rushing the passer and coverage.”



Baggs also mentioned he likes the “Mack” position over defensive end because it gives him a running start to get to the quarterback. His size and athletic ability lend themselves to the position, helping him avoid blocks from bigger offensive linemen.



Overall the Predators had a very solid outing on both sides of the ball. While Saturday’s match-up won’t count in the “W” column, the final score will matter when they meet in The Jungle on March 22nd.



The Predators travel back to Orlando this weekend and start back up at Thunder Field Monday morning at 9 a.m.


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