One stop.
That’s all the Philadelphia Soul defense needed last week -- one stop. The unit was up for the challenge.
Here they were, relied on to protect a 59-55 lead against the Orlando Predators, with 54 seconds remaining in the game. The Predators had a 1st-and-goal at the Soul seven-yard line, and linebacker Brandon Perkins and defensive lineman Tyron Hurst came through. Perkins got the sack on Orlando quarterback Aaron Garcia, while Hurst was able to come away with the strip and fumble recovery.
Soul ball, run some clock, game over.
“We couldn’t get a break until we really needed it,” Hurst said. “When I saw that open opportunity to strip the ball, I just took that opportunity.”
The opportunity this week: The Jacksonville Sharks.
Actually, it’s more of a challenge.
The Sharks are a completely different team. A team that beat the Soul 55-53 early on in the season. A team who is coming off a 69-62 win over Tampa Bay last week. A team that wants revenge after falling to the Soul, 89-34, in last season’s American Conference title game. A team that has a 6-foot-4, 225-pound scrambling quarterback by the name of Bernard Morris.
Always a threat to run, Morris finished the season third in the AFL in rushing with 306 yards.
The Soul know Morris isn’t afraid to pull the ball down and take off. He did it to them back in Week 6 (game-high 49 rushing yards). He did it last week against Tampa Bay (game-high 72 yards). His throwing stat line last week: 28 of 37 for 266 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Not a bad for a guy who prefers to use his legs.
Despite those stats from last week, the Soul would still favor Morris using his arm.
“We feel like if we can make him rely on his arm, then it’s our game to win,” said defensive lineman Bryan Robinson. “We prefer him to pass. ... We feel more confident if he were passing the ball than if he was running the ball.”
Morris finished 10th in the league in yards passing with 2,746 in the 15 games he played. Morris’ season passing stats: 257 completions (eighth), 394 attempts (eighth), good for a 65.2 completion percentage, 55 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Robinson talked of being disciplined this week, using the term “lane conscious.” He explained how the Soul’s defensive line will be extra prepared when Morris drops back.
If he sees one running lane, more than likely, Morris will attempt to run. Soul defensive line coach Phil Bogle agreed.
“It’s going to take a group effort,” Bogle said. “It’ not going to be a one-man show out there. It’s going to take all the guys up front, working together to keep that guy in the pocket. We want him to beat us with his arm, not his legs.”
Bogle said the defensive line will rush tighter in hopes of closing any running lanes for Morris. When talking about what the Soul learned about Morris after their first matchup, Bogle recalled a play late in the second quarter. Morris saw a lane, was able to rush and then threw the ball, picking up 33 yards. Luckily, the receiver was stopped before scoring.
The lesson learned: Bogle used that “discipline” word. Every lineman being individually disciplined and not trying to do anything outside of what they’re supposed to do.
“Focus in on your assignment,” Bogle said. “Rush your lane and do your job. You don’t have to do anything other than your job.”
Soul head coach Clint Dolezel knows what his offense can do. He knows quarterback Dan Raudabaugh, who shook off that five-interception game against San Antonio and threw for 325 yards and six touchdowns against Orlando, will have the offense ready. Knowing that, he was asked if this week would be about his defense keeping Morris in check. He answered with one word: “Yes.”
He would not commit to spying Morris, instead electing to keep the Soul’s game plan tight-lipped, but he concurred with that smart-lane-rushing, player-discipline game plan.
“It’s easier said than done,” Dolezel said of attempting to control Morris. “He’s elusive, he’s big, he strong, he’s fast. I mean, it’s easier said than done.”
But if it comes down to it with the Sharks, like it did with the Predators, having the ball in the fourth quarter, with the Soul needing one stop to advance to ArenaBowl XXVI, Perkins assured the defense will be up for the challenge.
“I’m a firm believer that defense wins championship,” he said. “If we want to get there, we got to make some plays on the defensive side of the ball. We got to hold our end of the bargain. You know, offense, they’re going to do their thing. We got to do ours.”