The af2 effect and why it needs to return

Throughout the season longterm AFL fan/media site ArenaFan has complained about the talent level in the AFL. This culminated in Adam Markowitz's ArenaBowl preview where he said:

After all, it's pretty clear that both of these teams would have been smoked by basically any other ArenaBowl team from the 2000s before the league went on hiatus in 2009. The talent level just isn't there anymore for various reasons.

The bulk of the argument has been that the pay grade in the league no longer attracts top talent. But I see a different answer.

One major thing that the league had in the past decade, when the league saw the talent level raise, was the af2. The af2 served as a developmental league for arena football. No longer did teams have to train rookies on the fly throughout the season. The af2, centered in mid-market cities that would probably never house an AFL franchise, took mostly regional players and taught them the game.

In fact the last Rookie of the Year before the demise of the old AFL was former af2 Tulsa Talon Donovan Morgan. That same year, ArenaBowl champion Jeff Hughley almost made the leap to the AFL as a part of the Colorado Crush. And these were not the only players to do so. They were able to jump right into the AFL without much of a learning curve.

It was just this past week when I realized how important this development in the af2 was. I was reminiscing about the Talons' season and how great it would have been if the team that ended the season started the season. But it wasn't the actual players I was referring to; it was the experience the players had gained.

At the start of the season the Talons' defensive backfield, which had two rookie players, was horrible. The team gave up touchdowns on a multitude of busted coverages. These guys just did not understand the game. But what happened about five games into the season? It finally clicked. The biggest example was J.C. Neal's record setting game against the Blaze where J.C. demolished the AFL record for INT return yards in a single game.

In the old AFL this would not have happened. Players like J.C. would spend a season (or less) in the af2 before moving on to the AFL. But now, you have a decent amount of teams carrying a number of these rookie players who still have to learn the game. As a result, the first half of the season is going to be a little ugly until the players finally "get it".

As such, I don't think simply increasing pay will improve the talent of the AFL. What the league needs is experience. The only place that will come from is playing time. Accordingly, that will either come in the form of a developmental league, or at the cost of games early in the season.

Dallas Vigilantes at Tulsa Talons: Pregame Primer

vs.

Dallas Vigilantes (8-5, 3-4 road) vs. Tulsa Talons (6-7, 3-3 home)

TV: N/A
Stream: Click here
Radio: KRMG 740 (740 AM)
Time: 7:00 CT

Passing Yards per Game: Talons – 230.2 (16th), Vigilantes – 266.6 (11th)
Rushing Yards per Game: Talons – 47.5 (1st), Vigilantes – 46.2 (2nd)
Total Yards Allowed per Game: Talons – 281.5 (8th), Vigilantes – 319.0 (18th)

View from the enemy: N/A

Tulsa is coming off a strong road win over the Philadelphia Soul last Friday. Justin Allgood over the last couple of weeks has just been outstanding.

Dallas coming in: The Vigilantes had a strong victory over the Iowa Barnstormers last Saturday.

THE MATCHUP

Dallas is a team that has struggled on the road this season. Dallas QB Dan Raudabaugh has been on and off throughout the season. On top of that, the Vigilantes give up more yards than any other team in the league.

QB Justin Allgood has not thrown a pick in two games now. His timing with the receiving corps is improving as well. Troy McBroom is looking to be even better than Donovan Morgan last year. If the Talons continue to click, it will be hard for Dallas to stop them.

On Defense, J.C. Neal has become a force to be reckoned with. Neal is currently 10th all time in INT return yards in a season. If the Talons can get some pressure, Raudabaugh is a QB that will make mistakes. The front line will need to stay on their heels however as Vigilantes FB Derrick Ross is probably the best FB in the league.

With a win, the Talons would move one game behind the Vigilantes for the 3 seed in the Playoffs.

Kickoff at 7:00 CT.

Headlines - June 25, 2011

J.C. Neal is just a beast: "Talons rookie defensive back J.C. Neal has three of the 12 longest interception returns in franchise history in the past two weeks."

Neal is breaking all sorts of records: "Neal has already found a place in AFL record books for most interception return yards in a rookie season (177), most interception return yards in a game (95) and is tied for the most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a game with two. His three interception returns for a touchdown this season is tied for second in AFL history."

Tonight's game will be won on the ground: "The Talons lead the league in rushing defense, but are sure to be tested Saturday. The Vigilantes' Derrick Ross leads the league in rushing with 502 yards and 28 touchdowns - 15 more rushing TDs than the Talons have allowed in 13 games."

Allgood's return to Philly was all good: "Philadelphia Soul fans have to be wondering, “Where did THAT Justin Allgood come from, or where was he a few weeks ago?” Allgood made a successful return against the team he began this season with, throwing six touchdowns without an interception in the Talons’ 48-42 win. In the end, though, Philly almost stole the game. Tulsa’s Juan Bongarra missed a would-be game-clinching field goal in the final seconds that gave the Soul life, but Philly couldn’t get the final touchdown. In Allgood’s last two games with the Talons, he’s 2-0, and has 12 touchdown passes without an interception, and if the season ended today, Tulsa would grab the last playoff spot in the National Conference."

Neal snags another weekly award: "Neal (6-0, 200, North Carolina State) caught his third interception for a touchdown this season in the 48-42 win over Philadelphia. The interception for a touchdown was his third in back-to-back games. With seven minutes left in the second half, Neal scored the first points of the quarter with a 50-yard interception return, putting the Talons up 13-7. Neal totaled two interceptions and a team-leading 6.5 tackles against the Soul. Neal ranks eighth in the League in tackles with 76.5 this season."

Chef 'Zo: Lorenzo Breland, an offensive lineman for the Tulsa Talons, is well-known for his turkey burger recipe. “You have to add bell pepper, diced onions, and before you cook the burger, you add pepper jack cheese balls into the patty. This recipe is one of my favorite things to eat during the season,” Breland said. Breland is originally from Picayne, Miss. His favorite foods as a child represent the flavor of the south. From gumbos and Creole seasoning, Breland is fond for his grandmothers cooking. “Growing up I loved to eat my grandmother’s red-beans and rice, gumbo and catfish. She could make anything and it was all good,” Breland said.

Arena Pigskin's preview for tonight: "The Talons will win because a) they’re at home and b) this is a totally different team from week two. Allgood has come back to Tulsa and went 2-0 last year against Dallas. And with their additions, they have made themselves a serious contender to make the playoffs and possibly make a run."

Football Gameplan's Preview

More love for Neal: "In the past two weeks, Tulsa defensive back J.C. Neal has posted three interceptions returned for touchdowns. These include gallops from 43, 50 and 52 yards. It's unclear if he's the first player to post at least three 40-yard pick sixes in a season, but nonetheless it's pretty damn repressive."

Headlines - June 17, 2011

Tulsa World's recap of the Utah Blowout: "Rookie defensive back J.C. Neal returned two interceptions for scores and scored on an onside kick as the Talons blitzed the Utah Blaze 81-51 before an estimated 5,000 spectators. Veteran linebacker Jamar Ransom scored with a fumble and Victor DeGrate made two game-changing plays as the Talons (5-7) broke a two-game losing streak and put themselves back into the running for a National Conference playoff berth."

Talons QB Matt Bassuener gets a Special Honor: "Tulsa Talons quarterback Matt Bassuener is one of 39 players selected for the U.S. Men's National Football Team that will compete in the International Federation of American Football Senior World Championships next month in Austria."

Talons finally faceoff against Donovan MorganCoach Mitch Allner will see a familiar face Friday as his team lines up against one of his former players, Donovan Morgan. He played for the Talons last season and was the leading receiver with 1,707 receiving yards. This year, he is second in the AFL with 1,614 yards. "Donovan is a very good ballplayer," Allner said. "I definitely know what he can do."

The Blaze Blowout has the league watching: "I was expecting offense in the Utah-Tulsa match up, but the wrong one showed up. It was an 81-point night for the Talons. Justin Allgood looked to regain his magic in Tulsa, with six touchdowns and no interceptions. It always helps to get a couple of scores from the defense. That was only the third time all year the Talons put up over 50 points. Last year with Allgood at the helm, the Talons scored at least 74 points three times, and were held under 50 points only once in the regular season."

The Soul will be braking in a new QB tonight

Two Talons received honors this week: "Hunt (5-11, 205, Northwestern Oklahoma State) hauled in a 7-yard, touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Allgood in the second quarter with 55 seconds left on the clock. Hunt fell in the endzone and still managed to catch the ball as it bounced off the wall. The touchdown gave Tulsa a 34-33 lead."

JC Neal named Week 14 National Guard MVP: "In a race that was tied up with less than two hours remaining of voting, Neal defeated Meyer by six votes on Facebook.com. Neal had an explosive evening in the 81-51 win over Utah on Saturday. Neal hauled in two interceptions for touchdowns, totaling 95 return yards. He also returned an onside kick for a touchdown. Neal ended with the night with six tackles, placing him eighth in the League in total tackles (70.0)."

A look at the new Soul QB for tonight: In 2008 with Colorado, Kirsch tore his right anterior cruciate ligament while playing linebacker. He was the backup quarterback, and the team needed some help on defense. "Since then I haven't played organized football other than, say, flag football tournaments the past three years," Kirsch said. During his career at Purdue from 2002 to 2005, Kirsch completed 292 of 489 passes for 3,532 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also rushed for 757 career yards and five touchdowns and started at least one game in each of his four years.

Talons douse Blaze 81-51, Tied for 4th Playoff Seed

Well that felt good. The Talons, much like the Chicago game at home a few weeks ago, dominated for pretty much the entire game. Fueled by outstanding defensive play, the Talons took three turnovers to the house and helped the Offense, which played pretty flawlessly, maintain control of an 81-51 win to get into a four way tie for the fourth playoff spot in the National Conference.

The game started off shaky as Blaze WR Chris Bocage took the opening kickoff back for a TD after Kicker Juan Bongarra barely missed nocking him out of bounds. However, the Talons answered with a methodical drive to answer with a TD of their own. The Blaze and Talons then traded scores again until Defensive Back J.C. Neal picked off Utah QB Tommy Grady and returned it 52 yards for TD, which may be a Talons record for longest INT return (we are still checking on that), to give the Talons their first lead of the game.

At halftime the Talons lead 41-33 and would not lose that lead for the remainder of the game. The Third quarter was highlighted by a great forced fumble sack on Grady by Defensive End Victor Degrate that popped the ball up to a waiting Jack LB Jamar Ransom who scoped and scored. The Talons got to their final total 81 points off another J.C. Neal pick six, this time for 43 yards (giving him 95 yards off INTs).

J.C. Neal's two INT touchdowns leads the league for a single game high (along with his 95 yards). As one Talons player put it after the game, "if he doesn't get Defensive Player of the Week something is wrong." I can't disagree with that, he may even be a MVP of the week candidate. The Talons 81 points are also a league high for single game scoring.

The win brings the Talons into a four way tie for the fourth National Conference playoff spot along with San Jose, Utah, and Spokane. The Talons also remain 2 games behind the Dallas Vigilantes with six games to go (one of which against Dallas in two weeks) for the three seed.

The Talons travel to Philadelphia next Friday to take on the Soul at 6:05 PM. The game should be especially important to several Talons players. I'm sure Jamar Ransom wants a shot at former Talons WR Donovan Morgan and Justin Allgood will want to show the team that traded him away what they are missing.

Headlines - April 23, 2011

McBroom is taking the blame for Bassuener's 3Q INT: "McBroom said he tried to fake an underneath route and run past Moten, but the veteran defensive back didn't take the bait. Instead, Moten stayed over the top of the route, leaving the underneath free. "I should have stayed underneath, because that's where (Bassuener) threw the ball, but I tried to work back outside and left (Moten) inside," he said.

ArenaFan sees promise in Troy McBroom: "In a losing effort, Tulsa WR Troy McBroom had 13 catches for 177 yards and two scores. This is just his second game this year and already McBroom looks to be the heir apparent for Donovan Morgan. McBroom has led the team in receiving yards and scores in both games."

Football Gameplan's Preview of Tonight's Game

Tulsa World on Safety J.C. Neal: "I don't know a lot about it. There's a lot to get used to. I'm trying to learn as we go and help this team win," Neal said. The North Carolina State rookie has been one of the most productive Talons. He ranks among the Arena Football League leaders with 32.5 tackles and eight pass breakups.