These matchups may determine who wins ArenaBowl XXI
In every game there are certain matchups that decide who wins. Gary Horton breaks down the five to watch in ArenaBowl XXI.
There are a lot of single matchups and unit matchups in this game that are intriguing; here are five that could have a big impact on ArenaBowl XXI.
1. Columbus WR Damien Groce vs. San Jose DB Clevan Thomas
Groce is a big-play guy. He can go deep, but he is excellent in space as well and very effective at producing yards after the catch. Columbus really looks to him in key situations and he provides a third of the Destroyers' offensive production. Thomas is a physical ball hawk and may be the best defensive back in the league at playing press techniques versus high motion. Look for Thomas to gamble and jump some routes. He will also try to win this battle with physical play at the line of scrimmage, rather than defending Groce in space with off coverages.
2. San Jose WR James Roe vs. Columbus DB Jerald Brown
Brown is the ultimate playmaker in an underrated secondary and has very natural ball skills. Not only does he intercept passes (five during the regular season), but he also broke up 16 passes, which tells you about his instincts and his ability to read routes and break on the ball quickly. Roe has excellent quickness in and out of his cuts and knows how to separate and avoid press coverages. Look for Brown to try to jam Roe at the line of scrimmage and disrupt his timing with QB Grieb, while Roe may use some double moves if Brown gambles and jumps routes.
3. San Jose OT Troy Reddick or William Obeng vs. Columbus DE Ken Jones
Jones is an excellent edge rusher and has good first-step quickness. He defeats most one-on-one blocks by using his hands well and is very active coming off the ball. He also takes good angles to the QB as evidenced by his 9.5 sacks. Both Reddick and Obeng lack the quickness to mirror Jones in space, but both guys have power and strength. Whoever is matched up against Jones will have to get his body on him right away and tie him up. But look for Jones to use his arms to keep separation, work the SaberCats' linemen wide and expose them in space.
4. Columbus C Will Rabatin vs. San Jose NT George Williams
Rabatin has decent quickness and movement skills, but at "just" 305 pounds, he's at a physical disadvantage versus the bigger and more experienced Williams, who weighs 329 pounds and also has excellent strength and hand use. Williams can not only penetrate the pocket and force the QB to move, he does an excellent job of getting his hands up either to deflect passes or to make the QB adjust his passing lanes. Rabatin needs to attack Williams and win this battle at the line of scrimmage. If he fights it in his own backfield, he could be in trouble.
5. San Jose WR Ben Nelson or Rodney Wright vs. Columbus DB Brandon Hefflin
Hefflin is a tackling machine and is excellent at closing on the ball and breaking down in space, but he's not a real ball hawk and doesn't create a lot of big plays with deflections or interceptions. If Brown can slow down Roe (see No. 2), then Nelson or Wright will have to step up. Both may have some success with double moves on deep routes. But watch to see if Hefflin plays a lot of off coverages. If he does that and forces Nelson and Wright to catch a lot of underneath routes, they will have to be patient and hope that they can make some yards after the catch, which is a real challenge.
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