ArenaBowl XXI could come down to these players
Maybe they're not going head-to-head, but the winners of these matchups could determine the winner of ArenaBowl XXI, writes Gary Horton.
There are some excellent individual players in this game who play the same position and whoever steps up to the challenge will likely determine which team wins this game. Here's a breakdown of five of those compelling matchups.
1. Quarterback: Columbus' Matt Nagy vs. San Jose's Mark Grieb
Both guys are very capable and handle pressure well. Grieb has better numbers, partly because of a better supporting cast, and is a master at spreading the field and finding the matchups that he likes. Thanks to Grieb's decision-making skills, all three of San Jose's wideouts had more than 1,000 receiving yards this season. With good pass protection, Grieb does a great job of waiting for his receivers to separate and that's the key to a lot of San Jose's big plays. Nagy has fewer playmakers around him and is forced to look to Damien Groce much of the time. Nagy seems to know his strengths and weaknesses and is really good at playing within his comfort level. While his numbers are not eye-popping, Nagy has excellent leadership skills, never loses his confidence in any situation and has a blue-collar attitude that makes his teammates really believe in him.
Advantage: Grieb.
2. Wide Receiver: Columbus' Damien Groce vs. San Jose's James Roe
Groce is probably under more pressure in this game because he does not have great complementary receivers around him and, as a result, he's responsible for over one-third of Columbus' offensive production. He always draws coverage from the opponent's best DB and, at times, he can even draw extra attention over the top. Groce will try to catch some underneath balls or maybe some hitches and bubble screens in an effort to turn a short catch into a long run. After all, his forte is making plays in space. Roe is a model of consistency and knows every nuance of the indoor game. He can escape press coverages and has the quickness to separate from tight man-to-man coverage. With two other quality receivers around him, Roe always gets single coverage. More importantly, he responds well in big games.
Advantage: Even.
3. Defensive Back: Columbus' Jerald Brown vs. San Jose's Clevan Thomas
These are two of the best in the league and their style of play is somewhat similar. Both try to be physical and, at times, intimidating. They both are excellent open-field tacklers and have natural ball skills. Thomas has nine interceptions, 21 passes broken up and does an excellent job of jumping routes. Brown has only five interceptions, but he has broken up 16 passes, so both of these guys are around the ball. Thomas is the best in the league at playing press techniques versus high motion and Brown loves to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage. Both guys have good pass rushes in front of them, which forces QBs to get rid of the ball early, and that leads to a lot of big plays. Thomas will have his hands full with Groce while Brown has the job of slowing down Roe. These guys are a big key to this game.
Advantage: Even.
4. Wide Receiver: Columbus' David Saunders vs. San Jose's Ben Nelson
Saunders becomes a key figure in this game if San Jose does a good job of slowing down Groce. He has excellent size, good hands and runs with power after the catch. He is physical enough to push off and get separation, but he is not likely to run away from defenses and create a lot of big plays. Still, he can be effective, especially in the red zone. Nelson plays a little bit in the shadow of Roe, but he has 25 TDs and more than 1,200 receiving yards this season. He is tall, rangy, a good route runner and sure-handed. However, he is not overly physical and aggressive defensive backs who play press coverages can push him around. If they do, they better do a good job with initial contact because if they don't, Nelson will beat them with a second move.
Advantage: Nelson.
5. Kicker: Columbus' Peter Martinez vs. San Jose's A.J. Haglund
The kicking game could be critical if both offenses are moving the ball well. Martinez is not a household name, but he recorded a respectable 110 points during the regular season and is a stabilizing force on a very solid Columbus special-teams unit. He has a solid leg and good accuracy, but he doesn't get as many chances as his counterpart to put up big numbers because his offense isn't overly explosive. Haglund, on the other hand, is a big-time kicker who put up a league-leading 158 points in 2007. Not only does he have a strong leg, but he is also very accurate. He also gets more opportunities because of San Jose's prolific offense and is an excellent pressure kicker. If you needed a big kick to win the game, Haglund might be the guy you would choose over any other kicker in the league.
Advantage: Haglund.
Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
