Q101 The Alternative
Q101 (formerly on Chicago radio @ 101.1 FM) The Alternative - Chicago's New Rock Alternative - Everything Alternative - Chicago's Alternative - Gen X - Generation X
As we head into the Thanksgiving Holiday, there is a feast of sports news to catch up on. Starting with our “beloved” Chicago Bears…
Last night the Bears continued their winless streak in San Francisco as the Bears were pounded on by the 49ers by a final score of 32-7.
This was a battle of the backup quarterbacks as both Jay Cutler for the Bears and Alex Smith of the 49ers were sidelined with concussions sustained in their respective games last week.
Second year Niners quarterback Colin Caepernick had his way with the Bears defense. He was dual threat both passing and rushing.
The Frisco ground game also pitched in, but the biggest story was the 49er defense. Their pass rush made the Bears’ offensive line look like statues as Jason Campbell was sacked and hit multiple times.
The offense had no answer or solution to the dominant 49ers defense. To make matters even worse, the Bears defense looked lost out there.
The consequence of last night’s loss is that the Bears are now tied with those damn Green Bay Packers for first place in the NFC North (7-3 record).
The Packers also own the tie breaker over the Bears due to their victory at Lambeau Field back in week two.
Jay Cutler will speak with the media at 11am today to update the masses on his recovery. It is still unknown as to whether or not he will play this Sunday.
Perhaps today’s press conference at Halas Hall will shed some light on the situation. Regardless of who starts under center this week, the Bears still have to play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Both sides of the ball will be tested as the Bears will have their hands full. On the offensive side, they will need to protect either Cutler or Campbell from Vikings defensive end Jared Allen.
Allen is a fierce pass rusher and can stop the run when needed. On the defensive side, the Bears will have the daunting task of trying to either stop or contain Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
Peterson has had a remarkable recovery from ACL surgery, and has put up solid numbers this year.
If the Vikings can’t get it done on the ground, they will turn to second year quarterback Christian Ponder.
Ponder has been having a pro bowl year so far. He makes the big throws, he’s not afraid to take a hit, and he can make the Bears pay if they focus too much on Adrian Peterson.
The schedule from here gets a little harder for the Bears. They need to win if they are to keep pace with the Packers.
The Bulls haven’t done much better than the Bears as they have also lost two in a row. The 5-5 Bulls are in the final stages of their annual “circus road trip”.
Tonight they make their way into “Clutch City” to take on the Houston Rockets. This will be a good opportunity for the Bulls to take advantage as the Rockets have lost their last three and only sport a record of 4-7.
The blockbuster James Hardin trade at the beginning of the season hasn’t quite worked out the way the Rockets were hoping.
Their other big acquisition, Jeremy Lin, has also struggled. Lin hasn’t been the same since he had knee surgery which caused him to miss the second half of last season.
Hopefully the Bulls can take advantage of the Rockets woes and get back into the win column. As for the other United Center tenant, the Chicago Blackhawks are still in limbo as the NHL is still on strike.
Both the NHLPA and the NHL Owners remain at a stalemate and it doesn’t look like this will end any time soon. The league has already cancelled the annual New Years Day Winter Classic.
Our good friends at the Chicago Rush have been very busy during the Arena Football League’s offseason.
Yesterday the team announced that it had re-signed some key players from the 2012 season. Defensive linemen Derek Walker and and Darrel Campbell, fullback J.J. Payne, offensive lineman Ryan O’Neill, and defensive backs Semaj Moody and Jorrick Calvin will all be returning for 2013.
While all of these men were key players last season, the biggest re-signing has been top wide receiver Reggie Gray.
Reggie Gray has been the leading receiver for the Rush the last couple of seasons. He is also a fan favorite, and he is very involved in the Chicago community and with charitable causes.
After teasing fans about a possible move to another team on his Facebook page over the last couple days, Gray officially announced just after 5pm on Monday that he will indeed to return to the Rush.
These transactions are just a small portion of what the Rush have done since the free agent signing period in the AFL began. You can see the rest of the Rush’s offseason activities here: http://arenarush.com/news/rush/?article_id=238
There are also rumors swirling that the Rush could see either a change in color scheme, logo, or both.
Nothing has been confirmed so stay tuned. This weekend I will be back on the beat as I will be covering the Wolves game this Saturday night.
The 8-5-2-0 Wolves will play host to the Milwaukee Admirals who have become one of the Wolves’ biggest rivals.
Face off is just after 7pm from the Allstate Arena, and you can follow me during the game on Twitter @GabeSalgado82 #Q101Sports
You can also friend me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GabeSalgado82
I am also on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/gws1182
In my last report, I talked about the players who made an impact for the 2012 Chicago Rush: http://q101.com/2012/08/2012-chicago-rush-impact-players/
Today I will talk about what the Rush need to do in order to return to the playoffs in 2013.
The Rush missed the playoffs by two games this past season, it was the first time in franchise history that they missed out on the post-season.
And considering the Rush have been around since 2001, missing last year’s playoffs is of major historical significance.
The Arena Football Leagues fifth oldest team did have some successes despite missing the playoffs in 2012. Injuries, constant roster changes, and mistakes on the field contributed to the demise of the Rush this past season.
But there were some other factors as well. Here is what the Rush need to do in order to climb back to the top next season:
1. Keeping the current roster intact- The Rush accomplished great things with the players they had on the roster. Yes they did make a lot of changes during the season, but they always managed to find players to pitch in right off the bat. Keeping the current roster intact will keep them competitive in 2013.
2. Winning on the road- The Rush had one of the worst road records in the AFL last year by finishing a dismal 3-6 away from the Allstate Arena. The majority of those away games had playoff implications. The Rush need to be able to win on the road in order to get back on track.
3. Staying healthy- The Rush had injuries to key players last season. Defensive back Vic Hall missed numerous games last season, and the Rush secondary suffered as a result. Last year’s road losses in Utah, Arizona, and Georgia are perfect examples of how much the Rush need Hall out there. Russ Michna missed the final three games of the season with a shoulder injury.
Luke Drone did a fine job filling in for him, but Michna’s leadership is essential for the Rush to have success in 2013. Fullback/Linebacker Russell Monk also spent significant time on the injured list. He was injured in training camp and would not join the team until May. While the Rush had plenty of bodies at linebacker, J.J. Payne shouldered the bulk of the fullback load on his own.
A healthy Russell Monk is good for giving J.J. Payne rest when necessary. Offensive lineman T.J. Watkins also had some aches and pains in 2012. He was put on injured reserve twice for a painful deep thigh bruise. Watkins is the best offensive lineman on this Rush team. The Rush also had some rotating injuries on the defensive line as well.
Of course what does not help the Rush is the fact that wide receiver Terrance Turner had surgery once the season had finished: http://arenarush.com/news/rush/index.html?article_id=226 Hopefully Turner will be ready and 100% when the Rush open training camp next year.
If they can keep guys on the field and out of the training room, the performance of the team should improve.
4. Return to the run game- The Rush had long established themselves as one of the few teams who could run the ball successfully in the AFL. Last year the Rush focused more on the passing game. Doing so hurt the team at times when they did try to run the ball. Although J.J. Payne did find success on the ground at times, and Luke Drone was used exclusively for the Rush’s red zone offense.
If the Rush can put more effort into the rushing game with both Payne and Drone, they can be an unstoppable force.
5. Improve the return game- Between Reggie Gray, Terrance Turner, Jared Perry, and a few others… The Rush weren’t always successful on kick returns. There were many times where they failed to actually receive the ball and it would lead to touchdowns for the kicking team.
There were also instances where the Rush couldn’t get the ball past their own 10-yard line. If the Rush can get better field position on kick returns it would take a lot of pressure off of the offense.
If the Rush can achieve these five goals in 2013, they will return to the playoffs without a doubt. I’d like to thank the Rush for allowing me the blessing of covering them this year. I hope to do so again in 2013.
You can follow me on Twitter: @GabeSalgado82 #Q101Sports
In my last report, I reviewed the 2012 Arena Football League season for the Chicago Rush. http://q101.com/2012/08/chicago-rush-2012-season-in-review/
Here are the main players who led the Rush to those 10 victories this season…
Offense:
No. 12 Quarterback Russ Michna
He was without a doubt the leader for the Rush offense this year. He kept this team together, he showed great poise, and he is a true veteran. Even when the Rush lost this year, he still kept his head in the game.
No. 7 Quarterback Luke Drone
He did a solid job when filling in for Russ Michna, he was also a major player in the running game as well.
No. 43 Fullback J.J. Payne
He was the leading rusher for the offense this season. He was also a big part of the pass protection for Russ Michna and Luke Drone. He also pitched in as a receiver when needed. And there were even a few times when he stepped in at linebacker as well.
No. 6 Wide Receiver Jared Perry
He was the team’s second leading receiver and the AFL’s Rookie Of The Year in 2012.
No. 16 Wide Receiver Terrance Turner
He was the third leading receiver for the Rush this season. He made his presence felt when Jared Perry and Reggie Gray drew double teams, leaving him wide open.
And of course I can’t forget about the Rush’s offensive line.
C.J. Cobb, T.J. Watkins, and Billy Eisenhardt did a hell of a job to keep Russ Michna and Luke Drone upright. The offense would go nowhere without these guys.
Defense:
The Chicago Rush defensive line was one of the better d-lines in the AFL in 2o12. They were one of the few teams that could get a pass rush going in a league where pass rushing is almost non-existent. If it wasn’t for their pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the rest of the Rush defense would have had a much harder time this year.
No. 56 Linebacker Nekos Brown
If only the Rush could have had him on the roster in Week 1. But when he did arrive here in Chicago, he boosted a defense that was already top notch. The only thing was that before his arrival, the Rush were thin at the mack linebacker position due to injuries and other roster issues. But he made his presence felt and served the Rush well.
No. 4 Defensive Back Vic Hall
If it wasn’t for multiple injuries during the season Vic Hall would have been AFL Defensive Player Of The Year. He could cover receivers like glue, hold down zone coverage, and read quarterbacks before they make their throws. Hopefully 2013 will be a better year for him.
No. 14 Defensive Back Jorrick Calvin
This was the man who filled in for Vic Hall while he was on injured reserve. He was brought in later in the season, but did a damn good job of filling in for Hall. He looked more like a wide receiver out there with all of the interceptions that he caught.
No. 22 Defensive Back Semaj Moody
He was another guy who stepped in when guys went down with injuries.
Iron Men:
No. 1 WR/DB Reggie Gray
It’s a shame that this man wasn’t even nominated for Iron Man Of The Year. Aside from being the fire that sparked the Rush offense, he was also a special teams contributor, and played defense when the Rush were low on bodies. He was also the leading receiver for the Rush and one of the top 10 receivers in the AFL in 2012.
No. 37 LB/FB/WR Kelvin Morris
Aside from his responsibilities as the defensive captain for the Rush, he was also a major player on special teams. On top of all that, he also was a major contributor on offense. He scored some touchdowns as a fullback, and caught some big time passes at wide receiver.
No. 10 FB/LB Russell Monk
He was injured at the beginning of the season but rejoined the team in May. Once he was added to the active roster he became a staple on both sides of the ball for the remainder of the season.
In my next report I will talk about what the Rush need to do to get back into the playoffs in 2013.
The Rush finished the 2012 season with a 10-8 record but failed to make the playoffs.
The Chicago Rush played their 11th season in the Arena Football League in 2012, and I witnessed it first hand.
Overview: The Rush began the 2012 season with a lot of promise. Coming off of a division championship season in 2011, the Rush were hoping to carry that momentum into 2012. The Rush began the season with a 4-0 start, they suffered their first loss in Week Six at Georgia.
That loss would be the beginning of what would be a miserable season on the road. The Rush began the season in first place, but a Week Eight loss at San Antonio would change all of that. The 56-55 loss would give the Talons the division lead and they would never look back.
During April and May the Rush went a combined 2-4 with all four losses happening away from the Allstate Arena. Two of those losses were part of the crucial May ending road trip to Arizona and San Jose which set the tone for the playoff race. The Rush would break the streak as they opened the June portion of their schedule with a home win over Spokane. It was a key victory in their fight to make the playoffs.
But the very next week, they would find themselves losing on the road again. A 40 point loss at Utah would leave the Rush on the outside looking in at the final playoff spot in the National Conference. They would rebound with back-to-back wins against at home against Georgia and on the road against Kansas City.
And during this time the Rush found themselves back in playoff position. But the Rush would be eliminated from playoff contention by losing their final two home games against San Jose and San Antonio in consecutive weeks. They were the two teams that the Rush needed to defeat in order to stay alive.
Despite losing out on the post-season, the Rush never gave up and played on hoping to finish on a positive note. After the bittersweet loss in their final home game, the Rush took out their frustrations on Milwaukee. It would be only their third road victory of the season.
The Rush finished the season away from home against Cleveland in Week 20. The Rush would lose on a hail mary at the end of the game. The Rush still managed to finish 10-8, but the guys in that locker room will tell you they could have done much better. Coach McMillen and the guys were not completely satisfied with this year’s results.
But there was some good to come out of this season. And that good is enough to give me faith that the Rush will do better next season.
Here is a breakdown of how the Rush performed in 2012 according to my view from the press box:
Positives:
1. Reggie Gray and Russ Michna. Perhaps the best quarterback, wide receiver combo in the AFL this year. Both men together set and/or broke numerous league and franchise records this year. They were the driving force behind this Rush offense. Gray also led the team in all-purpose yards and played defensive back a few times.
2. Jared Perry. The Rookie Of The Year candidate came out of nowhere this year. He worked his way into the Rush lineup and started every game this season. He was second on the team in receiving with 1,811 yards and 31 touchdowns.
3. The Rush won their first six home games this year. They finished with a home record of 6-2, one of the best home records in the AFL this year.
4. Kelvin Morris. The leader of the Rush defense all season long. He was also a big contributor on special teams and even played offense when needed. Kelvin Morris scored a few touchdowns this season when playing both fullback and wide receiver when called upon.
5. Nekos Brown. Brown was brought in during the month of April to fill a void at the mack linebacker position. Russell Monk was projected to be the starter but he got injured in training camp, he wouldn’t join the team until May. Defensive end Courtney Brown started the season at mack linebacker, but eventually departed from the team. Nekos Brown joined the team at a crucial time and made an immediate impact.
6. Terrance Turner. He was third on the team in receiving this year with 83 receptions, 867 yards, and 13 touchdowns.
7. The Rush defensive line. Together the Rush defensive lineman combined for over 20 tackles and roughly 10 sacks.
But with the good came the bad….
Negatives:
1. Playing on the road. The Rush only managed to win three road games all year. And out of their six road losses, four of them had playoff implications.
2. Not running the ball consistently. The Rush historically have been a team that can run the ball. For many years the Rush were one of the few AFL teams who were known for running the ball consistently. This year the Rush did not run the ball as often as they should have. They ran for a total of 313 yards and 28 touchdowns. 180 of those yards were courtesy of fullback J.J. Payne. 14 of those touchdowns were courtesy of backup quarterback Luke Drone. Most of those yards and touchdowns occurred on goalline and short yardage situations. The Rush could have done a little more in that department in my opinion.
3. Injuries. The Rush were ravaged with injuries, especially among their defensive backs. Vic Hall missed a handful of games including four of the last seven with a nagging leg injury. Brian Leinart also had some injuries after being signed mid-season. Semaj Moody played a few games while banged up, and Reggie Gray filled in for all of these guys at multiple points during the season. Offensive lineman T.J. Watkins also found himself on the trainers table this year as did his line mate Billy Eisenhardt.
4. Clock Management. The Rush had some issues when trying to kill the clock late in games. And because of this issue, the Rush either lost, or nearly lost a few games this season. When the Rush struggled to run the clock out in Week Three against Orlando, the Rush barley escaped with a two point win. The Week Four game at Iowa went to overtime because the Rush could not run the clock out. The Week 12 game at San Jose could have been a victory had the Rush been able to gain positive yards past the one minute warning. The SaberCats came back to win because of this failure. And the Rush lost the season finale to Cleveland because they turned the ball over while trying to seal the victory.
But the good thing is that there were more positives than negatives. There were also some things that caught Rush fans off guard this year.
Surprises:
1. Jorrick Calvin. He was added to the roster after Vic Hall went on injured reserve the second time. He was the best defensive back on the team towards the end of the season. He had four interceptions and took two of those picks in for touchdowns. He also helped out on special teams as well. He also covered opposing receivers like glue, and he was at his most dangerous in zone coverage. Just imagine him and Vic Hall in the same defensive secondary next season.
2. Luke Drone. He joined the team after original backup quarterback Justin Roper was traded as part of the deal that brought Nekos Brown to Chicago. He was mostly used on short yardage and goalline situations. He scored a touchdown almost every time he ran the ball. He also held his own when filling in for Russ Michna, and he was the second leading rusher on this years squad.
3. Jared Perry. The best rookie receiver in quite some time. Jared Perry started all 18 games for the Rush this year. He was second on the team in receiving, he deserves to be rookie of the year, and he was one of the major reasons why the Rush won 10 games this year.
But with surprises comes disappointments:
1. Russ Michna’s injury. For the third straight year, Russ Michna’s season ended with him on injured reserve for the final two games. This year it was a shoulder injury that ended his season prematurely.
2. Reggie Gray snubbed. He was not considered for the Iron Man Of The Year award even though he deserved at least that much.
3. Not making the post-season. For the first time in team history, the Rush did not make the AFL playoffs. They did so in their previous 10 seasons.
In my next report, I’ll talk more in-depth about the players that drove this Rush team.
You can follow me on Twitter: @GabeSalgado82 Hashtag: #Q101Sports
Luke Drone finishes the 2012 season with a 1-2 record as the starting quarterback for the Rush.
Despite a slow paced first half, and despite injuries to Jared Perry and Terrance Turner, the Rush gave it everything they had. After a low scoring first half, both teams kicked it into high octane in the second half. The Rush and the Gladiators seemed to score at will in the final two quarters. At one point it seemed like the Rush had the advantage when the Gladiators benched starting quarterback John Dutton and replaced him with backup Matt Bassuener. But on the other hand it looked like the Gladiators had the leg up when the Rush resulted to using Kelvin Morris at wide receiver and shuffling the lineup to compensate for the injured Turner and Perry.
But neither team would budge and it came down to the wire. The turning point in the game came in the final minute. The Rush led 47-46 and had just recovered a failed onside kick attempt by the Gladiators. With 46 seconds left Luke Drone ran the ball on 3rd and goal but lost his footing and slipped on the turf and fell behind the line of scrimmage stopping the clock with 39 seconds left. On 4th and goal Drone attempted a red zone pass only for it to be intercepted by Gladiators defensive back Levy Brown and taken all the way back for a touchdown.
The extra point put Cleveland up 54-47 with just under 30 seconds remaining. But the Rush would come back and try to force overtime. It started with “Big Play” Reggie Gray taking a kick return deep out of his own endzone and out to the Rush 17 yard line. A couple of plays later Reggie Gray would catch his 48th touchdown pass of the season {he had 2 scores on the night} to tie the game at 54 with 9 seconds left. All the Rush needed was a couple of stops on defense to force the extra period. But a hail mary pass by Matt Bassuener with no time on the clock went off of the rebound net and it was caught by Gladiators receiver Dominick Goodman to end the game.
The Rush end the season with a 60-54 loss to the Gladiators. They finish the season with a road record of 3-6, and an overall record of 10-8. Reggie Gray’s two touchdown catches have given him a career high, as well as a franchise record for touchdown receptions in a season. Luke Drone finished the game completing 20 of 29 passes for 311 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also had 2 rushing touchdowns as well. The big negative stat of the night is that the Rush defense finished the final six games of the season without recording a sack. And since the Rush were eliminated from playoff contention two weeks ago, the Rush are now homeward bound to begin the offseason.
But I will keep you updated on all of the Rush’s offseason activities. I would like to personally thank the Rush organization, especially their Media Relations Manager Ryan Young for their hospitality, and giving me access to the team. I hope to do so again in 2013.
Here is the box score from tonight’s game: http://www.arenafootball.com/game/chicago-rush-cleveland-gladiators-7-21-2012
You can friend me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/GabeSalgado82
Reggie Gray finished the game with 226 all purpose yards.
Reggie Gray put on another performance worthy of an Ironman Of The Game award. And his performance was a big boost for Rush Quarterback Luke Drone who started only his second game of the year. And as a result the Rush walk out of Milwaukee’s Bradley Center with a 57-54 victory over the Mustangs. The Rush pull off the season sweep of the Mustangs and pick up just their 3rd road victory of the season. Their record now stands at 10-7, and even though they won’t make the playoffs this year it’s obvious that this Rush team has not quit and are determined to finish the 2012 season on a positive note.
This Rush team was a little weary walking into today’s game. It was announced earlier this morning that Quarterback Russ Michna was put on injured reserve and as per league rules {Injured reserve means you must sit out the next four games.}, he will miss the remainder of the season. This is the 3rd season in a row that Russ Michna has sustained a season ending injury. The unspecified shoulder injury was sustained during last week’s heartbreaking loss in the home finale against San Antonio. Michna got the injury in the first quarter of that game when he was sacked for the first time {He was sacked a total of 4 times.}.
Michna had practiced in pain all week and the Rush’s medical staff decided to pull the plug. And considering the Rush are no longer in playoff contention, this decision was for the best and for the long term health of Russ Michna. Last season a broken collar bone ended the veteran quarterback’s season, and in 2010 it was a broken ankle that put him on injured reserve. I can’t even begin to imagine what is going through Russ Michna’s mind right now, and I pray for his healing. But regardless the Rush had to move on and they did just that tonight.
Enter Luke Drone, he was assigned to the Rush back in April. He came to the Rush when original backup Quarterback Justin Roper was traded to Orlando along with Defensive Back Kelvin Rodgers in exchange for Linebacker Nekos Brown. Drone was brought in that same week and he has made an impact ever since. Drone has mostly been used in the power running packages for the Rush, but he made his first start in Arizona back in May. He got the nod because Russ Michna had to attend a wedding. And despite the Rush being handed their second worst loss on the 2012 season, Drone still managed to throw for 396 yards and 4 touchdowns.
During the course of the season, Drone would go on to lead all AFL quarterbacks in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. But tonight Luke Drone needed to use his arm, his mind, and his leadership skills to get through tonight’s game. The Rush were a little slow in the first half as Milwaukee would take a 34-21 lead into the locker room at halftime. But in the second half the Rush got the boost they needed when Reggie Gray opened the half with a 54 yard kick return touchdown. It would be his third touchdown return of the year. And from there Rush never looked back.
Luke Drone would throw a career high 7 touchdown passes, Reggie Gray was a major contributor with 6 total touchdowns, and Marquis Hamilton also found the end zone when needed. Combine that with a stellar performance from the Rush defense once again led by newcomer Jorrick Calvin, and the Rush had all they needed to win. The Mustangs tried to rally late in the game, but the Rush’s dominance of the third quarter sealed their fate. Here is the box score from tonight’s game: http://www.arenafootball.com/game/chicago-rush-milwaukee-mustangs-7-14-2012
Next week the Rush finish the 2012 AFL season with a trip to Cleveland to take on the Gladiators. The Rush are looking to finish the 2012 campaign with 11 victories, just two wins shy of last season’s record.
A Russ Michna pass intented for #6 Jared Perry is intercepted early in the game.
It started with a pre-game fist fight, continued with questionable officiating, and ended with the Rush playoff hopes drying up like the Sahara Desert. The Rush lost by a final score of 61-54. It was a hard fought game from start to finish but I feel that the officials interfered too much and that it made an impact on today’s game. It’s been said that San Antonio Talons Quarterback Aaron Garcia has gotten favorable calls over the years. After today I’d have to think that might be true. The Rush defense was called for multiple penalties today. Illegal defense was the favorite call from the officials today.
The Rush were called for illegal defense five times, and the calls were never really explained. The Rush had some suspect pass interference calls thrown their way as well, a couple of those calls lead to touchdowns. One of those calls was on Rush Defensive Back Semaj Moody in the endzone. I saw the play personally and all Moody did was break up the pass and nothing more. Rush Linebacker Kelvin Morris was called for illegal defense two plays before when he broke up a pass in the endzone. San Antonio got away with numerous penalties that were not called.
There were also some questionable turnover calls as well. The officials just did not let these two teams play and settle things on the field. On top of that, the Rush did make some mistakes on their own. They turned the ball over on downs 3 times, Russ Michna was sacked 5 times Michna also made some bad throws at times as well. Not to mention the interceptions that Michna threw and a couple of Rush fumbles as well. The Rush defense also let a few plays slip by as well. And when you put all of those elements together, it turned out to be a bad day for the Rush despite the score.
The Rush have now lost 2 in a row, they lose their final 2 home games after winning the previous 7, and they’ll need a miracle {such as either San Jose or Utah forefiting or folding the rest of the season} to get into the playoffs. But that likely won’t happen. The Rush finish the final 2 games on the road, the Rush have only won 2 games away from Allstate Arena. Plus they play non-conference opponents {Milwaukee on July 14th and Cleveland on July 21st}. The best the Rush can hope for is to salvage their season and finish with either 10 or 11 wins.
San Jose now has a full 2 game lead over the Rush and they only have one game remaining. That game will be against Iowa next week, one of the worst teams in the league. But win or lose San Jose already clinches the final playoff spot with the Rush losing today. So the Rush will be looking to finish strong for 2012 and then look ahead to 2013.
Here is today’s post-game press conference:
I also had a post-game interview with Rush Fullback J.J. Payne:
And of course I couldn’t leave the Allstate Arena without talking to “Big Play” Reggie Gray:
Here is the box score from today’s game: http://www.arenafootball.com/game/san-antonio-talons-chicago-rush-7-8-2012
You can continue to follow me on Twitter: @GabeSalgado82 Hashtag: #Q101Sports
The Rush finish their home schedule on a losing note and here’s how it all went down:
First Quarter: A brawl between both teams broke out before kickoff. But once the game started Rush Receiver Reggie Gray returned the opening kick the full 50 yards to take a 7-0 lead with 14:10 remaining in the game.
But the Talons would tie the game on their first drive of the game. Aaron Garcia went 3-4 passing and capped it off with a 27 yard touchdown pass to Derek Lee to tie the game at 7 with 11:22 left in the first.
The Rush would turn the ball over when Russ Michna over threw Jared Perry and it was intercepted by the Talons. But the Rush would get the ball back 4 plays later when Jorrick Calvin picked off an Aaron Garcia pass. Russ Micha would drive the Rush downfield and cap the drive off with a 4 yard touchdown run by Luke Drone. But Joe Houston would miss the extra point so the Rush only led 13-7 with 2:22 remaining.
The first quarter would end with San Antonio making it all the way down to the Rush 15 yard line.
Second Quarter: Garcia puts the Talons in the end zone again with a touchdown pass to Receiver Jomo Wilson. It was 14-13 Talons with 12:00 remaining.
When the Rush went back on offense Russ Michna got sacked and knocked down twice. Then on 3rd down Michna under pressure again found a wide open Jared Perry from 41 yards out to take a 20-14 lead with 7:38 left before halftime.
On the Talons next possession it seemed like Jorrick Calvin had his 2nd pick of the game but it was wiped out by an illegal defense penalty. A few plays later Aaron Garcia found Derek Lee again but they would miss the extra point. The game was tied at 20 with 2:03 left before halftime.
But Russ Michna would answer back as he throws it to Jared Perry who makes a beautiful overhead catch to take a 27-20 lead at the one minute warning.
On the ensuing kickoff the Rush for whatever reason beyond any human understanding attempted an onside kick but the Talons would recover and score thanks to Derek Lee. The game was now tied at 27 with :57 left to play.
Third Quarter: San Antonio started the 2nd half on offense. First Aaron Garcia converted a huge 3rd down and 20 to put the Talons on the Rush 9. Then Garcia would hook up with Lee again for another touchdown pass. San Antonio would take a 34-27 lead with 9:09 remaining in the third.
But 3 minutes later Russ Michna would fin Jared Perry for the 2nd time to tie the game at 34 with 6:04 remaining in the third.
On the ensuing kickoff the Rush would strip the ball from Talons kick returner Brent Holmes but the referees initially ruled down by contact. Coach McMillen would issue a challenge and the replay proved it was a fumble and the Rush won the call. On the very next play Reggie Gray would score but then another fight would break out before the extra point. Once things calmed down the Rush would convert the PAT to take a 41-34 lead.
But then the Talons would come right back with another Aaron Garcia touchdown pass to tie the game at 41. 3:24 was left on the clock at that point.
Fourth Quarter: San Antonio started the game 1st and 10 from the Rush 15. Garcia threw a pass towards the end zone but it was broken up by Semaj Moody. But for some reason the refs called pass interference on Moody. So the Talons had it 1st and goal from the Rush 2. They tried a running play but the Rush defense stopped the play back at their own 15. But Garcia would throw another touchdown pass afterwards. But the Talons would miss the extra point so the game was tied at 41 with 13:22 left. Then on the Rush’s next possession J.J. Payne would score from half of the field on a beautiful screen pass from Russ Michna with a great block from T.J. Watkins. The Rush would take the lead back 54-47 with 10:41 left in the game.
But the celebration would be short lived as the Talons would score again. It started with a monster kick return by Talons Receiver Jomo Wilson to take San Antonio down to the Rush 14 yard line. Aaron Garcia would follow it up with a 14 yard touchdown pass to Wide Receiver Jason Willis to tie the game at 54 with 9 minutes left.
The Rush would turn the ball over on downs as Russ Michna was sacked twice on the next drive. The Talons would get another generous call courtesy of today’s officials, illegal defense against the Rush. Then San Antonio scored on a 6 yard run by Fullback Chad Cook, Jeffery Fitzgerald was held on that play but it was not called. The Talons led 61-54 at the one minute warning.
The Rush would try to answer back but would turn the ball over on downs again when Russ Michna would get sacked. He was sacked 5 times on the day, the Talons would run the clock out from there and go on with a 61-54 win.
Later tonight I’ll have a full post-game report complete with the press conference, interviews, and the box score. Keep your browser log onto Q101.com
So far it’s quiet at the Allstate Arena
Today is the final home game for the Chicago Rush on the 2012 AFL season, but it is also the most important game of the season. Today the Rush welcome division rivals the San Antonio Talons to Rosemont. The Talons are first place in the Central Division and have already clinched a playoff spot. They are hoping to clinch the division title as well and they can do that with a victory over the rush today. But the Rush have other plans in mind as they continue to fight for a playoff spot of their own. They currently are fifth in the AFL’s National Conference but only the top four get into the playoffs.
San Jose currently occupies the fourth and final playoff spot in the conference but have yet to clinch. But they already have the advantage over the Rush because they beat them twice this season {including handing the Rush their first home loss of the season last week}, and the SaberCats won their game with New Orleans last night. Here is the box score from that game: http://www.arenafootball.com/game/new-orleans-voodoo-san-jose-sabercats-7-7-2012 They now own a full game lead over the Rush. The Rush can knock that lead back down to a half game with a victory today.
But it won’t be easy as San Antonio is currently on a 9 game winning streak. They also have one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play arena football in Aaron Garcia. The future hall of famer is one of the greatest passers this league has ever seen. And he has always given the Rush fits for every team that he’s ever played for. And to think Garcia’s career nearly ended four years ago when he sustained a serious shoulder injury. Garcia can read defenses, has a quick release, and is pretty good at avoiding the pass rush. Combine that with a solid San Antonio pass rush and the Rush have their work cut out for them today.
But the Rush are on their home turf where they have compiled a record of 7-1. They also want to keep the franchise record of playoff appearances alive. The team has made it to the playoffs in every season of their existence. The Rush know what’s on the line and they will do whatever it takes to get the job done. I expect a hard fought game today.
Rush Defensive Back Vic Hall is still on the injured list with his leg injury, but another defensive back joins him on that list. Brian Leinhart who was injured a couple weeks ago against Georgia is still healing from his injuries. The defensive secondary for the Rush has taken a pounding during these summer months but they’ve always found a way to get through the adversity.
Here are today’s starting lineups:
For The Rush:
QB #12 Russ Michna
FB #43 J.J. Payne
WR #1 Reggie Gray
WR #6 Jared Perry
WR # 2 Terrance Turner
TE #73 T.J. Watkins {He has returned from his thigh injury}
C #51 Billy Eisenhardt
G #70 C.J. Cobb
DE #93 Cedric McKinley
NT #92 Darrell Campbell
DE # 95 Jeffery Fitzgerald
MLB #56 Nekos Brown
JLB# 37 Kelvin Morris
DB #18 Boubacar Cissoko
DB #22 Semaj Moody
DB# 14 Jorrick Calvin
For San Antonio:
QB #8 Aaron Garcia
FB #28 Chad Cook
WR #18 Derek Lee
WR #7 Jason Willis
WR # 10 Brent Holmes
TE #90 Ty Nsekhe
C #99 Jamarr Ward
G # 64 Ray Hisatake
DE #42 Victor DeGrate
NT #56 Devon Allen
DE #22 Gabe Nyenhuis
MLB# 17 Wesley Mauia
JLB #44 Jamar Ransom
DB #6 Fred Shaw
DB # 2 Eric Crocker
DB #4 Kevin Fontenette
Last night, I along with other writers who cover the Rush were featured on the Rush website. We gave our predictions for today’s game, you can read that article here: http://arenarush.com/news/rush/index.html?article_id=208
You can follow me during the game on Twitter: @GabeSalgado82 Hashtag: #Q101Sports and I will be posting on q101.com again at halftime.
Here is a pre-game interview I conducted with Rush Head Coach Bob McMillen:
The Rush have compiled a 7-1 record at the Allstate Arena this season.
It seems like just yesterday I was in Rosemont on that cold March night when the Rush first started the 2012 season. Well in two days that season will come to a close as the Rush play their final home game of the 2012 AFL season. It will be Fan Appreciation Day at the Allstate Arena on Sunday afternoon. Also, The 100 Club of Chicago will be on hand as the Rush will honor Chicagoland’s police officers, fire fighters, and paramedics.
Former DePaul basketball standout Emmette Bryant will be taking pictures and signing autographs before the game. And Michael Jayko will serve as the game’s public address announcer. Jayko won a season long contest in which fans auditioned for a chance to takeover the booth for one day from regular P.A. Announcer Tommy Williams. But festivities aside there is a football game to be played, and a very important one at that.
The Rush will take on the Central Division leading San Antonio Talons, kickoff is after 3pm. The Rush are fighting for their playoff lives as they are out of the 4th and final playoff spot in the National Conference by just half a game. This is a must win if the Rush are to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Rush are also hoping for another miracle upset when the San Jose SaberCats take on the New Orleans Voodoo.
San Jose has the last playoff spot, plus they own the tiebreaker over the Rush. The Rush need to win and somehow New Orleans needs to win. This game will be the make or break game for the remainder of the 2012 season for the Chicago Rush. So I encourage you to come out on Sunday and support their Rush as they fight to keep their playoff streak alive. I will be in the press box for this one without a doubt.
If you can’t make it to the game you can follow me on Twitter: @GabeSalgado82 Hashtag: #Q101Sports I will also post pictures, video, and reports right here on q101.com
You can even find me on Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/gws1182
Also, tonight you can find me at Buffalo Wild Wings in Southwest Suburban Bolingbrook at 7pm. I will be taking my shot in the 2012 Score Search contest. Come by to wish me luck, meet me in person, and enjoy some good food. http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012-score-search/
There are currently no events to display.