Defense is not usually the focus for coverage or discussion in the Arena Football League. In fact, good defense is often hidden by all the times the offense just overwhelms. The short field creates few chances to recover from mistakes.
The Cleveland Gladiators learned that the hard way in two sequences. Defensive opportunities have to be seized immediately. Because they do not happen often.
The Orlando Predators, a team that was desperate to improve its defense, simply waited and bided its time.
The Gladiators and Predators went back and forth through three quarters. But in the middle of the third quarter, Paul Stephens intercepted a pass in the end zone, marking the first real stop of the game (the Predators failed to score just before the half) and gave Orlando the chance to take back control.
On the first play following the interception, Randy Hippeard found Brandon Thompkins on a hitch. The Gladiators cornerback missed jumping the route and Thompkins ran to the other end for a touchdown as a Predators lead.
Orlando had the possession advantage and even though the team gave up 56 points through three quarters, the defensive advantage now too.
Varmah Sonie added one more interception as the defense began getting to quarterback Arvill Nelson. The Predators offense kept scoring and Nelson fumbled one more time for good measure as the Predators shut out the Gladiators in the fourth quarter for a 76-56 win at Quicken Loans Arena.
As is often the case in the Arena Football League, a good defense does not have to get many stops — just the key ones. And with the Predators offense clicking right now, one is seemingly enough. The defense continually makes the big plays it has to make.
That task becomes a lot easier with an offense slinging the ball around like this.
Thompkins tied a team record with seven total touchdowns — five touchdown receptions, hauling in nine catches for 123 yards, a rushing touchdown and a kickoff return touchdown. Hippeard threw seven touchdowns in total and 322 yards on 22-for-34 passing. Hippeard threw some gorgeous deep balls, avoiding rushers on numerous occasions to make the throw. He made mince meat of Cleveland’s secondary throughout the game.
For the majority of the game so did the Gladiators though. There were no fourth downs until the final quarter — and the Predators gave that up with a pass interference (the possession ended with the fumble from Nelson).
Orlando certainly still has hiccups defensively. Pressure is inconsistent and even though the secondary is incredibly talented, offenses are able to make plays. Like many arena games, it is about the offenses matching wits until the opportunity comes around.
The Predators’ defense though continues to step up in big moments. They dominated the opener against the Tampa Bay Storm. In a similar back-and-forth affair against the Portland Steel, they scored the big interception for the only stop of the game. They similarly got a big defensive stop late against the Jacksonville Sharks and came to their offense’s rescue after loads of uncharacteristic turnovers.
To get to now 5-0, Orlando is going to need efforts like this.
The defense can continue to mature and come together so long as the offense is producing at this rate. There is no doubt the Predators are producing some stellar offense. And giving the defense all the chances to make their stops.
And when those opportunities have come so far this season, the defense has taken advantage. No team has scored 60 on them so far this season.
The Predators are making their stops and picking up wins, establishing themselves as the team to beat in the Arena League.
