Rob Keefe was still very pumped up even a half hour after the Orlando Predators ended their rout of the previously undefeated Arizona Rattlers. What reason would there not be to be excited?
The defense came up with big turnovers after a shaky start to the first half. The offense was unstoppable for the most part in the game, failing to score on just two possessions after giving up a first quarter turnover on downs. And both those came at the end of the half.
The damage was done and the Predators have established themselves clearly as the top team in the Arena Football League.
There was reason to be excited ahead of Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Storm — a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at the Amway Center. And that game against the Storm is a rematch of a blowout win when the defense flexed its full muscle.
The Predators are riding high and pretty soon teams are going to be coming to knock them down. Saturday’s big win should be well behind the Predators now.
“We’ve got to keep executing,” quarterback Randy Hippeard said. “In this league, every team is out there and they can play and have a great opportunity to win football games. This game is built to keep games close. Everybody is going to score point sin this league. We can’t overlook anybody.”
In a league of eight teams, everyone can beat everyone. There were more than a few upsets Saturday. And things can change quickly in the league. And the Predators are at the top.
Despite all the excitement Saturday, the constant line was that the win was big for positioning. The Predators are firmly atop their conference and in line for a top seed in the playoffs — or at least a home game when they begin. But championships are not won in Week Six.
There was and is still plenty to clean up for the Predators.
The Predators are third in the league in offense and second in the league in passing offense. They are just seventh in the league in total defense and pass defense. This is a team that still gives up a lot of yards and a lot of points.
Throw in that this is the most penalized team in the league and the Predators always have their work cut out for them. There is still plenty for Orlando to work on and improve on.
The Predators make up for that with the top turnover margin in the league with 14 takeaways.
If there is a difference for this Predators team it is that they consistently and constantly find a way to win and make the big plays they need to pull away or preserve a victory.
“The guys never got down,” coach Rob Keefe said. “That’s the difference of this team to last year and the year before. We are mentally tough. I don’t care if we are in second-and-20 or fourth-and-25, we are going to get ourselves a first down or a touchdown. We have a mentally tough team, we are preaching that and they executed tonight because of it.”
The question is just how long that can last and will a team pick the Predators off.
The Storm are still winless and the Predators have a blowout victory over them on the road under their belts already. There certainly seems like the possibility the team could overlook Tampa Bay and coast to victory. That obviously will not do.
The Predators have experienced success before. They won their division last year after rallying from an injury to Hippeard. There is that hunger for more playoff success and a true belief the Predators can win the Arena Bowl this year with this combination of offensive weapons and defensive opportunism.
This Friday’s game will answer a question about their hunger and their attention to detail for each game. It is arguably as important as Saturday’s win in making a statement.
“This is professional football, nobody is going to be scared of you,” Keefe said. “It’s my job to not let these guys slack. It’s my job to not make them quit. It’s my job not to overlook the opponent. Nobody is going to give you anything.”
The Predators will have their work cut out for them to defeat the Storm and continue this undefeated season and dominance over the Arena Football League.
