Soul getting to know Rattlers all too well
Just when the Soul threatens to get on a roll, along come those pesky defending champion Arizona Rattlers - again.
IT HAS TAKEN two games in less than a year for the Arizona Rattlers to go from an infrequent opponent to a difficult rival for the Soul.
Like a long-lost uncle who comes over for Christmas and then shows up (groan) on Valentine's Day and again on Easter, the Rattlers are in the way once more.
The Soul has won two in a row but must pass a stiff test to make it three.
"Anybody who says that there isn't extra motivation would be lying," Soul coach Clint Dolezel said. "We know they are the team to beat. They've earned that."
The Rattlers have climbed to the top of the AFL by partially using the Soul as a stepladder. Arizona jumped out early on the Soul to win last year's ArenaBowl championship and then followed it up with a 66-52 win over the Soul in Phoenix to start this season.
"The last two times we played them, we didn't protect the ball too well and they capitalized and didn't turn the ball over," said Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh.
In the two games against Arizona, the Soul committed eight turnovers and was whistled for 16 penalties. The Soul even bricked five of its 11 extra points.
"It's more of a mental challenge with Arizona than a physical challenge," said defensive lineman Bryan Robinson. "We've just got to get over the hump. We've got to stop making mistakes; get out of our own way and we should be all right."
The Soul (5-4) is at the halfway point of its season. After a dismal home loss to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia responded by beating Orlando and winning at Tampa Bay, one of the conference's better teams.
Arizona is 9-1 and on cruise control. Quarterback Nick Davila would be the AFL's first-half MVP with his 66 touchdown passes and just four interceptions.
Despite the Soul's four losses, Arizona's coach thinks this will not be the last time his team plays the Soul. A rematch in the ArenaBowl is quite likely.
"I think Philly has the best quarterback in the Eastern Conference," Rattlers coach Kevin Guy told AzCentral.com, "and that's why I think they'll be there."
Raudabaugh is again on his game, but Davila has scorched the Soul for 16 TD passes against just one pick in the two most recent meetings.
Was that the doorbell? Uh-oh. Uncle you-know-who is back.
"We've kind of gotten in stride the last two weeks and they've been in stride for a while," said Robinson, who is one away from becoming the Soul's all-time sack leader. "We're at the point where we've kind of worked out all the kinks and I think we're getting them at the right time."
No Tebow, no cry
Owner Ron Jaworski reiterated NFL free agent Tim Tebow has a standing offer to join the Soul in a limited role, but he said flatly "Dan Raudabaugh is our starting quarterback."
"Tim Tebow needs to play," said Jaworski, who famously doubles as an NFL analyst for ESPN. "I would love for him to play in Philadelphia, but if it's up in Montreal in the Canadian League or wherever, he needs to get on the field," Jaworski said. "He hasn't played that much lately and we have a package of plays that we could use with him. But Dan Raudabaugh is our starter. He's played tremendously the last few weeks."
SOUL AGENDA
Who: Arizona (9-1) at Soul (5-4)
When: Saturday, 4:05 p.m.
Where: Wells Fargo Center (19,500).
TV: The Comcast Network (taped, 8:30 p.m.)
Radio: WBZC (88.9-FM).
On the web: Soul.ArenaFootball.com/AllAccess
About the Soul: The Soul is just 1-3 at home, prompting the players to petition ownership to make adjustments to the uniforms to switch up the luck. The players want to wear blue helmets and socks ... Defensive lineman Dustin Barno is due to have surgery on his left biceps today at Lankenau Hospital. He is done for the year.
About the Rattlers: Ranked No. 1 in the coaches poll for the fourth week in a row. In fact, the top three teams are from the four-team West Division. San Jose (7-2) is second, followed by Spokane (7-3). The Soul is fifth, one spot behind Jacksonville ... Arizona's only loss was to Spokane on April 12 ... Star wide receiver Rod Windsor has 12 touchdown catches in the last four games.
Up next: The Soul hosts New Orleans on June 8 at 7:05 p.m. The VooDoo are a league-worst 1-8 and host Cleveland (2-7) this Saturday. Guessing plenty of seats still remain for that one.