Arena Football Power Rankings: Soul drop to No. 3 after loss

1. Arizona Rattlers (1-0) Last week: 1

The Rattlers began the 2013 season the same way they ended the 2012 season, laying a beating on the Soul. This one was not the route the Arena Bowl one was, but you definitely saw why Arizona is the favorite to win back-to-back titles. Arizona will be tested once again next week when they travel to Utah to play the Blaze in a rematch of the National Conference title game from a season ago.

2. Utah Blaze (1-0) Last week: 4

The Blaze beat up on a very less-than-stellar Power team, 64-33, in Week 1. It wasn’t a dominant offensive performance from the Blaze that won it, however. Reigning league MVP Tommy Grady completed only 17-of-33 passes and threw five touchdowns. It was the defense forcing three turnovers that put the Blaze over the top in this one. It was over a weak Pittsburgh, but it was impressive to see nonetheless from a team whose defense usually lets them down.

3. Philadelphia Soul (0-1) Last week: 2

It’s not often you’re going to see an 0-1 team ranked as the third-best in the league, but in the case of the Soul it is deserved. You can’t get on them so much when they open the season against undoubtedly the best team in the league right now. Also, two fumbles from Derrick Ross and two more turnovers overall is more than likely not to happen again this season.

4. Spokane Shock (1-0) Last week: 7

Like Utah, Spokane had a dominant showing against one of the bottom-feeder teams in the league at the moment, the Cleveland Gladiators, but that’s what they were supposed to do and they did it. That’s the sign of a good team; not playing down to your competition. The Shock handled business after making a long trip (every trip from Spokane is long no matter where you go) to the east coast. Doing that, earned a three-spot boost in these rankings.

5. Jacksonville Sharks (1-0) Last week: 6

The Sharks also drew a tough opener with having to travel in division Tampa Bay and facing quarterback Adrian McPherson, who no one knew, including the Storm, how he was going to play like after spending the last four years in the CFL. Quarterback Bernard Morris had the most efficient game in the league if you go by his quarterback rating, completing 24-of-31 passes for 269 yards and seven touchdowns. They travel to Pittsburgh this week and will more than likely be 2-0 by next week’s installment of these rankings.

6. San Jose Sabercats (1-0) Last week: 3

It’s hard to fall three spots on this list when you’re coming off a win, but the Sabercats did not look all that impressive during their Week 1 win over the San Antonio Talons. Unlike the Shock, San Jose had to fight tooth and nail to escape the Alamodome with a 47-42 win over one of the bottom-tier teams in the AFL right now. The legendary Aaron Garcia threw his 1,200th career touchdown pass during the game, but also threw three interceptions in his Sabercat debut. To be fair to San Jose, it was only one game and it is more than capable of picking up in the weeks to come, but a tough game looms this week as the  Sabercats host the Orlando Predators.

7. New Orleans VooDoo (1-0) Last week: 8

The VooDoo turned in an impressive Week 1 win over the American Conference title contender Orlando Predators, 51-45 in overtime. Despite giving up two safeties and only getting three touchdowns from quarterback Kurt Rocco, the defense is what pulled the VooDoo through, making key stops against the Predators and forcing them come away with absolutely nothing on multiple occasions. In total, the VooDoo defense forced six stops, including two interceptions and a missed field goal.

8. Orlando Predators (0-1) Last week: 5

As mentioned above, the Predators did not look good on offense in their first outing of 2013. When you get not one, but two safeties and lose, something is wrong with the offense. Granted, that was the team’s first real game with Kyle Rowley under center, but a proven veteran like Rowley and the rest of the Orlando offense should be able to turn in a better performance than that. Things don’t get easier this week as they make the long trip out west to San Jose.

9. Iowa Barnstormers (1-0) Last week: 9

The Barnstormers turned in an impressive win over division rival Chicago last week, but it was just that: a win over Chicago. The Rush are not as good at this stage of the season and probably won’t be all season long, so no one should get carried away with Iowa just yet. They do deserve credit for the victory. Quarterback J.J. Raterink threw seven touchdowns and the defense forced three turnovers, but one victory over the Rush does not make you an Arena Bowl contender.

10. Tampa Bay Storm (0-1) Last week: 11

Despite losing, the Storm looked better than most thought they would. The acquisition of quarterback Adrian McPherson looked to be a good one so far as he rushed for five touchdowns, including this stellar one. The Storm may have lost Saturday, but you can definitely see a glimmer of hope for them this season, especially if McPherson continues to improve as a passer.

11. San Antonio Talons (0-1) Last week: 12

The Talons are not going to be very good in 2013, but they did take what is thought to be one of the better teams in the league, San Jose, to the limit and almost came away with a victory. The Talons fell behind 20-0 and fought back to make it competitive in the end, but the offense did not look good in Week 1 and that’s the most important thing in the AFL.

12. Chicago Rush (0-1) Last week: 10

The Rush have a lot of work to do. The defense let them down time and time again in Week 1 despite six touchdowns from quarterback Carson Coffman. He did throw two interceptions, however. Things won’t get much better when they host the Shock Sunday.

13. Pittsburgh Power (0-1) Last week: 13

Not much good can be said about the Power’s performance in Week 1. The Power committed three turnovers and gave up safety. Quarterback Jordan Jefferson completed 19-of-34 passes for a mere 196 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions in his AFL debut — not an impressive stat line to say the least. The Power better hope it was just first-game jitters that caused that performance.

14. Cleveland Gladiators (0-1) Last week: 14

Boy, the Gladiators. They proved everyone right in Week 1 by looking every bit as bad as they thought they’d look. Want to know the blueprint on how to lose in the AFL? Here it is: never stop your opponent unless it’s the end of the half. Every other Spokane possession ended not only with points, but with touchdowns. Also, get stopped four times despite only turning the ball over once. That’s how you lose in the AFL.