Numbers Game

That's me, #48. I suited up this week because a player had to sit due to his ejection last week, opening up a spot for another American player.

For my first game back in over 4 years, I feel like my fits & reads were pretty good, I missed a few open field tackles, but Florian Grein will make a guy do that (he was only a knee injury away from making an NFL roster in '05).

The game started off well, we dominated their offense the first series, but we knew it'd be a battle because they came off the ball hard and the play calling was crisp and fast. You could tell from the get-go that Raiders HC Geoff Buffum was going to make this one a numbers game.

I tell you what, figuring out what offensive personnel grouping they've got, making a call, and lining up and playing is exhausting. There's no time to get off the ground slow; as the tackle is being made I had to be thinking of situation, down & distance, their tendancies, and pick a fitting play/coverage and line up & do it again. I was very happy with how the play calling went, it took a few series to catch up with their pace (and huddle our guys, etc), but as far as the effectiveness and getting guys in the right spots, I was pretty happy with.

The game, however, took a dramatic change as both of our Cornerbacks started coming up lame, one with a sublocating shoulder and the other a stinger. Then our import Defensive End tore a tendon in his calf. With three of my starters out and an increased number of players going both ways, their offensive pace became overwhelming. They started grinding down the field on us and we simply wore down. The offense also struggled to score points and after they finally were able to drive the field and put one in. We were still in the game only down 16-6 just before the half, but a long kickoff return seconds later put them up 23-6 at the break. Our mood in the locker room was focused, but you could sense the concern.

Offensively we came out well in the second half, but the drive stalled and we were forced to punt. They continued their grind game, forcing us to go to the bench for guys and suddenly our players started dropping like flies. WR Robin Haas strained his knee (so badly that we thought he broke his leg for sure), WR/DB Christian Steffani took hit after hit and had to sit some on D after a bell ringer (now down to 1 starting and healthy DB remaining), so they ran a bit of play action and their fresh starters wore down our injured and now two-way reserve players. Combine that with some unfortunate turnovers and the second half got ugly, 50-14.

It was a bad result against a good team, I think if we can get healthy somewhat this week, take care of business against Bern for our EFAF Cup Quarterfinal game, we'll have a bye week to get healthy and prepare for the Vikings of Vienna, who are struggling this year. We'll likely have to win out in order to make the playoffs.

On the other side of things, it was fun to play against the guys I used to coach, and knock heads with some of the old juniors players in the program. I am definitely getting older and today I'm feeling each and every hit from the game.

After the game I went to Harley's to meet up with some of the OLinemen (they were sponsored by Harley's - a Harley Davidson shop/bar), then went over to Baggersee, the official after-party for the Raiders to see a bunch of good friends from my time in Innsbruck.

So, outside of the schlacking we took on the field, it was a very good trip & I was able to meet up with some people who mean a lot to me.

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AUSTRIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
@ Swarco Raiders Tirol 50:14 Cineplexx Blue Devils Hohenems
@ Danube Dragons 35:28 Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna
Turek Graz Giants & Carinthian Black Lions BYE

EUROBOWL QUARTERFINAL
@ Turek Graz Giants 49:27 Flash de la Courneuve (Paris, FR)
**Giants advance to Semifinal**
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AFL STANDINGS
1. Turek Graz Giants (2:0)
2. Swarco Raiders Tirol (2:1)
3. Danube Dragons (2:1)
4. Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna (1:2)
5. Cineplexx Blue Devils Hohenems (1:2)
6. Carinthian Black Lions (0:2)