The Texas Revolution don’t just have to worry about the weather in Cedar Rapids, Iowa this Friday March 1, 2013. They also have to worry about a pretty good football team.
The Revolution of the IFL have not hit the field officially yet this season, the Cedar Rapids Titans have. In fact the Titans are 2-0 in the early portion of the 2013 IFL season. Two straight wins against the Chicago Slaughter - one in Chicago, and the other time on their own home field.
The Revolution have a lot to be concerned about with the Titans offensively. They signed last year’s rushing title holder LaRon Council. So far this season he is having a hard time finding his groove. In two games he has only rushed for 55 yards and two touchdowns, and he has 30 yards receiving with seven receptions. Only 85 all purpose yards. This after setting the IFL rushing record last season with 1,334 yards. Council can go off at anytime of you are not ready for him.
The WR corps isn’t that shabby either. Last season for the Green Bay Blizzard Bryan Pray had a very good season with 708 yards and 16 TDs. But the off-season move that really helped put the team over the top at wide receiver is the pick up of Carl Simms from the Sioux Falls Storm. Last season he had 1,108 yards and 20 TDs. Two of the IFL’s best to offer, are catching the ball for the Titans this season.
Combined Simms and Pray already have 186 yards and nine TDs in two games. So they are already off and running.
We also can not forget the guys that get them the ball - Charles McCullum and Colton Hansen. McCullum handles most of the work throwing for 214 yards and six TDs - However Hanson, in relief, has five completions and all of them for TDs.
The Titans defense also held the Chicago Slaughter to only 83 points in two games. Only 52 points were scored in the first three quarters of play in both games.
The Titans seemed to have rolled all over the Slaughter, so the next question one has to ask is, are the Titans that good or are the Slaughter just that bad.
Looking at this Titans team, they look like they can do that to any team in the IFL at any given time.
It will be up to the ball hawking capabilities of the #15 Frankie Solomon Jr., and the dominate defense that the Revolution have shown to be able to put on the filed to stop a high powered offense. Defensive Coordinator Brian Wells had the defense running like a well oiled machine for the game against the North Texas Crunch.
Head Coach Billy Back said of the work on the practice field and the pre-season game from the players….
Our goal (against the Crunch) was to score on every possession in the game against the Crunch. We didn’t score on three possessions - we missed a couple field goals -had some bad kickoffs. That is a concern for me. We have to be sound in our special teams as well. So that is something we worked on this week. We were sloppy at times. We scored 100 points but it wasn’t a perfect game.
The Revolution have had time to see tape of the Titans in two games. Does that create an advantage for the Revolution or is it advantage Titans? Coach Back said…
It’s a two way street. I mailed our film to them to be professional. But they have two games to cohesive on the field working together, opposed to us with just two weeks of practice. You still have to play the game but in the end, you still have to stop them…they have to stop us. It’s a cat and mouse game regardless.
So it is the first official game of the season for the Revolution of Texas. This game will give a good indication of where the Revolution are as a team.
The Revolution are on the bye after the game against the Titans, then it is on the road to Chicago to play the Slaughter on Sunday March 17.
The next home game for the Revolution is on Friday March 22nd at the Allen Event Center vs. Tri Cities Fever. Make sure you get your tickets for the home opener. For information on this game and any other game, log onto the team’s new website at www.TexasRevs.com, the team’s Facebook page, on Twitter @texasrevs, or call the team offices at 972.422.PASS (7277). Tickets can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or at the Allen Event Center box office.
The Texas Revolution don’t forget the fans when they are on the road. They are holding a watch party for the away games at "The Londoner" at Waters Creek in Allen at 932 Garden Park, Allen, TX. Everyone is welcome to attend! The event starts at game time on Friday around 7:00.
Get into the IFL action by logging onto the “Indoor Football League Players Meet Fans” on Facebook.
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