The
New Orleans VooDoo (3-5) will look to get back into the win column
against the Orlando Predators (1-7) this Friday night in The Graveyard
for the NET10 NFL Network Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
This
game marks the first of back-to-back games in The Graveyard for the
VooDoo with next week's contest coming against the Arizona Rattlers
(6-3). This week's game is also the first time VooDoo Head Coach Pat
O'Hara will be going up against his former team, a franchise he spent
the past two seasons as a head coach and six years as a player.
"I
don't get caught up in all of that," said O'Hara about the game. "This
is an important division game for us and I am more focused on our team
and how we perform. Plus, we are on NFL Network again, so it is another
chance to showcase our team to the nation."
The
VooDoo is coming off a 68-62 overtime loss last week at the Spokane
Shock. In the game, VooDoo QB Kurt Rocco became the franchise's first
passer to throw for over 400 yards in a game with 402 in the loss. Rocco
enters this week's game averaging 311.2 passing yards a game, ranking
second in the AFL.
New
Orleans also showcases one of the League's best defenses by leading the
AFL in turnover margin (+12) and red zone defense. The Predators enter
this week's contest sporting the AFL's last ranked pass offense,
averaging 216.6 yards per game.
However,
the Predators struggle in the passing game is countered with the team's
strong defense that ranks fifth in the AFL, only yielding 270.9 yards
per game to opposing offenses. Orlando lost 55-31 to the Tampa Bay Storm
last time out on the turf, and was idle last week.
"They
are a solid team and their record is a bit deceiving," added O'Hara
about Orlando. "The South Division is such a wild division that anything
is possible. I fully expect a hard-fought game on both sides Friday
night."
Orlando
leads the series 7-3 with all three New Orleans wins coming in The
Graveyard. Last season, the Predators swept the season series en route
to a post-season berth.
Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m.
No comments:
Post a Comment