The Predators were looking to take it to the next level this week against an experienced Bumslingers team, but were eventually worn down in the end. The Predators had their chances, but were not able to capitalize when it mattered most. The breaks and calls did not go their way, but sometimes the ball just doesn't bounce your way. The game was closer than the 6-27 score, which is becoming a theme against good teams that the Predators dislike. The Predators are getting closer, but it is taking longer than they would like. They need to keep working together and figuring out new ways to attack defenses. They found a new way tonight, which is something to build on.
At the start of the game the Predators were ready. They forced the Bumslingers into a fourth down situation at mid field and stopped them on downs. Unfortunately the offense struggled to get going early. The Bumslingers struck first, taking a 0-7 lead. But, the Predators came back fighting. They moved the ball all the way down field when #7 Brown found #2 Long on a fourth and goal touch down catch. It was an eight play drive(most a team can have on drive), where they converted two fourth down situations. The point after #8 Wagar was called out on a traditional bang-bang play. The toes looked like they touched down first, but the ref called the heel out. This was one of the breaks that didn't go their way. The series was something the Predators can build on. They answered on a long drive, after an opponents score, that took everyone executing properly when the pressure was on. The Predators know now they can move the ball effectively against good teams. The next step is doing it consistently. The rest of the first half was a chess match. Good defensive play by the Predators kept them in it at half time, they were down 6-7.
At the start of the second half the Predators struck big when #11 Brown took it the length of the field juking and jiving his way for a Predator lead. But a flag guarding penalty was called on the play bringing it back. It was an extremely questionable call, borderline at best, and turned out ultimately being the biggest play of the game. Tough break for #11 Brown, who has really anchored the Predator receiving corp through the first five games. The Predators ended up punting and the Bumslingers dipped and dunked short passes all the way down field. They took advantage of the soft spots in the normally reliable Predator Red Defense. They kept hitting the slots on quick pop passes and they continually picked up a chunk of yards after. The Predators adjusted and slowed the Bumslingers down. The drive came to climax when the Predators forced a 4th and goal form the 15 yard line, down 6-7. The rush seamed effective when the quarterback released the ball off his back foot 25 yards from the goal line, but it wasn't effective enough when a Bumslinger receiver out leaped the Predator secondary and scored. After the extra point, the Predators found themselves down 6-14. Another tough break, that didn't go their way. On the next offensive series the wheels on week 5 came off when #7 Brown threw a interception deep in Predator territory and gave the Bumslingers first and goal from the 4. They scored on the second play and went up 6-20 with eight minutes to go. The Predators put themselves in Bumslinger territory two more times, but were stopped on downs when 4th down passes hit the turf on 4th and goal. The Bumslingers scored once more late ending the scoring at 6-27. It was a bitter defeat, but there were positives in the game.
Management really noticed one thing in this game. When the Predators play good offensive teams(Gunners, Team Ice, Bumslingers), the QB continually hits receivers short and lets the receivers do the dirty work. The players that they hit short are quick, agile players and normally make the first player miss. These teams hardly turn the ball over mainly because they throw short and put themselves in 3rd-4th and manageable situations. They don't rely on their QB to make accurate passes deep down field every play. These teams have their QB make those throws on 3rd-4th and manageable situations, when the defense is on their heels. The Predators have continually had trouble with this concept. They have flashes of doing it well. But against good teams the game plan goes awry early and they try to continually force deep passes in an effort to get back in the game in a single play. But it doesn't work that way. So far this season the Predators have shown they have two players that can make the first defender miss in #11 Brown and #33 Price. They also have shown they have two receivers that can catch passes down field and on the sidelines in #2 Long and #45 Price. They also have a utility player who has shown he can do both and pass as well in #8 Wagar. The Predators offense is actually playing its best ball ever. But they need to take it to another level. They found a solid play today that #8 Wagar said "it really got the O flowing," and he was certainly right. The Predators ran the same play over and over and moved the ball down field effortlessly. Yes, it is true they didn't score on those series, but it showed them another plan of attack that's effective to use against good teams. One thing they saw tonight is they can be effective throwing short early to #11 and #33, getting yards after catch, putting them in 3rd-4th and manageable situations. Then they can open up slants, posts, outs, comebacks to #2 and #45 with what ever the defense is giving them because the defense is closing in on the #11 and #33 short routes, making passes easier to for #7 Brown. Is what they found tonight the answer to their prays, probably not, but they are continually getting better because they pick up a clue or two every time they play. And the defense always gets left out of these blogs more than the offense. That's because they are playing very well the last three weeks. They played solid again tonight as usually and #1 Clark, #10 Piskac and #52 Oberhaus effort did not go unnoticed, as they play primarily on defense.
The Predators are currently 2-3 and for now hold the final playoff spot. After this week finishes out who knows where they'll be in the rankings, but it is shaping up that the final playoff team will have five wins when the season comes to a close. And with rematches against Gunners and Bumslingers in the final five games, makes next weeks battle against the Salvidors even bigger. They are a Highland based team like the Predators and we certainly all know what happened the last time the Predators faced a Highland based team.....
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