Playoffs Information (Outdated)
If you are a season ticket holder for the Outlaws, you should have
received your order form for the playoffs and The Big Game At The
End (Championship Game); you can pay for two games (playoff &
Championship) to sit in your existing seats, and you can also place
orders for additional seats. If you choose not to purchase
your seats for these games, then they will be open for public sale
on March 30 (don't hold your breath for very many open seats).
Additional seats purchased will be deducted from the March 30 public
sale offering, and probably won't be near your existing seats.
According to the order forms, however, if the Outlaws fail to host
either (or both) games, then your purchase will be credited towards
next year's season tickets purchase.
According to the XFL, the playoffs will be held the weekend following
the final game (Week #10). The #1 East team will host the
#2 West team, and the #1 West team will host the #2 East team.
So, if that were played out following Week #7, the first game would
be Orlando hosting Las Vegas, and the second game would be Los Angeles
hosting New York/New Jersey. In order for the Outlaws to host
the playoff game, they HAVE to win against the Xtreme, as well as
our remaining two division rivals San Francisco (April 1) and Memphis
(April 7). So be sure to get out there and support your Outlaws
so we can host the playoff game!
OutlawsFANatic himself will be in Los Angeles on March 24 for the
game between the Outlaws and the Xtreme; if you're going, be sure
to drop me a line to let me know where you're sitting! Section
5, Row 20, seats 12-14.
Wondering what happened to the West-coast offense of the Outlaws,
or the offense entirely? As stated below, the theory of West-coast
offenses favor the pass over the run, and favor backup ("dump-off"
or "dump") throws to the tight ends and running backs
when the wide receivers are covered downfield. Apparently
what has plagued the Outlaws is the inconsistency at QB; with poor
reads and poor throws, the defenses are stacking the line of scrimmage
against the run, and increasing pressure on the QB with an intense
pass rush, which forces the tight ends and running backs to focus
on blocking instead of going out for a pass. With increased
pressure on the Outlaws QB, the defenses have been successful in
defeating the Outlaws' offensive schemes.
After Week 3, the Outlaws searched for stability and production
at QB, and hope to have found it in Mark Grieb, a former NFL-Europe
and Arena Football League star. The coaches have confidence
that Grieb will make better reads and throws to receivers, giving
them time to gain yards after the catch, and truly stretch out the
defensive secondary; stretching out the secondary should relieve
the pass rush pressure and finally allow the tight ends and running
backs to release and go out for passes as well, increasing the Outlaws'
offensive threat (which has been fairly non-existent to this point).
The Outlaws run a modified West-coast type of offense, which favors
the pass over the run; in fact, this type of offense uses the pass
to set up the run. Ideally, this type of offense runs passing
plays for gains of 5-10 yards' gain each, and then when the defense
is concentrating on the pass they can run the ball as a surprise.
Look for dump passes and other deliveries to the running backs out
of the backfield, and heavy involvement of the tight ends.
The Outlaws also like to throw deep to anyone that is open, and
the speed of the Outlaws receivers allows them to do this.
"Traditional" offenses favor the run over the pass, and
like to pound the defenses with a strong running game; the offense
would usually only pass in these schemes when either they are forced
to, or when they have successfully worn down the defense and can
throw at will.
On defense, the Outlaws run a modified 4-3 with a Cover-2 "look".
The safeties line up about 7-8 yards off the line of scrimmage and
most everyone else lines up in a 4-3, dependent upon what the offense
is showing them. If it appears that the offense is backed
up in a long yardage situation, then the safeties can back up into
a Cover-2, where they are 12-15 yards from the scrimmage line.
The 4-3 is tough to run against, and the Outlaws specifically selected
the current defensive backs for their speed, intelligence, and toughness;
play-actions and draws rarely fool them. The Outlaws like
their strength against the run; their speedy and smart corners/safeties
stick to receivers like glue, essentially placing a stranglehold
on the offense until the defensive linemen can collapse the pocket.
Head Coach Jim Criner has coaching in his blood. All three
of his brothers are also coaches, his son Mark is the Outlaws' Defensive
Coordinator, and Jim's nephew Scott is the Outlaws' Receivers Coach.
Jim's father, Denver Criner, can frequently be seen on the sidelines
at Outlaws practices and scrimmages.
On January 25, 2001, Scott Criner and his wife became the proud
parents of their son Matthew. Congratulations!
Chris Chukwuma ("Chuckwagon") pronounces his last name
chuk-WOO-muh.
Former Outlaws Receiver Killed in Car Crash
On 02-13-2001, the AP reports the death of former Outlaws (Training
Camp) receiver Donald Sellers in a car crash. Sellers was
returning to Arizona from Las Vegas when he lost control of his
vehicle on US93, was struck by another car, and was ejected.
Sellers was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sellers was a former college QB & NFL player; he showed a lot
of promise in the Outlaws' January training camp. He was released
to resolve some legal matters in Arizona, and had he been acquitted
or the charges dropped, he would have had a good chance of rejoining
the Outlaws' roster. |