Week 2 Game Preview: LAS VEGAS OUTLAWS (1-0) @ MEMPHIS MANIAX (1-0)

LAS VEGAS OUTLAWS (1-0) @ MEMPHIS MANIAX (1-0)
Sunday, February 11, 2001 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Liberty Bowl at Memorial Stadium
TV: UPN

LAS VEGAS OUTLAWS NOTES

- Las Vegas rolls into the Liberty Bowl after an impressive opening performance in the form of a 19-0 blowout of the NY/NJ Hitmen last Saturday night in front of a sold-out Sam Boyd Stadium. The Outlaws built up the 19-point lead before half time and then let the defense settle in and keep the visitors off the board the rest of the night.

- QB Ryan Clement, who started for the injured Chuck Clements, threw for two scores with no interceptions, completing 13 of 28 passes for 188 yards in the win.

- Eight outlaws players caught passes Saturday, but Vegas will need more out of WR Mike Furrey than his one catch for 33 yards.

- The Vegas defense showed its prowess for getting to the QB, sacking the helpless Hitmen quarterbacks six times and picking off two NY/NJ passes.

- The Outlaws will need to establish more of a ground game, as they were held to 91 yards on 27 carries as a team. Rod Smart led the team with 13 carries for 46 yards.

- Smart’s 46 yards were not as noticeable as the back of his jersey, which read “He Hate Me.” Smart uses the phrase to motivate himself, as the RB envisions opponents, coaches and even teammates hatred of his skill. Before the game, Smart looks across at the other bench and says to himself, “He hate me. That guy hate me. When I run all over their butts, they’re all gonna hate me.”

MEMPHIS MANIAX NOTES

- The Maniax play their home opener Sunday at the Liberty Bowl, hosting the Las Vegas outlaws in a battle of 1-0 teams. Memphis opened the season with the lone road win of the opening weekend, dropping the Birmingham Thunderbolts, 22-20, at Legion Field.

- Running back Rashaan Salaam lived up to his Heisman Trophy reputation, busting up the Birmingham defense for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.

- The Maniax hope to debut WR Alvin Harper, who missed the opener with a groin strain. The veteran wideout is questionable for Sunday’s game.

- After nine seasons as an assistant in the NFL and 13 years as an assistant at the college level, Maniax head coach Kippy Brown made his head-coaching debut in winning fashion on Sunday and was awarded the game ball by his coaching staff and players.

- Athletic QB Marcus Crandell may need all of his ability to move in and out of the pocket on Sunday against a tough Las Vegas defense. Crandell, who starts over Jim Druckenmiller, completed 11 of 19 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown on Sunday. He did throw one pick, but it was a “Hail Mary” into the end zone at the end of the first half.

[Enforcers at Xtreme | Demons at Rage | Bolts at Hitmen | Outlaws at Maniax]

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