Week 9 Game Preview: ORLANDO RAGE (7-1) @ BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS (2-6)

ORLANDO RAGE (7-1) @ BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS (2-6)
Saturday, March 31, 2001 – 8:00 p.m. (ET)
Legion Field
TV: NBC Bonus Coverage

ORLANDO RAGE TEAM NOTES
OUTLOOK
The Eastern Division Champion Orlando Rage (7-1) travel to Legion Field to face the Birmingham Thunderbolts after nipping division rivals New York/Jersey, 17-12, to complete an unblemished home record (5-0) at the Citrus Bowl.

GAMEPLAN
Going into the final two games of the season, Coach Galen Hall is a bit concerned about the Rage’s running attack heading into the playoffs. After playing some of the better defenses in the league the past two weeks, the Rage will attempt to get the running game going on Birmingham’s last-ranked rush defense with RBs Brian Shay, Derrick Clark, and Michael Black. Coach Hall is pleased with the performance of QB Brian Kuklick and if necessary, plans for Kuklick to use his arm strength to throw to big targets Kevin Swayne and Dialleo Burks, who attained 133 yards last week in a dual effort. On defense, the goal is to confuse first-time QB Graham Leigh and not allow him to have a good day throwing to star WRs Stepfret Williams and Quincy Jackson. The Rage want to force the Bolts into a ground game.

NEWS AND NOTES
This week’s game marks the second of two regular season games between the Rage and Birmingham Thunderbolts. Orlando thoroughly dominated the first meeting, 30-6, as the Rage jumped out to a 17-0 lead at the half and cruised to the victory. Orlando’s defense had a shutout going until the 1:54 mark of the 4th quarter when Quincy Jackson hauled in a 36-yard scoring pass from Casey Weldon to prevent the whitewashing….After struggling in the first three weeks on extra point attempts (2 for 11, 18%, last in XFL), the Orlando Rage has emerged as one of the better team’s in the league on extra point efficiency. The Rage have converted eight of their last 14 attempts (57%) and now rank 3rd in the league in extra point efficiency at 40%

OFF THE FIELD
DL Bill Duff attended a professional wrestling school called the “Monster Factory.” Bill appeared on several cards along the East Coast, where he wrestled under the name “The Urban Legend.”

BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS TEAM NOTES
OUTLOOK
The Bolts, losers of its last five contests yet still not mathematically out of the playoff race, return home to Legion Field to take on the Rage. The Bolts were shut out for the first time this season when they lost 13-0 to the Chicago Enforcers. If the Bolts lose this week, they will be eliminated.

GAMEPLAN
Coach Gerry DiNardo is concerned about his offense that has not scored a touchdown in 10 quarters and he does not want too much pressure being put on the defense. This week, the offense will be without QB Jay Barker, who was knocked out of the Chicago game with a concussion. Coach DiNardo has named backup QB Graham Leigh the starter, with Mark Washington backing him up. Last week, Leigh threw for 102 yards and three interceptions in a relief role. Look for Leigh to continue to throw to WR Stepfret Williams, who caught nine passes for 152 yards against Chicago. In the running game, the Bolts will need a big day from RB James Bostic. to take the load off Leigh and the passing attack. On defense, the Bolts boast the number two ranked pass defense in the league and its rush defense will be led by LB James Willis, who leads the league in tackles with 59.

NEWS AND NOTES
In Barker’s absence Graham Leigh will be calling signals against one of his former coaches. Leigh played for Orlando coach Galen Hall and the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe… Neither Birmingham nor Orlando will play Saturday’s game with the quarterback that was under center Feb. 24. Both Birmingham’s Casey Weldon and Orlando’s Jeff Brohm are out for the season after suffering right shoulder injuries….WR Stepfret Williams set individual and team highs at Chicago last week, hauling in nine passes for 152 yards. Williams continues to lead the XFL with 743 yards receiving and is second in the league with 45 catches…. DE Charles Preston owns the team lead with six tackles for loss, followed closely by outside linebacker Keith Franklin with four. Preston and Franklin have combined to make 45% of the Bolts stops behind the line of scrimmage, resulting in 31 yards in losses.

OFF THE FIELD
Backup quarterback Graham Leigh’s father is assistant director of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University.

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