Game Preview: Portland Thunder (3-8) vs. Spokane Shock (3-8)

Let’s just call this one #TheStruggle. The Thunder enter the game coming off a four-game losing streak. The Shock have a three-game losing streak of their own. The teams struggled to score in their opening matchup, with Portland securing a four-point win, 47-43.

In that game, Bryce Peila came up with an interception return for a touchdown and a fumble return for a touchdown helping overcome a 29-20 Shock lead at halftime.

Of course, in that game, Mike Washington led the Shock and Jamar Howard led the Thunder in receiving yards. Neither is expected to play. Former Thunder quarterback Danny Southwick is now a former Shock QB as well; he’s landed in Los Angeles and has helped them as they mount a turnaround on their season. Kyle Rowley may be backing up recent acquisition Alex Carder at quarterback for the Thunder.

With a previous matchup that went down to the wire and several differences in lineups since then, combined with mounting losses on the field, both personnel and record-wise, it’s tough to determine who has the advantage this week.

One thing’s for certain: After the recent wins by Los Angeles and Las Vegas, these two teams enter needing a win in order to feel comfortable heading into the final third of the season. Both teams trail the Outlaws by a game and both are ahead of the previously left-for-dead KISS by just a game.

And Duane Brooks will be exciting in the return game. He’s either one or two kick return touchdowns away from an AFL record for return touchdowns in a season. He’s also returned two for touchdowns in each of the past three games (unfortunately, one may count as a fumble recovery because he fumbled (and recovered) right before the line and another was called back on a phantom hold), so it’s not crazy to expect a couple on Sunday.

I said in my picks over on ArenaFan that Spokane would get even for the last game, and that the difference between this week and the last one is that Shox the Fox won’t interfere with their receivers. I won’t be that guy who picks both sides of a game, so I’m picking Spokane to win another tight game, 46-43.

Game Photos: Arizona Rattlers 69, Portland Thunder 42

While I was covering Friday’s game, I was also taking photos. A few of the photos I took are up on Flickr now (it’s just so much easier to batch upload). Includes terrible refereeing, big plays, and fine work by a guy out there on the field for the pizza promotion.

In fact, I liked his action sequence so much I won’t make you go to Flickr to see it.

Game Preview: Thunder vs. KISS

These teams epitomize the old maxim: The best kind of ability is availability. Unfortunately, they’re displaying its validity through their struggles with consistency due to injuries.

The Thunder (2-4) are coming off a bye, which fortuitously arrived after a brutal three-game stretch where they played consecutive road games against the three-time defending champions and both of the league’s currently undefeated teams. With a week of rest, they’ll look to topple the team who they beat to start the season, the Los Angeles KISS (0-7). After playing the Thunder close in Week 1, the KISS have been punching bags for the rest of the league, their smallest margin of defeat being 13 points.

You Can’t Go Home Again (Especially Wearing the Road Team’s Uniform)

Former Thunder QB Danny Southwick was the starter for the Spokane Shock as they visited Portland on April 9. Did his time in training camp help him or the Thunder? Were there any conflicts of interest among his former teammates? Why was he still in Portland throughout the weekend? Find all the answers in my newest article on ArenaFan.

Photos: Portland Thunder 47, Spokane Shock 43

Thunder WR Perez Ashford makes a special teams tackle on Spokane returner Ruschard Dodd-Masters

Shock WR Rashaad Carter ends up trapping the ball in the end zone – the play was initially ruled a touchdown before review overturned the play and gave the Thunder the ball on downs.

Kicker Michael Braunstein was called in on short notice to become the Thunder’s third kicker in three games.

Thunder kick returner Duane Brooks made several huge returns against the Shock. This one ended at the Spokane 7-yard line.

Osagie Odiase trips up Spokane’s Rashaad Carter early in the game.

Spokane’s Rashaad Carter hauls in a TD at the goal line while QB Danny Southwick gets lit up in the backfield.

Thunder DB Allen Chapman fights for an interception to end the first half and avoid a 16-point halftime deficit.

Yes, Jamar Howard scored more touchdowns against the Shock.

Howard also hauled in this reception in the corner of the end zone.

Marquis Jackson welcomed Danny Southwick back to the Moda Center a couple of times on Thursday night.

Marquis Jackson had his second multiple-sack game of the season against the Shock.

V’Keon Lacey stepped up with 10 receptions for 108 yards and this touchdown.

Toward the end of the first half, the Thunder’s defensive line began to get pressure on Southwick, interrupting his rhythm and making the evening more difficult.

Osagie Odiase caps off the game with this pick to stop the final Shock drive.

Bryce Peila picked off his first pass of the season and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown.

Kyle Rowley sets up with plenty of time to find a receiver thanks to his offensive line.

Shock DB Devon Dace came up with a pick, but Kyle Rowley ensured he would not return that interception for a touchdown.

Danny Southwick sets up to throw deep early in the game against the Thunder.

Danny Southwick completed this pass (and the next eight), starting the game on a roll in Portland.

Brandon Tett signals a change as the game turns Portland’s way with Odiase’s clinching INT.

Darron Thomas got into the game with a goal line rush.

Shock WR Mike Washington turned a big gain into a touchdown with some nifty moves against Thunder DB Andre Martin.

Photos: Tampa Bay Storm 54, Portland Thunder 48

This is an effective quarterback sneak and shows why it’s so difficult to stop. As long as those linemen bunch together and move, it’s pretty easy for the QB to fall forward before a defender can reach him.

Jamar Howard makes a great catch despite some uncalled pass interference at the goal line against the Tampa Bay Storm.

Jamar Howard takes a screen pass from one side of the field to the other for an 8-yard gain.

WR Jamar Howard hauls in his second of 15 receptions in the game.

Jamar Howard scores one of his four touchdowns against the Tampa Bay Storm.

Fullback runs are not nearly as effective in and-short situations, as it allows the defense to find seams in the offensive line, and the line has one fewer blocker to try to stop them.

FB John Martinez hurdled TWO Tampa Bay Storm players for the first touchdown of his career.

Andre Martin makes it impossible for the Storm to complete this deep pass.

Sure, this sack by KC Obi didn’t count, as teammate Marquis Jackson was offsides…but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a great effort.

The Storm recovered this onside kick, enabling them to keep the game close at halftime.

Osagie Odiase makes a tackle while the rest of the secondary gets ready to pitch in to stop forward progress.

The offensive line provided a huge pocket for Kyle Rowley on his first completion of the game.

Got a seat on the wall? You’re basically a part of the action – the kid in red in this picture is closer to the tackle than LB Remond Willis (No. 28).

Jamar Howard’s Offseason Workout Plan

While wide receivers Eric Rogers (now in the CFL) and Douglas McNeil (now in the NFL) got the attention that comes with all the touchdowns last year, Jamar Howard was performing at a level rivaling them by the end of the 2014 season.

With those two gone to begin the season in 2015, Howard is now getting those end zone opportunities and putting up putting up numbers that compare favorably to last year’s top performers.

2014, Final 5 games	Howard	McNeil	Other WRs combined
Receptions	39	40	42
Yards	558	443	412
TD	5	15	5

He also put in the work in the offseason to get himself ready to be the No. 1 receiver.

“My offseason was critical. I got in the best shape of my life, I lost 25 pounds – I just know my mind’s set on my ultimate goal, said Howard. “I worked my ass off to get to this point.”

Thunder Head Coach Mike Hohensee agreed: “He came in in tremendous shape. He really reinvented himself in the offseason; he wanted to be the guy we went to, and at this point, he is.”

The program was simple, consisting of a few simple steps:

• Hit the weights. Howard had never considered that a priority before this offseason, and now he’s spending time in the weight room, shedding calories and maintaining muscle mass he’s gained.
• Keep on schedule. Gone are the days where he’d be up late at night and make a run to McDonald’s or other fast food locations. Now he doesn’t eat after 10 p.m. and works on five smaller meals per day. He’ll have a cheat day here and there, but he’s “working out so much it doesn’t really matter.”
• Cut the sweets. He also stopped eating candy and drinking soda. “I love drinking water now,” Howard said.
• Run. From running routes while working out with quarterbacks Darron Thomas and Kyle Rowley to just plain running to build up cardiovascular endurance, he credits running with helping to keep him a step ahead of defenders, especially late in the game.

In addition to having the opportunity to “become unstoppable,” as Hohensee says, both Howard and Coach Hohensee have the same goal for Howard this season.

“I want him to be a champion,” said Hohensee. “I think he’s taken that to heart. Besides being a great receiver, he’s taken a leadership role. A lot of different issues have happened on and off the field with the team, ownership, whatever it is – he’s done a great job handling that. It’s a shame he’s not one of the captains, because he’s one of the guys that’s acting like one.”

For now, performing like a champion includes pushing himself harder than he’s ever pushed in practice, something that he sees his teammates doing along with him.

“I’m pushing myself in practice. I’m practicing a lot harder. I think we all do – we compete,” said Howard. “At practice, the defense doesn’t like us and we don’t like them. But when it comes time for the game, we’re all like brothers. We love each other.”

Howard leads the team with 114 yards receiving and three touchdowns after a star turn against the Los Angeles KISS. He also earned Highlight of the Week honors after catching a pass that sent him flipping over the wall in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. He’ll take the field hoping to exceed even that performance this Friday against the Tampa Bay Storm.