PIFL Nashville Venom American Conference Championship Game Media Guide

2014 Professional Indoor Football League American Conference Finals Official Nashville Venom Media Guide

Columbus Lions 7-4 vs.

Nashville Venom 10-2

Venom Players of the Game and PIFL Players of the Week

Venom Players of the Game voted on by the coaches: Week 1: WR Jordan Jolly Week 2: WR George Murray Week 4: DB Will Johnson Week 6: WR Phillip Barnett Week 7: Barnett Week 8: Team Week 9: DB Jaime Graham Week 10: Center Chris Thompson Week 11: OL B.J. Taylor Week 12: DL Walter Thomas Week 13: LB Cobran’i Mixon Week 14: QB A.J. McKenna

Week 14 Player of the Game QB A.J. McKenna

Venom PIFL Players of the Week voted on by the league: Week 2:DB Corry Stewart Week 4: QB Alex Carder Kicker Garrett Morgan Week 8: WR Jordan Jolly LB Anthony Kelly Week 10:QB Charles McCullum Week 11:Kicker Christian Reed Week 12:WR Jordan Jolly DB Kenny Veal Week 13:LB Cobran’i Mixon Week 14: Corry Stewart

Week 14 PIFL Defensive Player of the Week Nashville Venom Defensive Back Corry Stewart

Venom Defensive Line Prides Themselves on Pressure NASHVILLE- One of Nashville Venom Head Coach Billy Back favorite phrases is ‘pressure busts pipes’.

That saying holds true for his defensive line. In arena football there is not much of a running game. The game is predicated on having a good quarterback that have fast receivers and to get points on the board. The Venom have made it tough on the QBs around the Professional Indoor Football League because of a group of guys, led by James Frazier, Wayne Daniels and Walter Thomas that bring havoc to every snap. If the three need a rest then Brian Ellis, Kenny Davis, B.J. Taylor and Stanlee Bradley have stepped in and the team doesn’t miss a beat. The group takes on the aggressive demeanor of Head Coach Billy Back and Defensive Coordinator Chris Taylor, yet still use a pay attention to detail Defensive linemen Wayne Daniels, Walter Thomas and approach that their Line Coach Robert Brockley, who is a retired United States Army Green Beret, has.

James Frazier

“Those guys are some of the some of the hardest workers we have here,” said Coach Back. “Their toughness and ability to get pressure on the quarterback has been a key to our success on defense. What I like is their consistency. It is a testament to how Coach Taylor and Coach Brockley work them in practice.”

Frazier, Daniels and Thomas, who have started most of the year, are familiar with each other. The trio played together last year for Coach Back for the Indoor Football League’s Texas Revolution. The three also played for major collegiate programs. Frazier starred for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Daniels for the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs and Thomas at Oklahoma State. Playing at this level of football has is tough because most guys live in other cities so is seemingly difficult to get needed continuity. The three Venom players have dispelled that assumption.

We are like brothers to be honest,” said Frazier. “We have made each other accountable when we are away from each other. When we get on the field we click. We give each other a look and Wayne Daniels we know it’s time to get going. The coaches make it easy. They are intense and we try to match their intensity. Once Coach Back told me that he was coming to #19 Nashville I knew I wanted to come too. It has been great.”

Ellis and Davis also played for major programs. Ellis, out of the University of Texas, signed with the team on May 28. Since then he has contributed 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in only five games played. Davis, who starred on the offensive line at the University of South Carolina, has been injured of late. He along with Taylor and Bradley are still learning the position. Taylor and Bradley are also converted offensive linemen. The group is close knit and has known one another in some way over the years.

“Seeing all of these guys when I first got to Nashville was a plus for me,” said Daniels. It makes it easy for us because we played together in Texas. We have been here before and know how to win. We ultimately want to win a championship. It is cool being 10-2 but we have more work to do.”

The line has made life easy for the back line of the defense. The Venom defense leads the PIFL with 26 interceptions. Their first job is to keep the offensive line off of the linebackers . LB Cabran’i Mixon has been outspoken about how his success is contributed to the defensive line’s play.DBs Scooter Rogers and Corry Stewart are tied for the team lead in interceptions with eight. In a league that the rules are tilted towards scoring this group has shutout teams in seven quarters so far this season. Throughout the league there are great QBs that have fallen short because of the group’s ability to dominate offensive lines all season. They are not satisfied as of yet.

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“I am ready to get after it again,” said Thomas. “I love playing with these because we have the same fire. We are also interchangeable. We up some so the offense can’t get used to us. Our technique is sound and we challenge each other good. It is like a competition to see who can to the quarterback first. We are all hungry. This isn’t a joke to us; we want to win the championship.”

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#19 Wayne Daniels

#77 Walter Thomas

#7 James Frazier

#42 Kenny Davis

#33 Brian Ellis

Nashville Venom Players From Local High Schools

#14 Jaime Graham #38 Christian Reed Whites Creek High School Station Camp High School

#18 Kenny Walton Lebanon High School

#20 Corry Stewart Father Ryan High School

#16 Will Johnson Pearl-Cohn High School

#99 Stanlee Bradley Antioch High School

#3 Ernest Ramsey Maplewood High School

Preview of Columbus Lions at Nashville Venom WHAT: The Professional Indoor Football League American Conference Finals Game between the Columbus Lions (8-5) and the Nashville Venom (10-2).

WHERE: Nashville Municipal Auditorium 417 4th Avenue North Nashville, Tennessee 37201 WHEN: Saturday, July 5, 2014 7 p.m. CST HISTORY: Nashville is 2-0 against Columbus winning 58-44 on May 25th in Nashville and 60-56 on June 14th in Columbus TALE OF THE TAPE When Columbus has the ball: Columbus is third in the league in total offense and second in scoring offense. Nashville is second in the league in total defense and is only giving up 42.1 points per game which is tops in the league.

Rushing: Columbus RB Kendrick Perry leads the league in rushing yards and is tied for second in rushing TDs (15). In the second game against Nashville in Columbus, Perry scored three TDs. The Venom defense held him to nine yards in Nashville. Nashville’s defense is the stingiest against the run in the PIFL. The final two games they played against three out of the top six rushers in the PIFL so they should be prepared.

Passing: Columbus QB Luke Halpin has a record of 2-1 this season with his lone loss coming against Nashville. He earned the PIFL Offensive Player of the Week in Week 14. In all three games, he has led his team to 60 points or more. Halpin has thrown 11 TDs and one interception. WR James Fortson leads his team with 66 receptions and 921 yards. His 22 TDs ranks him third in the league among WRs. Perry has been lethal catching passes out of the backfield. His 10 TDs give him a combined 25 TDs. Former Tennessee Titan Chris Davis has made 14 catches in three games this season. Nashville’s passing defense has grabbed a league leading 26 INTs. The team credits a relentless pass rush that has been in the faces of QBs all season. DBs Scooter Rogers and Corry Stewart are tied for second with eight picks. Stewart is the Week 14 PIFL Defensive Player of the Week. He also was honored in Week 2.

When Nashville has the ball: Nashville is leading the league total offense and in scoring offense. Columbus is last in total defense and sixth in scoring defense.

Rushing: Nashville running game is lethal around the goal line. They are third in the league with 25 TDs and boast three players in the top 10 in rushing TDs. Mack Ogletree leads the team with nine. QB Charles McCullum has scored six times and FB Stanlee “Dump Truck” Bradley is a 315 pound wrecking ball that has also scored six TDs. Columbus has the third best defense against the run in the league.

Passing: McCullum leads the PIFL in total offense. In six games he has thrown for 30 TDs and only four INTs. McCullum has a plethora of receivers to throw to. WRs Jordan Jolly (1,107) and Phillip Barnett (1,047) both eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark. Barnett leads the league with 28 TDs receiving. His 79 receptions place him tied for third in the PIFL. Jolly is leading the league in yards per catch at a 14.4 clip. WR George Murray (51 receptions 554 yards and 11 TDs) has been steady all season. He has also stepped to play QB when needed. Ogletree has stepped in and caught 34 passes for 358 yards and four TDs. Columbus DBs Roshawn Marshall and Damien Daniels have combined for 18 interceptions on the season. Daniels leads the league with 14 pass breakups. They have both scored returned two interceptions for TDs.

Special Teams: Two of the PIFL’s best kickers will be on the field. Columbus Kicker leads all kickers with 113 points. He has 21 Unos with six coming in one game. Nashville Kicker Christian Reed is money on extra points. The rookie out of Wofford University is kicking at 91% and he has 11 Unos in only seven games. Columbus kick returner Leroy Vann leads the PIFL will 299 kickoff return yards. For Nashville Mack Ogletree has come close to taking one the distance for Nashville on a couple of occasions.

Coaching: Columbus Head Coach Jason Gibson is entering his eighth season and is the only head coach in franchise history. The Lions are 64-34 under Gibson and have made the playoffs in seven out of eight years. Venom Head Coach Billy Back has a career 51-13 record as a Head Coach and a perfect 6-0 record in the playoffs.

Intangibles: One of the most difficult tasks in football is to defeat an opponent three times in one season. Both games have gone down to the wire, with Nashville WR Phillip Barnett making the game saving play in both contests. Columbus is winless in the playoffs in the PIFL so they have a lot to play for. They are on a two game road winning streak. Nashville is on a seven game winning streak and is the top team in the PIFL. No PIFL team has lost a home playoff game.

Defensive Coordinator Chris Taylor Venom Head Coach Billy Back

Get the scoop on your Nashville Venom every Thursday in the Tennessee Tribune at newsstands near you or you can pick one up at the Tribune office 1501 Jefferson Street in Nashville (615)3213268.

Tune-in online to WTNTribune Radio for the Venom Injection Radio Show every Wednesday at 6 p.m.CST. www.tntrib.com.

Columbus Lions #

Nashville Venom

LAST , FIRST NAME

HT

1

Gales, Gerald

WR

2

Marshall, Roshawn

DB

3

Pearcy, Cody

WR

4

Daniels, Damian

DB

WT

COLLEGE

#

LAST , FIRST NAME

HT WT

COLLEGE

5'11 190

West Alabama

2

Ogletree, Mack

WR

5'11 205

Central Missouri

3

Ramsey, Ernest

DB

5’11 200

St. Joe’S College

5'10 170

Huntingdon

4

Jolly, Jordan

WR

6’2

185

Navarro

5'9 185

West Georgia

5

Murray, George

WR

6’2

205

Cincinnati

6’2

6’2

200

Cumberland

5

Morris, Tirone

WR

6'1 195

Florida A&M

6

Rogers, Scooter

DB

196

UL-Lafayette

6

Fortson, Jarmon

WR

6'3 225

North Alabama

7

Frazier, James

DL

6’4

280

Minnesota

7

Camay, Craig

K

6'0 185

UT-Chattanooga

8

Kelly, Anthony

LB

6’4

240

Florida St.

8

Babb, Ryan

LB

6'1 215

Troy

10

Barnett, Phillip

WR

6’2

210

Toledo

9

Alexander, Earl

WR

6'4 215

Alabama

11

Mixon, Cobran'i

LB

6’1

250

Kent St.

11

Hannah, Tito

DL

6'4 285

S. Carolina St.

12

McCullum, Charles

QB

6’3

215

Stillman

13

Willis, Jerry

DL

6'4 288

Florida A&M

14

Graham, Jamie

DB

6’0

190

Vanderbilt

15

Halpin, Luke

QB

6'0 180

Arkansas Tech

16

Johnson, Will

DB

6’2

215

Tennessee Tech

20

Davis, Chris

WR

5'11 185

Florida St.

18

McKenna, AJ

QB

6’4

235

Albany St.

21

Vann, Leroy

DB

5'9 185

Florida A&M

19

Daniels, Wayne

LB

6’3

260

TCU

22

Ross, Marvin

DB

5'11 190

Florida A&M

20

Stewart, Corry

DB

5’9

180

Hanover

24

Perry, Kendrick

FB

6'2 245

SE Louisiana

21

Walton, Kenny

DB

6’2

190

Itawamba CC

34

Washington, Kendrick

DL

6'4 285

Florida A&M

24

Veal, Kenny

DB

5’10

185

Toledo

42

Gnat, Rodney

DL

6'3 250

Louisville

33

Ellis, Brian

DL

6’6

310

Texas

50

Moore, Timothy

OL

6'2 300

Alabama A&M

38

Reed, Christian

K

5’9

170

Wofford

51

Rivers, Justen

LB

6'1 265

E. Kentucky

42

Davis, Kenny

DL

6’4

315

South Carolina

58

Small, Dion

OL

6'3 300

Troy

72

Jackson, Anthony

OL

6’5

350

Arkansas St.

72

Durham, Adam

OL

6'5 310

Jacksonville St.

77

Thomas, Walter

DL

6’7

345

Oklahoma St.

75

Thomas, Brandon

OL

6'5 300

Tulsa

85

Taylor, B.J.

DL

6’3

300

UTChattanooga

92

Scott, Lawon

DL

6'3 300

Ole Miss

90

Thompson, Chris

OL

6’3

305

Houston

99

Albert, Justin

WR

5'9 175

Troy

Bradley, Stanlee

OL

6’2

315

Cumberland

Brunetti, Barry

QB

6'0 225

Ole Miss

Duckery, Zach

QB

6’1

200

Cumberland

Zene, Jeremiah

DL

6'5 340

Concordia

Turnbow, Santino

LB

6'1 250

Cincinnati