Where is Christopher Lloyd when you need him?
Just when it seems like the Pittsburgh Power’s prayers were answered at quarterback, Steven Sheffield came out in front of the home crowd and laid a real stinker as the Power fell to the Tampa Bay Storm 62-34.
Maybe it’s time to start believing in other beings and I would like to suggest the Power faithful start flapping their arms to call for angels to come and help this team. It might make for a feel-good Disney movie called “Angels In The Arena.” You have to wonder if divine intervention is the only option left. I’m not sure what else to think right now because it’s like the team is afraid of building on success.
Sheffield finished the night 23 for 44 with 276 yards and 3 TD’s, plus a rushing touchdown. He also threw four interceptions and had a few more easy ones dropped or negated by penalty. One week after a thrilling 53-48 victory over the Philadelphia Soul, the Power are back to looking for answers.
Let’s be fair for a moment. Coach Stingley confirmed that there were injuries to James Robinson and Shamar Graves on the first series which certainly didn’t help matters, but Sheffield was constantly throwing to receivers who were double covered. I am still trying to wrap my head around the decision to throw deep to an offensive lineman (Jason Thomas) who showed the kind of hands you expect from a lineman and deflected the ball up into the air for an easy interception.
Tampa Bay has a strong secondary and they certainly made a lot of plays in this one and given the way their offense was clicking, it probably didn’t matter what the Power did on offense. De’Audra Dix hauled in two interceptions, James Harrell returned an interception for a touchdown, and Chris Smith also pulled in an interception while leading the team in tackles. Overall the Storm won the turnover battle 5-0.
Adrian McPherson continued a strong 2013 campaign by finishing 20 of 22 for 240 yards, 6 TD’s and added a TD on the ground. Two incomplete passes for an entire game is just ridiculous proficiency, but the Power defense really struggled to defend the Storm trio of Michael Lindsey, Greg Ellingson and Joe Hills. Tampa Bay didn’t even face a third or fourth down until one of their last drives.
Pittsburgh clearly missed a healthy P.J. Berry, who sat out for the second straight game due to a hip pointer. He could have definitely helped a depleted receiving corps tonight, and I’d like to think he might have been able to get a little more return yardage for the Power.
What’s really a shame is the fact that Orlando and Cleveland both lost their respective games, so Pittsburgh lost a chance to move up in the race for the 4th playoff spot in the American Conference. Yes that’s right, even at 2-6 the Power are smack dab in the middle of the playoff race. I’ll take the positives where I can find them.
I still think Steven Sheffield can help this team win games, and this may have just been the case of running into a far superior team. I haven’t seen a secondary play that strongly all year, and Tampa Bay’s receivers seemed to be open for easy passes the entire game. I do think a lot of credit needs to go to the Storm receivers. However tonight was a bad sign of decision making by the new Power quarterback and he really needs to play more like he did against Philadelphia.
If he doesn’t play better, the Power truly do not have a prayer.
Photo courtesy of Pittsburgh Power Facebook Page
