It’s time to see what the Pittsburgh Power (3-7) are made of this week as they hit the road to take on the San Jose SaberCats (7-3).
The Power saw a promising game against the Jacksonville Sharks fall apart with two fumbles by Julian Talley and two interceptions by Steven Sheffield. This gave the Sharks all the extra possessions they needed to defeat the Power 70-48.
Steven Sheffield continues to show some progress as the starting quarterback for the Power. Last week he was a perfect 9 for 9 in the first half and had the Power down only 4 at halftime. He threw two interceptions in the second half but one was a fabulous play by the defender and the second was a desperation pass with the Power down big. If the Power can curtail the turnovers in this one it should be a different story.
The SaberCats will be without starting quarterback Russ Michna who was knocked out of last week’s 75-45 loss to the Spokane Shock. Mitch Mustain will be the next man up for the SaberCats and make his first start in the AFL. The former USC product stands 6’2” and will be eager to show what he can do. Last week in relief of Michna he completed 14 of 25 passes (56%) for 173 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. The Power defense needs to take advantage of his inexperience and force him to make some mistakes.
Julian Talley has had a strong impact on the Power offense with 18 catches for 216 yards and five touchdowns in just two games played. His four touchdowns in the Sharks game tied a franchise record for receiving touchdowns in a game. He can definitely be an impact player in the AFL he just has to hold onto the ball. Mike Washington should once again be one of Pittsburgh’s stars in this matchup as Sheffield will rely on his experience and production. Keep an eye on Oderick Turner as he works his way into the mix at receiver with P.J. Berry and Shamar Graves still battling injuries.
Former Power wideout Jason Willis headlines the San Jose receiving corps in all three categories with 69 receptions for 839 yards and 19 touchdowns. The 6’1” receiver from Oregon also plays both ways on defense as a mac linebacker. Huey Whittaker is another player who is making an impact on both sides of the ball for the SaberCats. He has 50 catches for 556 yards and 13 touchdowns along with three interceptions this year, two returned for touchdowns.
The Power secondary will be eager to make some big plays going up against the inexperienced Mustain. Sergio Gilliam leads the team with three interceptions and could add to that total in this one. This may also be a chance for a breakout game for Alvin Ray Jackson who led the league with 14 interceptions last year. Teams have schemed away from him all season so he is anxious to make an impact. Chris LeFlore continues to shine with tight coverage and has been a strong weapon on kick returns for the Power.
A standout on defense for the SaberCats is 8th year AFL man Clevan Thomas who has had a huge impact for the San Jose defense this year. He rejoined the team after four years away from the game and has eight interceptions so far. In terms of a pass rush, San Jose has Jason Stewart with five sacks, Jabari Fletcher with four, and keep an eye on former Power defensive lineman Terrance Carter who has 3.5 sacks.
Overall the key matchup in this game is the inexperienced Mustain taking on the Power defense. If he adjusts well early and avoids mistakes then San Jose should be able to utilize homefield advantage completely. If he struggles, Pittsburgh will need to capitalize. A win here could be a huge confidence booster for the Power as they try to hold onto the fourth playoff spot in the American Conference. It should be a great game so give it a look.
Photo Courtesy of Pittsburgh Power Facebook page.
