[MIJB#19]

Merchantmen At Forth Worth Fury Preview
After a good start of the season, the Maassluis Merchantmen have had a minor setback and lost two straight home games for the first time since the horrendous 1-15 season in 2004. Coming up is a series of three road games, with two games in the States seperated by an all-important game at the Paris Musketeers. But as noted, first comes a different game, a game at the Fort Worth Fury. The Merchanten are 2-0 on the road so far, while the Fury have an 0-6 overall record. The Merchantmen even lead the head-to-head series 2-0 and yet there's still doubt on success. But why?

The why part is easy, the Merchantmen have a few injuries going on. Granted, the whole league is getting plagued by sore knees and influenza epidemics all the time, but the Merchantmen have only one, maybe two, irreplecable player: Charles Gomez. Gomez is the hearth of the defense, he breaks through the opposing offensive line to either stuff the running back or sack the quarterback. And if he doesn't makie the play, at least he keeps two or three linemen busy, givinf teammates room to make a play. Gomez has a sore shoulder and could play with some injections, but the all-important game might make the team sit him.

No Gomez, no glory. But not for the Fury. In Fort Worth, people are getting used to losing and this season with a new quarterback making plays, it isn't looking like it will be their first winning record season. Shawn Jahn may be a second year player, but he was so green as a rookie, the Fury didn't dare to put him on the field. And now in his second season, the former #17 overall pick is so far winless. With a completion percentage of just over 50, less than 200 yards per game and a 1-4 touchdown-interception ratio in five games, Jahr hasn't set the world on fire at all.

Much different is the story of a fellow first round pick second year quarterback. Louie Flannery has been showing great things for the Merchantmen so far. The fans and staff would be in love with 'Flan', if it wasn't for his on going struggles to avoid interceptions. With 7 of 174 pass attempts intercepted, Flannery sees his quarterback rating butchered to just below 76, despite completing 7.6 yards per attempt and having a touchdown pass per game. But this Monday, 'Flan' has a land mark game. He's going to tie the infamous 'Fumblin Justin' in games started for the Merchantmen. Flannery needs three touchdowns and no interceptions to tie the fourth stringer's all-time stats. Otherwise he'll only be out-doing him in yards (about 10 yards per game) and completion percentage (about 57 versus 51 percent).

But despite Flannery's minor struggles, the bigger question in Maassluis' offense so far is why Randy Harris has dropped his production. Harris has a career low yards per game average (60 yards) and scored only one rushing touchdown in five games.Of course, the total of 16 yards in the last game against the Vicksburg Vipers didn't help. And the more aggressive passing game doesn't help Harris to get the carries needed to rack up 100 yards in a game. Not to mention he's sharing time with Rodger Mowery, the team's off-season acquired 1,000-yard back.

This week, it won't be an easy game for 'Flan' and Harris. With 2005 All IHOF'er Ellis Mier, Jeffrey Lund and former #9 pick Joel Woodcock, the Fury have a strong defensive line. Their only hope is to see the offensive line play as good as they have been so far, above expectations well. If that happenes, Harris and the group of receivers can try to exploit the relative weak linebackers corps and the injury plagued secondary. The Fury's top two defensive backs, James King and Wyatt Harness are listed as injured, but could play, if needed.

On offense, the Fury provide Shawn Jahr with running back William 'Chunder' Wood, who racked up 4.8 yards per game so far. With ex-Merchantmen fullback Mark Burger paving the way, Wood seems to have a career year in an off-year for the whole team. But sadly for Wood and Jahr, offensive tackle James Jones is out with an lebow injury, while the other tackle Andre Brookshire is questionable with an abdominal strain. Maybe rookie wide receiver Jonathan Adams can live up to expectations. So far the two-times traded rookie has had 7 receptions for 64 yards in 5 games. Playing versus a relative good Merchantmen secondary, it won't be likely for Adams to have his break-out game yet.

Going into tonight's game, the Fury are clearly the underdogs being winless and never having beaten the Merchantmen before. But the Merchantmen have struggled lately and the two home losses were both pretty much sealed going into the tow-minute warning. But on the other hand, the Merchantmen could be detirmined to set things right and get back into the form that made them 3-0 starters. The orange-white-and-blue are ready for their first big win of the season and want to make it reality against a team that lost four of six games by a combined nine points. But of all people, 'Fumblin Justin' put it in the best perspective: "The 1-15 Merchantmen of 2004 lost eight times by one score. The only ticket to a winning record is winning the close games. We're 6-4 with Flannery in close games, Louie will tie my stats and lead us to 4-2 and back into the division title race." We can only hope so...