After Further Review - Orlando

After Further Review, Game Two, vs Orlando

The Cobras carried the momentum of their win against Albany all the way home to the Greensboro Coliseum for the home opener of the 2022 season.  Following a similar strategy of building up a big lead, and then milking the clock on both sides of the ball.  This was a great 48-26 win for the Cobras as they take their record to (2-0), while Orlando falls to (1-1).  A lot of great performances in all three phases of the game.  Time to review the tape.

Let’s start with the Offense.

As we talked last week in this segment, the offense was showing a lot of firepower, but had room for improvement, and that is just what the Cobras got.  Last week the offense turned the ball over three times, this week it was just once, on a great hit by Orlando’s Delvon Randall on James Summers that caused the ball to pop loose and was recovered by Josh Jenkins for the Predators.  The great part of last night was just how efficient the offense was (other than some delay of game penalties).  In the NAL rushing yards and TDs aren’t really that common, but the Cobras combined for four rushing TDs, tying a team record for a game (at Maine 4/14/18 and at Jax 7/22/21) from four different players.  Zack Brown had 23 yards to lead the team in rushing, as well as a rushing TD.  Jonathan Bane, James Summers and Micah Robinson all had rushing TDs too.  Jonathan Bane completed 69% of his passes going 18-26-0 for 211 yards and three passing TDs.  DJ Myers had 47 of those receiving yards to lead the team and Kendrick Ings, Lance Evans and Zack Brown had the receiving TDs.  In the fourth quarter the Cobras ate up over five minutes of clock in their 8 play 30-yard TD drive, killing the clock when it mattered and this time scoring. This was just another all around, great performance by this unit.

Next, we look at the Defense.

Last week Micheaux Robinson was the team’s leading tackler, this week it was another Robinson leading the tackle parade as Micah Robinson led all players with seven tackles, to go along with a sack.  Tre Long was tied for second with Zack Brown with six tackles each.  Long also added his second interception in two weeks, ending a scoring drive for Orlando with a pick in the back of the end zone.  Rakeem Cato, the QB for the Predators was running for his life most of the game, he was sacked twice (Larry Ford with the second sack on fourth down to kill a drive in the first quarter) and finished the game with only 113 yards passing, completing only 55% of his passes, going 16-29-1 and only two touchdowns in the air.  Jeremiah Stovall (5), DJ Myers (4) and James (4) round out the top 5 tacklers for the Cobras last night.  The Cobras combined for four Tackles for Loss, and four pass break ups.  The Cobras defense did a great job in the fourth quarter, when Orlando needed points in a hurry, the defense forced them into an either play drive that took almost six minutes of the clock.  Even the Cobras defense can play ball control.  The defense only allowed 133 yards for the entire game. Overall, the defense was spectacular in the home opener.

Now to special teams,

This was a bit of a mixed bag again.  The Special Teams did not allow a kick return for a TD, but you could tell the strategy in the second half was to keep the ball away from the Predator returners.  Also, two big run backs by Joe Powell on missed FGs gave the Cobras back the ball at midfield on both occasions.  TC Stevens was rock solid on PATs, going 6-7, which is amazing in itself as the snaps on the first two were saved at the last second and yet he still calmly put them right through the middle of the uprights.

Ironman rules:  Looks like the coaching staff got the kinks out of the armor after an odd first week, as there were no substitution errors last night, so that is definitely a good sign going forward.

Head Coach Josh Resignalo had this to say after reviewing the tape, “It’s hard to not be excited about a win, but we played pretty flat throughout.  Some miscues on offense and on defense.  There was one point the defensive coaches were hot at the DBs. I came over jumping in on them as well to back up my coaches. Then I pulled Coach Green and Coach Yarborough aside and said keep grinding and stay on them, we’ve only gave up 12 points and we are fussing at them, and we laughed.  Having only 12 points in the arena game towards the end of 3rd quarter going into 4th is not very common. Overall, Orlando scored four TDs on four mistakes from defense.  We literally could have recorded our 4th shutout as an organization and being the 3rd time we held Orlando to ZERO!  That is why we still have some things to iron out as a whole.  When we do, we will be a very tough team to face.  I am really happy with how the team is coming together and how they fight for one another.  The need to work on some things is not negative at all.  We as an organization demand the best from one another.  That by itself is why this team is going to be pretty special.  On to week 3 for another chance at being 1-0.  We need the Triad to come out and support this team.  Let’s make the Snake Pit rocking Saturday night on May 7th!”

So that is two weeks of the Cobras meeting their goal of going 1-0 for the week.  The third attempt will be this Saturday, May 7, as the Cobras (2-0) host their rivals the Jacksonville Sharks (0-2), who lost in OT for the second week ago, this time at home to the Albany Empire 61-60.  With these two teams though you can typically throw the records out of the window, because these games are always exciting, which is why we need your help at the Snake Pit!!!  Single game tickets on sale now at Ticketmaster and Carolinacobras.com and of course you can call 336-455-7232 to get both single game, as well as season tickets NOW!