Raptors Lose 5th Straight League Game and Drop to 0-2 on the Season! Muskegon Thunder 44 - Rock River Raptors 36

What has happened to our beloved Rock River Raptors? The Raptors for the past two seasons were labeled as a premiere team in a league that has been dubbed by some as the premiere indoor football league, the United Indoor Football association, or UIF. The Raptors were a powerhouse football team in the UIF, and in each of the past two seasons we easily competed with the other teams in the league, and on many a Saturday night, we dominated them.

While the Raptors made early exits from the playoffs of the past two seasons in the UIF,  the quality of football was very high. Outstanding players were brought in, and exciting things were done on the field. When we had a specific injury or need, it was properly addressed and we marched on smartly. This season seems to be different, and let me point out a few other things that are also different this season, before I comment on what happened in last nights game between the Rock River Raptors and the Muskegon Thunder.

This years Rock River Raptors team looks much different than last years team, and we are not just talking about a few different players here. We have new front office staff, less coaches, different players, a new GM, and the list goes on and on. While the arena the Raptors play in has been recently renovated, the Raptors roster and coaching staff  has not. The roster basically has been stripped of the serious offensive threats and big guns we have had on the field the past few years.

Pictured above GM Tom Crow, OC Jack Phillips Jr. and  Line Coach Todd Allen - all absent this season.

Let's start from the beginning of the end...The Raptors were poised to meet Sioux Falls in last years UIF championship game but we played so poorly in our playoff game against the Bloomington Extreme at home, people were left wondering what the he** happened...Talk in the indoor football forums was that the Raptors were somehow forced out of the MetroCentre early due to construction that was being delayed. We did make an uncharacteristic, outrageous number of turnovers during our playoff game with the Extreme last season, but I did not buy into that conspiracy theory, myself. Instead of buying into theories of the absurd, let us just look at the past few games the Raptors have played, and I think we see a pattern developing here.

July 7, 2007 we lose the final regular season game of the UIF season to the Sioux Falls Storm in Sioux Falls 30-34. Backup QB Jason Murietta played very well in relief of Ben Sankey, who was injured, but the Raptors fell short in the end. This was the last time the Raptors played a solid game of football.

Where is Jason Murietta this season?

July 21, 2007 the Raptors are finally healthy but we throw and fumble the home playoff game away to the Bloomington Extreme at the MetroCentre. This debacle occurred just a few days after the Raptors held a "Constructing a Championship" press conference with the actual construction being the backdrop at the Rockford MetroCentre. The Raptors season ends suddenly, and many fans are left wondering what just happened.

Off season is upon us, UIF teams start pulling stakes up in the UIF, and the Raptors are looking for a way to save some money and get some closer travel dates...they pull out of the United Indoor Football association and look for a new league.

The Raptors GM Tom Crow and Coach Rik Richards are released. Who knows what happened to the rest of the staff.

The Raptors get new ownership partners, including Rik Richards, they resign R2 as the head coach, and then they announce we have found a new league to play in, the Continental Indoor Football League, known as the CIFL. It seems like a good fit as we have close competition in Milwaukee and Chicago, instead of just in Bloomington.

Rik Richards is rehired by the Raptors owner Bob Lowe.

As the new Raptors begin to take shape a few key things become obvious. We do not have many of our coaches from last couple  years, and we do not have many of our skill players back either. A new general manager, Dave Desanti is now in charge, and our excellent offensive coordinator Jack Phillips Jr. is missing, our old line coach, Todd Allen is also missing, our all everything (League MVP, OPY, and All-Star) quarterback Ben Sankey is also missing, as he is now playing in the CFL (I will talk more about Ben Sankey and a few others I mention here later, it gets interesting.). The UIF's leading receiver Lawrence Bady broke his leg last year and he is missing, WR Luke McArdle, a Rockford favorite and another great player is missing, WR Jeremiah Thompson the big playmaker is missing, star RB Randy Bell is missing (Randy has  recently signed and is playing), the great indoor linebacker Maurice Simpkins is also missing (he has also recently signed after another league folded)...ok...you are probably starting to see a pattern develop  here as we are missing most of what got us those great offensive numbers last year, and what got us those wins. We don't even have Jason Murietta, the great backup to Sankey last year...we have one of Dusty Burk's backups instead, Steve LaFalce 

.

Ban Sankey, Lawrence Bady, Luke McArdle, and Jeremiah Thompson.

No Sankey,  no McArdle, Bady, no Thompson, and no Jack Phillips Jr. running the offense -  and it is showing, badly. 

Raptors greats Randy Bell and Maurice Simpkins were signed just recently.

Feb 29, 2008 The Raptors fail to show up in Bloomington for an exhibition game against the Bloomington Extreme...4,273 fans were at US Cellular that night and they watch a Bloomington scrimmage in it's place...The Raptors claim bus problems after someone pumps 40+ gallons of regular gas into the diesel bus. A real big disappointment for all involved...and I sure am glad I did not drive to Bloomington for that one.

Mar 3, 2008 Raptors get buried 50-10 in pre-season CIFL action against the defending league champs, the Rochester Raiders.  The Raptors look horrendous and they could barely move the ball at all.

Mar  14, The Raptors again play poorly and lose the season opener to the Kalamazoo Xplosion 26-33.

Mar 21, The Raptors again play poorly and lose on the road to the Muskegon Thunder 44-36.

The Raptors have now lost 5 straight league games and had to pull out of a scheduled exhibition with the Extreme...It's quite likely we would have lost that one if we would have made it to Bloomington instead of having a bus breakdown. Not good...we can't beat our way out of  paper bag right now. The only game we have won in at all is a scrimmage against some Ironman All-Stars team...give me a break! 

We have not won a league game of any kind since last June 30, 2007 against the Lexington Horseman. This is becoming a very long dry spell for the Rock River Raptors, and for the fans that follow them. It's a serious downward spiral...since at one time we were considered in the same league as the great Sioux Falls Storm squad in the UIF...Now we can't beat 4-8 teams in the CIFL...we ain't getting it done, and something needs to happen soon, or the trend will continue.

This brings us to last nights ball game, on the road,  against the Muskegon Thunder. This is where the story takes a turn to the worse.

This week was a bit different than others for Raptors fans, and we thought things were going to get better in a hurry...but this may not be the case. The major problem this season has been the weak passing  game of the Raptors lead by former Dusty Burk (Bloomington Extreme) backup QB Steven LaFalce. Steve played in 6 games for the Extreme last year while compiling a 59.7 QB rating....Last season, former RR QB Ben Sankey carried a 113.23 rating and his backup Jason Murietta had a 119.33 rating on 32-50 for 347 yards and seven touchdowns with no picks. LaFalce was 33-62 with 5 picks and 6 TD with Bloomington. Sankey was the UIF MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.

Steve LaFalce has some really big shoes to fill.

Why did we not get another QB in here to compete for the job? I don't have the answer to that question but it has become clear that LaFalce is not getting the job done and this is where the story becomes even more interesting. Head coach Rik Richards finally made a move for a QB and he thought he had Ben Sankey! The question is, well does he have him? Or not?

This is what Rik Richards told the RRStar's Jay Taft on March 20, 2008.

“Steve has been our quarterback the whole camp, and I still think he can be affective. But I’m not pleased with how he came out last weekend — completing 7-for-21 is not going to cut it in this league,” Richards said. “So I figured it was time to bring back No. 8; that’s Ben Sankey.”

This is what Coach Richards told Nate Daugherty - Channel 13 sports on March 20, 2008.

“"I think that him (Sankey) and Luke can both be here tomorrow morning for our practice," Richards said. "I think we can get caught up to speed watching some film tomorrow night. I think we can hop on the bus Friday night and go beat the heck out of Muskeegon."

"He'll be with us long enough to groom this young man (LaFalce) and teach him what he can and can't do and that when the opposing team blitzes, we don't need to be a dear in headlights," Richards said. "We just check down and dump it off. And I think that he can be a calming presence and another coach on the field for us."

He was told  Daugherty that a favorite receiver of Ben's.  Luke McArdle  has been signed as well.

"There's a lot more space to work with. There's blitzes from everywhere, which is going to change things. The guy in motion is esentially the guy and if I can make Luke that guy, they'll have a field day. Those two guys have been on the same page for a long time now."

Rik also stated this in a March 21 RRStar story:

"We cannot fall to 0-2, that would be a disaster"

"We have to take this league by the throat, and we have to start right now."

"All I know is we can't go 0-2"

LaFalce will be relegated to playing in  "garbage time in blowouts"

Ok, you got all of that?

I asked Coach Richards on the 18th what was up with Jeremiah Thompson, Luke McArdle, Lawrence Bady, and Ben Sankey....Richards replied that JT was released, but the big three were just signed. Wow...it sounded too good to be true, and so far we have not seen Sankey in town yet.

This finally brings us to last nights game in Michigan, against the Muskegon Thunder who were 4-8 in their first season in the CIFL. This should be a win for the Raptors...especially if Sankey and McArdle show...they did not show, and it was not a win. Instead it was another poor passing attack, a big Rock River comeback, and ultimately another heartbreaking road defeat for the Raptors.

This is how it went down.

* Randy Bell streaks 25 yards for the touchdown on his first carry from scrimmage...Raptors 6 Muskegon 3

* Patrick Jackson grabs his third pick of the season!

* Raptors pick the Thunder QB off again...this time it was Tristan Burge...way to go Tristan!

* Two more times inside the Thunder 5...we come away with nothing! We *should* be up big already...Raptors 6 Thunder 3

* Anthony Harris with a big Raptors sack at the end of the quarter!

* Thunder score on a 44 yard bomb...new QB in did the deed over Patrick Jackson. Thunder 10 Raptors 6

* Raptors fumble...No Sankey, No McArdle, No Loos, No McFadden...it's starting to show...

* .Muskegon scores again with the backup QB...Muskegon 17 Raptors 6

* Raptors can't seem to get a kick or FG up cleanly tonight...it's not sounding good.

* Rock River fails to score 3 times inside the 3 yard line and another time we were stopped at the 6. LaFalce ain't thrown a touchdown pass all season! Not only do we need Sankey...but are you sure we ain't missing our old offensive coordinator, Jack Phillips Jr!

* Patrick Jackson makes the INT, his second of the game, and takes it the distance!

* Good kick return by the Thunder...play down to the one foot line and we have a Thunder injury. Only a few seconds left in the half and the Thunder just inches away from 6. Richard Gills has been down a while, Burge wacked him.

* QB runs it in for Muskegon. Thunder 24 Raptors 13 with nine seconds left in the half.

* Bell fumbles the kickoff and the Thunder walk it in from the one for six more. Raptors are playing like shi*. Thunder 30 Raptors 13 In 36 seconds the Thunder score twice...get it together Raptors!

* This is the worst I have heard the Raptors play a regular season game in three years. No offense, sucky special teams, bad mistakes, no red zone offense, etc, etc. Rik Richards needs to get some experience on the field and he needs to get it out there quick! Time to get on the phone...help wanted, players and coaches... This is as bad as it gets. 36 seconds left in the half and the Raptors down 4 and kicking off...now we are down 17! 

*Halftime stats...Raptors 0-4 on 3rd, 0-3 on 4th, 0-3 red zone 0 for the world on Xp and FG...WoW

Bell 8-41 Lafalce 6-10-0-0 33                                                               
Puny 73 yards offense in the half.
Thunder have 83 yards....over half of that on one play.
Backup QB Dan Richard 2-4 2 touchdowns...Dan is getting it done.

* Big LaFalce scramble and then a TD pass to Tolon. First TD for both men. Thunder 30 Raptors 20

* Dunbar makes the 4th down and short INT and runs it all the way in...but he was whistled out at the 12 yard line. Raptors ball...

* Tolon makes the catch again....Raptors knocking at the door at the Muskegon 2.

* Randy Bell powers it in from the two behind veteran Raptors center Craig Howard.

* Poor special team play by the Raptors again....the Thunder return the kickoff to the Raptors 7.

* Raptors stuff the Thunder on fourth down inside the red zone, Raptors ball...

* Big catch by Willie Tolon...LaFalce has found a favorite target, Wille Tolon.

* Raptors drop the TD pass on third down...LaFalce had his man.

* Travis Paul Ties the Game for the Raptors with a FG!

* Raptors 30 Thunder 30 in the 4th.

* Anthony Harris block the kickoff and Patrick Jackson buries the kicker at the 7!

* Randy Bell powers it in from the seven! Wait to go Randy! Kick blocked again...Raptors need a lot of work on 7 man FG and XP blocking schemes...Raptors 36 Thunder 30

* Andy Gannon says the motion man appeared to be two yards offsides...no call...28 yard touchdown pass to the man in motion for the Thunder...Dunbar and Burge not there on D. Kick is no good..but we have a re-kick and it's good. Thunder 37 Raptors 36

* Randy Bell muffs the return...then he makes a 24 yard run on the next play...then he gets it again and fumbles it. 2 fumbles for Bell today...not good.

* Pass interference in the endzone on Dunbar...Muskegon ball at the Raptors one.

* 3:12 left Thunder 4th and goal from the Raptors 3 yard line. Thunder up one.

* Another pass interference  in the endzone....far side guy tossed the flag...the two near side guys kept the flags in the pocket. Gannon says he might have had some jersey. 1st and goal at the one again for the Thunder.

* Touchdown Thunder....Raptors down eight...Thunder 44 Raptors 36\

* Randy Bell returns the kickoff to the eight yard line of Muskegon! First and goal!

* 3rd and goal from the Thunder 10...it's getting really serious now.

* Incomplete....4th and goal from the 10 with 44 seconds left.

* LaFalce tries to run it in with a scramble and is stopped at the 5. That won't get it done...

* Simpkins holding his arm with 30 seconds left...

* No sacks for the Raptors again today and we have another loss.

* It's over. Raptors fall 44-36 and are now 0-2 on the season. Congrats to the Thunder. Please get Sankey and McArdle suited up...we can't afford any more losses. This was must win R2 said...big comeback again, but we did not get the win.

Patrick Jackson had two picks in the loss, this brings his season total to 4 INTs.

And there you have the Raptors 5th straight league game loss. The final regular season UIF game, the UIF playoff game, the CIFL pre-season game against Rochester, the CIFL opener against Kalamazoo, and the loss last night to Muskegon dropping us to 0-2 on the year.

The Raptors may not  be that high powered indoor football team that we came to know and love. This team is  team struggling to move the ball, and struggling to find a QB that can make plays with his arm. Rock River needs help, and they need to find this help soon.

Notable Rik Richards quotes from the post game interview with Andy Gannon were these:

"CFL making a stink about Sankey playing for the Raptors" ..you just now figured this out?

"this debacle" ...something like that...

"It's my fault" regarding poor QB play w/no viable alternative ...but  FG/XP kicking and K/Coverage are suspect as well.

"I had no backup plan" If LaFalce failed..

"We need a QB in here now, we needed him yesterday" ...we needed him in pre-season.

"Talton drop in the endzone...a few people will lose their jobs" ...who replaces them is the question.

"If you can't get the money"...make big plays.

"we have no game breakers...no McArdle, no Bady..." that was in response to Gannon asking him if  Tolon looked good with 6 catches for 70...if Tolon ain't here tonight...LaFalce completes nothing.

"too many mistakes" yup

"13-22 89 yards is not enough" blasting LaFalce again...

"opposing QB is 9-27-4 INTs and we don't win"...that really pi**ed him off.

R2 sounded really mad and disappointed...I would like to say I can't blame him, but it's tough.

We had the same OC for last two years...he is gone, Sankey is gone, Murietta is gone, and we just in the last couple weeks figure out LaFalce won't get it done?

R2 is a great coach and gets great guys to play for him...but this QB situation certainly is not one of his greatest achievements.

R2 said Sankey was back...now it is "up in the air" he confirms...well, we  need to do something soon. This league has some talent...and Coach Richards is finding this out the hard way.

It's tough on us Raptors fans...we have become accustomed to top quality QB play and a high powered offensive attack. This offensive attack is pitifully weak...if our D was not good...we would be getting blown off the field....

C'mon R2...get us a QB in here...please!

Well folks, I am sorry to say, that is my story and I am sticking with it. The Raptors are going to need to dig deep to snap this losing streak against  the Chicago Slaughter this weekend in Rockford. I still have faith in the Raptors, but this offense needs to get the big guns a blazing, and they need to do it quick or this may be a very long CIFL season for Rock River and and the Raptors faithful.

Let us pray...

Good luck to Coach Richards and the Raptors, it's starting to look as if we are going to need it.

-MinoltaMan 3-22-08