Mike’s Place Tel Aviv vs Real Housing Haifa - Game Preview
The IFL kicks off once again this weekend with an exciting Saturday night match-up between two surging teams as the Real Housing Haifa Underdogs face the Mike’s Place Tel Aviv Sabres at Maccabi Fields in Kiryat Shalom at 7:00 PM.
Both teams are brimming with confidence, each coming off an encouraging win in their last game. The Underdogs (3-2) are looking to continue their winning ways and challenge Jerusalem atop the standings. The two face each other on February 7th at Kraft Stadium in a potential winner-take-first-place derby.
The Sabres (1-3), meanwhile, are looking to build upon their first win of the season after finally clicking on all cylinders last time out and really working in unison on the field for a full forty-eight minutes. If they can put up a repeat performance, they will certainly be difficult to beat.
Haifa, offensively, will look to play to their strengths and go to the ground early and often, taking advantage of their superior running attack. The Underdogs rediscovered their multi-pronged running game by pounding ball with Niv Medlinger relentlessly between the tackles as well as steering the run to the outside lanes and up the sidelines with Leor Subotnik.
Facing a Sabres’ rushing defense that has surrendered over 100 yards in consecutive games, look for both backs to get plenty of carries on an assortment of leads, powers and sweeps.
Tel Aviv will attempt to counter defensively by altering their rush defense and stacking the line on early downs with an extra defender in the box (Asaf Katz). To counter this formation, expect Haifa to spread the field to create bigger running lanes. They will call more runs from their three-receiver, shotgun sets to take advantage of Tel Aviv’s nickel package.
Additionally, they will look to move the chains by playing the screen game. The added attention to the running game by their defense leaves Mike’s Place vulnerable to Haifa’s short passing game. Look for Real Housing to get the ball quickly to Shachar Yeshurun and Idan Maor on bubble screens to take advantage of the soft coverage outside.
If the Sabres can stop the run early, however, they should be able to put pressure on Haifa in the passing game, which could spell trouble for the Haifa quarterbacks who have been unable to air the ball out with any recent success.
On the other side, Tel Aviv will look to jump down the throats of their opponents and get out to an early lead. Their number one ranked passing offense will test the Underdogs’ defense by using an assortment of quick rhythm throws to Liran Hovav and Amit Benvenisti.
Look for Haifa to take the short throws away by using more press coverage out of its two-deep and blitz-man schemes. By getting jams at the line, they will disrupt the timing of the Sabres’ quick passing game and buy time for Omer Kedmi and Itamar Levin to create pressure off the edges.
Mike’s Place must adapt and mix it up with its resurgent running game, led by Katz and Daniel Gev. Both are shifty backs with the ability to avoid tackles and their deceptive quickness often nullifies physical rush defenses. If their offensive line can win with their athleticism in the trenches, they can squeeze open the running lanes just enough to create room to run between the tackles.
In a ‘nothing to lose’ game at home with the anticipated fan support, the Sabres will take more chances to pull off a big upset. I can see them use some form of trickery (onside kick, reverses or a fake punt) to generate energy and momentum if the game is close.
Ultimately, however, I believe the game will turn on take-aways. The Haifa blitz-happy defense is playing as well as any defensive unit in the league. Expect them to take advantage of Tel Aviv’s inexperience at quarterback with a new QB at the helm and win the game on turnovers.
The IFL returns next Friday with a special-venue game at the Wingate Institute for Physical Culture and Sport near Netanya. Kick-off between the Dancing Camel Hasharon Pioneers (1-4) and the Real Housing Haifa Underdogs will take place at 12:30 PM.
Prepared by Uriel Sturm, IFL League Statistician, who has (objectively) viewed and recorded each and every IFL down and game ever played from the best seat in the house – the field! Please feel free to contact at uesturm@gmail.com
