Mike’s Place vs. Dancing Camel in a Battle for Rights to the Playoffs
All eyes have turned towards the upcoming playoffs in the IFL and this week’s game between the Dancing Camel Hasharon Pioneers and the Mike’s Place Tel Aviv Sabres could clear up the picture of what match-ups to expect in the postseason…or it can muddle it even more. The teams have split their two games against each other thusfar, most recently a thrilling 24-21 Dancing Camel win just two weeks ago, and this, the rubber match, may ultimately decide who makes the playoffs should both end the regular season with the same record. The contest will be played at the Yarkon Sports Complex in the Baptist Village near Petah Tikva with kickoff at noon. Looking forward, in a scenario where the teams finish tied at the end of the season, the winner of this game will determine who make the playoffs and who goes home. If Tel Aviv (1-5) can emerge triumphant they will bring their record to 2-5 while sending Hasharon (2-5) to a 2-6 mark with one game remaining against the Haifa Underdogs (5-3). Mike’s Place will still have two games left to play, however both will come against the mighty Big Blue Jerusalem Lions (6-1), a daunting task, to say the least, in their hope to pick up an additional victory, or two, on the year. With a win, the Pioneers would clinch the third and final spot in the “Fight for the Israel Bowl” as they would be up by two in the win column and will have taken the season series even in the case of a then-unlikely dead-heat finish with the Sabres. All told, this means that we can anticipate a leave-it-all-on-the-field balls-out battle for gridiron supremacy in what should be an emotional and impassioned game of pigskin on the (almost) frozen tundra of Baptist Village. With Mike Levy still expected to be out of the lineup, Dancing Camel must continue to run the slight adjustments to their game plan that they have done in recent weeks. Look for them to keep on calling more isolations and powers between the tackles to get Shmuel O’Neil running downhill.The key for the Tel Aviv defense will be to stuff the box. The Pioneers average more rushing attempts per game than any other team in the league, so stopping the run will be the Sabres’ top priority. Expect them to use several five-man pressure packages with Josh Klein playing the role of a quasi-linebacker in the middle to keep the running game in check. In response, Hasharon must try and build upon its success in the passing game last time out and feature more three and even four-receiver sets to help the quarterback, likely Yoni Mayzel, run an efficient, ball-control passing game featuring short underneath throws to receivers Ben Gross, Yaniv Yaron and Raphael Bloom. Without their most explosive weapon in Levy, the Pioneers will continue to use this formula throughout their playoff push.As for Mike’s Place, it will have to find a way to get star receiver Liran Hovav more involved than he has been in the past few games, despite the likelihood of him having some form of double coverage directed his way for most of the day. While the Hasharon secondary has played well in recent weeks after struggling as a unit during the early part of the season, Hovav has the ability to create separation with his elusive agility and speed in running routes, and Tel Haviv will have to exploit that advantage at a key skill position.In addition, the Sabres’ offense should be encouraged by the glimpses of the quickness and cutback ability displayed by their running game with backs Daniel Gev and Gabe Kaplinsky. In the absence of Asaf Katz with a separated shoulder, this resurgence comes at a much-needed time, with defenses opting to relentlessly blitz quarterback Roi Yair with more two and three-man pressures. If Tel Aviv can put up the appearance of a viable running game, they will be able to incorporate more play-action passes to alleviate the pressure off Yair in the pocket.Defensively, Dancing Camel will look to stem this strategy with their second-level defenders (linebackers and safeties) making sure they do not over-run their assigned gaps and either allow runners to utilize the over pursuit by attacking soft spots or give time for the QB to find a open man downfield after a delayed dropback. By having a backside safety flow through the weak side A-gap before chasing the ball, they will be able to defend both the run and the pass more effectively. This is a game that, decidedly, means more for Tel Aviv than it does for Hasharon, as even with a loss they remain in the playoff hunt which is not the case for the Sabres. Looking to avenge a heart-breaking last minute loss at the hands of their opponent two weeks ago, I think that extra motivation will play a role. The prediction here is that Mike’s Place will ride the wings of a Hovav and Amir Benvenisti, who is looking to redeem himself after his defensive gaffe last game, to victory and keep the post-season suspense alive into the final month of the regular season.
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.
