Post by 50yardfan on Jun 7, 2011 23:53:34 GMT -5
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Healed and healthy, the Trenton Steel's top-rated Southern Indoor Football League offense, is ready for its regular-season finale Saturday.
It's been a superb season for a first-year team that heads into Harrisburg's Equine Arena, to face the 2-9 Stempede, with a 7-4 mark and an SIFL playoff berth clinched.
"The key is we have to get our chemistry back,'' said Steel head coach Rod Miller. "This was a great week to have a bye.
"The two things we want this week are a win and get our chemistry back. We want to finish the season 8-1 after starting 0-3. We want to go into the playoffs with a win.''
Miller will play his regular lineup vs. the Stampede, but may throw a few wrinkles into his game plan.
"The regular guys will play, but I may do some other things to give some guys a little bit of work to get ready for the playoffs,'' Miller said. "We still have business to take care of in Harrisburg first, however.''
The playoff scenario in the Eastern Conference pits the Steel traveling to Georgia to face the Columbus Lions Saturday, June 18, while Erie Explosion will travel to Albany, Ga., to face the Panthers .
In the West, the top seed Houston Stallions will host the Rio Grande Valley Magic, while the Louisiana Swashbucklers will host the Corpus Christi Hammerheads.
"We wanted a shot at the championship, and we earned it,'' said Miller. "We're excited with the opportunity.''
______
HEAD COACH ROD MILLER
A native of Omaha who graduated from Drake University, Miller comes to the Steel from the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League, with which he served as defensive coordinator. He was responsible for the weekly defensive game plan and the recruitment of players.
Miller's Gladiators defense led the AFL in percentage of stopping opponents' fourth-down plays and was eighth in pass defense.
190504445He also served as head coach of the Omaha Beef of the Indoor Football League from 2006-07, and was an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the AFL from 2007-09. All the teams Miller was associated with qualified for the playoffs in their respective leagues.
Miller served six years from 2000-2006 in the af2, coaching three years with the Carolina Rhinos in Greensville, S.C. and three years with the Green Bay Blizzard in Green Bay, W.I. During that tenure, Miller served as head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, football operations manager and player personnel director.
Miller also served as wide receivers coach at Simpson (Iowa) College in 2006 and as Special Teams Coordinator and Receivers coach with the Arena Football League's Kansas City Brigade in 2005-06, directing a unit that did not allow a kickoff return or missed field-goal return for a touchdown.
He has additional prior coaching experience at Kentucky State and Tyler (Texas) Junior College.
ASSISTANT COACHES
Jermaine Lewis (Offensive Assistant/Special Teams) - An assistant coach at Central Methodist University, Lewis comes to the Steel with a wealth of indoor experience as well, having starred defensively with the Arena Football League's Nashville Kats, Dallas Desperados and Grand Rapids Rampage. A practice squad player with the San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, Lewis is the Steel's offensive assistant and work special teams. He also played in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals.
Rob Stanavitch (Offensive and Defensive Lines) - An assistant football coach at FDU-Florham, Stanavitch will direct the offensive and defensive lines. He brings a wealth of indoor experience to the Steel, having played from 1994-2002 in stints with the New Jersey Red Dogs, Arizona Rattlers, Los Angeles Avengers of the AFL and Albany Firebirds of af2. He also was part of the Frankfurt Galaxy's NFL Europe World Bowl championship team in 1995.
It's been a superb season for a first-year team that heads into Harrisburg's Equine Arena, to face the 2-9 Stempede, with a 7-4 mark and an SIFL playoff berth clinched.
"The key is we have to get our chemistry back,'' said Steel head coach Rod Miller. "This was a great week to have a bye.
"The two things we want this week are a win and get our chemistry back. We want to finish the season 8-1 after starting 0-3. We want to go into the playoffs with a win.''
Miller will play his regular lineup vs. the Stampede, but may throw a few wrinkles into his game plan.
"The regular guys will play, but I may do some other things to give some guys a little bit of work to get ready for the playoffs,'' Miller said. "We still have business to take care of in Harrisburg first, however.''
The playoff scenario in the Eastern Conference pits the Steel traveling to Georgia to face the Columbus Lions Saturday, June 18, while Erie Explosion will travel to Albany, Ga., to face the Panthers .
In the West, the top seed Houston Stallions will host the Rio Grande Valley Magic, while the Louisiana Swashbucklers will host the Corpus Christi Hammerheads.
"We wanted a shot at the championship, and we earned it,'' said Miller. "We're excited with the opportunity.''
______
HEAD COACH ROD MILLER
A native of Omaha who graduated from Drake University, Miller comes to the Steel from the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League, with which he served as defensive coordinator. He was responsible for the weekly defensive game plan and the recruitment of players.
Miller's Gladiators defense led the AFL in percentage of stopping opponents' fourth-down plays and was eighth in pass defense.
190504445He also served as head coach of the Omaha Beef of the Indoor Football League from 2006-07, and was an assistant coach with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the AFL from 2007-09. All the teams Miller was associated with qualified for the playoffs in their respective leagues.
Miller served six years from 2000-2006 in the af2, coaching three years with the Carolina Rhinos in Greensville, S.C. and three years with the Green Bay Blizzard in Green Bay, W.I. During that tenure, Miller served as head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, football operations manager and player personnel director.
Miller also served as wide receivers coach at Simpson (Iowa) College in 2006 and as Special Teams Coordinator and Receivers coach with the Arena Football League's Kansas City Brigade in 2005-06, directing a unit that did not allow a kickoff return or missed field-goal return for a touchdown.
He has additional prior coaching experience at Kentucky State and Tyler (Texas) Junior College.
ASSISTANT COACHES
Jermaine Lewis (Offensive Assistant/Special Teams) - An assistant coach at Central Methodist University, Lewis comes to the Steel with a wealth of indoor experience as well, having starred defensively with the Arena Football League's Nashville Kats, Dallas Desperados and Grand Rapids Rampage. A practice squad player with the San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, Lewis is the Steel's offensive assistant and work special teams. He also played in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals.
Rob Stanavitch (Offensive and Defensive Lines) - An assistant football coach at FDU-Florham, Stanavitch will direct the offensive and defensive lines. He brings a wealth of indoor experience to the Steel, having played from 1994-2002 in stints with the New Jersey Red Dogs, Arizona Rattlers, Los Angeles Avengers of the AFL and Albany Firebirds of af2. He also was part of the Frankfurt Galaxy's NFL Europe World Bowl championship team in 1995.