Mariners Gaining on Express

[marinersmedia]

Baltimore Seeks to Become League’s Benchmark for Success

BALTIMORE, MD (April 16, 2010) – Every franchise has a team or teams it gauges it progress against. For the Ravens it’s the Steelers and Colts, for the Orioles it’s the Yankees and Red Sox, and for the Baltimore Mariners it’s the Reading Express.

Now in their fifth year of play the Express have won four straight regular season titles, made four playoff appearances, and notched two league championship outings; winning it all in 2009. The Mariners, now in their third season have made continual progress in closing the gap with Reading.

In 2008, Baltimore’s inaugural season, while the Express were compiling a 10-4 record and division title, the Mariners finished 4-10, dropping all three match-ups against Reading. In 2009, the Express again finished on top with an 11-3 record and won the franchise’s first championship. The Mariners, however, finished on their heels at 9-5 and were victorious in both regular season outings against Coach Bernie Nowotarski’s team.

Reading reminded the Mariners they were still on top with a 50-20 win over Baltimore in the first round of the 2009 playoffs. The loss has resonated with the Mariners coaches, players, and staff the entire offseason and through the early weeks of the 2010 season.

“We understand the significance of this game against Reading. We have spent the past six to seven months with the bad taste of our playoff loss to them last season. They are still the defending AIFA champions and we have some unfinished business to take care of. We will be ready,” said Mariners Head Coach Chris Simpson.

Now as the teams head toward their contest this Saturday at 7:00 PM at Reading’s Sovereign Center, the Mariners have set the pace in the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) with a 5-0 record, while Reading stumbled to a 1-2 start and now sit at 3-2.

The Mariners have used much the same formula that gained them success last season as running back Isaiah Grier has tallied a league leading ten rushing and 15 total touchdowns, while the ball hawking defense, led by Armar Watson’s eight interceptions has racked up an AIFA best +16 turnover margin.

The key differences have been the play of quarterback E.J. Nemeth and the Mariners’ relentless pass rush. In 2009 Nemeth tossed 36 touchdown passes, but also gave up 14 interceptions. This season he has already connected on 18 touchdown passes, while only tossing one INT.

Led by defensive linemen Melik Brown, Daniel Orlebar, and Fearon Wright and linebackers Brian Bradford and Adam Goloboski, the Mariners now have the league’s best sack producing unit, with 18 takedowns, to go along with their takeaway machine. Wright (6), Brown (5), and Goloboski (4.5) also all rank in the top four in the league in sacks. In 2009 the Mariners ranked seventh in the league with 23 sacks in 14 games.

While there have been noticeable gains for the Mariners in 2010, the Express have taken a step back in some key categories. Quarterback Rob Flowers who compiled an amazing 72 touchdown passes last season against only 13 interceptions has already thrown 13 picks in 2010 with 20 touchdown passes. And while the Reading offensive line has always been a point of pride, allowing only seven sacks in 2007, 19 in 2008 and 17 in 2009, Reading has given up 12 sacks in just five games this season.

Even though the gap appears to be closing between Baltimore and Reading, Coach Simpson still sees room for improvement, “I am pleased with where we are thus far. We have made some solid strides since the start of the season. However, we still have some areas that we need to continue to improve on. No one will lay down for us and we must be prepared for the best from each team we face.”


For more information about the Baltimore Mariners go to www.baltimoremariners.com.

[Gene]

"Every franchise has a team or teams it gauges it progress against. For the Ravens it’s the Steelers and Colts, for the Orioles it’s the Yankees and Red Sox, and for the Baltimore Mariners it’s the Reading Express."

I'll never understand the infatuation the Mariners have with the Express. As poorly as we have been playing this season not sure whats to be gauged?

[ThatRadioGuy]

MarinersMedia.....until you guys win division titles and AIFA championships, you haven't gained a thing.

Reading is having a down year sure, but they are still a dangerous team that knows how to win.

Gene, as a Steelers fan, I'm used to seeing stuff like this. Everyone wants to say their the new "Winners" Sad thing is they might have some success here and there but they don't do it consistently, like Reading.

[djh0722]

RadioGuy, you missed the point. Stop trying to read too much into it. That article is paying respect to Reading. They are saying that Reading is a great franchise, like the Steelers. The Mariners are referring to their work ethic and successes as a franchise, not specifically their record. Reading has long been the yardstick by which all teams were measured. This article is saying that Baltimore aspires to be that team and surpass them. Not that it has actually happened.

I have actually talked with Gene about this. Baltimore looks at Reading as it's chief rival. Reading does not look at Baltimore as it's chief rival, not yet anyway. I believe the Reading and Erie are more of a bitter rival than Baltimore and Reading. Will that change as time goes on? Who knows. I think there is a slight and slow shift going on. I do know that typically, when Baltimore and Reading line up, it is going to be a hard hitting game and at times, it will get ugly.

And in all honesty, you might want to gargle with some listerene to get the taste of Reading's jock out of your mouth, Radio guy; with a suck-up statement like "Sad thing is they might have some success here and there but they don't do it consistently, like Reading."

[freezefan]

ok ok ok. . So I am an innocent third party here but Gene. . I saw all of your posts on FB this week and how you were running your mouth about how Baltimore hasnt played anyone yet. Well they still havent! I love listening to trash talk as long as you back it up. . I read Cips post on Monday, he said and I quote "Im gonna take it out on Reading." He delivered. . You said to entire City of Baltimore, "you havent played anyone yet, all losing record teams, what you gonna do when you loose, your not gonna know how to handle it mentally," lol........nuff said. Good win Baltimore.


Reading this is for ya

[Gene]

Apr 18, 2010 8:42:11 GMT -5 freezefan said:

ok ok ok. . So I am an innocent third party here but Gene. . I saw all of your posts on FB this week and how you were running your mouth about how Baltimore hasnt played anyone yet. Well they still havent! I love listening to trash talk as long as you back it up. . I read Cips post on Monday, he said and I quote "Im gonna take it out on Reading." He delivered. . You said to entire City of Baltimore, "you havent played anyone yet, all losing record teams, what you gonna do when you loose, your not gonna know how to handle it mentally," lol........nuff said. Good win Baltimore.


Reading this is for ya

If you really read my posts i never once said Reading was gonna win or that we were the 1st real team theywere gonna play. Were a bad team this year, plain & simple. IMO, Baltimore has only been tested by Harrisburg who they beat by 3 points or so. At this point Reading is struggling to even lock up the #3 seed. Its not a matter of gelling or finding the right lineup either. Psycologically, the team has no spark, motivation & not one player has taken the responsibility of putting the team on their shoulders. From my perspective, being just a fan, i dont think its a talented enough squad. The DL doesnt put pressure on the qb, our DB's give up too any td's & offensively way too many turnovers.

[ThatRadioGuy]

I don't have Reading's jock in my mouth. In fact I am convinced they are the 4th best team in the East this year.

Maybe I did miss the point of your original post. Just trying to stir up some hate between Baltimore and Erie.

PS the Ravens suck!