GFL Game of the Week: Dresden Monarchs v. Berlin Adler
This weekend’s top match in the German Football League (GFL) between the Monarchs (1-1) and Adler (2-0) will give a glimpse in which direction both teams will head this season. The last time both contenders met was end of September 2013 in the Playoff-Semifinal, with Dresden being the better team. Standing in the German Bowl was the biggest success for the Saxons in their 21 year long team history. Even though they slightly lost the Final 34:35 against the German Power House Braunschweig.
The Adler will go down south self-confident, having won 2 GFL games with 40+ points and standing on top of the GFL North Division. Last weekend the Adler also won their BIG6 opener in familiar style with 42:20 against the Swiss champion Calanda Broncos. „Dresden will be our toughest challenge so far und will show, where we stand“, said Adler Head Coach Kim Kuci before the big game.
The Saxons started with unfortunate losses in the GFL as well as the BIG6 season against Kiel and Braunschweig. Two weeks ago they celebrated their first victory in 2014 with a 51:13 boatrace against the Berlin Rebels. This must have been a sigh of relief for Dresden with their high ambitions. Running Back Trevar Deed came back one more year because he still had unfished business left on the table. After last year’s German Bowl loss, he wants to reach the final again and this time get the trophy.
Maybe the visitors will witness an offensive firework at Heinz-Steyer-Stadion, when two of the best scoring teams collide. Berlin averaged 43 points per GFL game so far this season, but Dresden not being too much behind with 40 PPG. The Adler Offense is really impressive when it comes to redzone scoring. Adler Offensive Coach Johnny Schmuck is happy about 6 Touchdowns in 6 redzone appearances.Adler Defensive Coordinator Jag Bal doesn’t have to hide either, with only one redzone showing, resulting in no points.
The Monarchs Offense ist only average in the redzone with 75% points scored. Defensively Dresden is dead-last with 4 TDs allowed in4 redzone appearances. All of this has no meaning when you handoff the ball to Monarchs #4 Trevar Dead. Dresden’s go-to.guy Dead scored 5 Touchdowns in 2 GFL games so far while averaging 160 Rushing Yards per game.
During the Offseason the Saxon team was upgraded offensively with many new players from Poland and Australia. The German Receiver Jan Hilgenfeldt (2 TDs) will be joined by the French WR Guillaume Rioux (3TDs), another Pass catcher on whom DB Mario Schmitt & Co. will have to keep an eye on.
On the Quarterback Position Dresden’s Jeff Welsh (36 of 56 Passes for 5 TDs and 1 INT) und Berlins Darius Outlaw (37/53/6/1) are almost evenly matched, with a slight-advantage for the Adler playmaker. Outlaw can relax in the pocket, suffering only 1 QB-Sack. On the other side of the ball Berlin Adler DL Mamadou Sy, one of the GFL leading tacklers, will put pressure on Monarchs playmaker Jeff Welsh.
LIVE LINKS:
An audio live-stream on Saturday from 14:45 clock provided by https://www.radio.monarchs.de/
A video stream is also available under https://new.livestream.com/RadioMonarchsTV
