AAF Week 4 Review

Here we are at the halfway point of the first ever Alliance of American Football season! Who could have predicted that the team poaching its talent from the great state of Florida that also happens to be coached by Steve Spurrier would be the only undefeated team in the league? To be fair, he does have arguably the best quarterback in Garrett Gilbert, the best running back in D’Ernest Johnson and the best wide receiver in Charles Johnson along with an offensive line that not only protects the quarterback, but also gets a push off the ball to create running lanes. They’re the whole package, everyone!

On Saturday afternoon, March 2nd, the Memphis Express got off the schneid with a win over the San Diego Fleet, final score 26-23. Express QB Zach Mettenberger went 18/25 (72%) for 174 yards and a TD. The Express offense is entirely by committee, so I feel compelled to point out that Express LB Drew Jackson had 13 tackles. The Fleet, on the other hand, used two quarterbacks Saturday. Philip Nelson and Alex Ross went a combined 17/30 (56.7%) for 2 TDs and an INT. Fleet WR Dontez Ford and TE Marcus Baugh both caught touchdowns. The Express are now 1-3 and the Fleet are 2-2.

Saturday night, the Orlando Apollos beat the Salt Lake Stallions, final score 20-11. Apollo QB Garrett Gilbert went 22/32 (68.8%) for 244 yards and a TD. Apollo WR Charles Johnson, who currently leads the AAF in receiving, had 9 catches for 105 yards. Stallion QB Josh Woodrum went 16/22 (72.7%) for 161 yards. Stallion RB Branden Oliver carried the ball 17 times for 71 yards. The Apollos are 4-0 and the Stallions are 1-3.

On Sunday afternoon, March 3rd, the San Antonio Commanders beat the Birmingham Iron, final score 12-11. Commander QB Logan Woodside went 11/25 (44%) for 106 yards. The player of the game and arguably the week was Commander RB Kenneth Farrow II, who toted the rock 30 times for 142 yards. Iron QB Luis Perez went 19/39 (48.7%) for 202 yards and 2 INTs. Commander RB Trent Richardson did amble randomly into the endzone yet again, but the real story is RB Brandon Ross carrying the ball 9 times for 64 yards. The Commanders are now 2-2 and the Iron fall to 3-1.

Sunday night, the Atlanta Legends beat the Arizona Hotshots, final score 14-11. Clearly, the Legends’ staff is reading my writing, because QB Aaron Murray replaced QB Matt Simms and promptly went 20/33 (60.6%) for 254 yards. Legends RB Denard Robinson had 9 carries for 43 yards and a TD. Hotshot QB John Wolford went 17/31 (54.8%) for 185 yards and a TD. Hotshot RB Jhurell Pressley had 14 carries for 110 yards in a loss. Also, Arizona DB Erick Dargan had 11 tackles! The Legends are 1-3 and the Hotshots are 2-2.

At this point, the league leader in passing yards is Orlando QB Garrett Gilbert with 1071 yards through 4 games, a 267.6 YPG average (which would put him in the dead middle of the NFL). Atlanta DB (and former Colt!) Tyson Graham, Jr. leads the league in tackles with 31. San Diego RB Ja’Quan Gardner (287) and San Antonio RB Kenneth Farrow II (280) lead the AAF in rushing yards. So far this year, my player of the year is Orlando WR Charles Johnson, who leads the league in receiving yards with 410 (102.5 YPG), and has a 115 yard advantage on the second WR in the league, Hotshot WR Rashad Ross (295).

If you’re also watching the AAF, are there any players you find particularly intriguing?

Let me know in the comments below!