By: Jim Wallin (LFL360.com)
The expansion Las Vegas Sin (2-0) are eager for the opportunity to pull off a major upset against the two-time defending Lingerie Bowl Champion Los Angeles Temptation (1-0). Well, Sin Head Coach Dion Lee, who boldly guaranteed victory earlier this season, will finally get his chance this Friday as the two tangle in Las Vegas’ inaugural home opener.
Los Angeles enters the action riding high after a 28-7 road win against the upstart Minnesota Valkyrie, which saw the emergence of running back and Game MVP Amber Reed as a vital cog to the Temptation’s wheel as the team attempts to drive their way to a third-straight world championship. First-year Head Coach Chris Salerno leads a multidimensional offense, starring his daughter, quarterback and Lingerie Bowl VIII MVP Ashley Salerno and the latter has several high-grade offense weapons to pick from to blast opposing defenses into submission. Sure to be on the receiving end of several Salerno passes is wide receiver and All-Fantasy selection Gegi Van De Walker and rookie stand-out Chloe Butler, who reeled in an impressive bomb for a score as the Temptation demolished a hopeful Valkyrie team blow-by-blow in a statement-making second-half.
The Temptation defense, also known as ‘Tui’s Terrible Defense’ after co-head coach and coordinator Tui Suiaunoa, employs a very aggressive scheme, designed to paralyze opposing offenses with brutality. Free agent pick-up defensive-end Audrey Latsko joins forces with veteran linebacker and All-Fantasy selection Monique Gaxiola, posing significant challenges both in the running and passing lanes for even the most dynamic offenses.
In spite of an impressive 2-0 start, Las Vegas arrives at a crossroads in this contest, as the match-up presents nothing short of an test to determine strengths, weaknesses and whether the team deserves to be labeled as contenders or pretenders.
Employing what Sin Head Coach Dion Lee considers one of, if not the most, aggressive offensive playbooks in the league, the Sin are led by rapidly-developing quarterback Nikki Johnson, last week’s Game MVP, who has developed good pocket awareness, possesses a strong arm and ability to create positive yardage at any time due to her mobility. The running game is deep, as Tracee Thomas exploded against Chicago and continued her strong play agaisnt Seattle while Mia Chambers has the coach staff’s full confidence to perform, either as a starter or situational back. Sin starting tight-end Sunshine Uli is as equally capable of using her good hands to make big plays, as evidenced by last week’s two touchdown performance in a narrow 28-24 win against the Mist.
The Sin defense is billed as an equally aggressive unit to its offensive counterpart, however, is very challenged in stopping the run while All-Fantasy free agent pickup Danika Brace returns after an off-season injury to join Uli, the team leader in tackles (9.5) and sacks (1.0) to anchor a front-line that has struggled to stop the run. To that end, Las Vegas has yet to prove that they can consistently stop opposing offenses with regularity.
If there is one bright spot, it would be in the secondary, as All-Fantasy cornerback Tamica Estrella leads an inexperienced, but opportunistic group and that has achieved success at times against talented offensive players in one-on-one situations. While Las Vegas limited the anemic Chicago Bliss offense to 27 passing yards in the road opener and Seattle to 16 in the first half last week, the Mist were able to adjust, netting 94 passing yards in an admirable, but ultimately futile second-half comeback attempt.
– Photo courtesy of Joe Petro, LFL National Director of Photography, Jim Wallingford and Bob Delfin, Official Photographers of the Seattle Mist–
VITALS
ARENA: Orleans Arena (Las Vegas, NV – Indoors – Artificial Turf)
KICKOFF: 9:00 p.m. PT
INJURY REPORT
LOS ANGELES: NONE REPORTED
LAS VEGAS: A.J. Vernon (ANKLE – QUESTIONABLE)
2010 RESULT: No previous meeting.
J. ROOD’s MGM Resorts Int’l BETTING LINE: LOS ANGELES -7.5, OVER | UNDER 53.5
Tags: GAME 14, game preview, Jim Wallin, Las Vegas Sin, Los Angeles Temptation, WEEK 12
