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FRANK PASTORWith win at Georgia, Tampa Bay would secure division title, No.2 seed.
TAMPA - B.J. Cohen takes winning seriously. Very seriously. And nothing is more important to him than winning the ArenaBowl.
So, if there's one thing the Storm offensive/defensive lineman wants to avoid, it's some paint-smeared, bare-chested, loud-mouthed fan keeping his team out of the championship game.
Of all of the reasons Tampa Bay (11-4) has for wanting to beat Georgia (8-7) in its final regular season game today, the chance to play host to a semifinal playoff game might be the most inviting.
"People can say that it doesn't have an effect, but it has an effect on you," Cohen said. "If you have 11,000-12,000 people screaming and you're trying to run your offensive play from back at your 5-yard line, it affects you."
As a top-four seed, the Storm has clinched a first-round bye and quarterfinal home game. It can earn the Southern Division title and No.2 seed with a victory.
Since Orlando beat Detroit on Friday, a Tampa Bay loss will give the Predators (12-4) the division title and drop the Storm to No.4.
"We have a great opportunity ahead of us coming in as the second seed, and it's basically up to us," Storm lineman Nyle Wiren said. "We've played (the Force) before, we know what they're going to do, and we can either make it or break it."
As in the previous meeting, the ability to rush the passer will be critical.
Linebackers Andre Bowden and Lawrence Samuels had sacks, and Cohen's relentless pressure was rewarded with a 15-yard interception return for a touchdown in Tampa Bay's 58-39 win. The third-quarter play extended the Storm's lead to 17 and knocked Georgia quarterback Donnie Davis from the game with a concussion.
"We needed a play, and we call on certain guys to make those plays," Cohen said. "I consider myself a playmaker, and I'm sure the rest of the guys on this team feel the same way."
Leon Murray replaced Davis and remains the starter now that Davis has left the Force to pursue a business opportunity. Though he lacks Davis' experience and poise in the pocket, Murray can be dangerous passing or running.
He passed for 1,470 yards and 29 touchdowns in seven games, including 354 yards and eight TDs in a 56-55 loss to Dallas last week. "Their quarterback is hot right now," Cohen said. "They're protecting him a lot better, he's learning the game, he's moving around and he's an athlete. He's very versatile, he can run, and that's always a problem in this league."
It should be less of a problem for a Storm pass rush that leads the league with 27 sacks and flocks to quarterbacks like vultures to fresh roadkill. Twelve players have sacks, led by Cohen with six. "It's crucial in this league every game," Wiren said. "It doesn't matter who you're playing. They pass 90 percent of the time, so if you can get a pass rush close to their quarterback, that's game over, pretty much."
And goodbye semifinal road game.
"We've got to get it done," Cohen said. "Anything less than us winning an ArenaBowl would be a tragedy, with the guys that Coach (Tim) Marcum went out and brought in."
TODAY: STORM AT GEORGIAWHEN/WHERE: 3; The Arena at Gwinnett Center, Duluth, Ga.
TV/RADIO: Ch. 8; WDAE-AM 620.
RECORDS: Tampa Bay 11-4, Georgia 8-7.
COACHES: Storm - Tim Marcum (154-54, 15th season); Force - Marty Lowe (14-15, second season).
SERIES: Tampa Bay leads 3-0.
TICKETS: $12-$60; (770) 813-7610.
NOTES: Each team has clinched a playoff berth, so seeding is at stake. Tampa Bay can earn the Southern Division title and No.2 seed with a win, while a loss will drop it to No.4. The Storm already has clinched a first-round bye and quarterfinal home game. Georgia can earn a home playoff game with a win. Marcum needs one victory to reach 100 with Tampa Bay. John Kaleo needs one touchdown pass to break the Storm single-season record (70). Tampa Bay needs two sacks to match the team single-season record of 29. Georgia will start quarterback Leon Murray after Donnie Davis left the team to pursue a business opportunity. Davis suffered a concussion attempting to tackle Storm lineman B.J. Cohen in Tampa Bay's 58-39 victory April 6. Storm fullback/linebacker David Saunders and center Sai Poulivaati are out. Fullback/linebacker Andre Bowden is expected to play. Kicker Kenny Stucker was signed to replace injured David Cool.