June 27, 2024
By Sam Weiger
Salt Lake Shred at New York Empire | Super Series
Saturday, June 29 - 1:00 PM/ET - Watch link
It's finally time for the most awaited showdown of the season!
The stakes reach far beyond a rematch of last year’s UFA Championship Game.
Salt Lake is chasing a second consecutive divisional title, battling Seattle and Oakland. For New York, a victory could be a turning point in their rollercoaster of a season, with playoffs on the horizon.
The Empire were supposed to be one of the league's runaway favorites. However, their performance hasn't lived up to the preseason hype, causing them to drop from the top of the UFA Power Rankings.
Can the Empire climb the rankings? Their final stretch is a who's-who of top competition: Salt Lake, Minnesota, and DC.
All eyes are on Salt Lake as the ultimate test.
But a cloud of uncertainty hangs over Salt Lake's star player, Jordan Kerr, as he battles a broken right hand in time for Saturday's game. If Kerr manages to overcome the injury and play, we will be keeping an eye on how he adapts his game with a wrapped hand.
If he can’t play, it could potentially change the entire complexion of the match.
The Shred faced an unprecedented situation last week with Kerr sidelined, and head coach Bryce Merrill responded with a handful of tactical changes. Sean Connole, Simon Dastrup (shifted to the O-line), Grant Lindsley, and McKay Yorgason were the ones to fill the gap left by Kerr.
If Kerr misses his second straight game, it will be interesting to see how Merrill deals with his absence. Will he entrust Connole with the top scoring role once again? With Elijah Jaime back, will Dastrup return to full-time defense? Will Yorgason have another week of heavy QB duties?
These aren’t the only uncertainties for Salt Lake - Will Selfridge, a young star who played lights out in Salt Lake’s last Super Series game against DC, could miss his fourth straight game.
Another player that will be missing on Saturday, Solomon Rueschmeyer-Bailey, leads the Empire in completions this season. His absence, though significant, isn't New York's biggest worry heading into the game.
New York is still struggling to get blocks, which could spell trouble against Salt Lake's well-oiled offensive machine. This could be a game where Antoine Davis steps up again. Known for his clutch performances in primetime games, he shut down the Shred last year with a combined five blocks in their two matchups.
Another key player to watch for the Empire is Charles Weinberg, who continues to surpass expectations. This season will see him exceed his combined yardage from his previous two years in New York. No defense, including DC and Boston, has figured him out. Another strong performance against Salt Lake solidifies his status as a major threat in the playoffs.
Then we have Ben Jagt, of course, who was a scoring machine against the Shred last year. This season, he leads New York in goals despite playing only seven of their nine games. His ability to overpower defenders in the end zone could be a game-changer, especially with the absence of a big defender like Joel Clutton.
So who’s capable of containing Jagt? D-liners Tony Mounga, Kyle Weinberg, and Chad Yorgason might try to swoop in from behind to make leaping plays. Yorgason has a seven-game block streak and leads the Shred in total blocks.
Jagt and the Empire usually get a huge advantage with a home crowd, but it will be a different crowd than they’re used to on Saturday. This game will not be at New York’s usual home venue. It will be at Trinity Health Stadium in Hartford, Connecticut, as frisbee is introduced to a new city. Will New York show the same energy that they get from Joseph F. Fosina Field? They’ve only lost once at Fosina Field since 2018.
One Big Number:
9 - Jagt scored nine goals in two games against the Shred last year.
6.75 - Opponents are averaging just 6.75 blocks per game against Salt Lake this year, the fourth-lowest mark in the league.
Carolina Flyers at DC Breeze | Game of the Week
Friday, June 28 - 7:00 PM/ET - Watch link
Our Super Series matchup isn’t the only clash of titans this weekend! Carolina and DC, both vying for a division title, renew their rivalry for the first time since their dramatic 20-19 encounter last year.
Carolina's perfect season went up in smoke last week against a resurgent Atlanta. With the Hustle breathing down their neck in the division race, this game takes on even greater significance for the Flyers.
DC currently holds the East Division lead, but Boston's schedule reads like a vacation compared to theirs. Still, this win is a game-changer for the Breeze. Victory here, paired with a New York loss against Salt Lake, grants DC a better record than the Empire for the regular season. That's huge, as it avoids a potential playoff matchup at Fosina Field.
The eighth Carolina-DC showdown (DC leads 4-3) is poised to be a major shift from their previous meeting. Their last meeting was heavily influenced by Joe White's performance, and he is no longer with the Flyers.
Allan Laviolette, one of the top Flyers players expected to fill the void left by White, has been struggling lately. Over the last two games, he's committed seven throwaways on only 46 attempts, and against the Hustle, managed just three scores. With the season winding down, is the 35-year-old veteran starting to show signs of decline?
None of DC’s top stars are showing signs of decline, and one in particular is peaking. Cole Jurek, who continues to fly under the radar, is on pace for career highs in goals, assists, blocks, total yards - you name it! Jurek’s near-constant presence is fueling these numbers. He boasts the most minutes played by any UFA player this season and will likely see a lot of playing time again on Friday night. With Tyler Monroe out against Carolina, Jurek could become a workhorse.
In his last game against Carolina, Jurek was frequently matched up against Matt Tucker, who leads the Flyers with 10 blocks this season. If Tucker draws him again this weekend, this critical player matchup will be one to keep an eye on.
Another player matchup to watch will be AJ Merriman against whomever he is tasked with containing. It’s been a relatively quiet year for Merriman, but he sparked back to life with a dominant performance last week, racking up a season-high three blocks against Montreal. He spent most of his time matched up against Alex Davis in two games against Carolina last year, but that might not be the case this year. Davis still hasn’t played yet this season.
Merriman is in for a tough matchup regardless of who he covers. Carolina boasts a receiving corps that has been a thorn in the side of opposing teams. Jacob Fairfax remains a dominant force, and Terrence Mitchell’s return to the O-line has been a major boost. Even in their loss to Atlanta, Fairfax and Mitchell combined for a monstrous 741 receiving yards.
Carolina has a great opportunity to exploit DC’s struggling huck defense, so they might end up attempting more deep throws than usual, targeting players like Fairfax and Mitchell.
One Big Number:
23 - The Flyers committed 23 turnovers against the Hustle last weekend, their worst turnover performance since 2018.
65.93 - The Breeze are allowing a staggering 65.93 percent huck completion rate, ranking third-worst in the league.
