Ron Selesky Speaks PIFL, Cleveland Gladiators 2017 Season

Before he coached the Cleveland Gladiators, Ron Selesky was the director of football operations for the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). The league seemed to do well until it folded all of a sudden in 2015. He was also a full-time US scout for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

There were some solid franchises with committed owners. There just weren’t enough of them,” Selesky said. “One of the owners ran two teams and he just couldn’t afford to keep doing it.”

Selesky went on to become the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the Gladiators. After head coach Steve Thonn’s contract was not renewed following the 2016 season, Selesky was named their coach for the 2017 season. After just one week of training camp, the team cut quarterback Arvell Nelson. He had been the leader of the team in the 2016 season.

“At the time the other two quarterbacks [Shane Boyd and Tanner Marsh] were progressing well and Arvell was struggling,” Selesky said on that decision. “I was running our defense and I entrusted our offensive coordinator [Siaha Burley] to give me his objective assessment. Hindsight is always 20/20.”

After two weeks in which both Boyd and Marsh had started and gotten injured, Selesky decided to bring Nelson back. Despite him coming back to lead the team, Cleveland got off to a 1-6 start to the season. Had it not been for the expansion Washington Valor having the same record, Cleveland would have been in jeopardy of missing the postseason.

On May 22, Cleveland traded both Boyd and wide receiver Brandon Thompkins to the other expansion franchise in the Baltimore Brigade. Cleveland got former defensive back Brandon Stephens, who Baltimore drafted in the AFL Dispersal Draft. They also acquired KC Obi, who went on to record 6.5 tackles and a sack.

“Baltimore asked for Boyd and Marsh was getting healthy,” Selesky explained why he traded Boyd. “With Thompkins, he’s a great player, but we felt like we had other wide receivers that fit what we were doing offensively a little better.”

Cleveland overcame their very slow start to the season and after a win in Washington at the end of July, they clinched a playoff spot. In the final week of the season, Baltimore lost, which meant that Cleveland would get the three seed.

Unfortunately for them, they fell one game short of the ArenaBowl for the second consecutive season.

Now, the focus is on 2018. Selesky knows exactly how him and the team will prepare for next season.

“Consistency. Starting from day one. Stick to the plan and execute it,” he said. “Injuries hit us hard but we’ll be better prepared. We found our offensive identity [in] the second half of the season so we’ll build off of that.”

The Philadelphia Soul defeated the Tampa Bay Storm in ArenaBowl XXX on Aug. 26. Philadelphia had to overcome a 13-point deficit to win, the largest comeback in ArenaBowl history.

Cleveland Gladiators 2017 Season in Review

The Cleveland Gladiators had one roller coaster of a season. It all began when they released former quarterback Arvell Nelson just one week into training camp. They went with Shane Boyd as their starter Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Storm.

Boyd threw for 288 yards and five touchdowns. However, it wasn’t enough as Tampa Bay came out with the win. By Week 2, Nelson was back with the team, but wasn’t their starting quarterback.

Tanner Marsh took over as the starter Week 2 against the expansion franchise in the Baltimore Brigade. Marsh threw for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately for him, he also suffered a concussion in that game, which wound up ending his season.

Nelson took over the team in Week 3 against Tampa. Cleveland blew a 27-7 lead and lost, falling to 0-3 on the season. Some were worried about the team that was one game away from ArenaBowl XXIX just a season ago.

Cleveland would get off to a 1-6 start, tied for the worst in the league with the other expansion franchise in the Washington Valor. Could they really be the lone team out of the playoffs? Lucky for them, that wasn’t the case.

Washington went on to lose 10 in a row after their opening win over Baltimore. Cleveland, after their 1-6 start, won four of their final seven, including a regular season-ending win against the Valor. It was good enough to earn them the three seed in the playoffs.

Many thought that at that point, Cleveland was such a good team, they could upset the Storm in their playoff matchup. However, due to penalties at the end of the game, Cleveland would fall one game short of the ArenaBowl for the second consecutive season.

Their future is bright, however. They improved with every game last season, and if they can stay afloat in 2018, they could wind up in ArenaBowl XXXI.

Baltimore Brigade Acquire Quarterback Shane Boyd, Wide Receiver Brandon Thompkins from Cleveland Gladiators

The Baltimore Brigade acquired quarterback Shane Boyd and wide receiver Brandon Thompkins from the Cleveland Gladiators today. The Brigade, in need of some offense during the teams lackluster start, definitely picked some up today.

Boyd is an arena league veteran who has played for several teams coast to coast across the league. In 2014, he led the San Antonio Talons to a resurgence offensively, and although he would go 1-8 as a starter, he led the Talons offense to where it hadn’t been since 2012. Prior to that he was the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm, leading them to a 34-13 lead in the third quarter of their playoff game in Jacksonville before losing 69-62.

For the past two seasons, he played with the Arizona Rattlers as a solid backup for Nick Davila. When the Rattlers made the move to the IFL, Boyd signed with the Cleveland Gladiators until being picked up by Baltimore.

Boyd started the season opener for Cleveland  against the Tampa Bay Storm.  After a mediocre performance in a loss, Boyd was benched for Tanner Marsh in Week 2 against Baltimore. Marsh could win, either, and he suffered a concussion.

Arvell Nelson, who led the team in 2016, was cut after one week of training camp. Since then, he has returned and has been the team’s starter since Week 3.

Thompkins broke onto the scene in Orlando with the Predators. In 2015, he caught 100 passes for 1266 yards and 23 touchdowns. The following year, he caught 134 passes for 1630 yards and 38 touchdowns. This year he has 24 catches for 282 yards and four touchdowns. He missed the first three games of the season due to injury.

Baltimore has also had their quarterback problems. After quarterback Chase Cartwright didn’t perform well Week 1, he was benched for Shane Carden. Carden has started ever since, but has only won one game.

The Brigade return home to face the Gladiators at the Royal Farms Arena in downtown Baltimore on Saturday.

Arena Football League Week 3 Power Rankings

5.  Cleveland Gladiators

It took two weeks, but the Gladiators finally started the right quarterback, Arvell Nelson got the start for the team and he showed to be better than both Shane Boyd and Tanner Marsh. Nelson had an impressive game, but once again, Cleveland could pull out a win.

This was not only the closest loss for Cleveland, but also the most embarrassing. The Gladiators held a 33-14 lead at one point and seemed to be in total control. Unfortunately, they let the Storm come back and win the game, 62-61.

After three losses to start the season, some may question whether or not it’s time to hit the panic button for this team. The challenges keep coming as they host the next team on our list next weekend.

4. Washington Valor

After an impressive performance against the Brigade Week 1, the Valor had a week off to prepare for their game against the defending champions.

Despite the expansion franchise getting off to a 14-0 lead, just like Cleveland, they weren’t able to keep their big lead. They had the same problem against Baltimore Week 1. They gave up a 34-6 lead, despite winning by 13. Washington needs to find ways to finish strong, not just start strong.

3. Baltimore Brigade

Baltimore got off to a shaky start in Week 1. That was mainly in part to starting quarterback Chase Cartwright. Things have taken a turn for the better when they benched Cartwright for Shane Carden.

The Brigade outscored the Valor in the second half of their Week 1 meeting 38-24 with Carden. He also impressed in their Week 2 win in Cleveland, throwing six touchdown passes. Another big piece to the Brigade puzzle is wide receiver Reggie Gray. Gray is one of the best receivers in the Arena Football League and continues to show it.

Baltimore had the week off this week and they’ll need it. They will head to Philadelphia to take on the next team on our list in their home opener next Saturday night.

2. Philadelphia Soul

No one has played better football than the Soul. They continue to show why they are the defending ArenaBowl champions. Quarterback Dan Raudabaugh has had his struggles in both Soul games this season, but he is backed up by his dominant defense. The defense has been able to shut down both the Valor and Storm at some point in their prospected games to pull off wins. That’s why they’re 2-0 and the lone undefeated team left.

1. Tampa Bay Storm

The Storm won just two games in all of 2016. They have already won two games in their first three tries in 2017. Not only that, but both sides of the ball have done a complete 360.

Quarterback Randy Hippeard and wide receiver Joe Hills make a great duo. It’s not just Hills that Hippeard throws to to make plays, however. Both Kendrick Ings and LaMark Brown have also been a big contribution to the Storm’s offensive success.

The most outstanding change in Tampa is their defense. After not being able to stop anyone in 2016, they have been able to challenge both the Soul and the Gladiators 2017. That defensive line has put a lot of pressure on all the quarterbacks they have faced. Hopefully a week off next week won’t mean they will lose a step at all.