The Cologne Crocodiles (5-3-1) will try to reverse the trend when they play host to the Berlin Rebels (6-2) on August 4 at Höhenberg Köln stadion in Cologne in German Football League action.
The Crocodiles dropped their last games before the four week break including a 34-13 decision to the Rebels in Berlin. Meanwhile, Berlin won both of their last two games, beating both Cologne and the New Yorker Lions.
Cologne running back Shayeen Edwards remains the top rusher in the GFL with 808 yards and 8 TDs but he was held to 68 yards in the loss to Berlin. In other words, as Edwards goes, so goes the Crocodiles offense and in those three losses, he gained a total of 124 yards or an average of 41 yards a game. Cologne quarterback Bradley Strauss is averaging 205 yards a game and has thrown 17 touchdown passes in nine games. However, he has only thrown five interceptions so far this year in 230 pass attempts.
Linebacker Tucker Stanley leads the Crocodiles defense with 73 tackles so far and has 10 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Sean Richard leads the Rebels in rushing and he is fourth in the league with 644 yards and seven touchdowns. In the win against Cologne right before the break he was a workhorse gaining gaining 125 yards. He has fellow Dutchman, Chris Smith also in the backfield making for a potent running combination to go along with quarterback Terrell Robinson who has 354 yards rushing. Robinson has thrown for 1,352 yards so far. But his superb performance against the New Yorker Lions in mid June when he completed 13 of 15 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns does not bode well for the Cologne secondary. In that final game against the Crocodiles, Robinson threw for 265 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another.
Defensive back Jamaal White is the top tackler for Berlin with 50 tackles.
It will be interesting to see if Cologne can bounce back from their disappointing collapse before the break. Berlin will be looking to build on their midseason surge and stay close to Dresden and the New Yorker Lions in the standings.
