ArenaBowl Aspirations
OS Freddie Solomon believes that his Storm could reign in the AFL's championship game.

Tampa Bay offensive specialist Freddie Solomon is in his second season with the Storm. After sitting out the 2002 season, Solomon has returned in 2003 to help Tampa Bay to a 11-3 record and the top spot in current playoff seedings.

Entering week 14, Solomon was ranked No. 3 in the AFL with 2,259 all-purpose yards. He also ranked among League leaders in scoring (27), receptions (84), receiving yards (1,207) and missed field goal returns (10).

Solomon began his Arena Football career in 2002, but was forced to sit out the entire 2002 season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon he sustained during training camp. Prior to joining the Storm, he played four seasons (1995-98) as a Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver. In the 1999 Expansion Draft, Solomon was the third selection for the Cleveland Browns. In 43 career NFL games, the former South Carolina State Bulldog caught 58 passes for 773 yards and four touchdowns.

As Solomon and the Storm's drive to ArenaBowl XVII continues, Freddie shares some of his thoughts in a recent Q&A session:

Q: What elements do you think are necessary for the Storm to stay on top as you head toward the playoffs and ArenaBowl XVII?

A: We have all of the pieces. The main thing is to continue to play at the
level that we are capable of playing and to avoid injuries. We believe that
the Tampa Bay Storm is the only team that can beat the Tampa Bay Storm. If we play to our potential every week, there's no reason we shouldn't be playing for the ArenaBowl here at the St. Pete Times Forum.

Q: How would you describe your chemistry with QB John Kaleo?

A: It's gotten better every week. The more we play together, the more we
both know what each other is thinking. We work hard together during the
week in order to be successful on game days and so far that's worked out. He's a veteran quarterback who has seen a lot in this League and has had a lot of success. I've been able to learn a lot from both him and coach Tim Marcum. I've only played 13 games in my AFL career, so we're only going to get better.

Q: How important is the quarterback-wide receiver relationship on and off
the field?

A: It's very important for the quarterback and his receivers to be on the
same page, especially in the offense we run. Most of our plays are designed so that the quarterback and receiver both have to make reads, according to what the defense is doing. We both have to make the same read in order for the quarterback to throw the ball to the same place that the receiver runs the route.

Q: What characteristics do you feel have helped you keep your focus and
achieve your place among the League leaders?

A:The group of guys we have on this team - just look at all of the
offensive weapons we have. When you look at Lawrence Samuels, David Saunders, Clif Dell, Gary Compton, Keita Crespina and then we just got T.T. Toliver back from the Bucs - who are you going to cover? We have so many weapons. We have John Kaleo getting us the ball and our line's doing a great job of protecting him. So, with all of the weapons we have and John having a great season, we're able to do a lot of things offensively and I've somehow been able to find ways to get open.

Q: What type of influence has head coach Tim Marcum had on you and your game?

A: He obviously knows what he's doing. He's won more games than anyone and is in the Hall of Fame. He gave me a shot after my NFL career and stuck with me and believed in me after I tore my Achilles last season. I have a lot of respect for him and his knowledge of the game. He has taught me a lot, especially while I was still trying to adjust from the NFL style to the Arena Football game.

Q: As someone who has played in the NFL as well as the AFL, what would you say is the most unique aspect of Arena Football?

A: The offenses are very different. Obviously the Arena Football game is
geared for more scoring and offensive production, so the rules reflect that.
The high motion is obviously different, but so are the routes and the reads.
There is much more one-on-one with defensive backs and if you beat your guy, there's not much help for him back there. With the size of the field, you always have to have your head on a swivel. When you find yourself making a catch in the middle of the field, you have to tell yourself to make your yards and get down instead of trying to dance around and get a couple of extra yards.