The Orlando Storm sit tied for first place at 5-2 with three weeks left in the regular season, but head coach Anthony Becht knows his team hasn't played its best football yet. Despite the record, Orlando's offense continues to struggle with consistency issues that have plagued them all season.
"Have we played a complete game yet?" Becht asked during his weekly press conference. The answer appears to be no, but the Storm keep finding ways to win anyway.
Complementary Football Keeping Storm Afloat
Orlando's 24-23 comeback win over Houston showcased exactly how the Storm have managed to stay atop the standings without firing on all cylinders. The offense managed zero turnovers, the defense forced two takeaways and scored on one, while special teams contributed over 200 yards in kickoff return yardage.
"Collectively everybody complemented each other. So we just gotta make sure that all 3 phases, they're kicking in if they do, and we don't turn the ball over because the 2 games we lost were because of turnovers."
The formula has worked so far, but Becht knows the margin for error gets slimmer as the playoffs approach. Orlando faces Dallas on Friday night in a neutral-site game at Fort Hood that could go a long way toward determining playoff positioning.
Offensive Execution Issues Persist
When pressed about the team's offensive struggles, Becht didn't sugarcoat the problems. The issues aren't personnel-based but rather about execution and consistency.
"We have one or two guys on every other play, you know, whatever it may be, not holding their block long enough. Not working to the right guy. Maybe we're hitting the wrong hole," Becht explained. "We got to start looping like 3 to 4 good plays in a row, meaning like everybody's at least in the right place doing their job."
The first-down struggles have been particularly frustrating. After emphasizing early-down efficiency two weeks ago against Birmingham, the Storm regressed in that area against Houston. When you're constantly facing second-and-long situations, the playbook shrinks considerably.
Defensive Additions Continue Paying Dividends
While the offense searches for consistency, Orlando's defense keeps making splash plays with new acquisitions. DJ James grabbed a pick-six just one week after joining the team from NFL minicamp, continuing a trend of immediate impact from defensive additions.
"Getting a pick six a week out from a minicamp in the NFL. Jason Taylor comes back two weeks ago and he makes a forced fumble. So, it's phenomenal. Avery Young had six tackles. We brought him in last week."
Becht takes pride in his personnel evaluation skills, joking that maybe he should become a personnel guy instead of a head coach. The ability to quickly integrate talent has been crucial given the injuries Orlando has dealt with in the defensive backfield.
Fort Hood Presents Unique Opportunity
Friday's game at Fort Hood brings a throwback feel that Becht and his team are embracing. The Storm will bus to the military base the same day, eat at the base, and play in what amounts to a high school stadium atmosphere.
"We're going to put our pads under the bus and we're going to get on the bus and have a couple meals and go play some ball," Becht said. "We're going to bring a great brand of football to some folks that maybe haven't gotten a chance to see a professional football game in a long time, or at least live."
Even though it's technically a Dallas home game, Becht hopes the military families in attendance will cheer for Orlando in what promises to be a unique UFL experience.
Final Home Game Appeal
With Orlando showing one of the few attendance increases in the UFL this season—growing from around 8,000 in Week 2 to nearly 10,000 recently—Becht made a direct appeal to local fans for the team's final home game.
"Come out, bring the family, bring the kids, bring your coworkers. Come for half. You don't even have to stay the whole game. Like, just come out. It's a very engaging venue. It's a very engaging experience because you're so close to the field."
The Storm's championship run deserves support from a city that's just getting to know its professional football team. At 5-2 and tied for first, Orlando has positioned itself for a potential playoff run despite never putting together that complete game Becht keeps talking about. Maybe that's coming at just the right time.