Will The Maniax Drive The Hitmen Crazy?
By Mike Mitchell - Hitmen Team Reporter

Hitmen GM, Drew Pearson will once again resume his active role on the sidelines. If you missed last week's game. Pearson took an active role in motivating the Hitmen players on the sidelines. Drew will continue that role this Saturday night.

New York - (16 March 2001) -- The NY/NJ Hitmen defense may face their toughest challenge to date. On Saturday night, the XFL's hottest offense rolls into Giants Stadium to clash with the Hitmen. The league's hottest offense right now belongs to the Memphis Maniax led by Kippy Brown.

The Hitmen are coming off a stunning 20-12 upset of the Demons at Pac Bell Park. They now stand at 2 and 4 after 6 games and are tied for the 2nd playoff spot in the east with Birmingham. Only 4 weeks remain in the regular season and half the teams in the XFL will be in the playoffs, while the other half will head home.

They say "home is where the heart is." Well for NY/NJ, home is where their broken heart is. The Hitmen are the league's only team to not win at home. They are 0 and 3 at home and they only have 2 home games remaining. The first of those two is this Saturday night against the 3 and 3 Memphis Maniax.

The game will air on NBC as the cut-in game during the crucial Bolts-Outlaws contest. The game will also air on WNEW 102.7FM on the radio for this week only, before returning to 770 WABC radio next week.

Twenty thousand plus fans are expected to be on hand and tickets can still be purchased at the stadium or by calling 1-201-507-8900. If you have never been to an XFL game, I advise that you do so, There is no experience quite like it. You have to see it for yourself.

The Hitmen fans will be praying for a victory this Saturday night against Memphis. They may need those prayers too.

Memphis strolls into Giants Stadium also tied for a playoff spot but with 2 other teams in the west. So the game is crucial for all parties involved.

Former San Fransisco 49er Jim Druckenmiller, is coming off his greatest pro performance, which earned him week 6's XFL offensive player of the week award. Last Saturday night, "The Druck" threw for 412 yards and 3 TD's in a dramatic come from behind 29-23 victory over Chicago.

The Hitmen defense will not only have to contend with him but they must also be prepared for Druckenmiller's top flight wideouts in Daryll Hobbs, Alvin Harper and Charles Jordan. Last week, Jordan had an amazing 10 receptions for 214 yards! Not only is the Maniax passing game a force to be reckoned with but they also boast the league's best rusher, in Rashaan Salaam who as of this article will be a game time decision on Saturday. If Salaam plays, The Hitmen defense will have their hands full.

Last week, The Hitmen offense pulled out all the stops to get the victory. They may have to stick with that line of thinking against Memphis. Wally Richardson's play at QB has continued to improve as the weeks have gone by. Richardson will be on the lookout Saturday for perhaps The XFL's most intimidating defensive lineman, Shante "Chaka" Carver.

Carver has already knocked out two QB's this season and is developing a reputation of being a cheap shot artist. The Hitmen offensive line, which has struggled at times will have to try to keep Shante away from Richardson. The Maniax like to blitz and NY will look to exploit them deep in these situations. Wally is one of the league's best scramblers and his running may be crucial to the outcome of this game.

In order for the Hitmen to win this game, The offense is going to have to get production out of it's running attack. Joe Aska has stepped up nicely the last 3 weeks and he and the returning Dino Philyaw will be called upon to help keep The Memphis offense off the field.

The Hitmen have had problems all season long on special teams while the Maniax have one of the league's best units. This area could serve as a problem for NY/NJ.

Hitmen GM, Drew Pearson will once again resume his active role on the sidelines. If you missed last week's game. Pearson took an active role in motivating the Hitmen players on the sidelines. Drew will continue that role this Saturday night.

With 4 weeks left in the regular season. It's now or never for The Hitmen. Can they build upon their victory against San Francisco or was their performance just a one time deal. The pressure builds for all of the xfl's teams as they get closer to the end of the season. The Hitmen may have gotten off to a bad start this year but how they finish will be all that matters in the end.