Brian Westerholt / AFL Photos

The play of Kenny McEntyre, one of the top defensive specialists in AFL history, is part of the reason Orlando's defense is the best in the league, says Pat Haden of NBCSports.com.

Inconsistency won't cut it
Orlando jumped out to a 3-0 start before alternating wins and losses over its next five games.

Gruden has been looking to get consistent efforts from his team.

The coach is concerned that with the level of competition in the AFL this season, running hot and cold could leave a talented club out of the eight-team postseason picture.

The pattern of winning one week and losing the next Gruden feels is a sure ticket for missing the playoffs.

A plus for the Predators is Gruden's understanding of strategy in the indoor game.

While no longer playing quarterback in this league, Gruden can still account for some wins through his astute coaching.

Gruden is one of the elite coaches in the league who seems to manage the critical last minute of every half very well, and that can pay off in wins.

I think Gruden has to be considered one of the top three or four coaches in the league.

Defense key to title hopes
This is a good football team with still a lot of work ahead of it if the playoffs and possibly a championship are to be in the picture this season.

Gruden is different from most coaches in this league as he looks at the game from a defensive standpoint.

In a league where most teams make the quarterback and generating offense the top concerns, Gruden has not followed along with the conventional thinking.

With so many AFL games decided on the very last drive, a defense that can make critical stops can take a team to the playoffs.

As most recently seen with the signing of Harris, Gruden makes his biggest moves on defense.

It's these moves that he hopes will bring an AFL championship to Orlando for the first time since 2000.