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Post by MGB01 on Sept 9, 2023 10:22:58 GMT -5
BIRMINGHAM BOLTS
Head coach: Ken Dorsey Offensive coordinator: Mike Shula Defensive coordinator: Paul Spicer
COACHING: Dorsey's return to the resurrected Bolts coincided with the 20th anniversary of them making him the first draft pick in team history. Unfortunately he didn't have much to celebrate about, as a blown two-touchdown lead in the second half of their v2.0 opener portended the rest of their season, which was about as bad as you can get. The Bolts finished, on the basis of yards per play, worst in the league defensively and tied for the worst offensively. However Dorsey elected to keep both coordinators, but will take a greater role in the offense. Whether that's enough to produce even a six-win team is up for hardcore guessing, which there will be lot of the second variety if they don't at least look competitive--as attendance dropped from nearly 40,000 for their opener to just over 10,000 for the season finale.
OFFENSE: Damien Harris could be the key to unlocking the offense, or he could just be a really good running back. Harris comes off back-to-back 1000-yard seasons in Orlando (and just missing another before that), so it's hardly a case of overpaying a one-season wonder. But his 2023 was so other-worldly--he had eight 100-yard games, the Bolts as a team had two--combined with returning to the state where he starred for Nick Saban just 62 miles down the road might cast him as a failure if he merely produces at the level of Gus Edwards, his predecessor (a 1000-yard rusher himself, although he just eked it out in the final game). So stay tuned......Fans might have thought it was a cruel joke when Taylor Heinicke was signed to be Silvers' replacement. Not only did Heinicke have an iffy final season in New York, in which a few strong performances against weaker defenses (including the Bolts) at the end of the season didn't fool Ron Rivera into giving him one more go, but a certain faction felt they might as well go with homestate legend A.J. McCarron if they're not going to go for their QBOTF......At least the Bolts will have one the best fleets of wideouts in the game, with Jonathan Mingo and A.T. Perry joining George Pickens and Osirus Mitchell. Throw in Isaiah Likely, coming off a nine-TD season, at tight end and if the Bolts can get anything at QB--they actually moved the ball pretty well when Silvers or McCarron was given time to throw--they'll be set up pretty well here......Of course that last part's the key as the offensive line allowed 56 sacks, third worst in the league and Dorsey didn't make any big upgrades in the offseason, instead more or less continuing the year one offensive line plan of integrating veterans (Brandon Shell, Quinton Spain, Billy Price) with developing young talent (Darian Kinnard, Luke Tenuta). That's the big gamble.
DEFENSE: The highly-touted first year DC Spicer was under siege after the Demons came in and torched the Bolts at midseason. Dorsey stuck with his embattled DC but the problem didn't go away, as the Bolts were one of two teams, San Antonio the other, to give up 400 yards per game......Despite talk of switching to a 3-4 the Bolts will remain primarily a 4-3 with their primary pass rushers, Willie Yarbary and Dean Lowry, up front. But more will be needed as they combined for just nine sacks. They could get that as Lowry, who moved inside to under tackle in Birmingham's four-man front, will move back outside and second-round pick Zacch Pickens will replace him. The goals being not only improving a run defense that allowed a league-high 155.8 yards per game but enable Lowry to get back to his Tampa form, where he had double-digit sacks in 2020 (10) and 2022 (12)......Drew Sanders and Henry To'oto'o add youth to a solid veteran corps led by Joe Schobert and Brandon Bell......Drafting Kelee Ringo was the big move in the secondary, while Christian Benford had a brutal start to his rookie year and was benched before finding some success in a nickel/backup safety role. While Nick Cross and Reed Blankenship were the staring safety duo for most of the year, Tony Adams, who suffered a concussion in week two and the Bolts were cautious with him after his week 12 return--he didn't get a whole lot of snaps before sitting out the regular season finale, has breakout potential and could bust into the starting lineup.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Ray Ray McCloud seems to be only out of the picture as a wideout, but also in the return game as Keisean Nixon was comparable on kickoff returns and outperformed him on punts. Former Notre Dame soccer player Brandon Aubrey looked like a natural kicking, missing just three kicks (two FGs and one XP) Pressley Harvin was a late-season injury replacement for Bradley Pinion and was a slight upgrade, showing off a bigger leg--he had a 72-yarder against Chicago and put three inside the 20.
OUTLOOK: Dorsey might not have as big of a job ahead of him as he did a year ago, but at least then he had the anticipation and curiosity factor working for him. Harris will be a question mark, not his production but is there too much pressure being put on him after what he did in his final season in Orlando? But the offensive line lurks and quite frankly is the bigger one. While local sentiment is obviously more in McCarron's favor than in Heinicke's the latter was sacked just 13 times in eight starts (compared to 22/9 for McCarron). Who will be the main pass protector? Tenuta ended the year at left tackle, they could move Kinnard over after he started a few games there. There were a bunch of small fixes defensively, but nothing major. Everything put together says they'll be competitive and maybe sneak a game or two out but realistically it won't be until 2025 they can start to think about competing for a playoff spot.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Taylor Heinecke DE Dean Lowry RB Damien Harris DT Tim Settle WR George Pickens DT Zacch Pickens WR Jonathan Mingo DE Willie Yarbary WR Osirus Mitchell LB Drew Sanders TE Jace Sternberger LB Joe Schobert LT Luke Tenuta LB A.J. Klein LG Quinton Spain CB Kelee Ringo C Billy Price SS Reed Blankenship RG Darian Kinnard FS Nick Cross RT Brandon Shell CB Christian Benford
SPECIAL TEAMS K Brandon Aubrey P Pressley Harvin
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 9, 2023 10:26:16 GMT -5
CAROLINA COLONELS
Head coach: Kevin O'Connell Defensive coordinator: James Willis
COACHING: O'Connell took the Colonels to the X-Bowl as quarterback and in his third year took them back as coach, with one obvious difference, they won the former but were sorely outclassed in the latter as they lost by 17 despite jumping out to a 14-0 lead. So the theme for 2024 would naturally be X-Bowl or bust, but that ignores the contenders in the Eastern Conference lining up to take the Colonels down a peg. Interest, locally and regionally, should be sky-high, as the Colonels could draw record crowds to Carter-Finley Stadium--especially when they host Kansas City in the rematch.
OFFENSE: Year one for Kyle Trask as a starter was an unqualified success, as he averaged nearly 300 yards in 14 starts (throw out essentially a glorified cameo in week 15 in Tampa) and filled up the stat sheet week in week out. Another challenge awaits him for 2024 as he won't have 1000-yard back Jordan Howard (although for the first time in his career wasn't a 1000-yard back in 2023)......The Colonels brought in Gus Edwards and will go running-back-by-committee with Edwards/Kenneth Gainwell/Jerome Ford/Michael Warren despite Edwards being a 1000-yard back himself in Birmingham......Hunter Renfrow got a new deal right before the playoffs, will Tee Higgins follow? The duo accounted for 157 catches, over 2000 yards, and 17 TDs so while it will hardly be cheap it would be highly recommended. Tyler Johnson's catch totals have been all over the place in his three seasons, but he's been a dependable third target, though this year competition will come from Michigan State speedster Jayden Reed. Ian Thomas dropped from a career-best 60 to 41, but also had five touchdowns......The offensive line will have two new starters, both on the left side, in Ben Powers and fourth rounder Asim Richards.
DEFENSE: The Colonels lost Shaquil Barrett (who didn't play a snap) and Chase Winovich in the offseason but ran all the way to the X-Bowl sans Barrett because of their tremendous edge rusher depth. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo had seven sacks then two more in the postseason, and the Colonels also got contributions from Marquis Haynes and Chris Rumph, now they add Oshane Ximines (free agency) and Byron Young/Tyrus Wheat (draft). Nakobe Dean becomes a full-time starter on the inside, while Akeem Davis-Gaither returned from missing nine games (including the last five) to lead the Colonels in tackles in the playoffs......Upfront the 3M (Justin Madubuike/Alim McNeill/T.Y. McGill) leads the way while Jeremiah Ledbetter will lead a second unit that's had some changes after losing Tyeler Davison and Michael Dogbe......Micah Hyde was another veteran presence the Colonels missed but unlike Barrett the Colonels will get him back. Third round pick Jay Ward is an interesting add to the mix that O'Connell has plans for at both corner and safety. A solid secondary, even without Hyde after week 5, was bolstered by depth pieces in Mike Brown and Jaylon Jones, and Luq Barcoo, who was signed off of San Antonio's practice squad and will have a shot at the nickel.
SPECIAL TEAMS: With new deal in hand it's probably a done deal that Renfrow moves on from punt return detail, with Reed, who averaged over 20 yards per return as a junior two years ago, the likely replacement. Reed's former teammate at MSU Jalen Nailor has kickoffs although another rookie, Trey Palmer, could be up for the job as well. Rodrigo Blankenship's erraticness led the Colonels to trade for Dustin Hopkins, and he rewarded them by being nearly perfect down the stretch, including the game-winner that clinched the Independence. Blake Hayes has a solid leg, but wasn't nearly as proficient at putting punts inside the 20 (just 12) as was his calling card in college.
OUTLOOK: The Colonels were pretty much the same team they were in 2022, they just learned how to win at home (7-1) and thus reaped the benefits en route to a division title. While losing Howard looks to be devastating on paper he had his least productive year in 2023 and Carolina prospered using a shared approach. Getting back the veteran leadership of Hyde is a huge plus as it may be the one thing to put the Colonels over the top. While there will certainly be questions--like Trask in year two as a starter/left tackle, they don't nearly match, in number anyway, those of last year at this time. That said, this year will have two obstacles to navigate: a slightly tougher schedule that includes a home-and-away with Chicago, the X-Bowl rematch with the Monarchs, and two trips to California; and old adage that staying at the top being harder than getting there.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Kyle Trask DE Justin Madubuike RB Kenneth Gainwell DT Alim McNeill WR Tee Higgins DE T.Y. McGill WR Hunter Renfrow LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo WR Jayden Reed LB Akeem Davis-Gaither TE Ian Thomas LB Nakobe Dean LT Asim Richards LB Marquis Haynes LG Ben Powers CB Jamar Summers C Cameron Jurgens SS Geno Stone RG Deonte Brown FS Micah Hyde RT Daryl Williams CB Michael Carter
SPECIAL TEAMS K Dustin Hopkins P Blake Hayes
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 9, 2023 10:29:47 GMT -5
CHICAGO ENFORCERS
Head coach: Rex Ryan Offensive coordinator: Brian Schottenheimer Defensive coordinator: Rob Ryan
COACHING: After his 15th season in the league passed last year (now heading into his 15th in Chicago) Rex Ryan derisively had a T added to his name by some disappointed that the Enforcers haven't brought home an X-Bowl title since 2018--you know, dinosaur......But "T-Rex" is apparently doing something right as the Enforcers come off of consecutive division titles and pushed Carolina to the brink in both matchups before falling. There were frustrations to be sure: The offense under Schottenheimer was often times a work in progress, that Rob Ryan oversaw a defense that had a middling 35 sacks was bad enough but just two came from an edge rusher (Tashawn Bower), and the team needed help just to get into the playoffs after a 6-2 start. But Rex led them through it all, also a gambling scandal that took their WR3 at midseason. His 145-79 mark (which actually began with the Enforcers' plummet to 2-12 in 2010, his first season) and four rings count for something.
OFFENSE: Gardner Minshew and the Windy City seemed an odd match from the time the Enforcers drafted him in 2019, but his play at quarterback has been just what the Enforcers have been looking for ever since Jimmy Clausen's retirement earlier that year. Minshew's completion percentage jumped from a pedestrian 59.7 to a career-high 72 in 2023, and both he and team believe he can get even better with 1)a full season of midyear trade acquisition D'Andre Swift, and 2)the additions of Josh Downs and Ronnie Bell in the draft......What will do more that that is keeping Minshew upright, he was sacked 42 times--still well off the pace of bottom three pass protection units in the league but elite teams have higher expectations. Betting that bad injury luck was the reason Minshew was under siege--he was sacked a more manageable 28 times with mostly the same unit in 2022, the only major change made was at left tackle, where Zachary Thomas will take over full-time for Max Scharping, who signed with New York......Amon-Ra St. Brown exploded in his second year, finishing with a league-leading 94 catches. Allen Lazard put in a solid 800-yard season and now they're about to be joined by Downs and Bell, pretty much signaling the end of Quintez Cephus, who could miss the entire 2024 season, in Chicago. Thaddeus Moss and Jeremy Ruckert are fine as the tight end duo, their relatively low catch numbers are acceptable given the weaponry elsewhere.
DEFENSE: Having a future XFL Hall of Famer in Cameron Jordan is great but if you're running a 3-4 you better have an impact edge rusher to help him. The Enforcers last had one hit the ten-sack mark with Aaron Lynch in 2021 (although in fairness Jaylon Ferguson was on his way before his untimely passing in 2022). They hope to have hit on one by trading up to draft Derick Hall, who had double-digit sacks each of his final two seasons at Auburn. Jordan, who added a year onto his deal in the offseason that will take him through 2026, his expected final season, has five straight seasons of double-digit sacks and this with missing the opener against Columbus......Chicago's struggles at edge rusher forced Rob Ryan to change up the alignments and mix in some more four-man fronts, and A.J. Epenesa took advantage to the tune of eight sacks. Jordon Scott also emerged as an unlikely source of pass rush, as he had four sacks and he and Christopher Hinton got playing time at the end of the year with Folorunso Fatukasi out......It isn't just the pass rush, but an overall middling defense that the younger Ryan will be tasked with improving in 2024. Chicago yielded over 365 yards per game and, uncharacteristically, created just 16 turnovers. Plus he'll also need to figure out how to replace David Long, who signed with Tampa Bay.
SPECIAL TEAMS: For the first time in a few years the Enforcers will have both a new kicker and punter to begin the season as Jake Bailey left for a bigger deal in Seattle, and Jonathan Garibay will be the guy from week one on after going 7-of-8 down the stretech and hitting all ten of his extra point attempts, including playoffs. Godwin Igwebuike returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown in a huge midseason win over Tampa Bay and will maintain his role. Downs could supplant Trent Taylor on punt returns as the unit managed a paltry 7.3 per return. Troy Dye led a very good special teams unit, but with changes at linebacker he could be headed back into a starting role (as in 2020 when he nearly won DROY), thus bringing some changes to the unit.
OUTLOOK: With the offense in a good place, if not exactly cooking, and the defense poised for improvement it's hard to bet against the Enforcers. Yes they did benefit from some luck--their midseason slump coincided with Washington's, and a 19-9 loss to them in week 16 put them in the position of needing help to get in. But this is also a team that put Carolina to the test twice--once in an entertaining back-and-forth, the other they jumped out to a 28-14 halftime lead--and they'll get them at Soldier Field as part of the 2024 docket. Chicago has had 12 winning seasons in Ryan's 14 so, while there was some understandable grumbling over some ugly wins and the fact the the Enforcers had the lowest point differential (+34) of the four playoff teams, they're right where they need to be.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Gardner Minshew DE Cameron Jordan RB D'Andre Swift DT Folorunso Fatukasi WR Amon-Ra St. Brown DE A.J. Epenesa WR Allen Lazard LB Derick Hall WR Josh Downs LB Elandon Roberts TE Thaddeus Moss LB Troy Dye LT Zachary Thomas LB Boye Mafe LG Jon Runyan CB Anthony Brown C Josh Myers SS Jerrick Reed RG Robert Jones FS Adrian Amos RT Michael Dunn CB Michael Ojemudia
SPECIAL TEAMS K Jonathan Garibay P Johnny Hekker
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 9, 2023 10:31:44 GMT -5
COLUMBUS CAPITOLS
Head coach: Brian Flores Offensive coordinator: George Godsey Defensive coordinator: Brendan Daly
COACHING: Flores is a no-nonsense guy, so he wouldn't be one to repeat the mantra of legendary MLB manager Casey Stengel on his 1962 New York Mets: "Most games are lost, not won", implying that they were somehow better than their modern record of baseball futility. Flores said outright, "No we're not better, we're terrible. You won't see this same (insert here) in 2024". It's also hard to evaluate Flores' lieutenants, as personnel issues hampered both sides of the ball. With an actual offseason, there were enough upgrades that it'll be up to Godsey and Daly to make up the difference quickly.
OFFENSE: Will Levis won't be expected to be the savior, the team is far from that point. But what will be expected is he takes command and makes it his. Having 2022 #1 overall pick Breece Hall back will greatly aid in that, and if that's not enough rookie Israel Abanikanda and Tarik Cohen are are also there for him. Hall got off to relatively slow start in his first three games but was coming on strong (with his first three rushing touchdowns) when he tore his ACL against the Hitmen in week five......One could ask what exactly the Capitols are doing at wideout, where their WR1 is a 35 year-old Golden Tate, who averaged just 9.5 per catch and they didn't add in the draft (Jacob Copeland signed as an undrafted free agent). So behind Tate and Tre Turner there's going to have to be some serious stepping up. The Capitols moved on from Ryan Griffin and bet on the talent and upside of Irv Smith, though a career full of injuries says that might not be the safest bet, and if he falters Connor Heyward will have to make the jump to TE1 in his second year......The protection wasn't bad as "Kydalate Slonesfeld" was sacked a reasonable 28 times. But it wasn't exactly reason to celebrate or stand pat, so the Capitols went out signed Nate Davis, then drafted Tyler Steen. For now, Steen will start at left guard then kick back outside if/when Tyrell Crosby's back gives out on him, with Zach Tom, an all-rookie selection, remaining on the right side. Luke Wypler replaces the departed Billy Price at center.
DEFENSE: Columbus started the season with an experienced three-man front but age quickly shot that to hell by midseason. This year they'll be more balanced in youth and experience, with free-agent signee Armon Watts, Travis Jones, and Brent Urban to get the most snaps, mixing in young players (Malik Herring, a late-season waiver pickup from Dallas) and vets (Justin Zimmer) alike......The Capitols thought they had a find in Genard Avery, but he had just two sacks in 13 games so they went back to the well and signed Chase Winovich, who had a better year in Carolina than his four sacks would suggest. Either way they need pressure out of the two vets or Flores will have no problem giving their snaps to second-year Zach VanValkenburg, who had a pair of sacks averaging about 14 snaps a game and started the season finale in Chicago. Dylan Cole remains a starter on the inside, but with his injury history the Capitols could start two rookies inside between Dee Winters and Ivan Pace......The secondary will have a makeover as free safety Alohi Gilman is set to be the only returning starter. Michael Ford came over from Orlando to start at one corner, and the other could be either Kendall Sheffield or third round pick Jakorian Bennett, moving Damarion Williams back into a nickel role and possibly some snaps at safety. Yusuf Corker, Juanyeh Thomas, and Quindell Johnson are all in the mix at strong safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Matt Ammendola had a solid season but was not retained, and instead another Oklahoma State kicker, Tanner Brown, is up. Tommy Townsend had a strong bounceback year after Orlando let him go in the expansion draft over questions of distance and ball placement. But the one spot where Flores could actually be happy with was at punt returner, as Tarik Cohen took two back to the house and finished third in yards per return (17.1). They'll have to figure out who gets kickoff returns after Darrius Shepherd left for San Diego. Abanikanda and Tyler Badie are the leading candidates there.
OUTLOOK: While Flores is right in that the second-year Capitols won't trot out a lot of the same lineup as they did in 2023, and having Hall back will certainly help, it's hard to see any substantial improvement in the win column, at the very minimum until Levis gets some games under his belt. There's also too much in flux at every position. The mix of first and second-year guys with vets appears better than it did in year one, but still too many question marks. Best case scenario is probably a jump up to five wins.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Will Levis DE Brent Urban RB Breece Hall DT Travis Jones WR Golden Tate DE Armon Watts WR Tre Turner LB Chase Winovich TE Irv Smith LB Dylan Cole TE Connor Heyward LB Dee Winters LT Tyrell Crosby LB Genard Avery LG Tyler Steen CB Michael Ford C Luke Wypler SS Yusuf Corker RG Nate Davis FS Alohi Gilman RT Zach Tom CB Jakorian Bennett
SPECIAL TEAMS K Tanner Brown P Tommy Townsend
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 11, 2023 22:36:04 GMT -5
DALLAS LONESTARS
Head coach: Bob Stoops Offensive coordinator: Jonathan Hayes Defensive coordinator: Jay Hayes
COACHING: Alright, the jokes are aplenty. Stoops' Lonestars have amazingly gone 7-9 in each of his four seasons, leading some to humorously wonder if they should go ahead and hire Jeff Fisher for the "real thing". But seriously, those with long memories remember Stoops at his first presser in June 2019 dismissing the team's prior run of mediocrity and how superstar players (Dak Prescott, Michael Bennett, and yes Antonio Brown were all Lonestars before he got there) weren't getting the job done. Naturally the question to "Big Game Bob" would be: what do you call this?
OFFENSE: There was optimism that it was going to turn around for Stoops when Luis Perez won three straight starts and the Lonestars were 3-1 in 2022, that's 11-17 since if you're counting. But Perez at least then had the excuse of an abysmal running game even with Javonte Williams. He had a 528-yard 10 TD season from Phillip Lindsay behind Williams in 2023. There was never any real chance of him losing his job to Shane Buechele, who took over in a week 11 upset win over then-Liberty leading Washington, but there is a demand for him to be better......Williams finished with over 900 yards and ended up third on the team in receptions with the Lonestars having so many injuries at WR. Lindsay is replaced by Jacques Patrick, who went from a backup in Washington to a rotational piece once Kalen Ballage tore his Achilles......Xavier Hutchinson caught 254 balls in three years at Iowa State and brings ability to play all three WR positions in joining a receiving corps led by Donovan Peoples-Jones. But Hutchinson isn't the only only add to the passing game, Darnell Washington joins a tight end group where Albert Okwuegbunam hasn't been able to stay healthy......Two big changes on the OL: Dallas struggled with four different centers after Nick Harris' season-ending knee injury, leading them to select Joe Tippmann; Matt Waletzko replaces the departed Terence Steele at right tackle. Stoops figures more stability up front is the key, though the effect in the win column has literally been nil in his four years.
DEFENSE: After a year without a big body in the middle the Lonestars went and grabbed Greg Gaines, though Gaines is more pass rusher than run stuffer himself. That might not be a bad thing, since there was a four-way tie for the team lead in sacks with four, the fewest by any team leader in the league--even Columbus and St. Louis, the two teams who finished with less sacks than Dallas, had more from their leaders. The context though is that Ronnie Perkins, who had eight sacks as a rookie in 2022, missed his sophomore campaign. With Austin Bryant gone he'll return to his edge rusher spot......Brian Asamoah finished in the top five in DROY voting, but other than that the total production from ILB was just not there. The Lonestars flipped a draft pick to reacquire Jalen Reeves-Maybin (originally their second round pick in 2017), he had six snaps on defense playing behind Asamoah and Joe Thomas......The problem of giving up the big plays seemed to subside, but the secondary actually started to make them. While Holton Hill was the only corner on the team with an INT Kyler Gordon pushed himself into the DROY conversation with two fumble recoveries, one a game-changing TD in the Washington upset. Michael Jackson also led the team in pass deflections. Armani Watts had something of a lost year after a knee injury cost him the first seven games of his debut season in the DFW.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Jack Fox comes off of his best season yet, as he averaged 50.5 yards per punt and also averaged 50 yards per punt in a majority of the Lonestars' games, he also had a game where he didn't punt--which Stoops would gladly take 16 of those granted they weren't replaced by turnovers. Tristan Vizcaino began the year on Kansas City's practice squad but got the call for his first regular season duty when the Lonestars waived Tyler Rausa. Vizcaino went 17 of 20 and 38 of 42 on extra points but being that all three misses were from 40-49 it likely won't stop Stoops from continuing to look. Peoples-Jones handled kickoff returns but Austin Walter will take those over. Jequez Ezzard had a punt return touchdown against Seattle.
OUTLOOK: To even get back to so much as .500 Stoops will have to go 12-4, quite the task already with the Monarchs as forever division rivals and the franchise itself has had all of one ten-win season--their debut season back in 2003. That might (will) be too much but a winning season for the first time since 2018 won't, although a quick glance says there might be trouble. The Lonestars problem last year actually wasn't the Monarchs, as they played them tough in both games, it was their in-state rival, the Stampede, who blew them out twice--which really looks bad when you consider how their season went. They exchange the so-so Liberty, whom they swept, for the tougher Independence (although they'll keep New York). Schedule difficulty aside, it's past go time.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Luis Perez DE Rashard Lawrence RB Javonte Williams DT Greg Gaines WR Donovan Peoples-Jones DE Neville Gallimore WR Randall Cobb LB Ronnie Perkins WR Xavier Hutchinson LB Brian Asamoah TE Albert Okwuegbunam LB Joe Thomas LT Ezra Cleveland LB Dorance Armstrong LG Jonah Jackson CB Kyler Gordon C Joe Tippmann SS Armani Watts RG Cody Ford FS Damontae Kazee RT Matt Waletzko CB Michael Jackson
SPECIAL TEAMS K Tristan Vizcaino P Jack Fox
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 11, 2023 22:37:26 GMT -5
KANSAS CITY MONARCHS
Head coach: Matt Nagy Offensive coordinator: Mike Kafka Defensive coordinator: Bryan Cox
COACHING: Nagy backed up Anthony Calvillo for three seasons in the mid-late 2000s, surely nothing would become of him right? No, well other than that whole ridiculous career win percentage of .925, not only more ridiculous than his predecessor Donnie Henderson, but he's already surpassed him by two X-Bowls. He can win his 100th as soon as week two, that's in just his seventh season as head coach. Oh and now he has three run-the-table seasons in the bank, and probably even worse news for the rest of the league the Monarchs, by Nagy's own declaration, weren't really firing on all cylinders. They faced double-digit deficits on a few occasions, including the X-Bowl. Case Keenum was sacked 38 times, fourth-most in the league. Perhaps the adjustment to Kafka from Mark Helfrich (with a year of Eric Bieniemy) played a part in it, they weren't the 2020 record-setting unit (with Tyreek Hill) that smashed the league by scoring 592 points and outscored their opponents by 308 to be sure, to which the eight coaches that have been hired and fired across the league in Nagy's tenure are sympathizing with we're sure.
OFFENSE: Keenum enjoyed tremendous protection during the first four seasons of the Monarchs' 'strive for five', including that 2020 season where he was felled just eight times. In 2023, not so much. Of course the losses of prime David Bakhtiari and Rodney Hudson will do that. In the last two drafts Kansas City has landed hopefully two future left side stalwarts in Bernhard Raimann and Matthew Bergeron, while Eric Fisher mans left tackle until Raimann is ready to move over. Luke Wattenberg gave it an honest effort as a rookie, but John Michael Schmitz replaces him and could anchor the line (like Hudson) for the next decade......If you notice from prior years (especially 2019-2021) a lot of those playmakers are gone, the latest being Terry McLaurin and David Montgomery, yet the Monarchs just replace them. This year sees Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham reunite for the first time since they were drafted into the pros together out of LSU. Kareem Hunt began his career in Kansas City with the Chiefs six years ago, now he returns as a Monarch. Michael Carter had a big game against Columbus in Montgomery's absence where he came two yards short of 100 yards rushing and receiving......Keenum has missed a handful of starts the last few years with a concussion and other ailments, so the backup will be no small deal now with Colin Kaepernick gone and Skylar Thompson and Stetson Bennett fighting it out.
DEFENSE: Dre'Mont Jones is now the only member of that stellar 2019 draft class left, and he's substantially richer. Jones is entering the territory of Grady Jarrett, the recently-retired Jurrell Casey, and former Monarch Geno Atkins as among the best interior pass rushers in the league. Plus the attention he commands opens up Karter Schult, who posted a career-high 14 sacks, and Aaron Lynch, whose sacks dropped from 15 to 5 but also is frequently on opponents' checklist and played with a toe injury......The linebackers will have a bit of a different look as Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah will go over and play the LB/S hybrid, Rashaan Evans takes over in the middle and Trenton Simpson comes as an extra pass rusher......Opponents were able to run on Kansas City, when they did so (they also ran the least against them), so it's hard to understand why that strategy didn't change over the season as the Monarchs' secondary was quite frankly better than some teams' passing offenses. After just a single interception in 2022, opponents decided to take Xavier McKinney on full-time. Uh yeah that might not have been the best move, as he not only led the league with 13 picks but also a league-high 24 passes defensed. Levi Wallace would normally have been the talk of the secondary with nine. DeVante Bausby had seven and he wasn't even a full-time starter. Riq Woolen was fourth with six, that would have led ten of the sixteen teams. So what was the kicker behind the Monarchs going from a very good secondary in '22 to threatening pro football records in '23? The veteran acquisitions of Tashaun Gipson and Xavier Rhodes, even if not represented in the stat column, were huge.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Nick Folk missed a league-high seven extra points, including one in four straight games, and while it seemed not to be of consequence given the Monarchs' usual routine one has to wonder if the 39 year-old is on borrowed time even though he also missed just a single field goal. One could also wonder the same about Sterling Hofrichter, who won STPOW in week two with a 55.5 yard average but finished with a mediocre 43.9 (and sub-40 net). As if Kansas City needed it, they also have the league's most dangerous return game. Jalen Virgil could get some more snaps in the offense, but he had two big house calls (one in week 17 the other in X-Bowl XXIII) that changed the game. KaVontae Turpin was credited with one punt return for a touchdown, then another one that ended up going down as a fumble return for six.
OUTLOOK: The rest of the league is bracing for the next Monarchs' Cat 5 and yet Nagy believes they could be better, stand back. But we said last year it would be a rash of team-crippling injuries that would reduce the Monarchs from a dynasty to just another team as opposed to the team declining cause the talent isn't there. With rumblings of this potentially being Keenum's last season that might give some hope that the Monarchs will suddenly become the latter, but the Monarchs just played in X-Bowl number 14 (13th straight), a span that also includes appearances with Christian Ponder and a win with Travis Lulay. But that's all a distraction: we can picture Monarchs' owner Sean A. Calliard going all Jake Roberts and chastising his opponents for focusing on Damien (the potential post-Keenum landscape) and not on him (the Monarchs themselves).
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Case Keenum DE Karter Schult RB Michael Carter DT Dre'Mont Jones WR Odell Beckham DT Jordan Elliott WR Jarvis Landry DE Aaron Lynch WR Demarcus Robinson LB Trenton Simpson TE Harrison Bryant LB Rashaan Evans LT Eric Fisher LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah LG Matthew Bergeron CB Levi Wallace C John Michael Schmitz SS Jaquan Brisker RG Coleman Shelton FS Xavier McKinney RT Bernhard Raimann CB Riq Woolen
SPECIAL TEAMS K Nick Folk P Sterling Hofrichter
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 12, 2023 21:22:02 GMT -5
LOS ANGELES XTREME
Head coach: Mark Helfrich Offensive coordinator: Dave Ragone Defensive coordinator: Vince Amey
COACHING: Helfrich might not necessarily have turned Los Angeles into Monarchs West (after all the only player he brought with him was P.J. Walker) but what he did bring was a winning system, after the Xtreme got off to a 1-2 start Desmond Ridder caught fire. It also validates the relationship between Helfrich and Ragone, which was easily explained with Helfrich coming off splitting OC duties with Eric Bieniemy in 2022. Ragone must have thought so himself as well, as he returned after being briefly considered for the head coaching job in St. Louis. Amey's defense was very good, also validating the decision to hold him over from Winston Moss' staff, but will be tested after retirement (Jurrell Casey) and FA losses (Amani Oruwariye, Greg Gaines).
OFFENSE: After a poor game against Kansas City (join the club) was when he really went off, throwing seven TD passes against Tampa Bay and Columbus, then in a four-game stretch, three against playoff teams San Francisco and Chicago and the other against ten-win Seattle, he answered questions over quality of opposition by completing 66.4% of his passes, a 300-yard game, a 400-yard game, and two touchdowns in each (including an XFL rookie-record 456 against Chicago). Now just to solve the Monarch monster, he completed just half his passes with a touchdown against five interceptions in both games--every other QB in the league invites him to their world......Darrell Henderson returns after an 1100-yard season but Artavis Pierce is the one that had the league buzzing after an 11-TD season. Dameon Pierce averaged just 3.3 per carry before an ankle injury sidelined him for the rest of the year so he risks falling well behind, especially with the Xtreme using the same pick this year (third round) to select Roschon Johnson......After a sophomore slump in 2022 Michael Pittman came back with an acceptable 2023, with a team-leading 903 receiving yards but Deontay Burnett was the big surprise with eight TD grabs (five of which came in the first two games). Tyler Higbee was a benificiary of the new offense, his 52 catches led all tight ends and it was his most productive season since 2020......The offensive line replaces three starters, and while first round pick Cody Mauch and FA import Terence Steele have both tackle spots nailed down center could go to sixth-round pick Alex Forsyth.
DEFENSE: Casey retires with 148 career sacks and, even playing hurt, was one of the league's premier interior pass rushers. Zach Allen steps in coming off 20 sacks in his last two seasons in San Francisco. At nose tackle the Xtreme plan to fill the gap with Bravvion Roy, who had his first career sack in last year's season opener but has mostly been a 10-15 snap per game rotational piece in his three years. Holdover Kyle Peko could also help out......Drake Jackson flew out of the gate with eight sacks in the first seven games before landing just one the rest of the way--which could be a reason that he lost DROY to Seattle's David Ojabo. The Xtreme's ILB duo of the last few years, Jayon Brown and Devante Downs, could both be gone with Jack Sanborn and second round pick Daiyan Henley in wait. Chris Garrett will face competition from Tyree Johnson over at the other edge......With Oruwariye gone the Xtreme took another Demon from their in-state rivals in Greedy Williams, adding to Elijah Molden and Coby Bryant. Jevon Holland, the team's leading tackler, and Siran Neal are one of the league's top safety duos but Tariq Carpenter made some contributions and the Xtreme drafted Jason Taylor and Tyreque Jones so they won't be above trying to get them some snaps.
SPECIAL TEAMS: After averaging 44.4 yards per punt as a rookie, Cameron Dicker will move back to kicker (thus reinstating the "Dicker the Kicker" tag, "Dicker the Punter" doesn't have near the same ring) with all-USFL punter Colby Wadman taking the punt duties. Jason Huntley and Dazz Newsome handle the return game. Huntley averaged 28.3 yards per kick return and although injuries gave him some snaps in the offense he's expected to be the full-time return man again. Newsome, with a deeper receiving unit, won't have that problem.
OUTLOOK: Ridder's tremendous rookie year, he finished second to Christian Watson, had both its ups and downs to be sure (with plenty more of the former). He finished '23 on a roll, he may need to pick up in '24 right where he left off with all the question marks on defense. Henderson coming back will be a plus, Parker Washington adds to a deep receiving corps, and while the offensive line could be a bit iffy Ridder can rely on his legs (he was second among QBs to Jalen Hurts in rushing) to buy himself time. The Xtreme got what they wanted in the offseason with an expanded playoff, but it's up to them to make it into something.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Desmond Ridder DE Zach Allen RB Darrell Henderson DT Bravvion Roy WR Michael Pittman DE Kyle Peko WR Deontay Burnett LB Drake Jackson WR Khalil Shakir LB Jayon Brown TE Tyler Higbee LB Jack Sanborn LT Cody Mauch LB Chris Garrett LG Logan Stenberg CB Greedy Williams C Alex Forsyth SS Siran Neal RG Damien Lewis FS Jevon Holland RT Terence Steele CB Elijah Molden
SPECIAL TEAMS K Cameron Dicker P Colby Wadman
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 12, 2023 21:24:59 GMT -5
NEW YORK HITMEN
Head coach: Ron Rivera Offensive coordinator: Jaime Elizondo Defensive coordinator: Jim Herrmann
COACHING: Rivera's first four years with New York can be summarized by highs and lows: the high coming in 2021 when the Hitmen pushed the Monarchs to the limit in X-Bowl XXI, the lows just about everything else: not just the bookends of Taylor Heinicke's mediocre seasons to begin and end his New York stint, also that little matter of losing a win-and-in playoff game in Orlando with Feleipe Franks leading the comeback after Brad Kaaya was injured. So perhaps it's for that reason, and the Hitmen's shocking upset to knock Washington out of the playoffs--something which Rivera secretly still relishes--that Rivera spared the under-fire Elizondo. Defensively, Herrmann's unit was the best against the run and also had the league's best pass rush, producing a league-leading 54 sacks. Rivera went from 4-12 dreck in his first year in New York to the X-Bowl, while the Hitmen may not exactly be primed for the same turnaround it's historically not wise to bet against Riverboat Ron.
OFFENSE: Garrett Gilbert had low expectations when he replaced Brian Hoyer during a week six game in San Francisco, but then completely went off after that. Seattle went 8-2 in his ten starts, he had a TD/INT ratio of 26:3 and had five 300-yard games. The flip side is he did get to face a lot of bottom-half pass defenses so the jury will be out on him unless he can move the Hitmen up in the Liberty, but for right now all Rivera needs is an upgrade over Heinicke's Jekyll-and-Hyde, which seems to be mission accomplished......Speaking of mission, that seems to be exactly what J.K. Dobbins was on in that June 11 finale as he romped to a 188-yard finish, taking second in rushing to Damien Harris. Ken Walker is the perfect complement, and just in case the Hitmen scored another find in undrafted Jerrian Ealy. After a year away from it the Hitmen will once again have a fullback as Andy Janovich comes over from Chicago......The Hitmen swung and missed at Mecole Hardman, instead opting for a "sum" approach with Jordan Smallwood (FA) and Antoine Green/Kazmeir Allen (draft/UFA). That by itself might be better than anything else they have at wideout, as other than top two Cam Phillips and Jamison Crowder not one had 20 catches (Amari Rodgers was next at 19). Pat Freiermuth could stand to be the biggest winner of all with Gilbert's arrival, as Greg Dulcich became a real redzone force by the end of the year with Gilbert at the controls......Rivera's first act when he was hired was to build the offensive line, now he'll get to do it all over again, this time mostly via free agency. Max Scharping and Dalton Risner, the latter in basically a FA swap with Ben Powers, take over on the left side. Sean Rhyan, the Hitmen's second-round pick last year who missed the first six games with a PED violation, will replace Nate Davis at right guard. Matt Hennessy and Conor McDermott are the two returning starters.
DEFENSE: The defensive line won't return completely intact, but the Hitmen have replacements in wait that can help keep the unit strong. They didn't re-sign productive pass rusher Kingsley Keke over concussion concerns (he's had three already), but are well-stocked with Alton Robinson (coming off a knee injury that kept him out all season) and Patrick Jones, and a pair of rookies in Brenton Cox and K.J. Henry, to go along with Carl Lawson. Quinton Jefferson left for Seattle, so it'll be Matt Henningsen and Jonathan Marshall rotating with Johnathan Hankins on the inside......The Hitmen will find out how much Kwon Alexander has left in the tank as they pair him up with Jason Cabinda. Herrmann could go back to mixing in some 3-4 (the Hitmen were a 3-4 defense when he was hired) and put Cox/Robinson/Jones out on the edge......The secondary needed work, this group only netted four picks (the departed Elandon Roberts had the other one). It's too talented a group to have so little production, so they went out and got C.J. Gardner-Johnson, a weapon at both safety and in the slot. Then they drafted Joey Porter out of Penn State. Both will also allow the Hitmen to get the most from Jaylen Watson, who had his playing time cut midseason after a poor game against Dallas.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Graham Gano continues to be a kicking mainstay, although he slipped below 80% (22 of 28) for the first time in his career. Wait and see if the Hitmen bring an extra leg into camp in January and give Gano some extra rest, it seemed to work in 2022 with Matt McCrane (whom they kept on the roster as a designated kickoff specialist) and Gano was 28 of 30. Rivera was mostly pleased with Trenton Gill, "mostly" cause he had two punts blocked. But New York also underwent a long snapper change--from Tyler Ott to Jordan Silver, so whether Silver makes it through camp unscathed after seemingly surviving the offseason is another piece worth paying attention too. Ealy took over as kickoff returner midseason and seems to have done enough to stay there. Rodgers averaged just 9.3 per punt return, and being that his contributions to the receiving corps were already minimal he could be playing to keep a roster spot.
OUTLOOK: The offense will still be the major question mark. Gilbert, who dominated the AAF in his only previous extended run as a starter before helping turn Seattle's season around last year, won't be dismissed as a one-year wonder but the question will be moreso how the offensive line, which has three new starters, protects him. If the arrival of Johnson can transform the secondary into a ball-hawking unit that will greatly help offset any concerns over key losses on defense. Splitting with the Glory and hanging tough with Liberty champion Chicago (losing both games 20-17, one in OT) was nice, but also finishing five back of both shows it isn't enough. Offensive questions aside, Gilbert being anything close to his 2023 version (a dramatic upgrade over Heinicke and the unprepared Cole Kelley, throw in a brief Matt Barkley cameo) will greatly help close the gap.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Garrett Gilbert DE Carl Lawson RB J.K. Dobbins DT Johnathan Hankins FB Andy Janovich DT Matt Henningsen WR Jamison Crowder DE Patrick Jones WR Cam Phillips LB Jason Cabinda TE Pat Freiermuth LB Kwon Alexander LT Max Scharping CB Joey Porter LG Dalton Risner SS Jalen Elliott C Matt Hennessy FS Percy Butler RG Sean Rhyan CB Jaylen Watson RT Conor McDermott DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson
SPECIAL TEAMS K Graham Gano P Trenton Gill
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 14, 2023 22:28:18 GMT -5
ORLANDO RAGE
Head coach: Kris Richard Offensive coordinator: Johnnie Morton Defensive coordinator: Tony Carter
COACHING: Richard has had a very successful tenure in O-town, taking the Rage to the playoffs three times (and one X-Bowl), yet a feeling of unfulfillment persists. One couldn't blame him with the Rage' finish, where they went from the best team in the league not named Kansas City to a mediocre finish, and a ten-win season that didn't feel like one after former Rage kicker Michael Badgley split the uprights to finish a Sharks' sweep, their first two victories in "The War On I-4" since moving back to the Sunshine State. Morton looked like he would have had his pick of head coaching jobs with the Rage averaging 397 yards per game during their 6-1 start. The funny thing is Orlando finished at the same 397-yard mark (which was fourth in the league) but the wins weren't following. So then after serving as his own DC for the last three years Richard hired one, promoting former DB coach Tony Carter.
OFFENSE: No way around losing two talents like Damien Harris and Deebo Samuel, but Richard's reaction to it is the same as it was the day in 2018 he was hired, "We're going to work". Brad Kaaya was a 4000-yard passer despite having only four 300-yard games (and none in the last seven), now who will he throw to with his two top wideouts in San Francisco (one a 49er one a Demon)? Well free agency was still calling, and the Rage answered by bringing in Jakobi Meyers, whom it's easy to forget actually had more catches than Samuel and, one could argue, less stability at QB after Kyle Allen was briefly benched and Bailey Zappe just wasn't ready. So does that mean the entire passing game will be fit around Kaaya-to-Meyers? Not necessarily, since Meyers worked his way up from just 14 catches as a rookie, and Jalen Tolbert was an as-advertised big-play threat, plus Tre Nixon led in that department with 19.6 yards per catch and four scores. They also added Charlie Jones, a possession receiver who will also help in the return game, in the draft so while saying they won't miss Samuel or Allen Hurns is a stretch, they won't be caught flat-footed without them either. James Mitchell takes over as the top tight end with Alize Mack gone......So how do the Rage replace Harris? With what apparently seems all the, ahem, rage: a timeshare/committee approach, which holdovers Trey Sermon and Wendell Smallwood are joined by Samaje Perine, making his return to the City Beautiful after two years in Dallas, and second round pick Kendre Miller......The right side of the OL could be comprised of rookies in first round pick O'Cyrus Torrence and third round pick Nick Saldiveri.
DEFENSE: The Rage are well-stocked on the DL already and added a nifty pickup in Michael Dogbe from Carolina. Amare Barno was the breakout player in 2023 with three sacks and made an argument for more playing time after getting more than 25 snaps just once (against Kansas City). It may come in the LEO package which Carter plans on using more of after the team's release of Kwon Alexander......Speaking of which the possibility of that potential all-XFL trio of Alexander, Ja'Whaun Bentley, and Tae Crowder being just Bentley at some point during the 2024 season is very real. Crowder went from a season-high 12 tackles and a sack against Kansas City to barely seeing the field over the last three games. With the desire to get Jabril Cox involved in the defense--he's largely played just special teams his two seasons--and a number of youngsters in wait Crowder could very well follow Alexander out the door......Tre Flowers is back in the state of Florida after a one-and-done in Seattle, presumably replacing Mike Ford, but detractors see a problem with adding one part of a secondary who had trouble creating turnovers to another one. Jalyn Armour-Davis tied with Jordan Whitehead for the team lead with three INT each.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The Rage went with Matt McCrane, who went 23 of 24 on field goals and was a perfect 45 of 45 on extra points after replacing Dustin Hopkins in Los Angeles. Ryan Wright and his punt coverage team clicked, as they allowed just 86 return yards, best in the league. Either can handle kickoffs, as McCrane did specifically for the Hitmen in 2022 and Wright did some last year in a game Lirim Hajrullahu was injured. Lynn Bowden had return duties in 2023 but will be helped in 2024 by Jones.
OUTLOOK: In 2021 Richard had his first losing season, in 2023 Richard had his first winning season without an accompanying playoff berth. Understandably there wasn't much reason to celebrate. How much the losses of Samuel and Harris hurt the offense depends on how fast they get out of the gate. If Meyers immediately gels with Kaaya the Orlando offense should be just fine. If Corey Linsley keeps opening holes for Sermon, Miller, and/or Perine to run through like Harris was doing in '23 even better. It wouldn't just be any team that loses a 1600-yard 20 TD back and a dynamic 1000-yard receiver and has a chance to at least come out of it no worse for wear, but the Rage are well-positioned to.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Brad Kaaya DE Anthony Nelson RB Trey Sermon DT Raekwon Davis FB Nick Bellore DT Davon Godchaux WR Jalen Tolbert DE Jonathan Cooper WR Tre Nixon LB Tae Crowder TE James Mitchell LB Ja'Whaun Bentley LT Liam Eichenberg LB Jabril Cox LG Kevin Dotson CB Jalyn Armour-Davis C Corey Linsley SS Jordan Whitehead RG O'Cyrus Torrence FS Rayshawn Jenkins RT Nick Saldiveri CB Tre Flowers
SPECIAL TEAMS K Matt McCrane P Ryan Wright
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 14, 2023 22:32:18 GMT -5
ST. LOUIS STALLIONS
Head coach: Anthony Becht Offensive coordinator: Bruce Gradkowski Defensive coordinator: Donnie Abraham
COACHING: Becht got an eight-game audition, and despite the same 2-6 mark as his predecessor Omarr Smith, management apparently saw enough there to avoid making a serious pitch for coordinators-of-the-moment Johnnie Morton or Dave Ragone. The experiment of both first-year coordinators yielded mixed results at best. Gradkowski's system made Jarrett Stidham, who had very little game action to speak of, a 4000-yard passer who also completed 71.9% of his passes. But the major problem (see below) was in pass protection, which resulted in an overall middle-of-the-pack offense. Abraham was thought to be walking into a good situation defensively (or so we thought), not really. They finished with just 28 sacks, had league-worst third down conversion rate (53.0%), and allowed 399 yards per game. The constant shuffling on the sidelines in the last five years, especially since the move east to the Gateway City, has left an inexperienced coaching staff. But with the necessary fixes it can at least be manageable, at least if management can settle on this one to go forward with.
OFFENSE: Stidham was almost, shall we say, Keenum-esque after taking the reins from Brian Hoyer, but see above. Stidham was sacked a league-high 57 times. Making it even more unfathomable is having 80% of the OL as all-XFL/all-rookie picks, which doesn't say much for the fifth guy. Indeed Ben Bredeson was shipped out and will be replaced by Steve Avila, meaning new OL coach Pat Perles has the tools, now it's on him (and the group, plus Stidham to an extent) to cut the sacks way down to an acceptable number, as when the Stallions were a playoff team three years ago with Hoyer sacked just 23 times......Could Jonathan Taylor be trade bait? He and Rhamondre Stevenson were used in tandem with both combining for over 1600 yards rushing. But Taylor made his relative displeasure with that arrangement known over the offseason and the Stallions would then move Bam Knight up to RB2. Plus they also seemingly drafted Eric Gray with this in mind......The "new GSOT" is a stretch bordering on blasphemy, but not only are Romeo Doubs, Devin Duvernay, and Cordarrelle Patterson matchup nightmares enough for opposing defenses they also have to worry about Kelvin Benjamin (yes another ex-Monarch). This could be a higher-flying vertical game than in 2023, contingent on Stidham having time to throw of course.
DEFENSE: Not only did the Stallions inexplicably struggle to get a pass rush they lost Charles Omenihu, although the flip side of that is Omenihu played hurt, missed the final two games, and only had three sacks. Still it breaks up what was at least on paper one of the more solid D-lines in the league. The replacements aren't reassuring, either LaCale London or Kenny Willikes--who's spent two of his three seasons on IR, leading to speculation the Stallions might land one in a package for Taylor......Micah Kiser knows about injuries, he's also missed a pair of seasons due to pectoral and knee/leg injuries. But he was a tackle monster before, leading the league back-to-back seasons--first player to do so since Patrick Willis in 2013-14. Drew Lewis ended up as the team's best pass rusher from his linebacker spot so while Abraham would like to play a lot of nickel Nate Herbig, who will probably be an every-down linebacker, will make that hard. One thing you could see is a lot of three-man fronts, thus the decision to let Omenihu go......Amani Oruwariye had a breakout season in Los Angeles with six INTs and should take the secondary to the next level. Oruwariye's arrival sparked immediate speculation about who would be odd man out, either Troy Pride or Aaron Robinson. Robinson has the upper hand playing nickel while Pride's strengths are more on the outside and may have to entertain a move to free safety to stay on the roster.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Joseph Charlton was hurt early in the season and thus the Stallions acquired him for a draft pick. Good investment as Charlton, thanks to the problems up front, was the league's best field-flipper, averaging 52.4 yards per punt (and a league-best 47.2 net) between St. Louis and Tampa Bay. Matthew Wright returns after a mixed season, especially kicking nine games indoors, that had some wishing that they would at least bring in some competition, namely with Lirim Hajrullahu still available. Patterson, Duvernay and Knight ended up alternating kickoff return duties with Knight taking one back for a TD against New York. Duvernay also split punt returns with Doubs. That arrangement should continue this year regarless of whether Knight moves up the depth chart at RB.
OUTLOOK: The Stallions' inability to finish games in the first half of the season cost Smith his job, then after coming out strong in the first two games under Becht (which oh-btw were against the two X-Bowlers, Carolina and Kansas City), the doors were completely blown off them in Becht's home opener. Recency bias being what it is, a comeback win over San Antonio in the finale may have convinced the higher-ups to give Becht a shot over a full season. But the Stallions need to come out strong or else Becht, even best case scenario, may not make it to 2025 given the risk that ownership appears to be taking. It's also important that whatever happens with Taylor ends up being a plus for the team, whether a trade or a new deal/offensive scheme.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Jarrett Stidham DE Deatrich Wise RB Jonathan Taylor DT Poona Ford WR Cordarrelle Patterson DT Khalen Saunders WR Devin Duvernay DE LaCale London WR Romeo Doubs LB Drew Lewis TE Kelvin Benjamin LB Micah Kiser LT David Bakhtiari LB Nate Herbig LG Steve Avila CB Amani Oruwariye C Creed Humphrey SS Shalom Luani RG Luke Goedeke FS Tre Norwood RT Abraham Lucas CB Bryce Hall
SPECIAL TEAMS K Matthew Wright P Joseph Charlton
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 16, 2023 1:30:38 GMT -5
SAN ANTONIO STAMPEDE
Head coach: Joe Lombardi Offensive coordinator: Tanner Engstrand Defensive coordinator: Darren Perry
COACHING: Lombardi had to feel like 2023 was a huge joke. It was all there for the Stampede: moving into a winnable division with a roster that, while not bereft of holes, was easily adequate to do so and rekindle memories of their 2018 run when they pushed the Monarchs further than anybody outside Chicago. It was working through the first two weeks as Hurts did his thing, then all the sudden everything went to hell, and perhaps appropriately ended with a blown 17-point lead in St. Louis. Along the way they suffered a barrage of injuries, oh and their top two playmakers took off for the NFL after the season. So how will Lombardi avoid the fate of Kevin Sumlin and have everything collapse around him? One, he hired an offensive coordinator--Engstrand. Two, to replace Hurts and Miles Sanders he lured in a pair of Monarchs--Colin Kaepernick and David Montgomery, and projections are that Engstrand's offense won't stray too much from Lombardi's Hurts-centric offense. Three, Perry's defense will benefit greatly from the return to health of his stars, namely J.C. Jackson, whom the Stampede spent a pretty penny on. Altogether that's half of it, the rest? See below.
OFFENSE: Kaepernick supporters have over the years have championed him in paving the way for guys like Hurts, so with Hurts off to Philadelphia Kaepernick will, after a long seven-year journey--the last four spent backing up and filling in for Case Keenum, get to be a starter again......Montgomery rushed for 115 yards in one of Kaepernick's starts, the other he played long enough to join the 10-TD club. Like in Kansas City he'll have capable backups in Justin Jackson and Tyler Goodson, with the latter rushing for 112 yards in that week 17 game in St. Louis......The predictable end to the Dez Bryant saga was another headache among many, but the Stampede did hold onto Mecole Hardman, and then added even more speed with Jalin Hyatt. The race for WR3 is wide-open: Collin Johnson tore his achilles in week one; Reggie Roberson could step in after a 25-catch three TD season. Brevin Jordan and Trey McBride will continue to get most of the work at tight end, with Grant Calcaterra operating more out of the backfield as an H-back with Michael Burton gone......The offensive line will make a slight change with Josh Jones moving inside and third round pick Blake Freeland taking over at right tackle. Teven Jenkins missed four games with a back injury and wasn't 100% when he came back but should be well past them by the time camp rolls around.
DEFENSE: It wasn't as bad as it could have been, with "only" Jackson, Robert Rochell, Desmond King, and Joseph Ossai on IR by the end of the season......Ossai and Nik Bonitto both had four sacks by midseason when Bonitto missed a game with a knee injury, Ossai went on season-ending IR a couple weeks later and Bonitto only had two sacks the rest of the way......Up front, Otito Ogbonnia will move into the starting lineup with Christian Covington's departure, though Ogbonnia also played some at nose tackle when Jaleel Johnson was hurt so they'll also rotate Carlos Davis in. Bilal Nichols is their best player on the DL, he played the run and rushed the passer equally well. P.J. Hall had three sacks in four games for Seattle and he could also be an underrated addition......Jackson's contract was excessive, but he was definitely making the effort to play up to it, nabbing seven interceptions (and a pair of pick-sixes) before he landed on IR. The Stampede will have a somewhat crowded backfield after landing Brian Branch and Darius Rush in the draft. They had tried to trade Jalen Mills but weren't getting any takers, we'll see if they revisit that. An unfortunate consequence of all this newfound depth is that Damar Hamlin, who was looking at being in the mix to start at free safety, is all the sudden looking at fighting to stay on the roster after taking the season off following an offseason cardiac episode.
SPECIAL TEAMS: The battery returns intact with veteran long snapper Clark Harris returning for an 18th season, along with kicker Jason Sanders and punter Tress Way, who tied Jack Fox with a league-leading 19 punts inside the 20. King was their best kickoff returner (31.1 average) but the Stampede also got Marquez Stevenson back late in the season and he'll have plenty of opportunity to compete for the job. The same goes at punt returner where they would like Stevenson to replace Hardman and save him for the offense.
OUTLOOK: So answering all the above, what happens if all this isn't enough to at least be in the mix for a playoff spot? The answer is more than likely the Stampede are out looking for a new regime next June. Kaepernick, who had a choice of San Antonio and Columbus to begin his next chapter, picked the Stampede cause they were closer to contending. And a team that goes out and is as close to the cap as the Stampede are isn't a team that should be merely hovering around .500. It's also been the rationale, or at least in part, of the Stampede acquiring so many former Monarchs over the years.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Colin Kaepernick DE Bilal Nichols RB David Montgomery DT Jaleel Johnson WR Mecole Hardman DT Otito Ogbonnia WR Jalin Hyatt LB Nik Bonitto WR Collin Johnson LB Jack Cochrane TE Brevin Jordan LB Joseph Ossai LT Teven Jenkins CB J.C. Jackson LG Solomon Kindley SS Desmond King C Brian Allen FS Brian Branch RG Josh Jones CB Jalen Mills RT Blake Freeland DB Robert Rochell
SPECIAL TEAMS K Jason Sanders P Tress Way
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 16, 2023 1:33:17 GMT -5
SAN DIEGO MISSION
Head coach: Eric Bieniemy Offensive coordinator: Brock Olivo Defensive coordinator: Chris Wilson
COACHES: While 4-12 indicates that Bieniemy's return to the 619 was an exercise in futility, 10 of their 12 losses came by at least 13 points, the fact of the matter is the Mission were relatively competitive in year one. That the problems would manifest themselves (i.e. injuries) later on was no indication of the job Bieniemy did. Even though Malik Willis flashed plenty in the preseason, he stuck with the plan of sitting him behind Chad Henne, even while Henne had some rough outings, and it went a long way with the returning players on the team that Bieniemy hatched a plan and stayed with it. Besides it's not as if Bieniemy was trotting out the Over The Hill gang; Isiah Pacheco was a 1000-yard rusher, Skyy Moore caught 53 passes and found the endzone six times, and fourth round pick Dominique Robinson was one of their best pass rushers. A lot of 2023 was set up with '24 in mind, so Bieniemy and staff would be well within their rights to request a freebie, although he won't accept it.
OFFENSE: Willis not only spent all season behind Henne, but even Kevin Hogan played ahead of him. But now it's Willis' turn. He was an unbelievable 19 of 22 for 293 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in the preseason so now Bieniemy will be eager to turn him loose in games that count......Pacheco ran hard but seemed to wear down some towards the end of the season. He also only found the endzone twice so with that in mind Bieniemy went shopping and picked up Phillip Lindsay, who had a combined 12 scores (10 rush, 2 rec). Also Kenny McIntosh's arrival in the draft spells the end of either JaQuan Hardy or Leddie Brown's tenure in what all the sudden is a crowded RB room......Through injuries Josh Gordon ended up being something of a disappointment but even with Moore potentially having a huge second year, the development of youngsters Jaivon Heiligh and Johnny Johnson, and the arrival of Darrius Shepherd the Mission brought Gordon back because he still has the intangibles to make the entire receiving corps better, plus he draws the attention that the young receivers aren't ready to on their own. That and Kelvin Benjamin left, though the Mission did somewhat mitigate it by taking Marcus Lucas, essentially swapping tight ends......If Bieniemy could have been accused of "old man syndrome" it was definitely up front, as led by all-XFL veteran Rodney Hudson the Mission trotted out an offensive line that would have been a huge deal......in 2016. But youngster and veteran struggled alike as while Hudson and Marcus Cannon either struggled to or didn't make it through the season Jamaree Salyer had a rough go as well, being charged with eight sacks before being benched. The cure might not be that great as they traded for Ben Bredeson, who was pinpointed as the problem on the Stallions' OL. They'll be better off at tackle, as Max Mitchell returns after missing his rookie season while dealing with blood clots. The Mission also signed veteran swing tackle Cameron Fleming and drafted massive Dawand Jones.
DEFENSE: The Mission actually had quite a solid pass rush between Robinson, Takk McKinley, and Kyle Phillips. So McKinley was re-signed and Christian Covington comes over from San Antonio as the run stopper/interior rusher. Matt Ioannidis is still a force defensively but he's playing on the final year of an inflated contract he signed with the Demons in the summer of 2020 and Bieniemy would probably like to get more snaps for younger linemen like fifth rounder Scott Matlock and underlooked FA signing Benito Jones......The Mission played a lot of 4-2-5, which looked a lot like the Monarchs' nickel hybrid of the last few years, and Chris Wilson will facilitate that, from a familiarity standpoint, with ex-Monarch Mack Wilson replacing Ramik Wilson (geez did they have Russell at some point too?) next to league tackle leader Kyzir White. They also signed Pita Taumoepenu, who will also line up at DE in rush-heavy packages......San Diego was one of the teams that couldn't get interceptions--not only was White their leader with three they also had had just one cornerback with any (Brandon Facyson, who tied White). So they drafted a pair of corners in Cam Smith and Rejzohn Wright, and it's totally in the realm of possibility that both are on the field along with Facyson. Andrew Wingard comes over from Dallas at strong safety, while Brandon Joseph will compete with Kenny Robinson and Nolan Turner at free safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Greg Zuerlein's game-winning field goal in week one to beat his former St. Louis team had the near-30,000 that piled into SnapDragon Stadium thinking that things were going to be different. The Zuerlein/Johnny Hekker duo, that arrived from St. Louis in the expansion draft together, was split up when Hekker signed with Chicago. The replacement (for now) is Lachlan Edwards, a 46-yard punter but only a 36-yard net, having people thinking that Edwards is merely a placeholder and they'll sign another later in the offseason. The Mission didn't re-sign either of their top return men, Travis Benjamin and Jaydon Mickens. Mickens signed with Tampa Bay, but some think that Benjamin will be back.
OUTLOOK: With the Mission having taken a drastically different course of action than their neighbors up the 5 it's going to be hard for them to make up the eight-game gap unless Willis catches fire like Desmond Ridder did. The offensive line will be a huge factor of course, but Willis' mobility can help them. Bieniemy's message for his troops will be to chew up 2023 and spit it out. Another challenge will be to become a draw on their own. After nearing 30,000 for their week one opener against St. Louis they topped it once, against the Monarchs in week 13, apart from them they averaged just over 26,000. Having a pulse away from home might also help that: other than a 37-31 overtime comeback win in Columbus they were spanked in their other seven games to the tune of nearly 20 point losses each outing.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Malik Willis DE Takk McKinley RB Isiah Pacheco DT Christian Covington WR Josh Gordon DT Matt Ioannidis WR Skyy Moore DE Dominique Robinson WR Jaivon Heiligh LB Kyzir White TE Marcus Lucas LB Mack Wilson LT Cameron Fleming CB Cam Smith LG Ben Bredeson SS Andrew Wingard C Will Clapp FS Nolan Turner RG Jason Spriggs CB Brandon Facyson RT Max Mitchell DB Rejzohn Wright
SPECIAL TEAMS K Greg Zuerlein P Lachlan Edwards
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 17, 2023 2:52:50 GMT -5
SAN FRANCISCO DEMONS
Head coach: Doug Pederson Offensive coordinator: Press Taylor Defensive coordinator: Phillip Daniels
COACHING: Pederson has the Demons on the right track since an 0-4 start in 2022, they've gone 19-10 since and won their first division title since the NC West in 2010. Kyle Lauletta has been the biggest beneficiary, the interceptions are roughly the same but he threw a career-high 35 touchdowns in year two with Pederson and Taylor as the Demons had the top passing attack in the league. It's not as if he needed to rebuild the team from the ground up, their 3-13 mark in 2019 is the only losing season the Demons have had since their return to the league, but rather he's rebuilt the team around Lauletta with an emphasis on drafting. Indeed most of their top stars from even their 2020 playoff team are gone as the team has gotten younger. Last year the Demons had probably the best top three draft picks of anybody: with Christian Watson being named OROY, Tyrion Davis-Price rushing for 819 yards, and Cade Otton tied for a league-high 10 TD receiving. Daniels navigated injury problems, mostly at linebacker, to produce a unit that was tied for third in the league with 5.6 yards per play allowed.
OFFENSE: Of course, Lauletta's career-best season comes the year the Demons drafted Sam Howell. While there was speculation Howell would take over after Lauletta suffered a shoulder injury, Lauletta went the rest of the way (sans the regular season finale in Seattle which ended up meaningless). That means that Howell is entrenched as the backup, meaning the Demons could be sitting pretty if someone needs a QB......Davis-Price was managed throughout the year, only getting more than 15 carries in a game once. Part of that was injury-related (he missed the Kansas City game with an ankle injury) part of it cause of a loaded backfield in which Javian Hawkins emerged as an RB2 by the end of the year......San Francisco didn't have a receiver among the top ten but they did have a league-high 45 passing plays of over 25 yards and four receivers that finished over 15 yards per catch. The Demons added a pair of veterans who will complement the young group in Allen Hurns and Brice Butler......The line is anchored by veteran left tackle Trent Brown, and Jermaine Eluemunor solidified right tackle. The interior will have a different look as Drew Dalman takes over full-time at center with the loss of Coleman Shelton, Colton McKivitz settles in at left guard and a battle at right guard brewing between Hakeem Adeniji and incumbent Marquez Tucker.
DEFENSE: The Demons reacted to the loss of Zach Allen by signing both Charles Omenihu and Austin Bryant, good thing they did as Omenihu will miss the first six games of 2024 stemming from a domestic violence arrest in January 2023. Not just to replace Allen, but Justin Houston will be 35 during camp, so first round pick Keion White will be plenty busy as a rookie as the Demons reduce Houston's workload, which they started last year as Houston averaged 48 snaps a game other than the three he was injured in or missed. Kevin Atkins was a huge surprise at DT, as the practice squad callup netted six sacks in eleven games. The Demons traded for Carlos Watkins for depth behind him and Peko, and they could also use him on the outside in subpackages as well......The Demons drafted a pair of linebackers in D.J. Johnson and Yasir Abdullah. Kyron Johnson played almost exclusively on special teams despite all the injuries, but that will change this year. Tony Fields did a good job at the mike for it not being his natural position......Paulson Adebo locks down on corner spot, and James Pierre looks to have the lead in the race to replace Greedy Williams. The Demons also signed Darius Phillips, who was often abused in San Diego but they'll move him back inside where he'll play alongside Thomas Graham. Marvell Tell returns alongside Trevon Moehrig but Rudy Ford could work his way into the lineup. So could Scott Nelson, who had a pick-six against San Antonio and got on the field more towards the end of the season.
SPECIAL TEAMS: Not only did Evan McPherson have another strong year but his toughness was on display as he finished a pair of games despite suffering injuries. Michael Dickson fell to seventh in the league in punting average and his net below 40, which he felt was a bad year for him, not a big deal but to Pederson it shows players understand the expectations. Pederson would like to find another kickoff returner so take some of the load off of Watson, he had 41 returns which is more than enough for a starting WR. Plus Corey Clement and J.J. Taylor averaged just 17.8 per return aside from him. Phillips averaged 20.9 two years ago in Kansas City, which isn't great but it might have to do absent any upgrades. The punt return game averaged a weak 6.2 withthe a long of 17 so that will be pursued.
OUTLOOK: The Demons will go into a season as defending division champs for the first time since 2011, they went 5-9 and then the franchise was shut down for eight years. So two things on the docket: 1)Forget the way it ended: when pretty much the rest of the league has been having their seasons demolished by the Monarchs for over a decade, and 2)Get back to the playoffs, which would be the first consecutive appearances in team history. With uncertainty among the rest of the division San Francisco has a real shot to separate themselves. The defense and how it looks will be the key because of all the changes, the offense should be fine.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Kyle Lauletta DE Justin Houston RB Tyrion Davis-Price DT Leki Fotu WR Christian Watson DT Carlos Watkins WR Marcell Ateman DE Austin Bryant WR Allen Hurns LB D.J. Johnson TE Cade Otton LB Tony Fields LT Trent Brown LB Kyron Johnson LG Colton McKivitz CB Paulson Adebo C Drew Dalman SS Marvell Tell RG Marquez Tucker FS Trevon Moehrig RT Jermaine Eluemunor CB James Pierre
SPECIAL TEAMS K Evan McPherson P Michael Dickson
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 17, 2023 2:55:28 GMT -5
SEATTLE REIGN
Head coach: Mike Zimmer Offensive coordinator: Gary Kubiak Defensive coordinator: Robb Akey
COACHING: Mike Zimmer was 4-8 in his final season with the Reign in 2008, he wasn't interested in repeating it 15 years later in his return to the sidelines with Reign 2.0, so the first edition was a veteran-laden outfit with rookies working their way in if they showed they were ready. By the end of the season eight of their ten picks hadn't just worked their way in, they were all starters. Kubiak and Akey, although in different years, were with Zimmer in Minnesota so Zimmer knew what he was getting.
OFFENSE: Brian Hoyer suffered a nasty season-ending concussion in week six in San Francisco, and while Garrett Gilbert is gone to New York after quarterbacking the Reign's 8-2 turnaround it doesn't mean Hoyer's all the sudden forgotten how to get it done. In fact Hoyer, after a horrendous two-game start, was just finding his rhythm and had started 7 of 7 for 92 yards in that game before leaving. The main argument against Hoyer that was used by those that thought the Reign should have chosen Gilbert to go forward is that Hoyer will be 38 and coming off a concussion by the time he takes the field again. They're not wrong but Hoyer also has a strong track record, which was the team's argument. We'll see......Jamaal Williams became a 1000-yard rusher for the first time in his career and had five straight games with a touchdown to put him in the 10 TD club. Chase Brown joins a backfield that got strong contributions from Tony Brooks-James and Max Borghi......Youth and experience is the theme at wide receiver and tight end: Marvin Jones led the way with 77 grabs, John Ross had ten touchdowns in his comeback season, TE Greg Dulcich was their #2 receiver with 46 catches and six TD, and Emeka Emezie and Travell Harris both had strong rookie years. Now they add seventh round pick Malik Knowles, who will also help in the return game......The Reign swapped out 15-game starter Erick Flowers at left tackle for Charles Leno and left the door open for him to return, but at left guard. If Flowers doesn't return Andrew Stueber, who hasn't played left guard since his sophomore year at Michigan, would be in line to make the move. That would open up a spot at right guard for Isaiah Prince, who backed up at both spots on the right side in Kansas City. Alec Lindstrom takes over at center.
DEFENSE: Akey, whose year with the Vikings marked his only year in the professional ranks, rivals Pete Carroll with his enthusiasm, and he plenty to be enthused about with the way his rookies performed on defense, starting with DROY David Ojabo. Then Micheal Clemons, who didn't even become a starter until midseason, finished with seven sacks. The Reign added another young pass rusher in Adetomiwa Adebawore in the draft. On the inside, first round pick Keeanu Benton is another potential difference maker. But not as if it's an all-rookie team, Andrew Billings and Quinton Jefferson will also do plenty of heavy lifting, while Benson Mayowa returns and Chris Odom, who did get some meaningful snaps in Kansas City last year, will also try to carve out a spot......With the Reign joining the nickel movement that leaves room for just two three-down linebackers, and it'll be all-rookie pick Malcolm Rodriguez and vet Brandon Marshall. Practice squad holdover Clarence Hicks and UFA Colby Reeder are also a pir of players to keep an eye on......Nowhere is the youth movement more pronounced than in the secondary, as with the June release of Tre Flowers every week one starter is gone. Sixth round pick Carrington Valentine could make into the new starting unit alongside Zyon McCollum, while Zyon's twin Tristan will be in the mix to back up Verone McKinley at free safety opposite yet another rookie, second round pick Jordan Battle. Xavier Crawford will be the new nickel, with Bryce Thompson and Chris Payton-Jones also pushing for snaps.
SPECIAL TEAMS: A weak link early on was Bryan Johnson, who missed half his extra points. After he was waived and replaced with Nick Sciba, not only did Sciba not miss an extra point he didn't miss period, hitting all 15 field goals. Jake Bailey was a surprise poach from Chicago, and Bailey will also replace Sciba on kickoffs. Harris averaged 26.3 on kick returns, and Knowles, who had two touchdown returns at Kansas State, will join him. Harris averaged just 7.5 yards per punt return, so an upgrade will be sought there.
OUTLOOK: In a unique bit of consistency the home team won every game the Reign played the first half of the season. Zimmer possibly called his shot when he said after the blowout loss in Kansas City "we're gonna be something when we figure this out". They won their next game 24-20 in Columbus and then only lost once after that. The Reign did let some veteran leadership, who was big in their first-year success, walk in the off-season, but they still have some key vet starters (Hoyer, Williams, Jones, Marshall, Billings) and signed/re-signed others as either starters/backups (Leno, Jefferson, Mayowa). Also, as Zimmer points out, he was in Minnesota when they let Adrian Peterson walk, they went to the NFC Championship Game.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Brian Hoyer DE David Ojabo RB Jamaal Williams DT Andrew Billings FB Alec Ingold DT Keeanu Benton WR Marvin Jones DE Micheal Clemons WR Emeka Emezie LB Malcolm Rodriguez TE Greg Dulcich LB Brandon Marshall LT Charles Leno CB Zyon McCollum LG Andrew Stueber SS Jordan Battle C Alec Lindstrom FS Verone McKinley RG Isaiah Prince CB Carrington Valentine RT Vederian Lowe DB Xavier Crawford
SPECIAL TEAMS K Nick Sciba P Jake Bailey
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Post by MGB01 on Sept 18, 2023 3:18:14 GMT -5
TAMPA BAY SHARKS
Head coach: Todd Haley Offensive coordinator: Bob Saunders Defensive coordinator: Pepper Johnson
COACHING: With their recent history of head coaches Todd Haley wasn't going to be a one-and-done (especially since a team that had sunk to a winning percentage of .352 since the move back to Florida didn't exactly have candidates lining up). But the Sharks did the unthinkable, rattling off a season-ending seven-game win streak, the last six coming after they unloaded D'Andre Swift. They also bookended the season with walk-off wins over Orlando, their first two over the Rage since the league's version of the War on I-4 began in 2020. But one could tell the Sharks were improving before the wins started coming: Drew Lock limited the turnovers, the killer of his career; the offensive line was giving him time to throw; and an opportunistic defense started to come together. So while some might pine for their near landing of Mike McCarthy in 2019, Haley and his staff have shown to be what the players needed. Now the rest is on them.
OFFENSE: What to make of Lock since he had the year the team expected since making him the top pick in 2019, earning him a new deal; Has it clicked, or was it just a contract year? Although the fact that Lock took off after the Sharks traded Swift would be a strong indicator this wasn't a case of the latter. In the six games post-trade Lock was a 68% passer with a pair of 300-yard games and one near the mark. He did have a hair-pulling three-INT game against Carolina in week 16, in a game the Sharks still won 31-10. It also took him a few games to get back into a rhythm after suffering a concussion in week two and missing the next game. This will be the year nonetheless that answers all......The running game went to a committee approach post-Swift with De'Veon Smith and Nyheim Hines shouldering the load with Jaret Patterson and Shermari Jones mixed in. It looked like the Sharks were content with the four-man group until Hines suffered a torn ACL when he was hit by a jet ski, putting his 2024 season in jeopardy. So the Sharks signed Jordan Howard and drafted DeWayne McBride. Howard will get his share of carries, but won't get anywhere near the workload he had when he had six straight 1000-yard seasons to begin his career......The Sharks moved on from all-XFL receiver Marvin Jones because they believed that Elijah Moore was ready to take the next step, after an 62-catch six-TD season he's getting there. Calvin Austin and Jauan Jennings also sit atop a speedy group, but third rounder Tyler Scott will make a move. Ricky Seals-Jones' 15.1 yards per catch led all tight ends, and Austin Allen was a productive backup, now Alize Mack joins to form a three-headed monster at TE......The offensive line went up 64 sacks allowed in 2022 to just 28 in 2023, which can largely be ascribed to the arrival of vets Ted Karras and Joe Haeg, as well as rookie Joshua Ezeudu. Ezeudu will move to left guard while Michael Deiter, a 15-game starter at center last year in Washington who also had three bad snaps, will be his backup. Will Fries will compete at right guard after seeing backup and special teams duty his first two years. Warren McClendon will battle Terrone Prescod at right tackle.
DEFENSE: Johnson's defense had a healthy 39 sacks but probably wasn't high on nose tackle Grover Stewart leading the way with five. Of their edge rushers Oshane Ximines and Bradlee Anae had three each, Ximines left for Carolina and Anae is coming off a season-ending knee injury that could spill into '24. If Anae is out for any length of time the remaining unit of Quincy Roche, Mark Robinson, and rookie Ali Gaye isn't promising. David Long, who led the Enforcers in tackles, will team with Josey Jewell to shore the Sharks up the middle, with Ramik Wilson, who was San Diego's co-leader in sacks, coming in for depth along with second rounder DeMarvion Overshown......Da'Shawn Hand's first year in Tampa didn't go the way he wanted it to, as he missed four games with a quad injury and wasn't 100% the entire season. Isaiah Buggs started 11 games before DeMarvin Leal took his job the rest of the way, yet Buggs re-signed anyway sensing there might be an opportunity with injuries......With the loss of C.J. Gardner-Johnson the Sharks will go back to more base. Clark Phillips, the second of their two third round picks, will step into a starting role opposite Andrew Booth, while one of Tycen Anderson and DaVontae Harris, who combined for most of the starts at free safety in the nickel alignment, will remain next to Antoine Winfield.
SPECIAL TEAMS: It had to be special for Michael Badgley, waived by the Rage during the 2021 season, to walk off his old team not once but twice, and it wasn't all he did either as the "Money Badger", after some rough periods, once again lived up to his nickname, hitting his first 13 field goal attempts of the year en route to 25 of 27. He also hit all 46 extra points. While it would be trendy to say the Sharks would probably like a do-over on Joseph Charlton, Jake Julien came in and averaged 46.5 yards per punt his first game in week three in Seattle. He also landed 16 punts inside the 20 in 14 games, safe to say he might have finished around the league lead over a full season. Jaydon Mickens averaged 26.3 yards on kickoff returns in San Diego and with Hines, who was one of the return men at the end of the year, out as an option, it'll be him and Jones. The Sharks used Dede Westbrook on punt returns--strangely, considering Austin had a 61-yard return against Seattle, but that should also change with Mickens' arrival.
OUTLOOK: The Sharks played hard for Haley the whole year, and Luck suffering a week two concussion is an underlooked part of the story. They had a number of hard-fought losses in the first half of the year and played well enough in those games to suggest a course correction was coming, and that it did. Now, to post back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since, as the Pittsburgh Ironmen, Ron James took them to consecutive playoff appearances since 2016-17. The sweep of the Rage and split with the Eastern Conference champion Colonels propped them to a 5-1 division mark, if they can keep that going and add a few more in their other ten games this could be a special season in The Big Guava.
PROJECTED STARTING LINEUP
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Drew Lock DE DeMarvin Leal RB De'Veon Smith DT Grover Stewart WR Elijah Moore DE Da'Shawn Hand WR Calvin Austin LB Quincy Roche WR Jauan Jennings LB David Long TE Ricky Seals-Jones LB Josey Jewell LT Joe Haeg LB Mark Robinson LG Joshua Ezeudu CB Clark Phillips C Ted Karras SS Antoine Winfield RG Will Fries FS Tycen Anderson RT Terrone Prescod CB Andrew Booth
SPECIAL TEAMS K Michael Badgley P Jake Julien
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