Post by MGB01 on Mar 27, 2006 5:45:13 GMT -5
A look at ten rookies whose presence will be felt in the 2006 season.
1. LenDale White, Kansas City--This goes without saying. While depending on a rookie running back is tough, the Monarchs have two things in their favor right off the bat: One, White isn't just anouther rookie running back. He can be a franchise back and his arrival takes pressure off of former USC teammate Mike Williams to be the team's center of offensive production. Two, the Monarchs go into their third year having won all of three games in franchise history--all at Arrowhead Stadium. If the cards play right with this team--having made fine-tunings on both sides of the ball, they might win three games by the end of June.
2. DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh--The Ironmen are in a similar boat as Kansas City, except they had a taste of success as an expansion team in 2002--winning the XFL East--and have gone downhill ever since, starting with the Doug Flutie disaster in 2003 (2-12) through Dave Wannstedt's one-and-done train wreck in 2005 (4-8). While not White in stature, Williams was the NCAA's rushing leader in 2005 and gives the struggling Ironmen offense a boost. There still might be too many gaping holes (especially after the shocking death of all-XFL left guard Travis Claridge in early March) to make a serious comeback, but the Ironmen should be able to do enough this year to feel better about themselves going into the 2007 season.
3. Chad Jackson, Jacksonville--For the first time in team history, Jeremaine Copeland will not suit up for the newly-rechristened Bulls. Will they miss a beat? Not if Jackson is as advertised. While the loss of Copeland leaves the team temporarily without a #1 receiver, Jackson should have no problems growing into it since neither Quentin McCord nor Troy Edwards are suited to the role.
4. Manny Lawson, Carolina--George Gause flew into his rookie season in 2005 with three sacks in the Colonels' season opener at Washington last year. However when opposing offensive linemen began to pay more and more attention to the rookie, his numbers started to decrease, and while the Colonels had a good mix of veteran players on the defensive line outside of Gause, it just wasn't working out. So the Colonels cleaned out their defensive line and made room for younger, hungrier players, obne of them being Lawson, the second overall pick in the 2006 XFL draft. For now, Lawson will play behind holdover Robert Mackey and will be used on passing downs as he bulks up and gains strength, but the notion of Gause and Lawson starting opposite each other, perhaps late in the 2006 regular season, isn't so far-fetched at all.
5. Ko Simpson, Memphis--Played just two years at South Carolina, but is more than ready for the next level. The Maniax' secondary has been a work in progress over the past two years. They released SS Pig Prather at the end of the 2004 preseason, they signed all-XFL CB Reggie Durden in the offseason, and this past offseason they signed Jack Brewer despite the presence of solid veterans Rashidi Barnes and Abdual Howard. The feeling on Beale Street though is that Barnes may have peaked and Howard, while a great player, is certainly not irreplaceable. Simpson carries such a profile that he'll all but knock somebody out of the starting lineup this year and possibly off the team altogether.
6. Nick Mangold, New York--An interesting selection given that the Hitmen had signed Matt Anderson, but Anderson could be in line for duty elsewhere on the offensive line due to injuries. Mangold, who spent his first year at Ohio State backing up current Bolts center Alex Stepanovich, was too good to pass up though, establishing himself as a leader on the Buckeyes' offensive line. The Hitmen set themselves up for criticism by allowing emerging center Todd Wike to follow ex-Hitmen TE Brian Natkin to Washington, but if Mangold becomes the team's starting center, they shouldn't miss a beat.
7. Joseph Addai, Orlando--The loss of Michael Black (who originally contemplated retirement then signed a one-year deal with Dallas instead) left the Rage a gaping hole at running back. While Addai seemed at times to be stuck in a logjam in LSU's backfield he is still a powerful runner with breakaway speed, also has tremendous pass-catching ability. While the Rage have decided that the time to break former practice squad fodder Ran Carthon in is now and will also use big-play back Lionel Gates, the feeling is O-town will still see plenty of their first-round pick in 2006.
8. Sinorice Moss, Birmingham--Don't call him Santana's brother, Moss wants to make a name for himself on his own and being part of what could end up being the XFL's version of the Indianapolis Colts' WR trio might do it, all this after the Bolts lost their top two wideouts in the offseason. The Bolts are ready for Roscoe Parrish to take a huge step after a disappointing 2005 and the addition of another Miami playmaker (Moss, Ken Dorsey) might just make that happen.
9. Thomas Howard, Chicago--After years of stalling, the Enforcers pulled the trigger last year and started the turnover, in which original Enforcers Corey Ivy, Jason Bray and Jamie Baisley all left town as did pass-rusher extraordinaire Bryce Fisher. Figuring that either OLBs Kiah Johnson or Jimmy McClain (or both) will be next, the Enforcers made Howard their second first round pick. Don't be surprised to see the highly athletic Howard ease his way onto the field just as Channing Crowder did last year at middle linebacker. Not playing in the X-Bowl for the first time since 2001 reinforced the Enforcers M.O., playing for the now doesn't mean one shouldn't have an eye on the future.
10. Gabe Watson, Detroit-Motivation is the key, Watson has carried a reputation of slacking off at times. But if anyone can get the most out of their players, it's Al Lugenbill, who points to the fact that Monarchs DT Sam Adams had that problem early in his career, and after he re-dedicated himself the end result was a Super Bowl ring and four Pro Bowls. When his head's in the game, Watson is a force, easily worth the seventh pick in the 2006 XFL Draft. The Mustangs made great strides to improve their league-worst defense: hiring Rusty Tillman as defensive coordinator, signing veteran free agents Tim Beauchamp and Shawn Banks, and Watson can add to that list. Lugenbill thinks an improved defense could have his club in the hunt for the XFL North.
1. LenDale White, Kansas City--This goes without saying. While depending on a rookie running back is tough, the Monarchs have two things in their favor right off the bat: One, White isn't just anouther rookie running back. He can be a franchise back and his arrival takes pressure off of former USC teammate Mike Williams to be the team's center of offensive production. Two, the Monarchs go into their third year having won all of three games in franchise history--all at Arrowhead Stadium. If the cards play right with this team--having made fine-tunings on both sides of the ball, they might win three games by the end of June.
2. DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh--The Ironmen are in a similar boat as Kansas City, except they had a taste of success as an expansion team in 2002--winning the XFL East--and have gone downhill ever since, starting with the Doug Flutie disaster in 2003 (2-12) through Dave Wannstedt's one-and-done train wreck in 2005 (4-8). While not White in stature, Williams was the NCAA's rushing leader in 2005 and gives the struggling Ironmen offense a boost. There still might be too many gaping holes (especially after the shocking death of all-XFL left guard Travis Claridge in early March) to make a serious comeback, but the Ironmen should be able to do enough this year to feel better about themselves going into the 2007 season.
3. Chad Jackson, Jacksonville--For the first time in team history, Jeremaine Copeland will not suit up for the newly-rechristened Bulls. Will they miss a beat? Not if Jackson is as advertised. While the loss of Copeland leaves the team temporarily without a #1 receiver, Jackson should have no problems growing into it since neither Quentin McCord nor Troy Edwards are suited to the role.
4. Manny Lawson, Carolina--George Gause flew into his rookie season in 2005 with three sacks in the Colonels' season opener at Washington last year. However when opposing offensive linemen began to pay more and more attention to the rookie, his numbers started to decrease, and while the Colonels had a good mix of veteran players on the defensive line outside of Gause, it just wasn't working out. So the Colonels cleaned out their defensive line and made room for younger, hungrier players, obne of them being Lawson, the second overall pick in the 2006 XFL draft. For now, Lawson will play behind holdover Robert Mackey and will be used on passing downs as he bulks up and gains strength, but the notion of Gause and Lawson starting opposite each other, perhaps late in the 2006 regular season, isn't so far-fetched at all.
5. Ko Simpson, Memphis--Played just two years at South Carolina, but is more than ready for the next level. The Maniax' secondary has been a work in progress over the past two years. They released SS Pig Prather at the end of the 2004 preseason, they signed all-XFL CB Reggie Durden in the offseason, and this past offseason they signed Jack Brewer despite the presence of solid veterans Rashidi Barnes and Abdual Howard. The feeling on Beale Street though is that Barnes may have peaked and Howard, while a great player, is certainly not irreplaceable. Simpson carries such a profile that he'll all but knock somebody out of the starting lineup this year and possibly off the team altogether.
6. Nick Mangold, New York--An interesting selection given that the Hitmen had signed Matt Anderson, but Anderson could be in line for duty elsewhere on the offensive line due to injuries. Mangold, who spent his first year at Ohio State backing up current Bolts center Alex Stepanovich, was too good to pass up though, establishing himself as a leader on the Buckeyes' offensive line. The Hitmen set themselves up for criticism by allowing emerging center Todd Wike to follow ex-Hitmen TE Brian Natkin to Washington, but if Mangold becomes the team's starting center, they shouldn't miss a beat.
7. Joseph Addai, Orlando--The loss of Michael Black (who originally contemplated retirement then signed a one-year deal with Dallas instead) left the Rage a gaping hole at running back. While Addai seemed at times to be stuck in a logjam in LSU's backfield he is still a powerful runner with breakaway speed, also has tremendous pass-catching ability. While the Rage have decided that the time to break former practice squad fodder Ran Carthon in is now and will also use big-play back Lionel Gates, the feeling is O-town will still see plenty of their first-round pick in 2006.
8. Sinorice Moss, Birmingham--Don't call him Santana's brother, Moss wants to make a name for himself on his own and being part of what could end up being the XFL's version of the Indianapolis Colts' WR trio might do it, all this after the Bolts lost their top two wideouts in the offseason. The Bolts are ready for Roscoe Parrish to take a huge step after a disappointing 2005 and the addition of another Miami playmaker (Moss, Ken Dorsey) might just make that happen.
9. Thomas Howard, Chicago--After years of stalling, the Enforcers pulled the trigger last year and started the turnover, in which original Enforcers Corey Ivy, Jason Bray and Jamie Baisley all left town as did pass-rusher extraordinaire Bryce Fisher. Figuring that either OLBs Kiah Johnson or Jimmy McClain (or both) will be next, the Enforcers made Howard their second first round pick. Don't be surprised to see the highly athletic Howard ease his way onto the field just as Channing Crowder did last year at middle linebacker. Not playing in the X-Bowl for the first time since 2001 reinforced the Enforcers M.O., playing for the now doesn't mean one shouldn't have an eye on the future.
10. Gabe Watson, Detroit-Motivation is the key, Watson has carried a reputation of slacking off at times. But if anyone can get the most out of their players, it's Al Lugenbill, who points to the fact that Monarchs DT Sam Adams had that problem early in his career, and after he re-dedicated himself the end result was a Super Bowl ring and four Pro Bowls. When his head's in the game, Watson is a force, easily worth the seventh pick in the 2006 XFL Draft. The Mustangs made great strides to improve their league-worst defense: hiring Rusty Tillman as defensive coordinator, signing veteran free agents Tim Beauchamp and Shawn Banks, and Watson can add to that list. Lugenbill thinks an improved defense could have his club in the hunt for the XFL North.