Post by MOnarchsRule on May 18, 2007 16:58:38 GMT -5
By Dave Brandon
AP - Kansas City - Once again, Pride Day is upon us, but this year - this year things have a different feel to it. Maybe it's because the Monarchs made the playoffs for the first time in their history last year. Maybe it's because Coach Henderson instilled a new sense of pride in the team. Maybe it's because the team learned what it's like win. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because the team knows they were one win from best record overall and home-field throughout the playoffs.Yes sir, folks, Pride Day is very different this year. So what can we expect from the Monarchs this year?
Offense
Henderson's task is easier this year because of a number of factors. The return of All-XFL Rookie Team running back LenDale White to the lineup is one key component. They also bring back All-XFL QB quarterback, Anthony Calvillo, another former NFL running back who is just entering the prime of his career in Chris Brown, and explosive athletes (TE Johnson, WRs Anderson and Williams) to complement the running game and to make contributions in other aspects of the offense and special teams. Henderson, along with Offensive Coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, will use the same system that Heimerdinger loved to run in his previous stops, and he's got many similar types of players. A two-headed running attack that has two different style runners and a quarterback who can be successful and accurate with his passes, and receivers who are playmakers. Expect them to go for big plays and try to catch the opposing defenses off guard, something Heimerdinger was a master of in his previous stops as an Offensive Coordinator.
QB: With AC, the Monarchs know what their getting talent wise. Calvillo is a four-year XFL veteran who is an accurate passer and playmaker. He's a strong leader and has already asserted his presence in Kansas City without stirring up ire from some of the team's long standing veterans. Calvillo will make the throws he needs to and take appropriate chances, but will not over exert himself in times of pressure. Of course, age-wise, Calvillo is a main concern for the Monarchs this season. AC will, by the end of the 2007 season, be 36 years old. This is why the sense of urgency is now with KC. He's has looked healthy in practice and has just come off one his best seasons, but the concerns are still there and they can only hope that AC truly is 100 percent. If he is, they will be a better offense. Matt Nagy, who was a starter for Columbus in the AFL, will be waiting in the wings should Calvillo not be ready to go in the regular season.
RB/FB: When you have a All-XFL Rookie Team running back who still has injury concerns, what do you do? If you're like the Monarchs, you go out and get him some insurance. They will be getting LenDale White back from a knee injury, but they will also be welcoming former NFL 1,000-yard back Chris Brown into the picture. For his role, White is a strong runner who is incredibly versatile. He'll make the catches out of the backfield and run between the tackles for the tough yardage. He's a workhorse when healthy. Brown, meanwhile, will give the Monarchs a change of pace. Big and fast, Brown will bowl people over with his power moves. Look for him to contribute in the passing game as well. The more touches they get Brown and White, the better. Meanwhile, Garrett Mills is quickly earning the reputation as blocking back extraordinare. He's a viable receiving threat who Calvillo could use in the passing game, plus another short-yardage back.
WR/TE: The top two receivers are still Mike Williams and Thyron Anderson, but now Anderson is the Number One guy. Anderson has been a consistent force for the Monarchs since signing as a free agent last year, culminating with a huge bomb reception to not only beat LA in the regular season finale, but allowed KC to join the post-season party for the first time. He's a great receiver who knows it, but has the skillset to back it all up, becoming a 1,000 yard receiver for AC when both were in the CFL. TA will greatly benefit from already having a rapport with AC. Mike Williams, meanwhile, is finally coming into his own, but something is not quite there yet. He's also still making himself a good all-around XFL receiver, AC might lessen his deep prospects a bit, though. Darren Chiaverinni, Bobby Scippio (yes, THAT CB Bobby Scippio,....a la Troy Brown) and Devin Hester will all be battling for playing time. Word out of Monarch camp is that Scippio and Hester have been working on the offensive side of the ball and will see action in their 4WR and 5WR sets. Teyo Johnson and Kevin Everett form a solid tight end group. Johnson, who was coveted big-time by Owner/GM Sean Calliard, has paid huge dividends. He's a great blocker and one of the best route runners in the XFL, while Everett, who was drafted to be the starter, hasn't quite panned out as that yet in his career.
OL: There will be no excuses this year because the Monarchs made both Lines their top priority this past off-season.. But the the biggest move might be the move they failed to make. The plan was to get Vernon Carey from Birmingham, but they missed out by one day an he signed with Washington instead. Still, the team had a back-up plan ready. First, after RT Adrian Jones' legal troubles, plus his receding play irked Henderson, out he went. Say hello to RT Marc Colombo, from the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Colombo was part of a line that paved the way for two solid runners in Big D. He will add agility and athleticism to the offensive line and is excellent at pass protection. He is a solid run-blocker as well. LT Damion Cook started all 12 games, as is considered one of the best if not the best LT's in the league. He is an established force in the running game and a great pass-blocker on the left side side, Inside of him is newly acquired guard Dave Volk, from the Dallas Lonestars. At the right guard position is Evan Mathis, one of the Monarchs' strongest players. At center, Tupe Peko held his own last year and returns to help anchor a rebuilt but batlle-tested O-line.
Defense
Donnie Henderson had Dennis Thurman pegged for the job of Defensive Coordinator as soon as he learned be would be the Head Coach of the Monarchs. A week later Thurman had officially signed on. Kudos to the job he, Peter Bouleware, and Deion Sanders did last season, coming up with a defense that allowed the fewest points per game last season. However, Omar Jacobs blew them up in their playoff game. Don't think they have forgtten. This date was circled as soon as the schedule came out. Thurman preaches aggresive defense, forcing the offense to make the first move and then being ready to react to it. As great as the D was, now they have to be even better, 'cause they won't catch people by suprise this year. The front seven was good , now they have to better. In a division with the league's best back, the Monarchs will definitely need to be better than last year, where they still were niddle of the pack in stopping the ground game.
DL: They've got two great ends, Reggie Heyward and Adalius Thomas, to provide a pass rush and solid play on the line. Both were the first FA's the team signed in its history. They give the Monarchs one of the top defensive end combos in the league. Heyward has 33 sacks with the club, more than any other Monarchs player. Thomas, meanwhile, was top 10 in tackles (as a DE!) last season and finished with 10 sacks and is one of the most active players on th defensive side of the ball. Atiyyah Ellison and Aubreyo Franklin anchor the line. Ellison won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2005 and is considered one of the rising defensive studs in the league, providing a fierce inside pass rush. Franklin, coming from the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, has the inside track for the other tackle position after performing well in the preseason. The key that puts him over the top is his good run-stopping ability. Don't count out Tank Reese, another off-season acquisition, as a veteran who can step in and make an impact as well.
LB: The Monarchs made some noise in the free agent market at this position. They signed Jimmy McClain and Everrick Rawls, who have been solid performers for their former teams, the Enforcers and Glory, respectively, but McClain was cut just before the season started for Rawls. Rawls was a solid defender who played in all 12 games for the Glory last season. He's a hard-nosed playmaker who positions himself well. Good in pursuit. He was cut by Washington in a numbers game. Meanwhile, Kevin Burnett, on the other OLB position, played for the first time last season (having missed most of the 2005 season with injury). He helped them get production from their defense. Burnett is athletic, and can provide them with help in a number of ways. He is a solid pass defender who makes plays against the run consistently. Manning the middle is defensive captain Jeremiah Trotter. Trotter is a beast as a run-stopper, but might be losing a step as pass defender. We will see as the season goes on.
DB: What was once a weakness is now a strength. The Monarchs were top-five in the XFL in pass defense last season and have some dynamic players out there in 2006. They will have Nathan Vasher, who will give the Saints a top corner who is capable of shadowing an opposing team's top receiver. Second year man Richard Marshall, who steps in for Bobby Scippio, is on the other side. He doesn't fully possess the athletic abilities of Vasher, but is solid in his own right with his abilty to excel in zones while still being solid in man coverage. The interesting part of the secondary is at free safety. Leo Barnes came in from Seatlle and all he did was make plays. He's a productive player who gives the Monarchs stability at the position. Daniel Bullocks, who was a rookie, shone havng led the team in tackles. He is considered a rising star at strong safety. He's a hard hitter with great range in the passing game.
Special Teams
K: Veteran NFL kicker John Carney is here for 2007 but Mike Vanderjagt was the guy going into training camp. He went 2-4 on FG's and was shown the door. Carney is a 17 year-pro veteran who's been a consistent scorer, but a young kicker for the might be in the future, since Carney is nearing the end of his career. Carney is still solid, though.
P: Todd Sauerbrun is a four-time NFL Pro Bowler who is one of the most consistent punters in history. He averaged the fourth-best net average in the NFL with 38.7 yards per punt. Although owed to the coverage as well, it shows that Sauerbrun makes good punts which allows the coverage units to get down the field and make plays.
Final Word:
To think last season we thought Henderson was off his rocker for saying the team would go 6-6. Well they have the pieces in place to go deep into the playoffs, but things must break right for them this year. Was last year a fluke or do we make plans for J'ville in August? Is the L-Train for real? Is this AC's last hurrah? Only time will tell, but the future is in their hands.
Bold Predictions
Record: 9-3, XFL South Champions
Offensive MVP: Anthony Calvillo
Defensive MVP: Adalius Thomas
AP - Kansas City - Once again, Pride Day is upon us, but this year - this year things have a different feel to it. Maybe it's because the Monarchs made the playoffs for the first time in their history last year. Maybe it's because Coach Henderson instilled a new sense of pride in the team. Maybe it's because the team learned what it's like win. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because the team knows they were one win from best record overall and home-field throughout the playoffs.Yes sir, folks, Pride Day is very different this year. So what can we expect from the Monarchs this year?
Offense
Henderson's task is easier this year because of a number of factors. The return of All-XFL Rookie Team running back LenDale White to the lineup is one key component. They also bring back All-XFL QB quarterback, Anthony Calvillo, another former NFL running back who is just entering the prime of his career in Chris Brown, and explosive athletes (TE Johnson, WRs Anderson and Williams) to complement the running game and to make contributions in other aspects of the offense and special teams. Henderson, along with Offensive Coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, will use the same system that Heimerdinger loved to run in his previous stops, and he's got many similar types of players. A two-headed running attack that has two different style runners and a quarterback who can be successful and accurate with his passes, and receivers who are playmakers. Expect them to go for big plays and try to catch the opposing defenses off guard, something Heimerdinger was a master of in his previous stops as an Offensive Coordinator.
QB: With AC, the Monarchs know what their getting talent wise. Calvillo is a four-year XFL veteran who is an accurate passer and playmaker. He's a strong leader and has already asserted his presence in Kansas City without stirring up ire from some of the team's long standing veterans. Calvillo will make the throws he needs to and take appropriate chances, but will not over exert himself in times of pressure. Of course, age-wise, Calvillo is a main concern for the Monarchs this season. AC will, by the end of the 2007 season, be 36 years old. This is why the sense of urgency is now with KC. He's has looked healthy in practice and has just come off one his best seasons, but the concerns are still there and they can only hope that AC truly is 100 percent. If he is, they will be a better offense. Matt Nagy, who was a starter for Columbus in the AFL, will be waiting in the wings should Calvillo not be ready to go in the regular season.
RB/FB: When you have a All-XFL Rookie Team running back who still has injury concerns, what do you do? If you're like the Monarchs, you go out and get him some insurance. They will be getting LenDale White back from a knee injury, but they will also be welcoming former NFL 1,000-yard back Chris Brown into the picture. For his role, White is a strong runner who is incredibly versatile. He'll make the catches out of the backfield and run between the tackles for the tough yardage. He's a workhorse when healthy. Brown, meanwhile, will give the Monarchs a change of pace. Big and fast, Brown will bowl people over with his power moves. Look for him to contribute in the passing game as well. The more touches they get Brown and White, the better. Meanwhile, Garrett Mills is quickly earning the reputation as blocking back extraordinare. He's a viable receiving threat who Calvillo could use in the passing game, plus another short-yardage back.
WR/TE: The top two receivers are still Mike Williams and Thyron Anderson, but now Anderson is the Number One guy. Anderson has been a consistent force for the Monarchs since signing as a free agent last year, culminating with a huge bomb reception to not only beat LA in the regular season finale, but allowed KC to join the post-season party for the first time. He's a great receiver who knows it, but has the skillset to back it all up, becoming a 1,000 yard receiver for AC when both were in the CFL. TA will greatly benefit from already having a rapport with AC. Mike Williams, meanwhile, is finally coming into his own, but something is not quite there yet. He's also still making himself a good all-around XFL receiver, AC might lessen his deep prospects a bit, though. Darren Chiaverinni, Bobby Scippio (yes, THAT CB Bobby Scippio,....a la Troy Brown) and Devin Hester will all be battling for playing time. Word out of Monarch camp is that Scippio and Hester have been working on the offensive side of the ball and will see action in their 4WR and 5WR sets. Teyo Johnson and Kevin Everett form a solid tight end group. Johnson, who was coveted big-time by Owner/GM Sean Calliard, has paid huge dividends. He's a great blocker and one of the best route runners in the XFL, while Everett, who was drafted to be the starter, hasn't quite panned out as that yet in his career.
OL: There will be no excuses this year because the Monarchs made both Lines their top priority this past off-season.. But the the biggest move might be the move they failed to make. The plan was to get Vernon Carey from Birmingham, but they missed out by one day an he signed with Washington instead. Still, the team had a back-up plan ready. First, after RT Adrian Jones' legal troubles, plus his receding play irked Henderson, out he went. Say hello to RT Marc Colombo, from the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Colombo was part of a line that paved the way for two solid runners in Big D. He will add agility and athleticism to the offensive line and is excellent at pass protection. He is a solid run-blocker as well. LT Damion Cook started all 12 games, as is considered one of the best if not the best LT's in the league. He is an established force in the running game and a great pass-blocker on the left side side, Inside of him is newly acquired guard Dave Volk, from the Dallas Lonestars. At the right guard position is Evan Mathis, one of the Monarchs' strongest players. At center, Tupe Peko held his own last year and returns to help anchor a rebuilt but batlle-tested O-line.
Defense
Donnie Henderson had Dennis Thurman pegged for the job of Defensive Coordinator as soon as he learned be would be the Head Coach of the Monarchs. A week later Thurman had officially signed on. Kudos to the job he, Peter Bouleware, and Deion Sanders did last season, coming up with a defense that allowed the fewest points per game last season. However, Omar Jacobs blew them up in their playoff game. Don't think they have forgtten. This date was circled as soon as the schedule came out. Thurman preaches aggresive defense, forcing the offense to make the first move and then being ready to react to it. As great as the D was, now they have to be even better, 'cause they won't catch people by suprise this year. The front seven was good , now they have to better. In a division with the league's best back, the Monarchs will definitely need to be better than last year, where they still were niddle of the pack in stopping the ground game.
DL: They've got two great ends, Reggie Heyward and Adalius Thomas, to provide a pass rush and solid play on the line. Both were the first FA's the team signed in its history. They give the Monarchs one of the top defensive end combos in the league. Heyward has 33 sacks with the club, more than any other Monarchs player. Thomas, meanwhile, was top 10 in tackles (as a DE!) last season and finished with 10 sacks and is one of the most active players on th defensive side of the ball. Atiyyah Ellison and Aubreyo Franklin anchor the line. Ellison won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2005 and is considered one of the rising defensive studs in the league, providing a fierce inside pass rush. Franklin, coming from the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, has the inside track for the other tackle position after performing well in the preseason. The key that puts him over the top is his good run-stopping ability. Don't count out Tank Reese, another off-season acquisition, as a veteran who can step in and make an impact as well.
LB: The Monarchs made some noise in the free agent market at this position. They signed Jimmy McClain and Everrick Rawls, who have been solid performers for their former teams, the Enforcers and Glory, respectively, but McClain was cut just before the season started for Rawls. Rawls was a solid defender who played in all 12 games for the Glory last season. He's a hard-nosed playmaker who positions himself well. Good in pursuit. He was cut by Washington in a numbers game. Meanwhile, Kevin Burnett, on the other OLB position, played for the first time last season (having missed most of the 2005 season with injury). He helped them get production from their defense. Burnett is athletic, and can provide them with help in a number of ways. He is a solid pass defender who makes plays against the run consistently. Manning the middle is defensive captain Jeremiah Trotter. Trotter is a beast as a run-stopper, but might be losing a step as pass defender. We will see as the season goes on.
DB: What was once a weakness is now a strength. The Monarchs were top-five in the XFL in pass defense last season and have some dynamic players out there in 2006. They will have Nathan Vasher, who will give the Saints a top corner who is capable of shadowing an opposing team's top receiver. Second year man Richard Marshall, who steps in for Bobby Scippio, is on the other side. He doesn't fully possess the athletic abilities of Vasher, but is solid in his own right with his abilty to excel in zones while still being solid in man coverage. The interesting part of the secondary is at free safety. Leo Barnes came in from Seatlle and all he did was make plays. He's a productive player who gives the Monarchs stability at the position. Daniel Bullocks, who was a rookie, shone havng led the team in tackles. He is considered a rising star at strong safety. He's a hard hitter with great range in the passing game.
Special Teams
K: Veteran NFL kicker John Carney is here for 2007 but Mike Vanderjagt was the guy going into training camp. He went 2-4 on FG's and was shown the door. Carney is a 17 year-pro veteran who's been a consistent scorer, but a young kicker for the might be in the future, since Carney is nearing the end of his career. Carney is still solid, though.
P: Todd Sauerbrun is a four-time NFL Pro Bowler who is one of the most consistent punters in history. He averaged the fourth-best net average in the NFL with 38.7 yards per punt. Although owed to the coverage as well, it shows that Sauerbrun makes good punts which allows the coverage units to get down the field and make plays.
Final Word:
To think last season we thought Henderson was off his rocker for saying the team would go 6-6. Well they have the pieces in place to go deep into the playoffs, but things must break right for them this year. Was last year a fluke or do we make plans for J'ville in August? Is the L-Train for real? Is this AC's last hurrah? Only time will tell, but the future is in their hands.
Bold Predictions
Record: 9-3, XFL South Champions
Offensive MVP: Anthony Calvillo
Defensive MVP: Adalius Thomas