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Post by commissioner on Jun 5, 2020 20:30:17 GMT -5
As with the last few years, the previews will be written in draft order.
Yet to go:
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Post by commissioner on Jun 5, 2020 20:44:11 GMT -5
INDIANAPOLIS RACERS
OFFENSE - QB Petr Kopfstein returns to lead an offense that should be a hair better than last year's, if only because of some line work and a strong dispersal draft pick of Miguel Monzano. The Racers traded their #1 entry draft pick and eventually picked at #4, taking Alfred Stone in a move that probably isn't going to pan out based on camp results. Kopfstein is back with RB Raynor Baz and a fair receiving corps led by Richard Hollenback. While probably not an elite offense, the Racers have always put points up. They will need to probably exceed their likely output again this year to have any success.
DEFENSE - Baz is a strong linebacker, and Monzano should shore up at least the middle of the defensive line. Gildan Chowdry and Antwaan Jackson are a good pair as well, and Jacob Tuioti will get a lot of playing time. Beyond that, we've got some issues. The DS group should finally be good enough to cover most receiving corps, but depth is just not here. As guys get tired, whoever comes in will probably have a target on their back. The Racers are in the middle of rebuild limbo, and there will be a couple score lines that look like it.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Joe Sourati is going to be a kicker for a long time for the Racers, but he probably won't lead the league in many kicking stats this year. Patrick McKee or Bud Hagler likely will return kicks; the Racers don't have anyone who has consistently done it in the past.
SCHEDULE - It's a manageable schedule, though there are some bumps in the road. Road trips to Baltimore and Seattle outside the division (and Chicago and Ohio in the division) aren't going to help much, and a four-game home stand that starts with New York and Delmarva may not help, either. Unfortunately in another long year, that four game homestand starts after 11 games have already been played. And with a #7 schedule, it's not a good omen.
OUTLOOK - This year? Not good. I like trading the #1 pick, but there were probably 15 guys on the board at 4 better than Stone. That pick might set the Racers behind multiple years. There are more young guys on the roster today than a year ago, and more young guys who should amount to something in a couple years as this rebuild goes forward, which is a big step considering where we were a year ago. But this year? Not good.
WHAT WOULD I DO? Can you get anything, even a flyer, for an old guy like Jackson Matthews, or even Tristian Coutch? Sleeper picks are fine in this instance; they're not really going to help you. I'd add QB Robert Auger to that list, but backup QBs are a dime a dozen in this league. A side question would also be, is Kopfstein your answer at QB, or do you try the rookie Evon Cross? The outlook of this roster (even with the Stone pick) in two years as-is with the players they have is actually looking upward, but this year's going to be a tough one.
MEXICO CITY AZTECS
OFFENSE - If you remember last year's Aztecs team, forget about that, because there's not many returning pieces. This is not a criticism. QB Santiago Guerrero in his 10th OIFL season finally gets a chance to start, and he's got some weapons to use. Amaro Zilanawala will probably be his running back, while he's going to have a few weapons to throw to (John Bidwell, Zach Welker, David Dunavin, Piedmont Moss). The line is much better than last year, though it's probably not a top-10 line top to bottom. But, Guerrero can run a bit, so they're going to have some cover. Mexico City threw the ball more times than anyone in the league last year...and for only 38 touchdown passes. Neither will happen again.
DEFENSE - The defense is significantly better than last year's mess, but it's not terribly deep. A few older guys will be getting more playing time than the Aztecs may want, though nothing like last year's nursing home squad. Angelo Quintero and Carlos Fernandez will lead the way; they are a bit thin at linebacker (such that Wayne Pirlot may actually get a lot of Zilanawala's minutes). That may not be ideal in a division with Texas and Houston, but alas...considering the financial mess John-Mark took over two years ago and the roster he worked with last year, they'll deal with those problems.
SPECIAL TEAMS - The young kicker wasn't improving quickly enough, so Mexico City went with a one-year-at-a-time fix in Albert Phelps. In tight games, they'll be glad they did. Moss likely returns kicks, but like Indy the Aztecs don't have a particularly experienced kick returner.
SCHEDULE - It's not too bad. Outside of the Texas game (which is Week 16, and Buster is known for resting guys if seeding is set), the worst road game is probably London. Home games include Chicago and Seattle, so there are a couple of tough ones in there, but no one in Mexico City should be angry with this slate.
OUTLOOK - Not a cup contender yet, but this team certainly should be fighting for a playoff spot (especially with 7/12 making it) late into the season. Guerrero may be a stopgap to whoever they draft next year, but he's got a shot to prove himself...and in a pinch if they get in real LB trouble, I'd love to see Guerrero play LB. So would whoever the Aztecs are playing that day. This team has a schedule that could lift them a bit as well; they aren't flush with expansion teams, but they also don't have a bunch of top-3 conference teams on their slate. They should be expecting a pretty good year, especially after a 1-15 campaign.
WHAT WOULD I DO? This isn't a bad mix of youth and veterans. I think you almost have to go with this roster as-is. Now, I know standing pat isn't the style of a McKethan, but this roster is probably a few too many steps away from being a true cup contender THIS YEAR, while having a lot of the younger pieces in place to help make it one shortly. Might want to find a better backup QB in the case Guerrero gets hurt, though.
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FORT McMURRAY FATMEN
OFFENSE - The "original" Fatmen in their return decided to build things slowly, build up a significant war chest, and slowly put together a winning team. Unfortunately, that strategy was going way too slowly, so the Fatmen decided to spend some money and get aggressive with their dispersal draft picks. We're going to see the fruits of that effort in this offense. Calvin Clothier takes over at QB to add a true two-way weapon in the backfield with long-time Fatmen Gubb Karter. Clothier will have Gary Kutchzinski leading his receiving corps, but it's augmented with Demonha Brigham and Stefan Cavaluz, amongst others. While depth will still be an issue if guys start getting hurt, this offense will easily be the best the new Fatmen have had.
DEFENSE - The depth might cause issues here. As Karter is no linebacker, you're either going to take a hit with Byron Thompson playing at RBLB, or you're going to be forced to use Jim Osbon more than may be ideal. Or, you're going to use your best cover guy Blake Blast (who would also be your best linebacker). That said, it's better than trying to throw incapable players into the fire against some of the offenses you see in the OIFL. Good problems to have, this is a much-improved defense as well.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Joe McMahon returns to kick for the Fatmen, while Cavaluz likely takes over kick return duties. He did that some with the Rattlers in the past couple years.
SCHEDULE - It's a rough schedule for the Fatmen. Outside of the obvious division games, they travel to Baltimore and Chicago, and also host Texas, Los Angeles, and D.C. This team's going to have to earn everything it gets.
OUTLOOK - The Fatmen spent real money this offseason. However, take a look. They didn't spend it on aging pieces. They spent it with the knowledge that they'll probably need to spend it again - and with how this team's books are, they will spend it again. Probably not a contender right now, but this team is a heck of a lot closer than they were a year ago at this time.
WHAT WOULD I DO? This is still probably a 2- or 3-year plan to finalize. It'll be an expensive one as it has to be through FAFFA, but this team can make that work just fine. I'm not making any big waves, but you always keep your ears open in the case something interesting comes by.
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PHILADELPHIA FOUNDERS
OFFENSE - Sometimes it takes a couple years for an owner to figure things out a bit. Looks to be the case in Philly. Stan Kirby returns and has a better set of weapons than he's ever seen here, with Ken Wortman, Ron Falk, and Michael Killawa all here. Philly also has a deep bench with Herb Hoffman and Trevon Sanders, amongst others. Mike Lewis is a ground-and-pound guy at heart (and with Rich Braskett and Ted Gervasi, this team can absolutely do that as well), but that's hard to do mentally when you can also chuck it like this team will be able to. The line is the best Lewis has put together as well. This team's going to put up points this year.
DEFENSE - And they might need to. The Founders were a number of steps away from contention last year, and without all the luck in the world you can't make up that many steps in one offseason. They had some luck, but not all of the luck in the world. Wortman and Hoffman provide a decent two-way DB group, while Dennis Lee and Ryan Potter form a strong DS corps. Braskett and Gervasi are certainly serviceable linebackers, but they're still offense-first guys. The line does go six deep, which helps keep you from one or two injuries wrecking everything.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Dan Nickels returns for his third season in Philly, and he's been a reliable kicker. However, he's prone to missing easy ones at times, which is why Jeff Daugherty may actually win this job. Killawa returns to keep the kick return duties for Philadelphia.
SCHEDULE - It's not awful. They do have nondivision road games in Chicago and Ohio, and a three-game home stand that is Seattle/Baltimore/Delmarva, but it's not an awful schedule. That Week 16 game in New York may mean something, and I'm sure they'd rather it be in Philadelphia.
OUTLOOK - It's a team that has taken major steps forward, and there are very few key pieces that won't be here in the nearish term (Hoffman, probably OLDL Tyler Bell, James Shea). It's not a particularly expensive roster, and it's young enough that they've got some staying power. Philadelphia will be around for awhile with this build.
WHAT WOULD I DO? I'd fill up the roster - we bumped from 28 to 30, and I'd probably do it with a pair of linemen. Philadelphia's a lot better than they have been, and there's not a lot of wholesale stuff that can or should be done right now.
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Post by commissioner on Jun 7, 2020 21:16:51 GMT -5
DENVER STAMPEDE
OFFENSE - The expansion Stampede found a long-time backup QB in Bendrick Allinson that wanted his chance. He's got it. Michael D. Brake also gets his chance as the clear starting RB for the first time; Allinson also has some weapons to throw to including Pavel Sokol, Joe Kenney, and DuQuavion BrownLee. Depth is always a concern with expansion teams, but you're going to see some younger guys get more work than they would elsewhere, which will pay dividends in the coming years. Allinson's line is pretty strong for an expansion team, though a couple untimely injuries will have Allinson running for his life.
DEFENSE - There are some interesting possibilities here. Evedarious McCarty is your #2 back, but he's also a defensive back and not a linebacker (and you don't want to use Kenney as a LB too often because he covers so well). But, McCarty is probably also better than Emerson Kalp or Roman Jackson, so do you start him at the #2 DS? The DL is just about as good as the OL, and depth will cause the same issues there. This is an expansion roster, and it's going to require some luck on the injury front to keep from getting mauled.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Tony Maloloyon has been a few places, and now he's found a home he might be able to kick in for a good long while. BrownLee and OS D'ed Poole have both returned kicks a fair bit, and one of them looks to here.
SCHEDULE - Denver opens with Indianapolis at home, which is as good a draw as you could hope for. They get expansion Reno at home, and travel to expansion Vermont and Florida outside the division. They also host Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, and D.C. At least the roughest nondivision games are mostly at home (they go to London and Eugene). But that's a schedule with some meat in it.
OUTLOOK - It's a roster that's going to need an overhaul relatively soon, as there are a lot of starters that are aging or almost aging. But, for an expansion team, this is a roster that should not be looking at 1-15. Not sure it's a playoff team, but they can put a scare into some teams, and you just never know around here.
WHAT WOULD I DO? With only 27 guys on the roster, I'd use the other three roster spots on trainable young guy cuts from other teams. Since Sokol, Collins, Butler, Pacal, Kalp, Hoover, Boll, McGrain, King, Poole, and Jackson are all aging, this is a nice way to get a jump start on finding the guys to replace them. Probably could get a fourth and cut someone like Mike Gilpin, who is only "very outside" trainable. All in all, this isn't a bad expansion team roster. No dumb moves were made, no "let's pick a kicker with the #6 dispersal pick" moves. But, it's probably also not a favorite to get one of the 7 eastern conference playoff spots.
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VERMONT STORM
OFFENSE - Bob Lamb makes his return to the OIFL after a few years away, and make no mistake, this is going to be a very Bob Lamb team. Yes, I know Jason Stackhouse was there...but Lamb teams like to run. And this one will like to run. QB Bob Maino comes over from Huntington, and he knows well the run-heavy scheme. Michael Pouliout and And're Albano will get the bulk of the RB duties (with Poliout a far bigger bulk). Maino has some guys to throw to, including Ronconaghuey Moss and Karlos Folger. It does hurt that the top two weapons are both OS, agreed. The line needs some work, but Maino can evade pressure with the best of them. It's going to be a ground and pound roster.
DEFENSE - Probably a good thing, too, the defense is going to have some issues. Ja'Mario Reese is an excellent cover DS. He will be ignored; there are a lot of young guys who are highly trainable and will develop into very good OIFL players. They will be picked on in 2020. B Fortney comes over from Philadelphia and could be a very good young WRDB that gets a lot more playing time than he would elsewhere; this'll pay dividends in future years.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Norbert Schopf is a good young kicker, and he's probably going to get a lot of attempts to hone his craft. Folger is the most likely kick returner given his experience doing so in recent years.
SCHEDULE - It's not an awful schedule; nondivision home games with Ohio and Los Angeles. The five nondivision road games, though...there is the game in Florida in Week 13 to help ease the pain, as the other four are Houston, Texas, Delmarva, and D.C. Maybe it's a little worse than I thought.
OUTLOOK - This year is getting back into the OIFL grind and getting used to the landscape once more. It's not 2003, when Bob's last expansion team started and there were so many awful organizations that an expansion team could coast to 11-5 (or the West finals, as we saw with Wichita). This roster's not gonna go do that. There will be lumps, and figuring out which young guys are going to be the long-term core of this team going forward.
WHAT WOULD I DO? There could be a fight for some of those trainable young guys cut by other organizations that are just full. This is another roster that will have to scour the cut lists heavily. You know Maino and Pouliout is the long-range backfield here. Who else?
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FLORIDA TUSKERS
OFFENSE - Looks like I gotta change the name on their roster page...OK...QB Austin Rodgers knows this system, for he played in Sacramento. He's going to be teaching it to other guys; RB Jean Denham is going to see if Colin Schraeder-Bidwell still hates using rookies too much, as he's a guy who could be really good for this roster. Rodgers has some weapons, including Bill Blind and Paul Rose. It's a decent line as well, though this roster definitely has some age on it (which is more to CSB's liking). Is it age good enough to win a title this year? Probably not. But, this roster is going to put a scare into a few teams. We could also see Denham and RB Raul dos Santos go two-back with how this thing looks. Given it was built as a "let's do a bunch of misdirection and try to take advantage of other teams not preparing well for us versus having good talent" because I had a low budget, it might be a transition year to build this into something a normally funded team would do.
DEFENSE - The offense is the star here. The DL is OK but not nearly as strong as the OL. Denham's LB skills (as a good-enough cover guy as a LB) probably gives him a slight edge to start over Raul dos Santos, though both will play. The defensive backfield can't afford much in the way of injuries, but it's going to be OK. The team should score points, but they may want to control the clock to help avoid the defense getting mauled.
SPECIAL TEAMS - I'm not sure how much of an advantage it is that "ooo, the kicker also played for CSB in Sacramento," but Farson did. There aren't any experienced kick returners on the roster, though OS Martin Frank will probably get the nod.
SCHEDULE - Yeah I know, I gotta change this one, too. This is your #1 schedule based on last year's records, and that is mostly because you're in a division with two 12-4 teams and a 15-1 team. Outside of that, it's not that bad a schedule, though there are road games in Texas and Chicago.
OUTLOOK - When I built this in FAFFA (Garrie took over roster management for the draft), it was a roster full of low-cost veterans who could do an offense that others wouldn't be prepared to defend. Now, it doesn't need to be cheap, so this can be a one-year trial balloon that CSB can then build whatever he wants next year with something like $5M promised to guys. Not a bad spot to be in. But, that doesn't make for a playoff team this year, more than likely.
WHAT WOULD I DO? Well, I think this proves the last paragraph of all previews can be taken with a gain of salt. There's 27 guys on the roster and room for 3 more, so I'd try to find some of those trainable young guys that everyone wants. Certainly they have the financial room to fit this sort of thing.
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RENO WOLVERINES
OFFENSE - When you can get the defending OIFLCup Champion QB to lead your way, that's a good start as an expansion team. Ronnie Marshall leads an offense that has some weapons to use. Bobby Gates will be their OS; Marshall will also get Rolly Tucker, Marcellus Ogwynn, and Bob Hauver to throw to alongside rookie WRLB Irv Lambert. It is a step down from last year's Rattlers, but that was bound to happen (though Gates' backup Gaige Momon did just catch four touchdown passes in said OIFLCup Game). Reno's line has no depth, but the starting three are very good, led by DeAndre Brown. It's an offense that will put up some points.
DEFENSE - And it'll need to. Usually an expansion team can't solve everything, and this one solved the offense and left the defense to its own devices, except on the line where the DL is stronger and deeper thna the OL. Isidoro de Orta gets the starting gig at RBLB because he's probably the best linebacker on the roster. Ogwynn and Tucker are good enough WRDBs, while the DS combo of (probably) Paul Kwiatkowski and Samuel Haverman will be OK. If injuries start coming for the Wolverines, this defense is in deep trouble.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Billy Babcock isn't particularly old, so likely he's going to take the kicker job from 2nd year man John Ferguson. Gates or Momon will return kicks; Momon has more experience and success, but he's also quite a bit older and has lost a step or two.
SCHEDULE - Outside the division, Reno will host Eugene, D.C., and Houston, while getting road trips to Seattle, Delmarva, Baltimore, and Los Angeles. It's a rough one.
OUTLOOK - Not bad, really. Ideally you're not having to win every game 63-56 (unless you're Baltimore or London), but that's what Reno's going to have to do. Marshall hasn't had to keep up like this in a number of years, but maybe it'll bring some of the youth back into the 14th year man. It's going to be an uphill battle to a playoff spot, but the offense is good enough (with some luck) to keep them alive for awhile.
WHAT WOULD I DO? Unlike other expansion rosters, this isn't a particularly old one. You always listen for opportunities to improve the long-term, but there's not much I'd do right this second for this team.
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Post by commissioner on Jun 8, 2020 20:26:57 GMT -5
HOUSTON MARSHALS OFFENSE - Houston's 2019 season didn't go as hoped, so this team decided to make some aggressive moves to put together a team closer to contention. They were successful in that endeavor. Matthew Lavergne arrives for his first true starting shot in the league. Houston also added some top free agents including his likely RB Foxwell Harris (though Lawrence Tiernan, Herbie Budmister, and Wally Ryan will also fight for carries) - Houston's built a strong line that should aid in the run-first mentality, though Lavergne also has some good downfield threats in Robert Dangola, Carlos Tolosa, RiQuan Peck, and Jack Boyce to throw to. The offense is going to score points, and they have the weapons in different places such as to be able to do it multiple ways. There's no OS on the roster, but Houston uses a lineman as the OS, so no harm. DEFENSE - It's not as strong as the offense, but there's still quite a bit to be happy with from last year. The DS combo of Walter Conner and Jwar Logan (though Houston does run a lot of hybrid work where DL Greg Helm is a DS) will be good. The two-way DBs aren't as strong as other teams, but Carlos Tolosa and Robert Dangola will give them a shot. The defensive line isn't quite as strong, though it's not as big a concern with Helm in his specific role. It's a team that was built in such a way to make up for some talent deficiencies that are no longer here, but it is now flexible to be able to do other things. The defense is going to have trouble if there are injuries, or against elite-level offenses, but it's a better group than last year's by a fair margin. SPECIAL TEAMS - Werner Brielmeyer returns for his third year, and hopefully a lot of those high-FG games will give him good practice for the likely more extra points he'll be kicking. Houston can use any number of guys to return kicks, but Budmister did it last year and is probably the favorite to repeat that. SCHEDULE - Week 1 revives the McKethan Bowl, which will be good. Outside of the division, Houston will host New York, Delmarva, and Ruidoso. They'll be traveling to Seattle and Los Angeles; all in all it's not a bad schedule. OUTLOOK - This roster is considerably stronger than last year's. What's even more important for the long-range of this team...virtually no key player is old. And the ones that are close to aging (Anthony Torres, Demontez Sherratt), they're backups. And not particularly expensive, though resignings will cost a lot of cash here. Houston's built a roster that should be good for a long long time, and their outlook in the long range is possibly going to be special. WHAT WOULD I DO? I'm not doing much here. Obviously (and Will most certainly will) you always listen to see if something makes the team better, but this roster is looking pretty strong as it is. The defense isn't there yet, but it's close. The offense just might be there. If new starters like Lavergne can perform. ============================================================= PORTLAND PIONEERS OFFENSE - As per Pioneers history, the roster you see is going to be consistent. Portland does not rock the boat, they never have, and they value longevity. John Berger will get the nod at QB, though Aaron Morrow is still there behind him in his 16th OIFL season. Keanon Lowe will be behind him, while Berger does have Michale LeFlores, Brian Clothier JR. and now Robert Taylor to throw to. It's an OK offense - the line isn't as strong as it has been, though the addition of Robert Mansaur will help quite a bit. Portland always puts up points, they should continue that here. DEFENSE - Depth is the name of the game. The DS corps is probably the best one Portland has had in a decade, but the line is very thin. The two-way DBs are going to get picked on, though Portland does have a solid two-way LB in Lowe. It's a defense that can be targeted by top offenses, and one that's probably going to get torched a couple times just because they don't have 4 or 5 guys in spots. But, the focus has been the offense, so that'll happen. It's not a bottom-5 defense in the league, but it's probably not a top-half one, either. SPECIAL TEAMS - Brent Matthews returns for his 9th season at kicker for the Pioneers, while Clothier will return kicks for one more go. Special teams will be just fine here. SCHEDULE - It's a rough division for the Pioneers, and then outside that they host Chicago, and travel to London and Texas. It's rated #2 based on last year's records, but I don't think it's quite a top-2 schedule. OUTLOOK - The time may be here to have some hard discussions about the future of this core of players. Bottom line, the successes of a decade ago aren't coming soon, and this core is hitting 3+ 4+ age, so it probably won't be around when the successes come. With 7/12 teams in the conferences getting a dance card, Portland has a shot. But it's probably an outside one. WHAT WOULD I DO? There are good young pieces on this roster. Berger is possibly a 15-year starter at QB. Josh Parker could be a strong WRDB (I know he's listed LB) for another 8 years. Brad Ross is an elite DS. But, these 3+ and 4+ guys? If they can help other teams, it might be time to see what the trade value is. Finally do the full rebuild that probably should have been done 3-4 years ago, and see if this thing can't be built back up to the consistent division winner the Pioneers were 10 years ago. Portland has the infrastructure and the history to be successful, this roster itself just isn't going to get it there. ============================================================= FORT WORTH UNITED OFFENSE - This is by some margin the best team Fort Worth has had. Gary Blackwell returns for another go with United, though he's starting to show his age. Of course, as everything else gets fixed. Billy Parsons and Olly Quicksilver man the backfield, while Blackwell has some weapons to throw to in Eric Yates, Alan Rendfrey, Jamie Waldron, Darren Silverstein, and a couple others. United's line is not top-5 in the league, but is easily the best they've had, and is good enough with a mobile quarterback. Fort Worth has always had a quick-fire quick-strike offense (that sometimes regularly took 8 quick plays to score), and that won't change. What will change is how easily this roster probably starts scoring points. DEFENSE - It's the best defense Fort Worth has had as well. There aren't a bunch of scary monster defenders as other teams may have, but the starters are fine, and the depth is fine. Because of the quicker offense, Fort Worth is going to give up points. But it's not going to get 60-point dive bombed every week. There are some depth concerns on the line, but not to where opposing offenses will have a big red Target logo to put on whoever has to come in. The DL is stronger than the OL, for sure. SPECIAL TEAMS - John Matich returns for his 13th year at kicker. As with Blackwell his age is showing, but he hasn't lost as many RPMs on his fastball as Blackwell has. Silverstein will return kicks, and will continue as one of the OIFL's elite kick return men. SCHEDULE - The target is Week 14. This is their shot, they've never beaten Texas, and this is by far their best shot to. Will Fort Worth be favored? Probably not; when you're 0-12 against someone, you won't be favored (see: Browns, Cleveland). But, this is their best shot. Outside the division, United hosts Los Angeles and Ruidoso and travels to D.C. and Eugene. This is a favorable schedule. OUTLOOK - Other than maybe at QB (depending on how long Cortright takes to develop), this team has a strong outlook today, AND it has replacements for some of those guys that are getting older (Yates, Silverstein). There is staying power there, though additional moves will have to be made to keep things going - but what good team doesn't have that problem. Is this a playoff team? There is no reason why Fort Worth shouldn't expect a playoff berth. Simply put, if you can put a game with Texas as a winnable game, honestly...your goal probably should be higher than 7/12 in the West. WHAT WOULD I DO? A radio host in Cleveland before the Baker pick consistently repeated the following mantra: "GET ME MY QUARTERBACK." Put a star QB on this roster, and you might have yourself a true contender. I can't promise it since history hasn't exactly been kind to Fort Worth (unless you think 24-88 is kind), but this is a team that can make noise NOW. And most certainly this is the first time this team has been in a position where "well, maybe one more guy can get it done." ============================================================= NEW YORK MEAN MACHINE OFFENSE - Did you really think it would take Jeff that long to get this team ramped right back up? With a war chest rebuilt with last year's rebuild, here we are. Nick Stokes takes over at QB (for his what, sixth team in seven years?). He's got Davion Strachan and/or Jack Jones behind him, with weapons like Clinton Hewitt, Miquel Simpson, Stanley Isaacs, and Stephan Ginez to throw to. It's not quite the death-defying offense we may be used to out of New York, and depth is certainly something of a question mark, but this offense is going to score. As per typical, this is a strong offensive line that does go eight deep. That always makes everything easier. DEFENSE - It's a strong defense, though not perfect. Jones because of his two-way LB work could most certainly win the RBLB starting job over Strachan. The DS corps is rather deep and pretty strong. The two-way WRDBs do go four deep as strong defensive backs, even though there are only six WRDB on the roster. The defensive line is seven deep, so there's a good start there. It may not be a top-3 defense, but it's not going to get torched very often. SPECIAL TEAMS - Jacob Zie is one of the best kickers in the OIFL, and will continue to give New York freedom to take more risks on 3rd-and-mid areas, because hey, he can hit from 40 in his sleep. Stanley Isaacs will likely be returning kicks for the Mean Machine. SCHEDULE - Outside of a favorable division, New York will be hosting D.C., Delmarva, Chicago, Ruidoso, and Baltimore - yeah, there's your five home games outside the division. New York also gets trips to Texas and Los Angeles to add to the fun. If they get a top-3 seed, this schedule might say they're good enough to win it all. OUTLOOK - It's not the champion from a couple years ago, but it's a roster that's not that far off. But, the Mean Machine demand excellence, and so "very goodness" won't do. I don't see them blowing things up again since there's enough long-term youth that they won't need to. But, a two game losing streak and all bets are off with Jeff WHAT WOULD I DO? Every move this team makes is designed to get a third OIFLCup Championship, something no one has done. I don't think this team is gonna be that, but there may well be guys on this roster that will. I don't think there's much that I would do on this roster, as the "moves" may be tapped out for this season. But, this team will be fighting deep into the season.
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Post by commissioner on Jun 9, 2020 20:49:49 GMT -5
EUGENE KNIGHTS
OFFENSE - It's actually been a pretty impressive half season and offseason for Eugene. The Knights ran completely out of cash and had to do a desperate fire sale/cash out, and they exit that with possibly a better roster than they even had. Nigel Lamb takes over at QB in his sixth year, and he's got some help. Youngster Rod Young may take some of the RB duties from J'Quan Bieniek, while Lamb has guys like Pepe Silvia, Chuck King, and Darius Mockobee to throw to. Lamb's line isn't particularly deep, but the starters will keep him upright. Eugene fans will be pleased with a full season of a QB with some mobility, though if something happens, Damon Owens is still there. It's an offense that's going to score points.
DEFENSE - Depth is a possible question here as well. The defensive line is stronger than the offensive line, the DS corps is pretty good, and the starting two-way skill defenders are not too bad. Rookie Odis Hogan had the camp of a lifetime and will be getting a lot of playing time as a rookie; not sure he starts, but he very well could. This defense is a bit opposite some of the older Eugene defenses (which were very line heavy and required a bit of prayer otherwise), but it's not going to have much trouble unless they start losing linemen.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Dominic Cottle returns for his 11th OIFL season, though he's going to get challenged and soon by rookie John Caron. Mockobee has at least one year left as a top-of-the-line elite kick returner. As Eugene can attest, having that kick return game top notch makes everything easier.
SCHEDULE - Outside of a tough division, Eugene adds home games with Baltimore and Houston, and the Knights travel to Ruidoso and Ohio. Getting three of the expansion teams on the slate has to please Knights management as well.
OUTLOOK - Last year at this time, we had a roster that was probably a hair on the older side that was a lot of hairs on the expensive side. Now we sit closer to the "receiving tax money" side and the key spots are littered with guys under 3.0 in age. The outlook is very, very, very bright for the Knights. It's probably not a top-3 cup contender in 2020, but there are a lot of pieces that will be here when it becomes one.
WHAT WOULD I DO? Almost nothing. I'd probably love to see another strong lineman or two, but you're not finding that type of player in FA right now. The backups are usable, they'll just get targeted. If the season gets away from them, which I don't anticipate, there's your chance to get guys like Hogan and Yount and other youngsters ample playing time, as they're the future of this team.
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LONDON MONARCHS
OFFENSE - London for a number of years was the gold standard for high flying offense that could score 80 points a night. They had some aging issues and had to take a step back in 2019, and that offense lost a lot of that punch. With camps and some smart acquisitions, this roster might be close to that again. Kidd Gunn returns for his 10th season, with Chris Murdock behind him. Gunn's favorite weapons will be Ike Chavayda, Joe Fitzpatrick, Roger Friedman, Tommy Rogers, and Andrew Crocchio. His line isn't elite, but there are some good young players on there that will be able to grow as this team continues its soft rebuild. Make no mistake, this was a rebuild, just not a total gut-from-top-to-bottom. If you're being quarterbacked by a (not Johnny) Gunn, you're going to score points, and this London team will continue that tradition.
DEFENSE - The defense is not terrible by London standards. The defensive line is stronger than the offensive, and Murdock gives London a true linebacker at all times. Shakim Matua may even get moved to play on the defensive line as a DS (not unlike what Houston does). There are no top-3 superstars in the defensive backfield, but London's DB corps is deeper than a lot of teams. Three starting DS deep, six WRDB deep. LB is an issue if Murdock goes down, because then you're losing one of those three DS (though, again, six WRDB deep on defense). There's potential to be the best defense Monarchs fans have seen here.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Robert Andrews comes over to kick; London has generally had a revolving kicking door, so bringing in older guys who have a ton of good experience will work for them. Rogers will return kicks again for the Monarchs.
SCHEDULE - The division isn't terrible. The nondivision home schedule is pretty cushy, though Ohio will give them fits. The nondivision road schedule is Baltimore, D.C., Delmarva, Seattle, and Chicago. Well then.
OUTLOOK - 8-8 was last year's London record, and the worst in Monarchs history if I remember correctly. Just because this league is tough from top to bottom, 8-8 could be an improvement on last year's 8-8. London's goals will be considerably loftier than 8-8, though. There may be a worry about having to replace Gunn in the next few years, but the Monarchs have a lot of potentially key players that are very young (Nell Crain, Andrew Crocchio, Roger Friedman, Paul Alkaranafil, John Osley, etc etc etc). The future is very bright, but it's probably a bridge too far to say "fine, 13-3 this year."
WHAT WOULD I DO? I like the path taken here. London has also solved issues of not being able to afford star guys, as their salary is just over $20M and may well be in the tax recipient line still when cuts are done. If you have a good young core and financial flexibility to build on what you already have, there's a bright future for the team.
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VANCOUVER ISLAND BLITZ
OFFENSE - The Blitz were in a heap of trouble for a little bit there, with a wildly expensive roster that was very very disjointed and not at all likely to have any real success. The roster is now probably fairly nonstandard, but there's generally a key theme here, and it's within a reasonable affordability price tag. James Bordain takes over what will be the heaviest run team in the league, with future HOFer Royce Buchanan and second year superstar John McHugh behind him. Buchanan will be joined by Paul Hamilton, Butch Hart, Tomas Bohannan, and Dyen Johansen at times. Bordain has some guys to throw to, which is a bit new as well, with Paul Goodwin and Danny Darrington the two key receivers. The WRDB corps is incredibly thin by usual OIFL standards; but since this team is going all-in on being run heavy, there's no major issues offensively. The offensive line goes six deep as starters, and you can figure the misdirection is going to include a few passes to Joe Niewiek in there. It won't set scoring records, but that's because the Blitz will be running down your throat.
DEFENSE - That clock management is going to be key. The defensive line isn't nearly as deep as the offensive side, as depth will get tested. All those young running backs are simply not good enough linebackers in today's OIFL, other than Rolls Royce (even McHugh, who primarily plays OS). Paul Goodwin is the only potentially elite level defensive WRDB on the roster. The DS corps is very good, but only two of the three can play (safely, with two-way and injury rules in there). This defense will be tested consistently.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Luis Galarza returns, likely, for his fifth season, though the Blitz could drop him for Patrick Dignan, who is a hair younger. McHugh is likely to return kicks again.
SCHEDULE - The Blitz have a division that is improving quickly, and that's going to give them fits. Outside of the division they host Texas, Baltimore, and Los Angeles, and travel to Seattle and Delmarva. There's some tough ones in there.
OUTLOOK - They successfully avoided financial ruin, and even have five top-2-round picks next year (a Bill Bradford standard). The future is pretty bright, but they have to stick with this system. Can it win a Cup? Sure, San Antonio won with a two back set. You can win this way, but you have to commit to it and build to it. Can't go back and try to be some standard offensive set, because you don't have the pieces for it. Is this a playoff team in 2020? They should be gunning for a spot, but I'm not sure the defense is going to get them there.
WHAT WOULD I DO? David Greywacz is still an elite quarterback, and he kind of fits this system. Only kind-of. He deserves a shot somewhere else, and rumblings are that the Blitz are looking to move him here. That would also cut off $1.8M from this year's salary, something I'm sure Bill would still like to do a little bit. Beyond that, you have to look at opportunities to build on this offensive style; see what other teams cut, maybe someone fits.
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DELMARVA LEGACY
OFFENSE - Year 3 is where the Legacy expected for things to start rocking. They might have the pieces to do it. Delmarva (like Vancouver above) runs a two-back set. They're probably a bit better equipped to do so. James Marple returns as starter, with Louis Clarke and Leonard McKenzie behind him. The star of the show will be WRDB Seymour Heller, who is currently on track to be an all-time great, though German o'Campo is hardly a slouch as a WR2. Delmarva's line is very deep, 7 deep on offense. If Heller gets hurt, it could spiral a little bit (Joseph Napierala isn't terrible, but he's a severe step down from Heller), but this team isn't going to suddenly go from a contender to a 5-11 roster with one injury.
DEFENSE - It's a good DB corps, but it's somewhat limited in the two-way players, so that Heller injury could cause issues there as well. McKenzie going down would also wreck things a bit, as J.B. Wells just isn't as good defensively. The line is six deep on defense, and the LB corps is fine with Clarke. What's interesting, Delmarva has positioned themselves in a bit of a way to be a white knight - hey, we'll take your star guy that's way too expensive - if someone gets into big financial trouble. Not sure we're seeing that, and it's no more than a passing idea, but this defense should be good. It's just going to focus on certain guys not getting hurt, which is a risk.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Sam Andrews and Tajik Rhodes will fight for the kicker spot, but due to contracts I suspect it's Andrews' to lose. Heller and/or o'Campo are both plenty capable kick returners; you may also see Gary Barrett just to keep those two fresh.
SCHEDULE - That's a rough division. Outside the Mid-Atlantic games, Delmarva will be hosting Chicago and London, and they'll travel to New York, Ruidoso, and Houston. It's a manageable slate, but it's never easy when your campaign ends with "BAL @dc." Win this division, and you're a contender.
OUTLOOK - There's not a lot of age on the roster, and MOST of the age is offset by strong developing younger guys (except on the line, actually, those young guys need a bit more work). Clarke will be replaced by August Orrison with another camp, Heller is still very young, McKenzie is young, Marple is young (and hell, his backup shows you could play 20 years in the league at QB). There is luck required, but this team has the ability to make a deep run. Which, of course with who's running them...you'd expect that.
WHAT WOULD I DO? I don't love the WRDB depth, even if you're only using one. I'd like to see another one or two added in FAFFA, though who are you going to cut for it? The second kicker, sure, but there's not much else you can afford to dump. You know the bonus camp work is gonna go to one of the youngsters, so you're going to get that development of young guys. This team is built to win right now, and the moves done will be used to fit that narrative.
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Post by commissioner on Jun 10, 2020 20:07:26 GMT -5
TEXAS TERRORS
OFFENSE - Not really used to Texas' preview being this early, but 2019 wasn't a real banner year for the Terrors. Larry Campos is probably going to be installed as the full-time starter here, and he's improving steadily. Maybe not an elite top-5 QB yet, but he's plenty good. Brook Crawford and Martin Hanson line up behind him, while Campos has guys like Tywon Williams, Malcom Orion, Shaun Billings, Joe Farda, and Juwon Mack to throw to. This offense could put points up by the bushel. The line is 5 deep, and the starting offensive line is as good as any in the OIFL. They can punish you just about any way they want, and mind you, they will.
DEFENSE - Now, you may notice that Crawford and Hanson are both defensive backs. That's because Markelle Cox is still an elite linebacker in his 13th OIFL year, something that's just about unheard of. The defensive backfield is strong as well, with newcomer Waylon Wind leading the backfield. The defensive line is deeper than the offensive side, but the top end is not quite as top-level, though it's plenty fine. In a rarity for the Terrors, this is shaping up to be an offense-first team. Not sure what they'll do without the Rattler games to test any theories here.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Chris Peach is the only 20th year player in the OIFL that's still a regular player, though he's got a risk to lose his job to Johnny Arzola. Peach will get a job somewhere if he can't. Williams is a top-5 kick returner in the league.
SCHEDULE - It doesn't feel right having no Rattlers on the schedule, but outside the division Texas will host New York and Seattle, while traveling to Ohio, Ruidoso, and Los Angeles. Even though it shows as 23rd toughest, that appears to be a factor of the division games being iffy (though, with all three division teams tougher, it's not a 23rd toughest schedule).
OUTLOOK - Last year may well have just been a bit of an aberration. This roster's very good, and still right in that wheelhouse of their contention window. What's more, Texas has adequately shored up any aging areas with guys who will be around awhile, at just about every position. It's been a strong build, one that does have an OIFLCup, and it has a strong core that will be right there fighting for another one.
WHAT WOULD I DO? I don't think there's much you can do. This roster is pretty well set for current and long-term success. I don't think they'll be written up 8th from the end next year.
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OHIO COMMANDERS
OFFENSE - They finally got past a first round game, and now Ohio looks for more. Chris Berkstead returns for his eighth campaign, and William Lee lines up behind him for his fifth. Berkstead has weapons, too, using Norm Whittington, Verner Bloom, and Cornell Sarvas. Ohio's line is improved as well, with a relatively deep core now. Ohio's offense is designed to be able to do anything, and the players on the roster are equipped for just that. Depth may be a little concern, though not nearly as much as in past years. Two WRDB injuries, and maybe I speak a little differently, but this offense is going to score with anyone.
DEFENSE - Again, depth has improved over the years. Linebacker was always a bit of a question mark, but now Lee is the best LB/S hybrid in the OIFL by some margin. The DB corps is pretty deep as well, and Ohio goes four deep with starting level DS. The line is a bit stronger than the OL side, but maybe not quite as deep. But all in all it's a pretty strong defense.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Reid Warrick returns for his 14th OIFL season, and he's the only drop kicker in the league. Bloom has returned kicks with success in the past for Ohio, but they may use old man newcomer Ben Stern to do that this year, as he's also had a lot of success (which will keep Bloom fresher). All in all, good special teams for the Commanders.
SCHEDULE - It starts with the OIFL Kickoff Classic in Chicago and doesn't get much easier from there. Ohio hosts D.C., Eugene, and Texas outside the division, and the Commanders travel to Los Angeles, Ruidoso, London, and Baltimore (those last three in consecutive weeks). They'll be in for more than a few fights this year.
OUTLOOK - We have hit a bit of a "this has to be their year" impasse. Ohio's actually got a little Los Angeles vibe in that regard, in that they're a team that kinda should already have aged out, but they just won't do it. A LOT of the key pieces are 4+ age, some of them 5+ and even a couple 6+. It's a roster that doesn't have many cracks at glory left in its current construction, so they gotta make the best of it.
WHAT WOULD I DO? In that vein, if a move is there to make this team better today, it's probably worth doing. Can worry about tomorrow after you've won a Cup, if you can get it.
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SEATTLE CYBERCATS
OFFENSE - Robb Lowmaster had a bit of an epiphany last year. He has a roster that does a certain skill well, and maybe they oughta focus it a bit. That's how you get a tight end (Duane Prewitt) with 42 catches and 7 touchdowns. Hey, he can run well from there, and no one can defend it short very well...maybe oughta do it. And quickly, so QB Demarion Poole doesn't get killed. Poole quietly in his fifth year has developed into an elite quarterback. Behind him will be 9th year man Leon Taylor. Poole will be throwing to Kevondisha Couto and Jim Tusing, as well as all-time Rocky Mountain/Seattle great Quaeavion Greene. This is Greene's last rodeo PROBABLY, so let's make it count. This is Seattle's best line, as it now goes 7 deep both ways. And they've got Prewitt's successor developing (Lowell Keesee), so this offense isn't going to go anywhere any time soon.
DEFENSE - Seattle's defense has from time to time been, kindly, a sieve. This one, while probably not a top-3 defense in the league, is not a sieve. Taylor is a one-dimensional blitzing linebacker, but Willy Wichert can back him up and cover a little more if they have to. The DB corps is relatively deep as well. The line again, 7 deep. It's not a top-5 starting line in the league, likely, but it's plenty fine. Seattle will win games with their offense, but this defense is not a slouch any longer.
SPECIAL TEAMS - In a surprise move, Seattle swooped up older kicker Jim Long to do the kicking for the team. They decided they needed a guy now. Greene will likely return kicks, though newcomer Jordan Floyd may get some of it, as he's also had success returning kicks.
SCHEDULE - That division isn't real nice. Outside it, Seattle has a calm home slate with London and Houston the only potential landmines. Away from the friendly confines, though, they get to travel to Chicago, Texas, and Ruidoso, so that's real nice. That Houston home game is sandwiched between an @phi @tex @rui @la gauntlet, so that's nice, too.
OUTLOOK - This team is a contender now. Is it a favorite? Maybe not, but they are in the mix, and will be in the mix. They run a quirky style and have star players littered around that can do "normal" stuff, too. And when your OS receiver has 91 career touchdown PASSES, there's always other things to watch out for.
WHAT WOULD I DO? Not much can be done. Every position has depth to work with if someone gets hurt (up to and including kicker), and Robb has finally gotten rid of his ages-long loyalty to everyone who ever played for him no matter how useless he was (see: Meis, Lon). That's a combo for a team that's going to be in this race for a long time.
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D.C. CONSPIRACY
OFFENSE - Yoichi Hiruma takes over at quarterback for the conspiracy, as he's got a little more left in the tank than Adam Kruse. He's holding the seat warm for a couple years for the next long-term Conspiracy QB (DeQuan Gozzola). Behind him will be Corey Palso or Jack Stones. Hiruma has had success throwing for high-flying offenses in his career, and he's got another one here, with Kevin Sherman, Rasheide Benefield, Vernon Tyler, and 12th-year WRDB Zach Degan. The offensive line is pretty strong, and goes 7 deep. D.C. will score a lot of points all year long.
DEFENSE - The defense isn't terrible, either. This is an offensive team, but the DL is 7 deep. Palso and Stones are both capable linebackers (though 12 years in, Palso's starting to show his age a bit). Benefield, Sherman, Nevil Haze, and Craig Pierce create a formidable defensive backfield, and there's enough depth to keep from injuries causing too much headache. This team will have some fits against better offenses, but it's good enough to hold its own.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Stephen Smyka returns for his fourth year at kicker, while Tyler is as good a kick returner as anyone in the league.
SCHEDULE - I mean, you know there's four with Baltimore and Delmarva, and they're glad the Week 16 Delmarva game is at their place. Outside that division, they host London, Ruidoso, and Chicago, and get road trips to New York and Ohio. Bottom line, with that schedule, if they get a top seed, they're going to be a favorite to make a very deep run.
OUTLOOK - We're getting into the true contenders here, and D.C. is one. This may be the deepest contendership the OIFL has ever had, mind you, but D.C. is in that group. The roster is pricey, but if you can make a deep playoff run, you can afford pricey. This team has a strong outlook, and is starting to develop that core of the next group of good Conspiracy players. It's not likely they'll have a total blowup/rebuild like they had to a few years ago.
WHAT WOULD I DO? Not much you can do, I don't think. Depth is fine, the young guys are there, though maybe not as ideally or ready in some positions as others, but it's not a "one more year and this thing is toast" situation. The Conspiracy are going to be right there for a while.
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Post by commissioner on Jun 15, 2020 21:21:35 GMT -5
LOS ANGELES MATADORS
OFFENSE - Yeah, really, the Matadors rebuilt their roster over the last couple years. Wouldn't have known it with looking at how the team was doing. This was about as strong a rebuild as you'll see, and its centerpiece was the (admittedly expensive) acquisition of QB Jason Stackhouse. Nestor has never been one to spend big money if he can avoid it, but he couldn't avoid it here. Stackhouse will have Ross Franklin behind him, while having some nice weapons to play with in Donald Avery Hall, Gerald Poff, and Vernon Burkhead. Los Angeles' line is very strong as well, going about seven deep in two-way starters. This isn't your old Venice Waveriders roster where the overreaching goal was to make sure the defense only had to defend about eight drives a game. This team will score points.
DEFENSE - Depth isn't quite as strong on the line here, LA's offensive line is the star of that show. Franklin, though, is an elite blitzing linebacker, though depth there is a littly iffy (Dave Kreis is a pretty solid two-way LB though as his primary backup). The DS tandem of Coyne and Urquijo enters its 8th year together (and Coyne is strong enough that with just a hair of luck, they'll make it a ninth next year despite his age), while Hall and Poff are plenty capable defensive backs. Despite this, LA is certainly a stronger offensive team than defensive, but their defense is still above average.
SPECIAL TEAMS - The Matadors have two original Waveriders on the roster on their 14th year (13th in the OIFL). One is backup QB Rex Hudson. The other is the kicker Jamie Cabrera, who is eighth all-time in points socred kicking and will (barring injury) move to at least sixth this year. Burkhead is likely to return kicks.
SCHEDULE - Outside a defense that is pretty tough, the Matadors host Ohio, New York, and Texas. Their toughest road nondivision game is probably in Fort Worth. It's not a bad schedule.
OUTLOOK - This is a strong team with a strong roster and a favorable schedule. Of the crew of guys that came in in that 2006-2008 range, Nestor is one that has always been kind of under the radar, but he's got another OIFLCup contender (after his surprise win in OIFLCup XV). Barring some badly placed injuries, this Los Angeles team is going to be in the running all year long.
WHAT WOULD I DO? Not much. The roster's loaded for bear, but at $31.5M in salary, Los Angeles does have the room to take on a heavy contract for a star if one should come available. Can't really make too many shock moves when you're a top level contender as-is.
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RUIDOSO KIDS
OFFENSE - Benjaymond Cannon seems to be your starter, but there's definitely going to be some discussion going into the season if the 11th year (and former Jimmy guy) Jamie Graham shouldn't be. And if you're a contender, you probably would go with the one that's gonna get you better today. Burt Nowak will be behind whoever they choose, though Arnaud Howard will get a lot of reps. The QB will be throwing to Sammy Bolt, Jetta Shanklin, Scott Howden, Bobby Schauber, Alex Emmons, and JeQuan Moscot, so you're going to have a lot of touchdown passes no matter what. Ruidoso is prepping for some sort of option offense when guys start falling off here, but that's not going to be immediate or even in the next couple years, so it's not something to put a lot of stock into. The line goes seven deep on offense (eight on defense), and so this team's going to score as many points as you really would want.
DEFENSE - Now here, maybe it's gonna give up a few, too. With all the weapons on offense, you can afford to start one of the backup WRDBs as the second DS (Diamante Right is one of them) over Mario Hernaiz, and they will. Nowak is an elite LB, and the defensive line is actually eight deep, though only six of them would be on the offensive 7. It's a well built line that has all age groups. Depth will not be a concern in almost any spot (I mean, you lose a guy like Nowak on LB, you're going to take a hit, but Howard is still plenty serviceable). The offense is probably the star of the show here, too, but the defense is not a slouch.
SPECIAL TEAMS - Ian Truefoot returns to take the kicking, and he's been a steady hand his whole career. Elwood Cohen will probably return kicks - for a guy who was marked as the worst sleeper in OIFL history, here he is in his 13th year still finding roles. Korey Bucher returned kicks last year, but I'm not sure the Kids will use him in that role again.
SCHEDULE - Other than a team in southern New Mexico getting a division with teams in Nevada, British Columbia, and Alberta...Ruidoso will have some good traveling this year, that's for sure. Outside the division, the Kids host Texas, Eugene, Delmarva, Ohio, and Seattle. They'll travel to D.C., New York, Houston, and Fort Worth. It's only ranked 14th because Fort Mac was 1-15 and Reno's an expansion team. This is a rough schedule.
OUTLOOK - Last year, Ruidoso had a couple surprise away playoff wins (Texas, Los Angeles). They're sneaking up on no one this year. This team is going to be in the running deep into the season. The outlook is strong, and the window does not close in 2020.
WHAT WOULD I DO? I'd love to find a second elite-level DS, even with Collier or Schauber able to be playing there. The roster's probably squeaking at the ceiling of the salary they can easily afford to pay, but there's probably still a bit of room. The WRDB corps is loaded, the line is fine, there are two starter-level OS there. Yeah, the DS would be nice. I'd also start Graham, but I don't make those decisions.
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BALTIMORE BREAKERS
OFFENSE - This offense is loaded for bear, but you knew that. Tommy Gunn returns, and Andre Beland is behind him. Ideally, Beland doesn't get hurt for two months again. Gunn's got weapons - Paul Rollman, Asaad Moore, and Vincent Gerard III are the starters, but they'll also see Don Dodrill, Kway Richardson, and Charles Andress catching balls. The line is six deep both ways. Gunn is the star of the show and is what makes things go here, but this offense has top level guys all over it.
DEFENSE - Why you won't see Gunn throw 100 touchdowns again is the defense. Dodrill probably should take a starting spot from Rollman or Moore. The DL is six deep, and there are three starter-level DS on the Breakers' roster. There are some depth issues (is Grant Ward enough with no real strong backup if Beland gets hurt again?), but the Breakers' defense is good enough to win a title. It's just, the offense is the star of the show and has been for a few years in Baltimore.
SPECIAL TEAMS - David Wolstenholm arrives to do the kicking for the Breakers. He'll get plenty of short 1-point opportunities. Gerard is a top-3 kick returner and will continue to do so for the Breakers.
SCHEDULE - Well, you know it's tough with DC and Delmarva, and the expansion team with an owner that's been to the OIFLCup Game (something the Breakers actually haven't done). Outside the division, the Breakers host London and Ohio, and travel to Vancouver Island, Eugene, and New York. Even though they get four versus the other Maryland-area monsters, it's a dream schedule for the Breakers.
OUTLOOK - Kind of a failing of the goofball that made the schedule that Baltimore and Chicago can't face off before the playoffs, but hey, you get what you pay for. This team should expect to be in the running for the OIFLCup, and they will be. Some pieces are starting to age, but most of them the Breakers have replacements ready to develop (or already there, in the case of Raber). Or, the old guy is already your backup QB. Baltimore is an elite team and they'll continue to be elite for a bit...
WHAT WOULD I DO? I'd love a better backup RBLB on the roster, and I'd love a couple more linemen. Baltimore does have a roster spot, but they also have a $42M roster, a $12M tax bill "as-is," and a $31M bank account. Can't go too crazy, though if it gets you an OIFLCup, maybe you can go too crazy. That said, this is your core and you're going to have to make do with a team that got to the East final last year and almost beat a then- 17-0 team...
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CHICAGO BLUES
OFFENSE - Jim Holcombe got the starting job what felt like a year too early when Roberto Albertini was still there. Albertini is long gone, and Holcombe now enters his fourth OIFL season (third starting) as the entrenched starter. And oh yeah, he might be one of the 3 best quarterbacks in the league. Behind Holcombe is probably RB Marquell Manning, though Randall Ledbetter, Sean Maxey, and Conn Vedell will all also get reps. Holcombe has guys to throw to, too, including Brandon Graham, Joe Gulliet, Dwight Timothy, Siddiqu Merriman-Thomas, John Owen, Bernhard Schraeder...hell, Ledbetter and Maxey, JeQual Kelly. Chicago's starting offensive line is elite, but they also go seven deep. Chicago can beat you many different ways on offense, and they will probably use many of those methods at various times throughout the year.
DEFENSE - Oh yeah, and the best defensive line in the OIFL. Kevin Labeck, Rod Lemont, Akeem Cruz...sorry Moeeb Razaq, you get to be the a backup. Let's also add that OLDL Ray McIntyre shot up from nowhere and is now a stud. Chicago's going to scare quarterbacks many many times. Ledbetter may be your starting RBLB just because he's an actual linebacker, and a pretty good one (though Joe Gulliet will get some work there as a WRLB when they have Manning or Vedell on at RB). The defensive backfield is stellar, and is deep. Chicago has four starting DS...and you can only start two (safely, Marquise Cason and DeAngelo Penzel are only two way guys if you're in deep trouble with depth). Guys may gripe about minutes, but this team's going to be rolling on defense.
SPECIAL TEAMS - 13th year man Jamie Pucci will likely take the job from long-time Blue Bruce Rodriguez at kicker, while Timothy or Kelly will return kicks effectively.
SCHEDULE - Chicago's schedule ranks 24th, but that's mostly because they don't have to play Chicago in their division. Outside the division, they host Seattle, Fort McMurray and London, while traveling to Delmarva, New York, Mexico City, and D.C. It's a manageable schedule, but it doesn't "feel" like a 24th-place schedule.
OUTLOOK - They're the favorite to win the OIFLCup. How's that for an outlook. Somewhere in the past few years, Jacob and his brother Christian have eclipsed their uncle (Portland's Andrew Fox), and Jacob Fuqua here has built a monster. The outlook is just fine, thank you.
WHAT WOULD I DO? I don't know you can do much. Maybe a better ldsp kicker? Good luck getting someone to trade you something like that... What more do you want? Chicago went 18-1, losing only the OIFLCup Game, and they seem to have gotten better.
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