Post by Washington Insiders on Jul 6, 2020 23:03:11 GMT -5
Fans from around the DC area had plenty to celebrate after the Conspiracy held on for a 52-48 victory over the rival Baltimore Breakers, thanks to a go-ahead touchdown pass from Quarterback Yoichi Hiruma to Offensive Specialist Vernon Tyler. While fans, players and coaches rightfully celebrated the big win to start the season, the DC front office was at work looking over the recent releases, ever aware that in the modern OIFL there is talent to be found in all corners. DC has a history of using its last several roster spots for young talent to build up, and that has continued this year. With two additional spots on the roster that has allowed DC to really focus on getting the right pieces in place to grow for the future, and the moves announced today reflect that.
The OIFL confirmed today that DC signed and released two players each. Coming in is RBLB Jay Larson, and the Number 20 pick in this year's draft- QB JacQuan Fitzgibbons. Larson, who's initial contract is for this season but contains options through 2022, is already a solid defensive player and has the tangible skills in place to be a strong offensive player. DC will hope that his speed and elusiveness improve with more training, but in the meantime he could see a role as a specialty goal-line DS. While he has shown little in pass coverage, he is skilled at blitzing and a strong tackler, and is already arguably the 2nd best LB on the team.
"We watched Jay last season but the chance to pick him up never came about, and kept an eye on him throughout the off-season and we were excited to see that he ended up on the market,"commented Conspiracy GM Adam Beyer. "Frankly as far as young RBLBs in the league go he deserves a spot over some of the others who had one. When we saw him available we knew we had to make a run at him. This also gives us some off-season flexibility looking ahead, given that 2 of our initial 3 RBLBs are set to be free agents. We don't want to lose our current guys, but I would be comfortable with Jay in the backfield next year some."
Fitzgibbons was on the wrong end of an unconventional situation surrounding the entry draft. The 20th overall pick, Fitzgibbons joined a team which had just picked another QB 18th overall. As the offseason unfolded, Fitzgibbons found himself on the outside looking in and was released. With every team focused on its own talent evaluations during the pre-season Fitzgibbons again found himself on the outside looking in, but now from the entire league. Meanwhile, DC had focused a lot of its offseason on developing QB DeQuan Gozzola, an off-and-on member of the roster since last year. Gozzola got most of the playing time in the Quarantine Tournament and all the pre-season game snaps, but notably threw at least one interception in every game and generally did not make the strides expected of him. After the pre-season, DC decided to make the move to Fitzgibbons, who ironically was drafted with a pick that originally belonged to DC. QB displayed confidence in Fitzgibbons' ability to succeed where Gozzola failed, as they immediately gave him a rookie-max 5 year contract.
"Jake is great," exclaimed Beyer. "During our pre-draft scouting he really impressed us, but we weren't able to get back into the draft to have a shot at him, and he was picked with what originally was our pick. But it's pretty nice to trade a pick, and end up getting the guy you would've liked to use the pick on anyway. DeQuan was a pleasure to have in the locker room but right now our goal with the QB room behind Hiruma is to get the next great ready to go, and I'm not sure DeQuan was going to become that here. Yoichi has some good years in him, obviously we just extended his contract also, but while the coaches prepare the starters for now, we take the roster spots we can and queue up the next generation. Being able to sign him up for 5 years is a definite benefit also. We don't have to be pressured to get him in the lineup, and Yoichi doesn't have to feel a ticking clock over his shoulder. Everyone has time to grow and play their best ball."
In order to make room for the signings, DC released Gozzola along with OLDL Gus Kuppers, who was signed during the pre-season. DC stays home this week and hosts the expansion Florida Tuskers, who are coming off a Week 1 loss to divisional rival Delmarva.
The OIFL confirmed today that DC signed and released two players each. Coming in is RBLB Jay Larson, and the Number 20 pick in this year's draft- QB JacQuan Fitzgibbons. Larson, who's initial contract is for this season but contains options through 2022, is already a solid defensive player and has the tangible skills in place to be a strong offensive player. DC will hope that his speed and elusiveness improve with more training, but in the meantime he could see a role as a specialty goal-line DS. While he has shown little in pass coverage, he is skilled at blitzing and a strong tackler, and is already arguably the 2nd best LB on the team.
"We watched Jay last season but the chance to pick him up never came about, and kept an eye on him throughout the off-season and we were excited to see that he ended up on the market,"commented Conspiracy GM Adam Beyer. "Frankly as far as young RBLBs in the league go he deserves a spot over some of the others who had one. When we saw him available we knew we had to make a run at him. This also gives us some off-season flexibility looking ahead, given that 2 of our initial 3 RBLBs are set to be free agents. We don't want to lose our current guys, but I would be comfortable with Jay in the backfield next year some."
Fitzgibbons was on the wrong end of an unconventional situation surrounding the entry draft. The 20th overall pick, Fitzgibbons joined a team which had just picked another QB 18th overall. As the offseason unfolded, Fitzgibbons found himself on the outside looking in and was released. With every team focused on its own talent evaluations during the pre-season Fitzgibbons again found himself on the outside looking in, but now from the entire league. Meanwhile, DC had focused a lot of its offseason on developing QB DeQuan Gozzola, an off-and-on member of the roster since last year. Gozzola got most of the playing time in the Quarantine Tournament and all the pre-season game snaps, but notably threw at least one interception in every game and generally did not make the strides expected of him. After the pre-season, DC decided to make the move to Fitzgibbons, who ironically was drafted with a pick that originally belonged to DC. QB displayed confidence in Fitzgibbons' ability to succeed where Gozzola failed, as they immediately gave him a rookie-max 5 year contract.
"Jake is great," exclaimed Beyer. "During our pre-draft scouting he really impressed us, but we weren't able to get back into the draft to have a shot at him, and he was picked with what originally was our pick. But it's pretty nice to trade a pick, and end up getting the guy you would've liked to use the pick on anyway. DeQuan was a pleasure to have in the locker room but right now our goal with the QB room behind Hiruma is to get the next great ready to go, and I'm not sure DeQuan was going to become that here. Yoichi has some good years in him, obviously we just extended his contract also, but while the coaches prepare the starters for now, we take the roster spots we can and queue up the next generation. Being able to sign him up for 5 years is a definite benefit also. We don't have to be pressured to get him in the lineup, and Yoichi doesn't have to feel a ticking clock over his shoulder. Everyone has time to grow and play their best ball."
In order to make room for the signings, DC released Gozzola along with OLDL Gus Kuppers, who was signed during the pre-season. DC stays home this week and hosts the expansion Florida Tuskers, who are coming off a Week 1 loss to divisional rival Delmarva.