Team Season Previews

[Matt]

I'd like as many guys to participate in this as possible. It's always nice to get a little insight into other teams and players, from the perspective of the team GM's.

Please post in the following format in this thread.

OFFENSE
write something about your team's offense. It could be as detailed as you'd like.

DEFENSE
write something about your team's defense. It could be as detailed as you'd like.

PLAYER TO WATCH
write something about a specific player. It could be your best player, your favorite player, or your "X factor". You decide who you want to write about.



I can't wait to read what you've all got to say :mrgreen:

[sovstar]

What a lovely idea.

[tarcone]

Tulsa enters 2011 with a whole new attitude. Gone are the faces that led the team to to 500 seasons. In are the young guns. Both sides of the ball offer young, talented players ready to make their mark on the IFL.

Offense

As stated above, youth is the theme. This seasons offensive unit features 3 rookies and three 2nd year players. This unit will go as far as the offensive line will take. The line is young and very talented. Its anchor is 11 year veteran left tackle Tony Esqueda. He is joined by rookie right tackle Brock Heath, 2nd year guards Aaron Taxin and Rob Mitchell. Center Ernest Poston rounds out the starting unit. The line will be protecting 2nd year quarterback Matt Sanford and opening holes for rookie running back Ken Singleton. This tandem leads the TigerHawks into the next decade. The receiving corp features 4th year tight end Randy Brennan, 4th year receiver Ralph Donovan and rookie split end Shane Jamison.

Defense

This unit is also dominated by young players. This unit carries 3 rookies and two 2nd year players. The defensive line features 2 rookies with defensive end Rufus Wilkins and defensive tackle DJ Barrios. Joining the rookies is 4th year defensive end Marshall Brummitt and 10th year defensive tackle Alfred Bowser. The line hopes to improve in their run stopping this season. the linebacking corp features Defensive Rookie of the Year 2nd year middle linebacker Clay Bradbury. This season he will be joined by rookie strong side linebacker Rex Torres and 2nd year weak side linebacker Darrell Harnisch. The defensive backfield is led by 3rd year cornerback Willie Cash. Splitting time at the opposite corner will be 4th year back Winston Mulder and 3rd year player Brad "Baa Baa" Blackshear. The safeties are 6th year player James "Tractor" Traylor and 9 year veteran Scott Gallant.

Player to Watch

RB Ken Singleton is the player to watch this season. If he is successful, he will make Sanford successful. Singleton will determine if we go 4-12 or 8-8.

[Matt]

What a lovely idea.

you should see what else I can do when I put my mind to it.....but let's please keep on topic

[George W Bush]

I don't know any of my player's names. Sorry.

[Coder]

Vermont Preview

OFFENSE
The Vermont offense will continue to mix things up between an improved run-offense and a solid receiving corps.

Andy Crawford looked set to grab OROY honors before going down with a season-ending injury last year, but is back as fresh as ever, putting up good numbers in the pre-season. He will be accompanied by last year's replacement signing, Bob Fann, who did much better than expected filling in for Crawford.

Virgil Sepulveda will also have solid targets for his passes. Maybe not all-star calibre, with the exception of one of the league's top Tight Ends, Quentin Logan. However, Elbert Castor, Dennis Bakker, Richard Rath and undrafted Free Agent Rico Reischl from last year will be giving Virgil lots of alternatives.

The line looks solid with returning guards Jacob Pinder and Chuck Jalbert, as well as William Million and Victor Levine on tackle. Deion Prestbye took some major strides last year at center and all in all, the line is expected to keep Virgil safe and give Crawford all the openings he needs.

DEFENSE
The Vermont defense is anchored by star safety Bryant Gattis, accompanied by corners Damon Dawkins and last year's star rookie Alonzo Lake, who nabbed 5 interceptions in 15 games during his first year. Second round pick Teddy Forbes looks set to start at Strong Safety

The Mountaineers continue having top ends despite superstar Shawn Hernandez departure, picking up solid defensive end Kenneth Reeg with the final pick of the 2011 draft. He'll start on the left side, with four year veteran Louie Doyle, who blossomed under Hernandez mentorship last year, on the right side. Look for the Vermont pass rush to be just as deadly this year as it was last season.

Huey Nelson and Domingo Waldon will return as tackles, as will the linebacker trio of Brendan Estermeyer, Vinny McKee and Calvin McGary. Charlie Summers, who missed the entire championship season, looks to give sophomore McKee a run for the starting SLB-slot, however.

PLAYER TO WATCH
Andy Crawford went down with an unfortunate knee injury in week 8 last year, while leading the league in rushing touchdowns. He's back with a vengeance this year, giving Vermont an edge they've lacked the past few years. If he can keep going like he did before his injury, look for records to be seriously challenged, as he was on pace for 18 rushing touchdowns last year.

[Hell Atlantic]

Offense
Obviously the team was rocked with the untimely departure of QB Dennis Collela. Ike Jordan, who had some room to grow at the time of the Collela Fiasco, seemed to regress during the preseason to the point where undrafted rookie FA Jackie Sherman is being looked at to be the starter for a majority of the season. Jordan will be given a chance to start, but will also be given a short leash. The team aquired Renaldo Chapman to be their starting RB for the next 10 years, and some great preseason performances has the Heroes excited. To go along with their new stud rookie RB, the team also picked up TE Juan McElroy. With his great 3rd down catching and big play abilities the team has a great young option at TE who fits their exact need out of that position - someone who doesn't need the ball all the time, taking targets away from the magnificent Nathan Mullin, but can do a lot with the ball once its in his hands. The O-line remains stable, with the only problem area being Right Tackle. Kicker Chuck Morris didn't miss a field goal all preseason, a great indicator for what's to come during the regular season. The team overall got cohesion boosts at several positions, so we'll see just how far cohesion can take a middling team.

Defense
The team was further shocked with the surprise retirement of 10th yr pro Jose Gilpin, who retired as the highest rated DE in the game. Speculation is new coach Hunter Crawford wouldn't allow Gilpin to skip his rigorous training camp and Gilpin decided to simply walk away from the game rather than spend another grueling summer doing Crawford's infamous two-a-days. DE Joe Otey remains the team's best option at getting to the QB, and DT Stewart Lundquist remains the elder but still potent vet. The team has the best secondary in the league along with amazing depth at that position, and opposing teams will still have to think twice before throwing it past our LBs, where the team spent an additional 2nd round pick on LB Stevens, a great pass-rushing WLB who hits harder than a truck being driven by Cringer dosing off at the wheel.

Player To Watch
This is split between the dazzling Renaldo Chapman and almost-starter Jackie Sherman. Chapman had no problem whatsoever moving the chains in the preseason. Last year the team was derailed by the slow-starting Larry Deason, whose aging, rapidly declining and now overpaid skills were shipped off to Lansing. The team will look to get a more consistent, start-to-finish performance from Chapman, from opening kickoff of the 1st game to the last down of the final game. Jackie Sherman showed flashes of being able to move the ball. He has great 3rd down passing abilities, which will be sorely needed often considering the so-far average talent level throughout the offense. If he can put up even a 80ish QB rating the team has a miniscule chance of competing this season, otherwise they just may be able to draft a good QB with a high pick next offseason.

[Jave]

Ummm, posting my teams strengths and weakness's in an easy to read thread would give teams basically a blueprint on how to beat me. Think I will pass on this one.

[hawkster]

Offense

Three 2nd year pros and three rookies figure prominently into the Liberty's new look offense. Surprising rookie QB Edward Jacobs proved last season he has the potential to be the QB of the future in L.A. and his twin targets, fellow 2nd year WRs Andre Thomason and Donnie Lester, figure to be much improved following average rookie campaigns. Rookie G Kyle Mares will be counted on to shore up the hole at LG on the offensive line and rookie RBs Toby Doss and Luke Nordland will be expected to match the near twin 1000 yard seasons by last year's tandem, Kelly Wheat and Casey Gaines. The Liberty's rushing attack finished 7th last season, allowing QB Edward Jacobs to finish 5-7 as a starter with an 82.9 rating. Look for the offense to get more and more explosive as all of these weapons mature. Veteran TE Roger Webster and tackle tandem Miles Perkins and Rickey McCloskey return to provide leadership to this fledgling group. The Liberty have a ton of potential, but it remains to be seen if that potential can be capitalized upon.

Defense

The secondary has been shaken up with the team's move to L.A. Not wanting to be a part of a rebuilding team, CB Vegas Rouleau was shipped off to St. Louis. CB David Brown was also supplanted in the starting lineup and rookie S Nolan Coghill showed flashes as a starter. The rest of the defense is unchanged. LB Augustine Murray returned after a brief flirt with the open market and will be the leader of this defense once again. Champ Shelton and Cornell Valencia are a solid outside pair. The front four is led by veteran DT Robert Senter. DEs Daisy Dukes and Jeremy Ellison will be counted on to keep pressure off of the secondary by getting to the QB often. The defense will make or break the Liberty this season. A weak preseason is hoped to be an anomaly.

Player to Watch

All eyes in Los Angeles are on Edward Jacobs. Years of inconsistency at quarterback have kept this franchise from pushing for a title. If Jacobs can improve on his rookie campaign, this team has a very bright future. They are young at a majority of starting positions and just need a leader to push them. If Jacobs is that leader, watch out for what the Liberty can do this season.

[sovstar]

Offense

The #1 offense in the league returns in full force. Caro looks to rebound after a subpar season for him (one that would be worth gold to Mark McMurray). I fully expect to have two 1,000 yard receivers this season. Dominic Field being one and Gaston Williams the other. Williams had injury problems last season, but he should return to his 2009 form without a hitch.

Defense

With the acquisition of DT Tito Ash and the return of DE Fernando Moss I think the Seals will have one of the best pass-rushing front fours in the entire league. That should help out a secondary that is still a little shaky. Still have playmakers back there in Juan Carlisle (2nd Team All-League last year) and Taco Ortego though. My linebacking crew has taken some serious hits the past couple of years due to aging and injuries (Munoz). Not overly concerned about that though.

Player to Watch

Brian Adamov. He had 7.5 sacks in his first 5 games last season before his production tailed off. The change to a 4-3 should help his production along with being next to three other productive linemen. Might not be enough sacks to go around really. It's quite possible Moss and Adamov will split the glory (10 sacks each?).

[George W Bush]

Ummm, posting my teams strengths and weakness's in an easy to read thread would give teams basically a blueprint on how to beat me. Think I will pass on this one.

No blueprint needed.

[Argot]

On paper, Dakota looks better this year...but then again that's on paper.

Offense: Pulling in Devon Taylor to play QB for the Spirit gives Dakota a solid QB that they haven't had since Rocco Hooten retired. Rookie Barker will hold a clipboard and try to take notes. The usual list of suspects that is the Spirit receiving corps is back, led by team leader Ryan McCellion. Ryan continues to silence critics by being one of the most consistent receivers in the IFL. On most teams he's a great number 3...But here he is number 1 with the sure handed Dworak and rookie Peko behind him...(OK...that just sounded REALLY odd). Still...no tight end the likes of Deangelo Alverez in his prime.

What's different this year is no Sheldon Carmack, who finally hung up his cleats. In his place is a very talented rookie, Morris Shiavi who was taken in the second round and a resurging Curtis Bullock in his 3rd year. Both are quick and agile and are more prone to break a few than was Carmack or Ricardo Andrews.

The line has also improved. Shaun Middleton looked like a monster in preseason, and Foss should develop nicely next to him. This appears to be the last season for Waters and McKinney. The middle of the line is tight...The tackle position is the only weak spot here. Much better than last year.

Defense: The front 7 have never been better. Basil Neace and Charles McCourt have nothing on these guys. DT, Bridges is turning into quite the run stopper next to a great pass rushing Ramey. Montgomery has been brought into help hurry the pass rush and Shergalis on the other end continues to improve, if that's even possible. The MLB position is secure with Qualls who is consistent and sure. Butler and Spencer are great compliments, all are only in their 4th year or less.

Now the secondary, though better than last year is nothing compared to the old days of Sims, Schaffer, and Brito. Brito's still there...but he's a bit "brittle". Instead the Spirit will have to rely on the aging Autry and Cantrell, and first year starter Wicker who is already banged up. The Spirit, however, have a few tricks up their sleeve for teams that want to go pass happy against this secondary.

Player to Watch: Shaun Middleton, Center. I know, who takes a Offensive lineman as their player to watch. Shaun looks much improved and has been making holes for backs that have no business taking control of a game at this point in their career.

[BuddaKINGII]

The team has the best secondary in the league along with amazing depth at that position, and opposing teams will still have to think twice before throwing it past our LBs, where the team spent an additional 2nd round pick on LB Stevens, a great pass-rushing WLB who hits harder than a truck being driven by Cringer dosing off at the wheel.

Hahaha that's why I don't these. What a joke...

The best secondary not even in the division. We should have a rule "get to the playoffs" before you can pimp your team.

[Chris Rex]

I suppose my previous post qualifies as my preview

http://www.imperialfl.us/forums/showthread.php?t=84908

By the way, for those interested in trading: Did I forget to mention that Kim Starks is really a hot blonde chick?

[Hell Atlantic]

Hahaha that's why I don't these. What a joke...

The best secondary not even in the division. We should have a rule "get to the playoffs" before you can pimp your team.

there is no scenario in which you could say you have a better secondary than me. and there isn't a team that sports a betting starting 4 in their secondary, and the depth to go along with it. great starters+great depth=best secondary.

2+2=4

stop.