COLUMBIA OFFSEASON

[iceman99]

The 2034 off-season has been a major disappointment for many of the Columbia fans. Considering that the Fire are normally one of the most active teams in free agency and the trade market, cap issues and a returning roster of nearly 50 players caused the Fire to take a back seat this season during free agency. While the team is talking to some potential free agents. The team has been more focused on addressing key needs and the draft.

The off-season for Columbia started with a huge trade to shore up an aging and depleted LB corp. Despite all the great play from Vince Champion during his career in Columbia, the Fire (3rd youngest team in the league) felt that they needed a top young player for the future of the organization, a new face of the Fire D. In a effort to address that the Fire traded with Montreal and acquired OLB Freddie Nelson, arguably the best OLB in the IFL. This move did cost the team their #1 pick this season, and 2nd next year, and Vet G Kingston Denman. The team felt that this was the best direction for the organization.. This move will likely move Champion inside to help the program go back to a 3-4 system in 2034.

Outside of that one trade the fire have focused on signing their own pending free agents. Columbia at the start of free agency had 15 pending free agents heading to the market in 2035. Many of these players were first time free agents from recent drafts and due to recent salaries and only 1 franchise tag, the team was looking at the possibility of losing multiple players that many in the organization feel the team should be built around. Columbia spent time renegotiating contracts, and working out deals to help make sure that those players will be with the program for the long haul. Those resigned G Jaiden Stargell, CB Omar Newman, and T Ty Nord. The does still have 13 pending free agents, but they do feel that many of those players will return or will be tagged to be on the team next season.

The rest of the time has been spent monitoring the draft and focusing on team needs. It will be interesting to see how the team does when its not picking until late in the 3rd round.

[Matt]

nice read.

[iceman99]

COLUMBIA FINALIZES NEW DEALS AND NEW POSITIONS

Going into this off-season, the Fire ownership was well aware that there were going to be some tough decisions to be made. Many of those decisions revolved around the young group of talented players who had been playing key roles on the team, and some players that were waiting for their chance to shine. Columbia went out knowing that it was going to be hard to keep certain players and still give the young guns a chance to play. Despite not wanting to lose their vets, but also needing to free up cap space, they tried to move veterans Jaiden Stargell and Vince Champion before the draft. But after multiple attempts failed to secure the required return for players the Fire still regarded as top level talents, the Fire called an organization meeting with the Stargell, Champion, newly acquired LB Nelson, and pending free agents Nord, Newman, and Bouie.

It was during this organizational meeting that the team was able to meet with the players and their agents and explain the plan that they had in place for the future of the organization. Unfortunately the team did not have the fund to sign everyone without some concessions, and this was passed to the players. The team also took this time to explain to Stargell and Champion that the team was looking to go younger and their specific positions but that the team wanted to keep them on the roster some how. After hours of talks the first nail dropped when WR Ruben Bouie refused to lower his demands for a new contract and the team allowed him and his agent to leave the meeting. The teams GM stated after the meeting "Not sure what happened there, but it lit a fire in us to get this stuff worked out before anyone else left the meeting". As a result of losing out on a renegotiation with Bouie the team was able to complete the following moves:

- Renegotiate the contract of Freddie Nelson to free cap space
- Jaiden Stargell agreed to move to LG to open a playing spot for 3y T Darren Carpenter, and signed a team friendly contract to free more money
- Vince Champion agreed to move to SILB due to Freddie Nelson taking over the SLB position and to allow 2y LB AJ Douglas to maintain his starting role at WLB, The team is working on a new deal for Champion as well
- Resigned Ty Nord to keep him off the free agent market in 2035
- Resigned Omar Newman to keep him off the free agent market in 2035
- Advised Ruben Bouie that he would receive the franchise tag next off-season

These moves along with the teams draft picks should solidify the teams roster for the next few seasons.

[iceman99]

COLUMBIA DRAFT

With Columbia trading away its 1st round selection as part of the deal that brought Freddie Nelson to the Fire. The Fire scouts and GM found themselves in uncharted territory during the draft. Normally the team is very active in the first two rounds, and while there were rumors of a trade attempt into the 2nd round, no moves were made and the team was forced to wait until late in the 3rd to start this years draft. Below is a review:

[iceman99]

With the 22nd pick in the 3rd round (86th overall)... The Columbia Fire Select

G - Andrew Korzuk - Florida



With Stargell moving to G the team did not have a major need at the interior line position. But with question marks still remaining behind Stargell the team felt the need to take the best player left on their board and select Korzuk. He should fit nicely with this young group of players and could push for playing time out of camp.

[iceman99]

With the 24th pick in the 3rd round (88th overall). The Columbia Fire Select:

RB - Elijah Tucker - Texas Tech



Tucker joins a backfield that already has a 1000 yard rusher in the backfield. But Manubay does have a history of not staying healthy and this was the main reason for the teams decision to bring in Tucker during the draft. Tucker has great speed and hands and should be a key addition to this teams offense.

[iceman99]

With the 9th pick in the 4th round (105 overall) - The Columbia Fire Select:

P - Dominique Burks - Kansas



Burks was not a need pick for Columbia. But in a cost savings move the team has decided to shop current punter Blair to lower the teams cap. Burks does have a bigger upside then Blair and he should help the team out big time.

[iceman99]

With the 24th pick in the 4th round (120 overall) - The Columbia Fire Select

RB - Louie Patton - Buffalo



Patton was a running back in Buffalo but has already been informed that he will likely be changing positions for the Fire. There are rumors projecting him as a possible WR or TE depending on how camp goes. TE seems like a more logic location for him as its a bigger need for the Fire.

[iceman99]

With the 8th pick in the 5th round (136 overall) - The Columbia Fire Select

K - Alec Blevins - Tennessee



Blevins again was not a need pick for the Fire. But this move does help the team move Boling if needed to free more space. Blevins will likely split time with Boling if the team can not move him. Expect Blevins to handle kickoff duties...

[iceman99]

With the 12th pick in the 6th round (172 overall) - The Columbia Fire Select

QB - Burt Marsh - Cal Northridge



Marsh joins a team that is coming off a successful season at the QB position. Peyton Blue in his first season as a starter played outstanding, but is also in a contract year and the team is not sure if they are ready to go all in with Blue after one season. So with that lingering issue the Fire bring Marsh in to see if he can be the QB of the future.

[iceman99]

With the 2nd pick in the 7th round (194 overall) - The Columbia Fire Select

ILB - Fredrick Latreille - Notre Dame



Latreille will slide into a reserve roll at the ILB behind a very solid group of starters. Fredrick was a big hitter in college and solid against the run which is something that is KEY in the Fire's defensive scheme.

[iceman99]

With the 11th pick in the 7th round (203 overall) - The Columbia Fire Select

DE - Oliver Coleman - Notre Dame



Coleman joins a team that is aging at the DE position and he could make a splash this season in a reserve roll. Coleman joins fellow teammate Latreille and both hope that the late round selections give them the chance to excel at the next level.

[iceman99]

With the 24th pick in the 7th round (216 overall) - The Columbia Fire Select

T - Dave Garrison - North Carolina



Garrison is joining a very talented and very deep offensive line. He will have to really blow coaches away to secure a roster spot this season. The team does need OT depth so that could work in his favor.