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Following GM's Pip Walton's sabbatical from the game, the Raleigh Armada have had a busy few weeks in the current free agency window. The roster, with the lack of key investment and a real dearth of talent in all positions has been revitalised with the largest investment in veteran talent brought into the franchise in the current era.. The front office are delighted to have brought in several, what they are hoping will be key veteran talent that will come into the building and hopefully make an immediate impact on the players they find and inspire the bedraggled fan base into renewing their season tickets, numbers have waned over the past few seasons and hopefully these moves will be the catalyst for a new start here in North Carolina for all the stakeholders involved in the franchise.
The first major move materialised in week four as the franchise moved to take the experienced nose tackle Randal Fargas, Fargas as normal rolled into Raleigh quickly established himself as the culture changer, line leader and vocal inspiration The position has been problematic in the past but despite his age the franchise hope to get another 2/3 years of production out of the once undrafted rookie.
Tackle Willie Brehm was brought in in week 5. Brehm already has had quite a nomadic existence during his pro career, The Armada love his intelligence and hope he'll be a regular starter in the trenches in the coming seasons.
Next man up was big hitting cornerback Hunter Long, the former first round pick again has struggled for a regular start, but is hoping for a reboot with the Armada and will compete with a very young talented secondary put in place over free agency.
Weeks 7/8 saw the biggest player investment for a generation, a further six players have entered into the locker room. Several weeks ago the position meetings were short handed and there was a real air of decay in the building and an awful malaise hung over the remaining players and coaches. Centre Jamal Hardee another intelligent lineman will become the immediate starter, solidifying the new look offensive line.
Shane Quezada is the big money signing and will return into the SILB slot, really boosting a position that has been undermanned and honestly was underwhelming talent wise. A veteran of 122 games Quezada will be a vital cog in stopping the run for the franchise. Dexter Campbell is also added into the linebacker corp. Christian Beaston will move from DT to DE the position he made his own for Air Force back in college.
Finally, another former first round pick rounds up the current batch of newcomers, as Branden Compton joins the Armada. Compton completes the cornerback corp. and is already looking forward to the challenge of re-establishing himself as a starter in the IFL.
For all the newcomers, waifs and strays, its a new start in Raleigh, a new challenge a new dawn.
The first major move materialised in week four as the franchise moved to take the experienced nose tackle Randal Fargas, Fargas as normal rolled into Raleigh quickly established himself as the culture changer, line leader and vocal inspiration The position has been problematic in the past but despite his age the franchise hope to get another 2/3 years of production out of the once undrafted rookie.
Tackle Willie Brehm was brought in in week 5. Brehm already has had quite a nomadic existence during his pro career, The Armada love his intelligence and hope he'll be a regular starter in the trenches in the coming seasons.
Next man up was big hitting cornerback Hunter Long, the former first round pick again has struggled for a regular start, but is hoping for a reboot with the Armada and will compete with a very young talented secondary put in place over free agency.
Weeks 7/8 saw the biggest player investment for a generation, a further six players have entered into the locker room. Several weeks ago the position meetings were short handed and there was a real air of decay in the building and an awful malaise hung over the remaining players and coaches. Centre Jamal Hardee another intelligent lineman will become the immediate starter, solidifying the new look offensive line.
Shane Quezada is the big money signing and will return into the SILB slot, really boosting a position that has been undermanned and honestly was underwhelming talent wise. A veteran of 122 games Quezada will be a vital cog in stopping the run for the franchise. Dexter Campbell is also added into the linebacker corp. Christian Beaston will move from DT to DE the position he made his own for Air Force back in college.
Finally, another former first round pick rounds up the current batch of newcomers, as Branden Compton joins the Armada. Compton completes the cornerback corp. and is already looking forward to the challenge of re-establishing himself as a starter in the IFL.
For all the newcomers, waifs and strays, its a new start in Raleigh, a new challenge a new dawn.