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Draft/Training Camp
Unprecedented in draft history, the GM for Murfreesboro was relegated to the back of the draft room prior to the team's pick in the 7th round, and the new GM (previously a consultant brought in by the team) and scouts made the last pick of the team's 2050 draft, Jordan Hawkins C, New Mexico State.
Channeling his inner Al Davis the prior GM, ignored the draft board put together by the team's scouts and picked kicker Ricky Shepherd with the 22nd pick of the first round, with only the 6th and 7th rounds of the IFL draft seeing a kicker selected again. Odds are Shepherd could have been had later in the draft, and was bewildering to all in the draft room.
The rest of the picks up until the 7th round were....uninspiring to say the least, and scouts indicated that the previous GM eschewed analytics, for good ole football tape, and it shows how the college game, in his eyes, were disconnected from the pro game. Scary to say, the team has 6 rookies who came into Training Camp already on the hot seat.
The promise for the team lies more in the 7th round, undrafted rookies, and Shepherd, who looks like he will be reliable, although nothing like a foundational block (if a kicker can ever be called one).
The team traded away stars Angel McCollom NT and Howie Harris FL, given the cap constraints the team was burdened with ($88m in Lost Cap Room). The hope is to rebuild the cupboard of talent for the Mules on cheaper contracts. Disappointing Defensive End Bryce Hill was shifted to DT to replace McCollom, and the WR core will simply have to make due with less talent for the time being as there were no fiscally realistic alternatives.
2050 prognosis
The team will have to take it's lumps, get accustomed to tweaks in the game plan, roster personnel, and a void of upper tier talent. The strengths (if you could call them that) lie in the offensive and defensive lines. Second year standout tackle Kurt Money was shifted from the right side to left to protect Barker's blind side, although he does not project to be as much as a stalwart on the left hand side, but fits a hugely glaring need.
The team expects to take it's bruising this year and determine who projects to be on the long term agenda for the team. The WR core, LB core, and secondary all project in the very bottom tier of the league so the coaching staff has their work cut out for them.
The Mules gutted out a Week 1 victory over Miami 31-10 through protecting the football and a RB by committee approach. The team still remains at the very bottom of the IFL's Power rankings and faces a much tougher test against Boston in Week 2.
Unprecedented in draft history, the GM for Murfreesboro was relegated to the back of the draft room prior to the team's pick in the 7th round, and the new GM (previously a consultant brought in by the team) and scouts made the last pick of the team's 2050 draft, Jordan Hawkins C, New Mexico State.
Channeling his inner Al Davis the prior GM, ignored the draft board put together by the team's scouts and picked kicker Ricky Shepherd with the 22nd pick of the first round, with only the 6th and 7th rounds of the IFL draft seeing a kicker selected again. Odds are Shepherd could have been had later in the draft, and was bewildering to all in the draft room.
The rest of the picks up until the 7th round were....uninspiring to say the least, and scouts indicated that the previous GM eschewed analytics, for good ole football tape, and it shows how the college game, in his eyes, were disconnected from the pro game. Scary to say, the team has 6 rookies who came into Training Camp already on the hot seat.
The promise for the team lies more in the 7th round, undrafted rookies, and Shepherd, who looks like he will be reliable, although nothing like a foundational block (if a kicker can ever be called one).
The team traded away stars Angel McCollom NT and Howie Harris FL, given the cap constraints the team was burdened with ($88m in Lost Cap Room). The hope is to rebuild the cupboard of talent for the Mules on cheaper contracts. Disappointing Defensive End Bryce Hill was shifted to DT to replace McCollom, and the WR core will simply have to make due with less talent for the time being as there were no fiscally realistic alternatives.
2050 prognosis
The team will have to take it's lumps, get accustomed to tweaks in the game plan, roster personnel, and a void of upper tier talent. The strengths (if you could call them that) lie in the offensive and defensive lines. Second year standout tackle Kurt Money was shifted from the right side to left to protect Barker's blind side, although he does not project to be as much as a stalwart on the left hand side, but fits a hugely glaring need.
The team expects to take it's bruising this year and determine who projects to be on the long term agenda for the team. The WR core, LB core, and secondary all project in the very bottom tier of the league so the coaching staff has their work cut out for them.
The Mules gutted out a Week 1 victory over Miami 31-10 through protecting the football and a RB by committee approach. The team still remains at the very bottom of the IFL's Power rankings and faces a much tougher test against Boston in Week 2.