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Teams sent out by PM
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Ho Ho Ho, count me in. I love this kinda stuff, and have been slacking on my "best goofy rookie names" list for a few seasons. Thanks for this!Owner since 2034
League's Worst Record: 2036, 2045, 2046
2057, 2061 IFL Champions
2060 - Undefeated regular season, then lost in 1st playoff game
Two QBs drafted #1 overall, then traded to others who made them into stars
Featured on Sweat Socks, 2056 and 2061 Editions (tm)
2045 Legend of the Game inductee Jay Keith (started 10 games for us)
Hall of Fame Inductees: WR Randy Fife (2048), TE Luis "Bundt Cake" Bunting (2060)Comment
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Sure thing and sorry. Hectic days are the days we all live
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TEAM REVIEW ONE: VANCOUVER KILLER WHALES
Staff Changes- Fired Erick May at AC
- Hired Brett Drake at AC
- Everything else stayed the same
- Both OC and DC spent whole careers at Vancouver
- HC going into 14th season at the helm, having made 5 bowls and won 3 of them. Most recent being 2068.
Last Season Re-Cap- Finished the regular season at 15-1, with +243 pt diff.
- Bested Calgary in the divisional playoffs and lost a close game against San Antonio by 2pts.
- Kelvin Jordan ran the offense to the tune of Av/A 8.43 (career high and 3rd season in a row > 8yds/a - all as fulltime starter), 44/9 TD/INT, 116.3 QBR
- Theodore Fisher lead the team in rushing with 2036 yds at 4.14 yp/c
- Former no3 pick Hasken lead the team in receiving yards 1384yds at 8.7 y/t
- Most potent RZ offense in the league (6.1 Pt/Vis, +0.5 above 2nd place)
Retirees- No significant losses to retirements.
Rookie class additions- 1.17 = RDE Fulcher - 46/82, potential to be elite against the run, great against the pass and contribute on special teams, an all around stud and mainstay on the DL if he stays healthy.
- 2.30 = LT Josiah Bryant - An intelligent run blocking left tackle who joins a strong group already, he will be understudy to Darnell Shields, the established LT.
- 2.31 = WR Mickey Beitner - potentially elite getting downfield and a route running bar in the 80's, can also play a role on third down at times, a valuable contributor to offset the main man Hasken.
- 3.30 = TE Rico Guthrie - this is a great pick, that's really all there is to say. A 63 future TE who has potential for 96 avoid drops, 100 getting downfield, route running >65, 3rd down catching of 85, BPR of 87 and courage, adjust to ball and endurance all over 60. This is great value and this guy will be a valuable contributor if fed enough targets, great pick Rylan (damn you!).
- 4.11 = WR Logan Macaro - again, another valuable contributor here, good size at 6"2 and a GD/RR profile of 84/70, with some courage (66) to boot, this guy will be a problem for opposition teams when the ball heads his way.
- 4.30 = Terrence Maumau - An absolute monster at 6"7 272lbs, better clear the lane when he's running downhill at full speed. A more modest profile in comparison to the TE taken earlier but with a GD/RR profile of 64/72 he will be another lethal option, look out for him in the red zone.
- 4.32 = RB Kelly Klingensmith - Nothing to report here, a no combine RB who's already been cut.
- Overall verdict - great draft, some valuable additions at key skill positions and a stud at DE, nice work Bylanta.
Notable FA Additions- Two join from McAllen, WLB Mo Chapman, who is a capable WLB with excellent special teams and Korey Schwartz who was the no2 overall pick 8 seasons ago and high quality starting receiver who can play every down.
Offense
It's hard to see anything other than ruthless efficiency and point scoring from this offense for all the reasons mentioned above and more. They return a QB and RB duo who performed well last year and have strengthened their receiver room for both TE and WR with rookies and veterans who are able to contribute when called upon.
An offensive line that boasts two >70 players at key spots (C, LT) should be good for running or passing the ball. They've been good for 500pts each of the last two seasons and I am confident they will be able to surpass that landmark once more.
Defense
Their defense hasn't allowed >300 pts in 3 seasons and I can see the same happening here - their offense helps with ball control and clock management. Their 1st round rookie should help in generating some pass rush on the reps he's given. Returning all starters in the secondary save for Alejandro Price who has packed his bags for Tijuana this group has good consistency and looks set to continue to be a difficult unit to get the better of for passing offenses.
Summary
I can see this team quite easily amassing 14 wins and going deep into the playoffs, there is a culture of winning and a GM behind that who knows what it takes to build successful teams - they are for sure the team to beat in their division and always one of the top teams in the conference, expect this upcoming season to be no different.
Conclusion
With that Gentlemen, I give you your 2070 Vancouver Killer Whales.
Hey Alexa, play The Imperial March.Comment
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Indeed. I would go so far as to say if they don't win the bowl it's a disappointing season
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TEAM REVIEW TWO: CALGARY STAMPEDERS
2069 Recap
Overall record: 11-5 (2nd in the NC West)
Rushing Offense: 132.0 ypg (10th)
Passing Offense: 256.3 ypg (11th)
Points Scored: 27.1 (7th)
Rushing Defense: 118.6 ypg (23rd)
Passing Defense: 246.9 ypg (18th)
Points Allowed: 24.0 (22nd)
Key Players
Offense
QB Marsh Luis (3123 yds, 27 TD, 8 INT)
RB Harris Goss (1543 yds, 7 TD)
WR Raul Garrod (80 rec, 910 yds 8 TD)
Defense
DE Johnny Peelle (13.5 sacks, 13% pass rush)
S Edwin Ivy (4 INT, 83.7% pass defense)
Stats That Told the Story
No surprise to Calgary fans this offense is built behind an impressive offensive line, boasting the 3rd best key run block percentage in the league (41.5%) and 5th best at allowing pressure on their QB (18.5%)
On Defense the Stampeders had some trouble in pass coverage highlighted by allowing the 5th best QBR (88.9) to opposing quarterbacks and were 2nd worst in the league at forcing turnovers (16).
2069 Postmortem
The Stampeders began the 2069 season with an impressive start, winning six of their first eight games heading into their bye week. During this stretch, Calgary fans witnessed the full potential of their well-rounded team: an offensive explosion against Colorado, a masterful 4th-quarter comeback led by Luis Marsh to edge out Houston, and a heartbreaking special teams collapse in the final seconds against Georgia. These moments were followed by back-to-back dominating victories over Dakota and Madison and a business-as-usual win against Pittsburgh. The lone blemish on their strong start was a resounding defeat at the hands of their hated division rivals, Vancouver—a team so dominant that Calgary fans have dubbed them "The Empire," with their own team cast as "The Rebellion."
The second half of the season began with the Stampeders rattling off four consecutive wins. However, their momentum came to a screeching halt in Week 13 when star QB Luis Marsh suffered a knee injury, sidelining him for the remainder of the regular season. Without Marsh, Calgary struggled to maintain their footing, managing just one win in their final five games. Yet, in true underdog fashion, the Rebellion rallied when Vancouver came to town, delivering a stunning 44-14 rout of The Empire behind backup QB Blackburn.
Heading into the playoffs for the second straight year, the Stampeders appeared destined for another showdown with Vancouver. After a hard-fought 23-17 victory over Boston in the wildcard round, anticipation grew for a rematch with the Killer Whales. Could Calgary avenge last season’s playoff exit? Would they recapture the magic of their dominating regular-season win over Vancouver?
The answers, unfortunately, were no. Vancouver once again demonstrated why they are known as "The Empire," eliminating Calgary from the playoffs for the third time in five years and solidifying their dominance over the Stampeders.
2070 Offseason
Coaching Changes
None. Calgary has maintained remarkable stability, with no major coaching changes in nearly a decade.
Veteran Losses
No significant losses here—just a few retirements among depth defensive linemen, including DE Carlisle and DE Kingsley.
Veteran Additions
Calgary was relatively quiet during the free agency cycle, with no notable signings to report.
2070 Draft
1.28 WR Brian Stewart
2.27 DE Darryl Ogden
3.26 LB Enrique Keith
4.3 DB Nicholas Perry
4.28 DT Levi Gimmarro
5.27 DB Eduardo Palagonia
6.26 LB Dominique Rivers
7.28 DB Vince Rose
Calgary opened the draft with a strong move, selecting WR Brian Stewart, a much-needed addition for their franchise quarterback. Stewart steps into a receiving corps that has room for improvement. While the rookie out of Virginia needs to refine his route running, he’s expected to benefit from the mentorship of Foley and Garcia. Stewart has a knack for clutch catches on third down and isn’t afraid to work the middle of the field. Although he lacks the explosiveness to stretch defenses vertically, his elusiveness on short routes makes him a valuable asset. His skill set complements last year’s receiver addition, Howe, exceptionally well—a solid first-round pick for Calgary.
In the second round, Calgary addressed their pass rush by drafting DE Darryl Ogden. He adds crucial depth to the edge rotation opposite Johnny Peelle. Ogden projects as a reliable rotational player, giving snaps off to the often-fatigued Alexis Gaines, and his ceiling mirrors Gaines’s potential as a key situational contributor.
The fourth round featured DB Nicholas Perry, a bump-and-run specialist out of Kansas. Known for his strong special teams play, Perry is poised to make an immediate impact, especially if the Stampeders focus on disrupting opposing wide receivers at the line of scrimmage.
The later rounds were focused on defensive depth and special teams. One standout is DB Vince Rose, a rookie defensive back from Virginia, who could eventually develop into a dependable nickel corner or rotational safety.
2070 Season Outlook
Heading into the 2070 season, Calgary fans are optimistic about a third straight playoff berth. The Stampeders face a tough opening stretch with four consecutive road games, starting with a season opener at Vancouver. However, this team is built to handle adversity. Powered by a dominant offensive line and breakout sophomore RB Harris Goss, Calgary will continue to lean on its hard-nosed, run-first identity.
Don’t mistake this offense for being one-dimensional, though. With one of the league’s best young quarterbacks in Luis Marsh and a receiving corps that’s beginning to gel, Calgary has the potential to keep defenses guessing. Teams will likely load the box to stop the run, but Marsh’s arm and ability to spread the ball to young receivers and veteran TE Alexis Hanson make this offense a balanced threat. If they can successfully utilize their weapons, the Stampeders could become one of the league’s most formidable units.
While the offense is championship-caliber, the real question lies with the defense. Calgary sought to address secondary concerns in the draft, though rookies will likely need time to develop. For now, veterans Roger O’Brien, Aiden Dunn, and Alfred Nykolaiszyn will anchor the cornerback positions, while rookie FS Nicholas Perry could see limited action, particularly in press coverage situations. Safeties Braden England and Edwin Ivy—coming off a career-best season at age 33—bring experience and reliability.
Much of the defense’s success hinges on future Hall of Famer Johnny Peelle. If Peelle can stay healthy and return to his dominant form—he was on pace for 19 sacks before his Week 11 injury—it will alleviate pressure on the secondary and help Calgary hold its own against elite teams.
Ultimately, while the secondary remains a question mark, this team’s strong foundation on offense and its pass rush gives them a shot to contend. Assuming key players like Marsh and Peelle stay healthy, Calgary appears destined for another postseason showdown with their archrival, Vancouver. And as they say, “any given Sunday.”
Projected Record: 11-5- @ Vancouver: L
- @ Las Vegas: W
- @ Kansas City: W
- @ McAllen: W
- vs Colorado: W
- vs San Antonio: L
- BYE
- vs Vancouver: W
- @ Tijuana: L
- vs Georgia: L
- @ Salt Lake: W
- @ Portland: W
- vs Horsetooth: L
- vs Los Angeles: W
- vs Salt Lake: W
- vs Alaska: W
- @ Colorado: W
And finally, overcoming Vancouver in the playoffs.Comment
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TEAM REVIEW THREE : TIJUANA TEQUILA WORMS
GM: joe (he who wanders)
Roster and coaching:
An experienced HC leads a coaching team which has recently brought some young talent into the fold.- Frank Norton is one of the best HC in the league. His 16 year career includes two bowl wins and an overall record of 1730 - 86 - 2.
- Neal Russell is a balanced style OC with 9y experience - all at TIJ. An interesting choice for a pretty heavy passing team.
- Bennett Miailovich is a 43 over DC going into his second year
- Jerome Douglas - y2 at AC
- Hector Carlisle - y2 at SC
Tijuana lost several vets who played significant snaps last season.- SS Herman Au - the prototype pocket battleship safety, potential HOF candidate and all time league leader in PR yards. Three rings cap off an amazing career.
- LG Keegan Zolnoski - spent most of his career at MUR and SLC but was a starter at TIJ last year
- LDE Kenny Gilmore - rotational pass rusher
- CB Irving Sinclair - influential defensive back
- Al Jones, 30yo FL from Orlando. Impressive athlete who will offer TIJ a very significant deep threat.
- Alejandro Price, 29yo DB from Vancouver. Experienced zone coverage DB and ST player.
- Isaac Curtis, 27yo rotational pass rusher.
- Riddick Calvert, 28yo QB who was the starter at MCA but will be a backup here barring disasters.
- Trevor Hoffman, 33yo vet starting quality SS.
- 1.15 DE Al Lyons (55/71) - should develop into a top 10 quality DE for a 43 defense and good all-round set of skills and athleticism. A very solid addition.
- 2.16 S Doug Wilcox (28/55) - potentially a starting caliber safety but disappointing TC. A bit of a ball hawk and a good run defender who will need to improve in coverage to lock down a starting berth over the long term.
- 4.16 DT Weston Cambell (28/61) - A promising inside def. front player.
- 5.15 Marvin Johanningmeier TE (31/54) - A very promising TE who should develop into a significant threat in the receiving game.
- 6.16 Keegan Walsh RB (26/33) - good sized RB who may find themselves on the roster bubble.
- 7.3 Troy Kelly FS (23/38) - smart DB with good size but will need to develop capabilities in coverage to stay on the team.
- 7.17 Josh Vance SE (29/38) - speedster and likely important ST contributor.
Roster strengths:- QB! The ninth year Bergman (81/81) was the target of a HUGE trade up when Tijuana took him first overall in the 2062 draft and is currently rated the no.2 QB in the IFL. He is a QB who can potentially take TIJ to a bowl in any season.
- The defensive front looks nasty on its day, but may be one or two years out from its prime.
- Special Teams. A superb long snapper (if you care about such things) and a kicker drafted in the second round (!) although only the 4th highest all time highest drafted kicker. Punter is also good.
- One of the youngest rosters at 26.6 average age. Counted as a strength as it suggests an upward trajectory.
- A young o-line will most likely need time to gel.
- The receiver group is decent but doesn’t look to have a lot of YAC ability and is a bit one dimensional (for my tastes), especially considering how much Tijuana likes to pass.
- Cohesion in general.
Tijuana’s 2069 record of 7-8-1 saw them ‘earn’ their first losing season since 2055. Their division contains two other powerhouse teams riding high in recent times in Georgia and San Antonio, but their in-division record of 3-3 was respectable, and their struggles came primarily early season at home with a couple of ugly losses, and then a very nasty double header on the road against Vancouver and West Virginia where their defense shipped over 100 points. But this is a team who are used to being among the cream of the NC, and two results in isolation probably don’t tell us much about the real capabilities of this team. Tijuana are not used to having down seasons, but on the rare occasions where this does happen(by their own very high standards) the Points For tends to drop off a lot, and this was certainly the case in 2069. Furthermore, 3rd down conversion was only league average and a red flag for a team of Tijuana’s style. Compounding these offense issues was the red zone efficiency which also declined to the bottom half of the league in an area where Tijuana has traditionally been strong.
TIJ favor a fairly heavy passing style (c.70%) and the offense was led last year by TE Alfred Chapman (1086 yds, 8 TD, 59 1st dn) and WR Irv Hayes (892 yards, 8TD, 46 1st dn). They like to use a FB in the passing game, but the RBs get little use compared to many teams in the IFL. Not a lot has changed here, so Tijuana will probably be hoping that Al Jones can give them a 3rd receiver getting close to 1000 yards and an uptick in points scoring.
Off. line play was respectable and they provided decent protection for QB Bergman, who is by far their most important player.
Tijuana experienced problems defending the pass in 2069 where opposing QBs tended to feast on game day, although their run defense was pretty strong. They also had a huge issue with the league second worst -20 TOs differential. Incredibly this was still 20 better than the league worst -40 (LAS)! I expect them to improve in this area, but maybe only to league average.
Overall it seems like there is a rebuild going on at TIJ and I cap their season at 10 wins, more likely 9. The FA acquisitions in particular show that they are serious about improving quickly, however, and with a very talented GM at the helm it is hard to see them having a second losing season.
Prediction. 9-7 (2nd in the division and misses the playoffs - just!)
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TEAM REVIEW FOUR: SAN ANTONIO STORM
(GM: SweenDawg72
2069 Review::
The Storm reside in a window of title contention for a decade, and 2069 marked a notably smooth transition. Young QB Rod Sutter performed admirably in his first year starting, posting a solid 92.6 rating and a team record of 12-4. The Storm showed a very impressive postseason run, coming up short in the Bowl against the powerhouse West Virginia Beasts. The Storm are poised to remain in the championship mix for the foreseeable future, with a balanced roster that can produce at elite levels on the ground, in the air and on both sides of the ball.
Coaching Staff Update
San Antonio extended the tenure of wildly successful head coach Bucky Irwin, while also re-signing offensive coordinator Freddie Morant. The only adjustment to the staff was bringing in assistant coach, Caden Shelton at age 37.
Veteran Losses:
Perhaps the most notable loss in the entire league, San Antonio and IFL legend WR Nickolas Matunda retired after a stellar and often awe-inspiring career. He deserves his own mention, and fans may most fondly remember his 1967-yard 3rd season, when it became clear he would be a giant in the league. He leaves the team with years of success, a bowl ring, 3 all-1st team honors (and a 2nd team nod as well), and leaves the IFL as #1 all-time in receptions.
CB Devonte Cromwell retired at 32 after several years as a depth piece for the SAO secondary
LT Jeff Brooks left for Horsetooth after 11 years of productive play, and his void has been much discussed locally in the offseason (free agency)
LS Emmanuel Derosa was ‘snapped’ up by Pittsburgh (free agency)
The loss of Matunda is no small thing, and Jeff Brooks’ departure leaves a need at LT. Other losses appear fairly marginal.
Veteran Additions:
RT Marshall Ingram signed for 3 years to take over starting RT at age 28 (47ovr)
ILB Denzell Bucker signed a 3-year deal (50 ovr)
RT Giovanni Brownlee signed a 3-year deal to solidy oline depth (42 ovr)
TE Gerlad Hopkinson was a nice addition (3yrs) as a pass-catching threat
TE Emmitt Norris signed an affordable 4-year deal as another pass catching TE to solidy the receiving room
LS Michael Marsden was signed to take over as a 2nd year pro
DT Jackson Harris signed a cheap, 3 year deal at age 32 as a nice run stopping roleplay who can play special teams
SAO took a prudent approach to filling out their roster with reasonable contracts. The biggest impact is likely to be felt by RT Ingram who slots in nicely to a potent running game. A number of solid roleplayers will fill out a well-balanced roster.
Rookie Additions:
1.31 WR Sammie Hancock (16% developed, 25/48 and lacking explosive metrics, his future RR looks very impressive and he projects to a reliable target for years)
3.31 QB Paul Wimberly (16/46, looks quite promising as a prospect and could compete with starter Rod Sutter once developed)
4.31 TE Willie Barlow (35, he appears to be an solid receiving option with some room to grow at 72% developed. Could play a big part in TE by committee that doesn’t lack for pass catchers)
5.31 S Donovan Bridges (32/48, a very good run defender, there are concerns about him long term in coverage, but he could be used in bump situations and run downs)
6.31 ILB Tony Emerson (23/44 he has a lot for a late round pick, undersized but possessing good run d, passable coverage skills and talent as a blitzer with 85 PRT potential)
7.31 OLB Damien Rice (21/38, looks like a depth LB who will struggle in coverage but hey, it’s 7.31
While not an overly flashy draft, this year’s class looks to keep continuity on the efficient passing game in San Antonio, with two picks that could play key roles at two impact positions (QB, WR). They can find use for a few late round picks, which is a win late in any draft.
Offense:
This has been a balanced, productive offense for several years and despite the loss of the behemoth Matunda, there’s plenty of talent to get the ball to, starting with bonified WR1, Derrick Holecek. There are enough targets to really spread around and punish teams who just want to double Holecek.
On the ground, the o-line is a dominant force, and three incredibly smart, efficient RBs are poised to march to a top-5 run game yet again.
One big concern from the outside is the LT position, without a pure LT on the roster. Still, we expect another year of production from this group, with a tough ground game and timely, efficient passing.
Defense:
As a 3-4 novice, I may struggle to evaluate the Storm defense here, but the results speak for themselves/ They’ve been a unit that can hang with most anyone, finishing top 5 as a team in key categories (running yards, running avg, ypa passing, pass d percent).
In terms of personnel, no one stands out as a superstar on this defense. That said, there are very few weak points. Depth at defensive line and secondary are a boon. So many players are just solid at their particular job, and as a result they play greater than the sum of the parts.
Summary:
I came in not knowing San Antonio beyond their presence in the NC playoff picture as a constant. It sure looks like the organizational philosophy is one of having quality roster balance and depth on both sides of the ball. With a few exceptions (generational, 90 ovr C Barry Peterson, WR Holecek) this is not a team loaded with star players.
But this is a team loaded with what I would call “economical” players, who have the bars that matter most (hole rec RBs, for example). It is evident that SAO knows the types of players they like, and finds them on affordable free agent deals and in mid round picks with success. Coupled with effective gameplanning, it’s no surprise that they routinely post double digit wins and flirt with a title most years (or winning it in 2067).
Prediction:
Looking over the recent success and the changes in San Antonio, it’s hard to argue they won’t be back to contend in a very competitive and deep AC. I’m going to go with a repeat 12-4 record, taking the AC South and the #2 seed. Going with the random law of playoff chaos, I’ll predict a divisional win but a tough, close loss in the conference championship . Fans should be excited for another year of top level team football and a realistic shot to avenge their Bowl loss and sit atop the IFL once again.Comment
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TEAM REVIEW FIVE: LAS VEGAS HOOKERS
GM: Sabean
2069 Record: 11-5, 1st place in the AFC West
Offense
QB Trey Cook had a good year last season, throwing for 3400+ yards on 65% passing. His timing issues rear their ugly head sometimes, and I wonder how he’ll rebound from that abysmal showing the divisional playoff, but I think Vegas can build an attack around him… I scratched my head when the coaching staff ran those dig routes to Stanley Collins; he turtles every time he goes over the middle. I would think Rich Taylor would get those targets now; he’s immediately their best receiver now… Free agent pickup RB Demetrius Lovelace should fit right in. Vegas had success last year running their vaunted power sweep to the left, and Lovelace has the speed to get outside… Guard Cris Banks was a good pickup for them. He brings a wining culture over from Tijuana. Maybe some of that will rub off on the others…
Defense
Carl Bobro is stud DE, and if new addition Larry Ward lives up to his potential? Look out… The middle of the line is solid if unspectacular. But they seem to like each other, and you can’t teach chemistry… The linebacking unit is still good. I’d trade backup MLB Zachary Tatum. He had a bad habit of overrunning the play in college, and preseason has been no different… The corners are versatile, but safety is the weak point on defense. Everyone knew that putting the ball in the air was the way to beat Vegas last year. Now they’re starting a rookie at SS? Bauer has the potential to be great, but he’s at least a year away…
Conclusion:
This team should cruise to another playoff berth. I’ll put them at 12-4. If their pass rush can take the heat off of their secondary, they could make the bowl again.
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Awesome contributions so far, guys - keep 'em coming!Comment
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TEAM REVIEW SIX: ALASKA POLAR BEARS
2069 Recap
The Polar Bears finished the 2069 season in third place in the AC West with a 7-9 record.
7th in Run Offense
28th in Pass Offense
16th in Run Defense
20th in Pass Defense
The Polar Bears did a good job of keeping their opponents out of the redzone but struggled to stop them in the Redzone, they were the worst team in the league with 5.5 points per visit. The Defense did a great job of forcing turnovers as they were 6th in the league with a +9 Margin. On offense they were one of the better running teams in the league but did not have a running back with over 1000 yards rushing as it was a running back by committee.
2070 Offseason News
The offseason started with some big changes in the coaching staff. Rodney Makowski was fired as the Polar Bears Head Coach and they hired former Boston HC Graham Maloney, he will provide great discipline to a very intelligent group of players and will be invaluable at identify great young talent during the draft. The big staff changes did not end there as newly acquired Maloney brought in his own staff, there were new arrivals at both coordinator positions as Norman Reinhart comes in as not only the teams new OC but also his first coordinator role. He has very little experience as a play caller but like his head coach has a good eye for talent. At the DC position they hired another first year DC in Leonard Levenson who looks like a heck of a play caller and also someone that has a keen eye for scouting.
While there were some players that left during the offseason, there were none of any significance.
Key Free Agent Signing
RB Russell Graham - 6th Year - 73/73
The Polar Bears made a big splash with this addition. They signed him to a 4 year $114m contract. This is a key addition for the Polar Bears who love to run the ball and now with a back like Graham with a 90 Hole rec bar this is a scary proposition for the rest of the not only AC West but the Conference in general.
2070 Draft
1.10 - RG Alec Stenerud - 35/64
2.5 - LG Kevin Ellard - 48/71
2.14 - FB Marquis Cassidy - 46/69
3.13 - C Abraham Ussery - 40/59
3.27 - TE Rob Ameche - 38/47
4.12 - DT Tracy Crum - 37/64
5.11 - LG Ivan Chandler - 27/52
6.10 - RB Edgar Akers - 24/41
7.14 - TE Howard Shrawder - 21/39
GM Mellman absolutely nailed this draft, I see 6 potential starters here and even those that won't start, have skills that will help this team. The Offensive Line was clearly a priority here for the Polar Bears and they delivered with 2 studs and 2 other solid linemen.
2070 Season Preview
Offense
This team is built around its offensive line and running the ball. With its big Free Agent addition at Running Back with Graham and some great talent at the OLine position during the draft this already strong running team will be even stronger this coming season. They have three Running backs with the ability to find the hole and an offensive line that will have no problem creating those holes. This will be a powerful and explosive rushing attack. On the passing side of the game, the Polar Bears just need the Quarterback to take care of the ball.
Defense
There is a lot of talent on the Defensive side of the ball. If this unit can perform to its ratings this team could be a real threat in the AC Conference this season. This team has the ability to get after the Quarterback and last year was a down year for them in regards to sacks but I see them getting back to being one of the top pass rush teams in 2070. With Corners, Newsome, Boone & Blackwell being great in coverage they will be difficult to pass the ball on, especially if the pass rush is back to what it has been in the past. They won't be easy to run against either with a stud MLB Lary and rookie addition DT Crum, this team will be tough to run against and teams will try running the ball more to the outside against them.
2070 Prediction
This team might be one or two more years away, once the young talent matures this team will be a contender for years to come. I see them making strides this season in a tough division and might get a Wild Card this year. I predict a 10-6 record this season.Comment
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TEAM REVIEW SEVEN: KANSAS CITY OWLS
30 Seasons, 2039 - That’s how long it’s been since KC has been to the playoffs and every Owls fan knows it.
60 Seasons, 2010 - That’s when the Owls won the League Championship, and most of the fans that saw the game live, are long gone in their graves,
RECAP
2069- a year of promise and hope was almost shattered in the early season, 5 straight losses had the hardcore fans that came out to the stadium with bags over their heads, “Sell the team” chants and a rumor of a move to Toronto was gaining traction, Ownership was furious, The fans were furious,
But the team never game up.
Week 4- 69’ brought hope, Then 4th year Quarterback JR Gardner ( 1.22- 2066 ) had an amazing game snatched away from him and the team , and in Week 6 the team willed itself to a win vs Tijuana.
The team reeled off 5 straight wins before a 2 game hiccup, and then had 3 more consecutive wins- and was in a situation of - Win and You’re in - and would have gone to the Playoffs, before running into a brick wall in Texas, ending the miraculous comeback of a season.
The end of 2069 bred hope and life back into the fanbase and team , only to have the ball pulled from them like Lucy does to Charlie Brown.
2070-
Jeffrey Carpenter was extended as Head Coach and brought back his entire staff on extensions, Ownership and fans seems to have faith in the promise in letting the staff build this teams culture into a winning, positive one.
The Draft -
1.14 Eli Fulcher – DE - released, and assigned to VAN ( League Interaction- traded )
1.30 Corwin Hanks – S
2. Desmond Spearman – WR
3. Pedro Schneider- FB
4. Shawn Downs- P
5. Josiah Roseman – G
6. Gene Schanne – RB – released PS3
7. Xavier Rombach LB- released PS 3
Key Releases – It seems like house cleaning and cap issues had KC separating ways with a few veteran players, most notable were;
10th yr RB Chris Small, 11th yr C Shannon Pegram, P Jackie Schultz , 8th yr S Chance Kaplan , and 9th yr WR Sebastian Borders.
Key Additions - The Owls didn’t go big game hunting in FA, they instead chose to renegotiate and resign some key players to long term contracts that were team friendly for this season.
Marlon Grey- S ( ORL )- *Will Play CB for KC , BJ Ragan – S ( IWC ) , and Sergio Martin - G ( LON ),
Season Preview -
Offense
The Owls have a Quarterback, and if he continues his development, J.R. Gardner could be one of the best in the IFL , he can distribute the ball well, and if he does not play ‘hero ball’ and does not force it in, or wait too long for plays to develop, but he needs help from the skill players and his line,
The RB Room is a journeyman, “by Committee” approach, as they have no bell cow, the TE’s are solid but nondescript, the WR’s are journeymen 2’s types, they drafted a great looking FB who may get some H-Back or TE chances and is projected as a Mike Alstott/ John Riggins type, if he unlocks his potential,
The OLine is solid, and New Addition Sergio Martin at RG is a very good piece on the OL, Right Tackle is definitely a question mark, new add 2nd year man Leroy Finister may challenge for that RT position.
Defense
The Front 7 is the strength of this team , DC Keith Willkens and HC Jeffery Carpenter have built a great front 7 , DE’s Hayden Pieters and Landon Schroeder are a feared tandem on the edges, and they motivate this Defense to bring it, Ken Flowers leads the LBers and is a savvy , smart player who can disrupt and cause damage to Offenses.
The Secondary is the Question mark here, ( like many teams in the IFL ) , S’s BJ Ragan and Glenn Moore are the standouts here.
Projection :
The NFC East can be taken, Boston may have the most talented team , Orlando’s always a threat but rebuilding , and Texas has been a disaster,
A NFC East title IS possible, but a Wildcard entry may be hard to obtain.
We could project KC making a push and being buyers at the trade deadline for skill players ( WR/CB/RB ) as they’ve shown willingness to trade draft pieces away., or maybe finding some veteran with something left to prove on the waiver wire or off the street.
We see KC winning the NFC East and breaking their 30 year playoff drought with a winning record of
9-7.Comment
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TEAM REVIEW EIGHT: STATE COLLEGE STAGS
Coaching -
New: Got a small upgrade at Strength Coach with Josh Koser.
Same:
•HC Marty Fletcher is very skilled, and particularly at player development and scouting.
•OC Rico Fields brings 62 plays of Erhardt-Perkins to the party, and is likewise skilled at scouting
•DC Johnnie Jefferson is another scouting stud who brings a 43 under defense back for year 6
•AC Roy Carswell is a well rounded guy with a wr focus
2069
Finished as Kings of the North with an 11-5 record and their +140 point differential suggests they were due just over 11 wins. They tied for best divisional record with Montreal at 4-2. They had a nail biter 35-34 win over Portland in the Charlie Kelly round, before losing in a shootout 38-52 to the Mules.
Offense
STC runs through QB Emmanuel Hammernik, who was part of the amazing 2062 QB class. He drops back over 50 times a game, leading to a career high 5700 yards last year. A mentor, and now in his first year as team Captain, Hammernik wheres the C with pride and is further bolstered by a triple affinity setup. Hammernik is also a dual threat, as he racked up over 900 team leading yards on the ground. He is truly one of the great offensive engines in the league. Backup is an undrafted rookie at 7 overall.
Despite what the idiots in charge of the mock draft think, they do not need a 1st round RB. Running backs are not a part of the offense for State College as they ran just 50 times last year, mostly in mop up duty I am guessing. They catch the occasional checkdown, but beware Devan Oja who caught 9 tds last year on just 27 targets.
In 2067 they traded for Norfolks Ted Samuels at TE. All the former first round pick has done is average 1000 yards a season for them since. With a 29m price tag this year, he comes in as the 2nd highest paid TE. The Stagz struck twice in what was a good draft class for TEs. Snagging Irv Lohr in the 6th with 40 future and the bigger better move was drafting FB Jake Griffith in the late 2nd and turning him into a 64 future TE. He looks like the TE1 of the future with strong bars and of course an affinity. Both of the new TEs have 98+ Leadership, so it will be interesting to see how that plays out with the Stagz chemistry focus. TE2 Carson Heekin put up 895 yards last year, which was 5th best in the league. His receiving bars are off the charts, making him a great pick in the 2066 5th round. The Stagz clearly like their TEs and this draft will only help keep them deep at the position.
At WR they are lead by former 1st overall pick Kris Lesky and 1.8 picked Nicolas Gheesling. Lesky is a 6-4 red zone beast who can return both punts and kicks when he’s allowed to. He lead the league last year in kick returns on a small sample size. Gheesling piled up 1261 yards last year on 107 catches and seems to do most of his damage outside the 20 as he had just 5 Tds compared to Lesky’s 10. Trade addition from Orlando Nathaniel Goodwin struggled to fit in last year on his 52 targets, but I won’t be surprised to see him take on a bigger more successful role as he rounds out his development.
The OL is of course predicated on being excellent pass blockers with run blocking an unnecessary luxury. So don’t let the lack of big overalls fool you. They shined in their duties, with a 3% sack rate being 2nd best in the league. They added rookie RT Caiden Rayburn this year, who profiles as an excellent pass blocker when he fills out.
Special Teams
At specialist they have an excellent udfa find in Punter Arnie Stortz 64 overall. The aging Idle Threats is still one of the best kickoff legs in the league and hopes to finish his career in Stag red after signing a 3 year deal this offseason.
Defense
The defensive line sports some new faces this year. Out are Burt Diaz and Deon Robert, both hanging around in free agency currently. In are run stuffing specialist extraordinaire DE Axel Hutton, rookie UDFA Jake Duncan , pass rushing specialist Zane Winders via free agency, balanced 4th round pick DT Gilbert Reed, and 7th round pass rushing DT Spencer Ackerman. It’s a lot of turnover, but some definite skill has scampered into the locker room. An FOF rarity, the unit is lead by 0 overall DT Isaac Brock. Don’t let his 1 punishing hitter fool you, he’s here for the vibes. As a group this was the 5th best pass rushing team last year, a tough combination to beat with their explosive offense.
At linebacker they let backup Hector Clements walk down to Raleigh. He was upgraded to SLB Louis Furman in FA. This group boasts some serious run defense on the whole and individually you can find standouts at pass rushing, special teams and pass coverage. The hope is Clements can shore up the run D that was ranked 5th worst in yards per carry last year.
AT DB, they let backup Jacob Druge walk via FA to Orlando after a down year. He was massively upgraded to Claude Covington in what looks like a FA coup. The Stagz must have thought so, as they went outside their chemistry group to bring in the very talented Mr. Covington. The star of this unit and maybe the entire defense is CB Allen Rautalahti. (I had to paste his name after giving up on typing it 3 times) The former 1.8 pick had a massive 87.2 pd% last year on 7 ints and 20 pass breakups plus 81 tackles. All he has done is be the DROY ,2nd team all league, then first team last year. The future star of this unit is this year’s 1st round pick Colby Turner. The future 61 with ideal size looks primed to make up the 2nd half of a very impressive pair of bookend CBs.
The longsnapper sucks, but he is a TE mentor so my assumption is that’s his primary benefit as the Stagz use their TEs a lot.
2070 Outlook
Facing a first place schedule will be a tougher challenge for the Stagz this year. Tough road games include @Vegas, @West Virginia, and @Georgia in week 16. Tough home games will include TJ week 2, and the Mules and Storm weeks 13 and 14. I still see them as poised to hold onto the division crown and make some noise in the playoffs. But the in division record will again be key I think. With the strong injection of youth in the draft they may well be the team to beat in the North for some time.Comment
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