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Oakland Press, Oakland, Ca
As we enter the 2006 season, hopes and expectations are high as last years season showed so much promise before a landslide of injuries decimated the team, finishing a dissapointing 6 wins and 10 losses.
Starting the season on a tear, Oakland ripped to a 4-1 start, including wins against hated SLC, Houston, Texas, and Newark. The only loss, to Orlando by 6. That, unfortunalty, was the entire highlight of the season, has the Assassins went on to drop their next 5, in the process lossing over 7 starters, 5 of them on the defensive line. A win at St. Louis was small consolation as they continued their losing ways dropping 4 of their last 5 to mercifully end the 2005 season.
The injuries were so bad, at one point, the Assassins were without there entire recieving corps, Bice, Martinez, and Tessier, starting LT Gus Falkenberg, starting RT Don Barnes, both defensive ends, Gus Wells and Derek Nelson, starting linebackers Burl Nickels and Brian Minard, and starting RCB Patrick Davey. Both Derek Nelson and Burl Nickels had season ending surgery, and the Oakland front office has learned that these players will never again have the agility or the mobility that they once possessed. Despite these major setbacks, the Oakland front office is beaming about the very active offseason that has seen some major additions come to the bay area this year.
The trade for Wesley Connell was seen has a godsend at the time, but the Assassins overestimated the ability of their offensive line, has during his 2 years with the team, was unable to generate more then an average rushing attack. That forced the team to quickly generate a more potient passing attack, and new addition Kurt Bice was more then ready to step into the spotlight averaging 18 yards a catch during 2005. However, when the year ended, it was time to decide what to do with Connell.
Late last week, the Assassins finally made the call, and landed a huge deal with Vancouver, bringing LG Chad Jerome, and LDE Lance Delano to send Connell to Vancouver, where he could shine, and Oakland could shore up the huge holes in their lines. Then, with their 11th pick, they traded to Houston for emerging RDE Richard Mitchell.
We will take an indepth look at the entire team in the comming week, starting with the offensive backfield soon!
As we enter the 2006 season, hopes and expectations are high as last years season showed so much promise before a landslide of injuries decimated the team, finishing a dissapointing 6 wins and 10 losses.
Starting the season on a tear, Oakland ripped to a 4-1 start, including wins against hated SLC, Houston, Texas, and Newark. The only loss, to Orlando by 6. That, unfortunalty, was the entire highlight of the season, has the Assassins went on to drop their next 5, in the process lossing over 7 starters, 5 of them on the defensive line. A win at St. Louis was small consolation as they continued their losing ways dropping 4 of their last 5 to mercifully end the 2005 season.
The injuries were so bad, at one point, the Assassins were without there entire recieving corps, Bice, Martinez, and Tessier, starting LT Gus Falkenberg, starting RT Don Barnes, both defensive ends, Gus Wells and Derek Nelson, starting linebackers Burl Nickels and Brian Minard, and starting RCB Patrick Davey. Both Derek Nelson and Burl Nickels had season ending surgery, and the Oakland front office has learned that these players will never again have the agility or the mobility that they once possessed. Despite these major setbacks, the Oakland front office is beaming about the very active offseason that has seen some major additions come to the bay area this year.
The trade for Wesley Connell was seen has a godsend at the time, but the Assassins overestimated the ability of their offensive line, has during his 2 years with the team, was unable to generate more then an average rushing attack. That forced the team to quickly generate a more potient passing attack, and new addition Kurt Bice was more then ready to step into the spotlight averaging 18 yards a catch during 2005. However, when the year ended, it was time to decide what to do with Connell.
Late last week, the Assassins finally made the call, and landed a huge deal with Vancouver, bringing LG Chad Jerome, and LDE Lance Delano to send Connell to Vancouver, where he could shine, and Oakland could shore up the huge holes in their lines. Then, with their 11th pick, they traded to Houston for emerging RDE Richard Mitchell.
We will take an indepth look at the entire team in the comming week, starting with the offensive backfield soon!