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Key Players Lost -
Justin Ashcraft - ILB - Traded to Wichita
Eric Burgess - OLB - Traded to Wichita
Jared Mulcahey - QB - Traded to West Virginia
Marlon Azzolini - T - Traded to West Virginia
Andrew McKenzie - WR - Traded to Salt Lake
Key Player Additions -
John Hines - ILB - Acquired via trade with Wichita
Gerald Sanders - QB - Acquired via trade with West Virginia
Abraham Spangler - RB - Acquired via trade with West Virginia
Weston Gribble - T - Acquired via trade with West Virginia
McKinely Aycock - CB - Signed via free agency from Montreal
Neil Glaser - DT - Acquired via trade with Salt Lake
David Norris - WR - Acquired via trade with Salt Lake
Quarterbacks – JC return in 2007 looking to rebound from an injury plagued season in which he only played in 7 regular season games. With hopes of returning to 2005 form, JC has been working hard in the off season to shake the injury bug that has plagued him during his Imperial career. Should JC go down in 2007 the Fire got an insurance policy in trading for seasoned veteran Gerald Sanders from West Virginia. Sanders brings many of the same skills that JC offers and the team feels that Sanders best fits with the 2007 plans of the Fire’s offense.
Running Back – Coming off his first ever 1000 yard season, John Feliciano returns as the teams starting RB but not without competition. The Fire added fire power to both special teams and RB by adding Abraham Spangler from West Virginia. The move gives the fire options at the RB position but also allows the team to free up WR Mercury Halbert for his new role as starting SE.
Fullback – Not much has changed this season in the FB department. The team returns both veterans at this position with Richard Steib as the starter and Luther Puleo as the backup.
Tight End – In a position that saw a lot of activity in the red zone last year, the Fire have brought back TE Daniel Rich to anchor the tight end position for years to come. Rich’s 8 TDs with the Fire in 13 games was the most for the Fire at the TE position.
Wide Receiver – Many questioned the move of Rusty Ramos last season to make room for Justin Whitaker as the teams starting flanker. But after a stellar 2006 campaign which saw Whitaker breaking multiple Fire single game records which earned him 1st team All-League honors, few are questioning the move now. Can 2007 have a repeat performance? 2007 has already started with the buzz that 3rd year WR Mercury Halbert has been given the starting role this season. It will be up to the talented Halbert to take the next step after a very poor 2006 season, a season that saw his chemistry with JC impacted when JC was lost for much of the season due to injury. Newly added WR David Norris was brought in by the Fire staff to help push Halbert to that next level, but he also provides security should Halbert struggle.
Offensive Line – The biggest addition here was made at the loss of one of the Fire’s 2006 standouts. T Weston Gribble was added to help solidify an offensive line that only allowed 20 sacks all season. Gribble adds much needed nastiness to the Fire’s line, a line that is hoping to improve from last season performance. Starters – C/Cole, LG/Lerner, RG/Gordon, LT/Dube, RT/Gribble
Kicking Game – Another set of positions where the players have not changed. Both P Abel Medina and K Ty Fox return to handle the kicking duties for the Fire this season
Defensive Line – Only one piece of the defensive puzzle which saw the Fire record it top defensive performance as a team in 2006. The defensive line is anchored by 4th year vet Trent Hayden who recorded 11 sacks in his breakout 2006 season with the fire. Also returning is Myron McCartney from injury to line up opposite of Hayden. Newly added DT Neil Glaser will take over the duties of NT in the Fire’s 3-4 defense.
Linebackers – The one position to take the biggest hit this off-season, the newly rebuilt LB corps looks stronger then ever. Starters MLB John Maynard and DROY candidate SLB Derrick Goodwin return, and Lawrence Linthicum steps into the starting role at WLB while newly added MLB John Hines will line up next to Maynard on the inside.
Cornerbacks – One of the highlights of the off-season was the fact that all players from last years secondary have returned for 2007. CB Oliver McKenzie and Steven Hamilton return to there roles as starters, with CB Thomas Saunders and newly signed free agent Mckinley Aycock filling in as the Nickel and Dime CBs.
Safeties – Even with the loss of starting FS Ronald Dukes, the Fire still got stronger at S with the return of Preston Larios from injury. While the loss of Dukes will hurt, the team feels that the return of Larios and McNamara give the team the best chances in the defensive backfield.
Justin Ashcraft - ILB - Traded to Wichita
Eric Burgess - OLB - Traded to Wichita
Jared Mulcahey - QB - Traded to West Virginia
Marlon Azzolini - T - Traded to West Virginia
Andrew McKenzie - WR - Traded to Salt Lake
Key Player Additions -
John Hines - ILB - Acquired via trade with Wichita
Gerald Sanders - QB - Acquired via trade with West Virginia
Abraham Spangler - RB - Acquired via trade with West Virginia
Weston Gribble - T - Acquired via trade with West Virginia
McKinely Aycock - CB - Signed via free agency from Montreal
Neil Glaser - DT - Acquired via trade with Salt Lake
David Norris - WR - Acquired via trade with Salt Lake
Quarterbacks – JC return in 2007 looking to rebound from an injury plagued season in which he only played in 7 regular season games. With hopes of returning to 2005 form, JC has been working hard in the off season to shake the injury bug that has plagued him during his Imperial career. Should JC go down in 2007 the Fire got an insurance policy in trading for seasoned veteran Gerald Sanders from West Virginia. Sanders brings many of the same skills that JC offers and the team feels that Sanders best fits with the 2007 plans of the Fire’s offense.
Running Back – Coming off his first ever 1000 yard season, John Feliciano returns as the teams starting RB but not without competition. The Fire added fire power to both special teams and RB by adding Abraham Spangler from West Virginia. The move gives the fire options at the RB position but also allows the team to free up WR Mercury Halbert for his new role as starting SE.
Fullback – Not much has changed this season in the FB department. The team returns both veterans at this position with Richard Steib as the starter and Luther Puleo as the backup.
Tight End – In a position that saw a lot of activity in the red zone last year, the Fire have brought back TE Daniel Rich to anchor the tight end position for years to come. Rich’s 8 TDs with the Fire in 13 games was the most for the Fire at the TE position.
Wide Receiver – Many questioned the move of Rusty Ramos last season to make room for Justin Whitaker as the teams starting flanker. But after a stellar 2006 campaign which saw Whitaker breaking multiple Fire single game records which earned him 1st team All-League honors, few are questioning the move now. Can 2007 have a repeat performance? 2007 has already started with the buzz that 3rd year WR Mercury Halbert has been given the starting role this season. It will be up to the talented Halbert to take the next step after a very poor 2006 season, a season that saw his chemistry with JC impacted when JC was lost for much of the season due to injury. Newly added WR David Norris was brought in by the Fire staff to help push Halbert to that next level, but he also provides security should Halbert struggle.
Offensive Line – The biggest addition here was made at the loss of one of the Fire’s 2006 standouts. T Weston Gribble was added to help solidify an offensive line that only allowed 20 sacks all season. Gribble adds much needed nastiness to the Fire’s line, a line that is hoping to improve from last season performance. Starters – C/Cole, LG/Lerner, RG/Gordon, LT/Dube, RT/Gribble
Kicking Game – Another set of positions where the players have not changed. Both P Abel Medina and K Ty Fox return to handle the kicking duties for the Fire this season
Defensive Line – Only one piece of the defensive puzzle which saw the Fire record it top defensive performance as a team in 2006. The defensive line is anchored by 4th year vet Trent Hayden who recorded 11 sacks in his breakout 2006 season with the fire. Also returning is Myron McCartney from injury to line up opposite of Hayden. Newly added DT Neil Glaser will take over the duties of NT in the Fire’s 3-4 defense.
Linebackers – The one position to take the biggest hit this off-season, the newly rebuilt LB corps looks stronger then ever. Starters MLB John Maynard and DROY candidate SLB Derrick Goodwin return, and Lawrence Linthicum steps into the starting role at WLB while newly added MLB John Hines will line up next to Maynard on the inside.
Cornerbacks – One of the highlights of the off-season was the fact that all players from last years secondary have returned for 2007. CB Oliver McKenzie and Steven Hamilton return to there roles as starters, with CB Thomas Saunders and newly signed free agent Mckinley Aycock filling in as the Nickel and Dime CBs.
Safeties – Even with the loss of starting FS Ronald Dukes, the Fire still got stronger at S with the return of Preston Larios from injury. While the loss of Dukes will hurt, the team feels that the return of Larios and McNamara give the team the best chances in the defensive backfield.
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