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Oakland Press, Oakland, Ca
The defense was heavly criticized for last years loss in the IFL Bowl by Oakland managment, and we fully expect some serious number crunching when it comes to the gameplan for 07'. In fact, Oakland gave up record numbers all year and the offense was forced to play the catch up game far to often. GM Jave realizing that the team needed some help in this area went out and acquired veteran SS Joe Sims to replace the often "burned" Conrad Delisle. Continuing the purge, they also brought in SS Harvey Turner, and new Secondary leader Noah Rios.
The Assassins hope that these changes, combined with a strong revamped defensive gameplan, will help turn around the porous passing defense.
Lets take a closer look at the defensive team that will lead the Assassins to this years IFL Bowl:
Left Defensive End
Lance Delano
After sitting out all last season on suspension for fighting, Delano comes into this year, fighting mad! While the year off and the extra candle in his birthday cake may slow him down a bit, we fully expect Lance to take right over where Mitchell and Purifoy left off. Delano has been very consistent throughout his career, averaging 60 tackles, 6 sacks and 22 QB hurries a year. Most players improve when they come to Oakland and we expect Lance to have a career year.
Right Defensive End
Derek Nelson
Rumored to be Nelsons last year in Oakland, he intends on showing the league, that he is worth the cash. After a devastating knee injury in 05', Nelson has been slowed by various injuries since, and it will be interesting to see if he can complete a full season in 07' and continue his comeback.
Only starting 9 games last season, he compiled a mesley 30 tackles and 1 sack. Comming into a contract year, we expect Nelson to rebound BIG, or be shown the road. With the Assassins on the edge of the cap, there is no room for underperformers on a championship squad, and this is his last chance to show the Oakland managment that he is worth the big bucks!
Left Defensive Tackle
Everett Brazinski
Sharing time last year with Myron Brandenburg, Braz won out the starting job in training camp this year with overall solid play, a good attitude, and a "team first" mentatility. Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft, high hopes were put on his shoulders and he did not dissapoint. Starting every game that year, he compilied 54 tackles, 24 assists and 2.5 sacks. Injuried in the preseason of 06', he was forced to fight for the starting job once again with Myron and this is the year that hard work should pay off for him.
Right Defensive Tackle
Gary Salvador
Gary has been just what the doctor ordered for the Assassin defense. Solid as a rock, and no "rock star" attitude. Gary shows up, gives 110% day in and day out. He isn't going to rock the world with spectacular plays or 100 tackle years, but he will stop the big play, provide consistent run "D", and not kill the teams pocketbook doing it.
Starting all but one game last year, Gary amassed 61 tackles, 20 assists and 4 sacks. We expect more of the same this year as he is once again, unchallenged to start at the RDT position.
Strong Side Linebacker
Ken 'Tank' Allmon
After his 04' Defensive Player Of The Year award, Allmon was forced to move from SSB to SILB because of injuries to the team and it showed. His stats were down across the board and his effectiveness suffered. With the team picking up Dennis Gallup this year, all bets are off. Ken 'Tank' Allmon , should be a "Tank" again.
During his 4 years starting, Ken has amassed 432 tackles, 158 assists, 7 sacks, 2 blocks, 5 QB hurries and 7 interceptions. God help the offense's this year with both Allmon and Gallup in the starting lineup!
Middle Linebacker
Dennis Gallup
Oaklands biggest offseason move this year, was to bring in a true run stopper at the MLB position, and Gallup is sure to excel in this role. With Allmon and Nickles backing him up, the sky is the limit for this 7 year veteran to have his best season to date.
Starting for the much maligned Murfreesboro Mules since he was drafted in 03', Gallup has played hard and smart, only missing 3 games in his entire career. Exicted for the chance to play for a championship contender, he promises to step it up, yet another level this year.
Weak Side Linebacker
Burl Nickels
With the addition of Gallup, Allmon moves to Nickels previous position of SLB and Burl will move to WLB. Since blowing out his knee in 05', Burl has made a monster comeback playing better then anyone expected. Nearly topping his numbers of 04', Nickels rolled up 89 tackles, 26 assists and 2 sacks last year. His numbers may fall a bit this year moving to the WLB position, but we fully except him to back up Allmon and Gallup this year to make the 07' Assassin linebacker squad, the best in the business!
Left Cornerback
Joshua McLaughlin
Comprimising one half of the best cover corners in the league, McLaughlin returns to the Assassin lineup for his 5th season. Originally drafted as a saftey, Oakland quickly saw the promise he held as a strong cornerback and moved him to all important LCB position. Since then, Joshua has been a rock, providing solid coverage for the Assassins at an affordable price.
He is the epitome of what the Oakland organization was trying to build when they started in 2003. Fiercly loyal and a fan favorite. McLaughlin will continue to remain a member of this team untill his retirement, and thats OK with all of us.
Right Cornerback
Patrick Davey
Finally recieving a bit of recognition last season', Davey was awarded "All-League Second Team Cornerback", and that just fueled him to win more and more this comming season. After being moved to RCB from the saftey position in 03', Davey has improved his play every single year, having his best year yet last season. While his numbers are not what they were when Oakland was experimenting with the B'n'R' defense, his overall play was exceptational. Between him and McLaughlin, opposing recievers will have a hard time finding any room to catch the ball in 07'.
Strong Saftey
Joe Sims
It takes a special player for the Oakland organization to deal with certain teams. Fresno is one of those teams. There has long been bad blood between Fresno GM Jeff, aka(Sov"I am a dick"star) and Jave. Regardless, some players are worth it. Sims is one of those players that could make the difference between second place, and an IFL Championship. While not really playing at a championship level during his career, Jave has a way of spotting players who just need the right enviroment to bring out their best play, and we believe Joe is a perfect fit for this team.
Free Saftey
Stephen Edelstein
Starting his 4th season as the Assassin's starting FS, Edelstein has improved every season. Teamed with a strong starting unit now with the additions of Sims, Rios and Turner, we believe teams will have no where to go this year if they decide to put the ball in the air.
The defense was heavly criticized for last years loss in the IFL Bowl by Oakland managment, and we fully expect some serious number crunching when it comes to the gameplan for 07'. In fact, Oakland gave up record numbers all year and the offense was forced to play the catch up game far to often. GM Jave realizing that the team needed some help in this area went out and acquired veteran SS Joe Sims to replace the often "burned" Conrad Delisle. Continuing the purge, they also brought in SS Harvey Turner, and new Secondary leader Noah Rios.
The Assassins hope that these changes, combined with a strong revamped defensive gameplan, will help turn around the porous passing defense.
Lets take a closer look at the defensive team that will lead the Assassins to this years IFL Bowl:
Left Defensive End
Lance Delano
After sitting out all last season on suspension for fighting, Delano comes into this year, fighting mad! While the year off and the extra candle in his birthday cake may slow him down a bit, we fully expect Lance to take right over where Mitchell and Purifoy left off. Delano has been very consistent throughout his career, averaging 60 tackles, 6 sacks and 22 QB hurries a year. Most players improve when they come to Oakland and we expect Lance to have a career year.
Right Defensive End
Derek Nelson
Rumored to be Nelsons last year in Oakland, he intends on showing the league, that he is worth the cash. After a devastating knee injury in 05', Nelson has been slowed by various injuries since, and it will be interesting to see if he can complete a full season in 07' and continue his comeback.
Only starting 9 games last season, he compiled a mesley 30 tackles and 1 sack. Comming into a contract year, we expect Nelson to rebound BIG, or be shown the road. With the Assassins on the edge of the cap, there is no room for underperformers on a championship squad, and this is his last chance to show the Oakland managment that he is worth the big bucks!
Left Defensive Tackle
Everett Brazinski
Sharing time last year with Myron Brandenburg, Braz won out the starting job in training camp this year with overall solid play, a good attitude, and a "team first" mentatility. Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft, high hopes were put on his shoulders and he did not dissapoint. Starting every game that year, he compilied 54 tackles, 24 assists and 2.5 sacks. Injuried in the preseason of 06', he was forced to fight for the starting job once again with Myron and this is the year that hard work should pay off for him.
Right Defensive Tackle
Gary Salvador
Gary has been just what the doctor ordered for the Assassin defense. Solid as a rock, and no "rock star" attitude. Gary shows up, gives 110% day in and day out. He isn't going to rock the world with spectacular plays or 100 tackle years, but he will stop the big play, provide consistent run "D", and not kill the teams pocketbook doing it.
Starting all but one game last year, Gary amassed 61 tackles, 20 assists and 4 sacks. We expect more of the same this year as he is once again, unchallenged to start at the RDT position.
Strong Side Linebacker
Ken 'Tank' Allmon
After his 04' Defensive Player Of The Year award, Allmon was forced to move from SSB to SILB because of injuries to the team and it showed. His stats were down across the board and his effectiveness suffered. With the team picking up Dennis Gallup this year, all bets are off. Ken 'Tank' Allmon , should be a "Tank" again.
During his 4 years starting, Ken has amassed 432 tackles, 158 assists, 7 sacks, 2 blocks, 5 QB hurries and 7 interceptions. God help the offense's this year with both Allmon and Gallup in the starting lineup!
Middle Linebacker
Dennis Gallup
Oaklands biggest offseason move this year, was to bring in a true run stopper at the MLB position, and Gallup is sure to excel in this role. With Allmon and Nickles backing him up, the sky is the limit for this 7 year veteran to have his best season to date.
Starting for the much maligned Murfreesboro Mules since he was drafted in 03', Gallup has played hard and smart, only missing 3 games in his entire career. Exicted for the chance to play for a championship contender, he promises to step it up, yet another level this year.
Weak Side Linebacker
Burl Nickels
With the addition of Gallup, Allmon moves to Nickels previous position of SLB and Burl will move to WLB. Since blowing out his knee in 05', Burl has made a monster comeback playing better then anyone expected. Nearly topping his numbers of 04', Nickels rolled up 89 tackles, 26 assists and 2 sacks last year. His numbers may fall a bit this year moving to the WLB position, but we fully except him to back up Allmon and Gallup this year to make the 07' Assassin linebacker squad, the best in the business!
Left Cornerback
Joshua McLaughlin
Comprimising one half of the best cover corners in the league, McLaughlin returns to the Assassin lineup for his 5th season. Originally drafted as a saftey, Oakland quickly saw the promise he held as a strong cornerback and moved him to all important LCB position. Since then, Joshua has been a rock, providing solid coverage for the Assassins at an affordable price.
He is the epitome of what the Oakland organization was trying to build when they started in 2003. Fiercly loyal and a fan favorite. McLaughlin will continue to remain a member of this team untill his retirement, and thats OK with all of us.
Right Cornerback
Patrick Davey
Finally recieving a bit of recognition last season', Davey was awarded "All-League Second Team Cornerback", and that just fueled him to win more and more this comming season. After being moved to RCB from the saftey position in 03', Davey has improved his play every single year, having his best year yet last season. While his numbers are not what they were when Oakland was experimenting with the B'n'R' defense, his overall play was exceptational. Between him and McLaughlin, opposing recievers will have a hard time finding any room to catch the ball in 07'.
Strong Saftey
Joe Sims
It takes a special player for the Oakland organization to deal with certain teams. Fresno is one of those teams. There has long been bad blood between Fresno GM Jeff, aka(Sov"I am a dick"star) and Jave. Regardless, some players are worth it. Sims is one of those players that could make the difference between second place, and an IFL Championship. While not really playing at a championship level during his career, Jave has a way of spotting players who just need the right enviroment to bring out their best play, and we believe Joe is a perfect fit for this team.
Free Saftey
Stephen Edelstein
Starting his 4th season as the Assassin's starting FS, Edelstein has improved every season. Teamed with a strong starting unit now with the additions of Sims, Rios and Turner, we believe teams will have no where to go this year if they decide to put the ball in the air.