Tweet
Opening day starting lineup
The years of horrible play and early draft picks are beginning to pay off. The Beasts returned to the playoffs last year and even though they were knocked out after only one game, it was a major step forward for the franchise that has been struggling to turn it's fortune around.
This year the team thinks it has made strides in competing for the IFL championship when they made a flurry of moves early in this past season's off season by bringing in talented offensive weapons to help make the unit unstoppable and a defensive stud that is hoped to turn their talented but underachieving defense into one of the league's best.
Offense:
Quarterback: Chad Harding - Was GM Mark Lukehart's first ever IFL draft choice when the Beasts made him the third overall pick in the 2010 draft. During his first four years in the league he has slowly matured into a top passer. It had seemed the bust bug hit him prior to the 2012 season when he went from a 75 rated player to 55 rated, but has never showed that in the way he's played. He has gotten better every year since being drafted and this season big things are expected of him. Last year he led the Beasts to their first playoff game since 2005, throwing 32 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Running back: Nicky Kersey - Kersey has always been a solid running back for the Beasts, but has never shown the ability to take over the game. His workload will probably be lessened this year as he gives a few carries up to a rather deep backfield. He is a solid, all-around feature back.
Fullback: Nathan Regalado- Something Lukehart has always wanted was a versatile fullback to give Harding a short, reliable target out of the backfield, and he has that in Regalado, whom Lukehart acquired in an offseason trade with Little Rock. Regalado has never had more than 29 catches in a season, but he is expected to beat that this year. Regalado also is a punishing lead blocker and lead all fullbacks with five pancake blocks last year.
Tight end: Nolan Huggins - Age is creeping up on Huggins, but he still has quiet a bit in the tank. It is hoped he won't be needed to make as many plays as last year with Lukehart busy this offseason adding weapons on offense.
Flanker: Ernest Martinez- Unlike Huggins, Martinez isn't showing any slowdown at his advanced age. Last year he posted his best season in a Beasts uniform and has looked good this preseason. Could be the best has yet to come with Martinez, especially with Harding entering what ownership think is his prime.
Split End: Andre Thomason - This was the team's big offensive addition. Outside of Martinez, the team lacked a big explosive receiver. The opposition will be hard pressed to put all their attention on Martinez, so both receivers are expected to feel the benefit of playing beside each other. Lukehart just wants Thomason can continue to put up big yardage after the catch numbers as he did for the last couple years when with the Liberty.
Third receiver: Jimmy Roberts - When drafted in the third round of the 2010 draft, Lukehart looked at Roberts as a project player. He had by far the best combine of any receiver taken that year, but his college performance was lacking. The Beasts think this is the year that Roberts will show big flashes of the talent Lukehart thought he had back then. He may not get as many looks since he'll only be out there in three wideout sets, but once the ball is in his hands he can do great things with it.
Center: Randy Ellard - A solid all around center, but asthma keeps him from being the every down player the team wants him to be. As it is, he seems to be in about 70 percent of the offensive plays, and during those plays the impact he makes is felt.
Left guard: William Hodges - Another solid all around contributor to the offensive line. He is expected to be dominant on run plays, but doesn't always show that on the field. He says it's because of a lack of dominant running backs on the team, while management believes it has to do more with his use by the coaches. Management is focusing significantly on getting the most out of Hodges this season.
Right guard: Marshall Cuomo - Cuomo used to be one of the league's most dominant guards, but is slowing down a little bit. Still, he feels that he's getting better with age, regardless of what scouts think of him. Last year he posted his best very successful blocking percentage of 47 percent.
Left tackle: Raymond Rodriguez - Rodriguez' move from right to left tackle was instrumental to Harding's success last year. In 2012, the Beasts offensive line gave up 44 sacks. Last year with Rodriguez at left tackle, they gave up only 27.
Right tackle: Nathan Adcock- Adcock became a completely different player once moved to right tackle. He gave up 28 sacks in his first three seasons with the team to only 2 last year. Adcock isn't the best run blocker, but his sudden emergence as a shut down right tackle has been a major reason Harding put up the kind of season he did.
The years of horrible play and early draft picks are beginning to pay off. The Beasts returned to the playoffs last year and even though they were knocked out after only one game, it was a major step forward for the franchise that has been struggling to turn it's fortune around.
This year the team thinks it has made strides in competing for the IFL championship when they made a flurry of moves early in this past season's off season by bringing in talented offensive weapons to help make the unit unstoppable and a defensive stud that is hoped to turn their talented but underachieving defense into one of the league's best.
Offense:
Quarterback: Chad Harding - Was GM Mark Lukehart's first ever IFL draft choice when the Beasts made him the third overall pick in the 2010 draft. During his first four years in the league he has slowly matured into a top passer. It had seemed the bust bug hit him prior to the 2012 season when he went from a 75 rated player to 55 rated, but has never showed that in the way he's played. He has gotten better every year since being drafted and this season big things are expected of him. Last year he led the Beasts to their first playoff game since 2005, throwing 32 touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Running back: Nicky Kersey - Kersey has always been a solid running back for the Beasts, but has never shown the ability to take over the game. His workload will probably be lessened this year as he gives a few carries up to a rather deep backfield. He is a solid, all-around feature back.
Fullback: Nathan Regalado- Something Lukehart has always wanted was a versatile fullback to give Harding a short, reliable target out of the backfield, and he has that in Regalado, whom Lukehart acquired in an offseason trade with Little Rock. Regalado has never had more than 29 catches in a season, but he is expected to beat that this year. Regalado also is a punishing lead blocker and lead all fullbacks with five pancake blocks last year.
Tight end: Nolan Huggins - Age is creeping up on Huggins, but he still has quiet a bit in the tank. It is hoped he won't be needed to make as many plays as last year with Lukehart busy this offseason adding weapons on offense.
Flanker: Ernest Martinez- Unlike Huggins, Martinez isn't showing any slowdown at his advanced age. Last year he posted his best season in a Beasts uniform and has looked good this preseason. Could be the best has yet to come with Martinez, especially with Harding entering what ownership think is his prime.
Split End: Andre Thomason - This was the team's big offensive addition. Outside of Martinez, the team lacked a big explosive receiver. The opposition will be hard pressed to put all their attention on Martinez, so both receivers are expected to feel the benefit of playing beside each other. Lukehart just wants Thomason can continue to put up big yardage after the catch numbers as he did for the last couple years when with the Liberty.
Third receiver: Jimmy Roberts - When drafted in the third round of the 2010 draft, Lukehart looked at Roberts as a project player. He had by far the best combine of any receiver taken that year, but his college performance was lacking. The Beasts think this is the year that Roberts will show big flashes of the talent Lukehart thought he had back then. He may not get as many looks since he'll only be out there in three wideout sets, but once the ball is in his hands he can do great things with it.
Center: Randy Ellard - A solid all around center, but asthma keeps him from being the every down player the team wants him to be. As it is, he seems to be in about 70 percent of the offensive plays, and during those plays the impact he makes is felt.
Left guard: William Hodges - Another solid all around contributor to the offensive line. He is expected to be dominant on run plays, but doesn't always show that on the field. He says it's because of a lack of dominant running backs on the team, while management believes it has to do more with his use by the coaches. Management is focusing significantly on getting the most out of Hodges this season.
Right guard: Marshall Cuomo - Cuomo used to be one of the league's most dominant guards, but is slowing down a little bit. Still, he feels that he's getting better with age, regardless of what scouts think of him. Last year he posted his best very successful blocking percentage of 47 percent.
Left tackle: Raymond Rodriguez - Rodriguez' move from right to left tackle was instrumental to Harding's success last year. In 2012, the Beasts offensive line gave up 44 sacks. Last year with Rodriguez at left tackle, they gave up only 27.
Right tackle: Nathan Adcock- Adcock became a completely different player once moved to right tackle. He gave up 28 sacks in his first three seasons with the team to only 2 last year. Adcock isn't the best run blocker, but his sudden emergence as a shut down right tackle has been a major reason Harding put up the kind of season he did.
Comment