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Offensive Assessment:
QB - Dennis Collela continues to be the leader of this team. Though experts agree, his 13th season will see a bit of a drop off, scouts believe he is still better than Bryan McNeil, who will be holding a clipboard for his 3rd season after his rookie season experiment. McNeil continues to improve under Collela’s mentorship but Collela still has 2 years on his contract, which the Wolfpack appear ready to honor. Rookie Aaron Borders seems to have been brought in to hold kicks as Dexter Fitzgerald was released. Let’s hope that Reno never has to rely on its 3rd string quarterback because it could get ugly in a hurry.
RB - Darnell Castillo is a rock. Last year he gained over 1600 yards. He also led all Wolfpack receivers with 649 yards. Perhaps that doesn’t say much considering the WR crew. Castillo however has struggled in short yardage and pounding it into the end zone. He had only 11 TD this past season and converted less than 50% of 3rd down conversions. They brought in Phil Tyler from Louisiana this year to handle those duties, but were very disappointed in his training camp. Word has it that the Wolfpack were considering trading with Anchorage for Roy Ramsey, but appear content to allow Fullback Ricardo Burnett do the dirty work. However, without a blocking Fullback, this team still seems to be a player short of pounding the rock when teams are stacked with 8 in the box. Michael Kopp returns as the spiritual leader of the Pack, but have not seemed to have found the right role for him. Free Agent, Kerry Glenn, from Fresno will spell Castillo and Tyler as a change of pace and to stretch the field with his speed. The Wolfpack lost James LeGrande to retirement this year.
TE - The Wolfpack made a splash last year when they signed Luke Burnett to a huge contract with an insane bonus. He then injured his knee in the last week of preseason and missed half of the year. Burnett returns along side of Chad Strong who scouts think may have lost a step. Chad’s role, of course, is largely blocking. Neal Hanshaw who was good in the clutch last year, walked away in free agency to Portland. Rookie Steven Bobo will hope to fill his role. Bobo has more speed than Hanshaw and bigger playmaking ability, but scouts are a bit worried about his alligator arms.
WR - Reno laid down $34 million dollars for Wally Steverson to join the Pack and help a dismal performing Wide Receiving corps. Unfortunately, Steverson seems to be showing signs of age, or has had difficulty adjusting to the new offensive schemes. The Wolfpack brought him in to stretch the field, but he appeared tired often. The more quiet free agent signing, was Roman Bronson, who impressed scouts with his good hands and ability to return kicks and punts. It is unclear however if Bronson and Steverson will share the duties at split end, or whether Bronson will move to Flanker until 1st round rookie, Mo Bauer, adjusts to the learning curve. Scouts are high on Mo, and believe that he will help the offense catch more than 12 TD’s this year. Foland, Martin, and Busby return but will see limited action. Martin will continue to play special teams.
C - Bernie Shultz returns as the premier run blocker for the Wolfpack. It’s hard to believe that a man taken in the 6th round by division rival Salt Lake City 8 years ago, has established himself as the 7th best run blocker in the league. Behind him is Horace Barnett, the vocal leader of the offensive line. Eugene Daughtry will continue to provide long snapping duties.
G - The right side of this line has been good for some time with the presence of Donald Fletcher. Donald is in his fourth year and continues to develop. Though not flashy, he gets the job done. John Legg, however, retired and left a huge hole on the left side. Fighting for this position will be 2 rookies, Marcus Murray and Nate Umenyiora, and one veteran, Quentin Habich. Habich has the inside road, but scouts keep eying Umenyiora despite a poor combine. Though reality has set in, the belief is that he could be as good as Fletcher in the coming years. Not bad for a 7th round pick.
T - The Wolfpack continue to struggle at this position. Chuck Easterling was taken at the end of the first round last year, but has not lived up to expectations. Scouts saw improvement at training camp, but wish they had more going into this coming season. Monty Williford will occupy the other side at Right Tackle. The Wolfpack were hoping to switch Easterling and Williford to move Chuck to the Strong side, but Williford did not adapt well to the move. Look for Gerdes and Ingram to push for a starting role. Ingram is making a large contract that Reno thought about voiding but believe that his mentoring ability will continue to help Easterling develop.
P - After finishing near last in average yards per punt last year, Marco McNeil was shown the door when the Wolfpack selected Rookie Dustin Fredericks in the 4th round of this years draft. Dustin has a better leg than McNeil, though the Wolfpack acknowledged that McNeil’s stats were somewhat skewed by drives that stalled near the 35 yard line. It didn’t take long for Marco to find a new job with the Voodoo a week later.
K - Carrying two kickers on the roster last year was often difficult. This year, Craig and Hopson were released to make room for rookie Derrick Tatum. Tatum will be handling both duties this year. Hopson made 83% of all kicks inside 40 yards. That is 9th on the list. To date, Danny Hopson is selling insurance waiting for a call from Iowa City whose kicker only made 55% last year.
Next week: Defense
QB - Dennis Collela continues to be the leader of this team. Though experts agree, his 13th season will see a bit of a drop off, scouts believe he is still better than Bryan McNeil, who will be holding a clipboard for his 3rd season after his rookie season experiment. McNeil continues to improve under Collela’s mentorship but Collela still has 2 years on his contract, which the Wolfpack appear ready to honor. Rookie Aaron Borders seems to have been brought in to hold kicks as Dexter Fitzgerald was released. Let’s hope that Reno never has to rely on its 3rd string quarterback because it could get ugly in a hurry.
RB - Darnell Castillo is a rock. Last year he gained over 1600 yards. He also led all Wolfpack receivers with 649 yards. Perhaps that doesn’t say much considering the WR crew. Castillo however has struggled in short yardage and pounding it into the end zone. He had only 11 TD this past season and converted less than 50% of 3rd down conversions. They brought in Phil Tyler from Louisiana this year to handle those duties, but were very disappointed in his training camp. Word has it that the Wolfpack were considering trading with Anchorage for Roy Ramsey, but appear content to allow Fullback Ricardo Burnett do the dirty work. However, without a blocking Fullback, this team still seems to be a player short of pounding the rock when teams are stacked with 8 in the box. Michael Kopp returns as the spiritual leader of the Pack, but have not seemed to have found the right role for him. Free Agent, Kerry Glenn, from Fresno will spell Castillo and Tyler as a change of pace and to stretch the field with his speed. The Wolfpack lost James LeGrande to retirement this year.
TE - The Wolfpack made a splash last year when they signed Luke Burnett to a huge contract with an insane bonus. He then injured his knee in the last week of preseason and missed half of the year. Burnett returns along side of Chad Strong who scouts think may have lost a step. Chad’s role, of course, is largely blocking. Neal Hanshaw who was good in the clutch last year, walked away in free agency to Portland. Rookie Steven Bobo will hope to fill his role. Bobo has more speed than Hanshaw and bigger playmaking ability, but scouts are a bit worried about his alligator arms.
WR - Reno laid down $34 million dollars for Wally Steverson to join the Pack and help a dismal performing Wide Receiving corps. Unfortunately, Steverson seems to be showing signs of age, or has had difficulty adjusting to the new offensive schemes. The Wolfpack brought him in to stretch the field, but he appeared tired often. The more quiet free agent signing, was Roman Bronson, who impressed scouts with his good hands and ability to return kicks and punts. It is unclear however if Bronson and Steverson will share the duties at split end, or whether Bronson will move to Flanker until 1st round rookie, Mo Bauer, adjusts to the learning curve. Scouts are high on Mo, and believe that he will help the offense catch more than 12 TD’s this year. Foland, Martin, and Busby return but will see limited action. Martin will continue to play special teams.
C - Bernie Shultz returns as the premier run blocker for the Wolfpack. It’s hard to believe that a man taken in the 6th round by division rival Salt Lake City 8 years ago, has established himself as the 7th best run blocker in the league. Behind him is Horace Barnett, the vocal leader of the offensive line. Eugene Daughtry will continue to provide long snapping duties.
G - The right side of this line has been good for some time with the presence of Donald Fletcher. Donald is in his fourth year and continues to develop. Though not flashy, he gets the job done. John Legg, however, retired and left a huge hole on the left side. Fighting for this position will be 2 rookies, Marcus Murray and Nate Umenyiora, and one veteran, Quentin Habich. Habich has the inside road, but scouts keep eying Umenyiora despite a poor combine. Though reality has set in, the belief is that he could be as good as Fletcher in the coming years. Not bad for a 7th round pick.
T - The Wolfpack continue to struggle at this position. Chuck Easterling was taken at the end of the first round last year, but has not lived up to expectations. Scouts saw improvement at training camp, but wish they had more going into this coming season. Monty Williford will occupy the other side at Right Tackle. The Wolfpack were hoping to switch Easterling and Williford to move Chuck to the Strong side, but Williford did not adapt well to the move. Look for Gerdes and Ingram to push for a starting role. Ingram is making a large contract that Reno thought about voiding but believe that his mentoring ability will continue to help Easterling develop.
P - After finishing near last in average yards per punt last year, Marco McNeil was shown the door when the Wolfpack selected Rookie Dustin Fredericks in the 4th round of this years draft. Dustin has a better leg than McNeil, though the Wolfpack acknowledged that McNeil’s stats were somewhat skewed by drives that stalled near the 35 yard line. It didn’t take long for Marco to find a new job with the Voodoo a week later.
K - Carrying two kickers on the roster last year was often difficult. This year, Craig and Hopson were released to make room for rookie Derrick Tatum. Tatum will be handling both duties this year. Hopson made 83% of all kicks inside 40 yards. That is 9th on the list. To date, Danny Hopson is selling insurance waiting for a call from Iowa City whose kicker only made 55% last year.
Next week: Defense