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COACHING
Artie Lyle is in the final year of his contract and GM Vito Stallione has already informed him to be looking for a new home if he can’t put the Stallions in the playoffs this season.
Lyle is a likable coach who still commands respect from his players but the losing has got to stop; it’s the playoffs or bust this season. Offensive coordinator R.J. Rasmussen helped make Jacobs’s transition to the Stallions virtually flawless, and they seem to be building something special together. The offense should continue to diversify as Rasmussen works in a few more wrinkles that undoubtedly will include an emphasis on throwing to 2nd year tight end Ricardo Cochrane and plenty of touches for sophomore running back Maxwell (4.9 YPC) . Defensive coordinator Steve Barber has some youth at linebacker and his unit finished the 2014 campaign on high note.
GRADE: D
QUARTERBACKS
Edward Jacobs proved he’s an elite thrower by tossing a franchise record 41 touchdowns last year. He’s got a big arm and impressive field-swagger. He played smart, steady, and explosive all season. Jacobs’s challenge this year is to get even better after defensive coordinators have devoted the offseason months to figuring out how to stop him. Jacobs needs to improve some of his finer quarterbacking skills, such as looking off his receivers and varying his snap count. Jacobs’s iron-man performance meant that backup Tim Dewitt saw no game action last season and that’s likely a trend that will continue as the front office is very pleased with North Carolina rookie QB Damon Mitchell (fifth round). Mitchell caught the team’s eye at the senior bowl and prospects to be a Jacobs-type starter but the Stallions will be happy if both he and Dewitt don’t see the field this season.
GRADE: A
RUNNING BACKS
Look for Jared Maxwell to win the starting job coming off an impressive rookie season with 768 yards on 154 carries. He’s a game breaker with 33 plays over 10 yards and the Stallions haven’t had a back do that since James Tart retired. Maxwell was every bit as important to Salt Lake City’s success in the passing game as Jacobs. Teams have to account for him in games and that allows for big plays to develop on the outside. Free agent battering ram Richard Guthrie (6’ 225 lbs) and veteran-scat back J.J. Thornburg (5’10” 202) will provide insurance for Maxwell and give the team a change of pace when needed. Rookie Castillo won’t see the field this season if the trio can stay healthy. Fullback Norman Wiseman offers strong lead blocks but his best days are behind him.
GRADE: C
RECEIVERS
Jacobs and veteran receiver David Norris took an instant liking to each other last season, and that translated into a huge year for Norris. Jacobs’ big arm resulted in a career year for WR Gomez also as he cracked 1000 yards for the first time. Now Jacobs has some more weapons to throw to in rookie wide-outs Andy Hutchins and Brian Hohlt. Their presence should allow the Stallions to really showcase their 5WR sets. TE Daniel Rich turned in a 44 catch, 500 receiving yard season before he retired but look for 2nd year TE Ricardo Cochrane and the route-running Irv Wilkerson to make his retirement a quiet one. Cochrane has shown an ability to catch just about everything thrown his way and thus will assume the pass-catching TE role while Wilkerson holds the point in the run game.
GRADE: A
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
The interior of this unit is all-pro caliber. Our concern lies with the tackles as the Stallions added greybeards B.J. Parrish and Charles Overton in the offseason. Both are nearing the end of their careers but SLC thinks their veteran savvy will more than make up for what they lack in physical talents now. Guards Hughes and Kelso are two of the best at their respective positions. These road-graders should be able to lead SLC’s ground game into the top 10 this season. Rounding out the bunch is C Darrin Kaplan; he’s allowed only 3 sacks in as many seasons.
GRADE: B
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
2013 Defensive Player of the Year Quentin Caro only notched 5.5 sacks last season after a promising 13.5 campaign but he led the team with 21 hurries and 25 QB knockdowns. We look for a healthy Lamar Ordona (NT) and LE Junior Bundren to complete a solid yet unspectacular starting line. Backups Isaac Adkins (NT) and LE Monty Alcott provide depth.
GRADE: B
LINEBACKERS
OLB Stephen Strait holds the franchise sack record with 39.5 takedowns of the QB---on the other side; we have the return of all-league OLB Vinny “Boom-Boom” Shinkle who suffered from a lingering hamstring injury all last season. When he and Strait are healthy, they can get after the QB; DPR Victor Barber adds more gravy to the roast as DC Barber moves him around to keep opposing QBs uncomfortable. The inside is manned by ILB Dustin Andersen who replaced Herzog in the lineup after he was traded to Montreal. Andersen was solid as a rookie and the front office believe they’ve found a coverage phenom in rookie WILB Alfred Hayward to pair with him. Look for these guys to stuff the run and break up passes over the middle while SLC brings maximum pressure on the edges. 6th round surprise Ernest Emerson may eventually allow SLC to move Andersen to OLB. Former starter Chester Kinsey can play every linebacker position and is a special-teams demon. We might be looking at an all-league unit here in a couple of seasons.
GRADE: C
DEFENSIVE BACKS
DBs Austin Roberson and Sammy Hancock didn’t play well in a number of games last season, but coordinator Steve Barber corrected the defensive ship late last season and both corners responded with lockdown performances in the last 3 games. Both allow SLC to run a variety of coverages or blitz from the corner position. When they blitz, the Stallions hand-off receivers to the best man-coverage safeties in the game. At 6’, 220 lbs one expects Streets to only be a run-stuffing / big-hit safety but he’s a witch in coverage. At the 2nd safety spot, The ‘Willie Burke experience’ failed to generate the type of play Barber’s zone blitz is meant to evoke. Burke seemed lost at times last season but I expect him to settle down and show us his potential this season. Korey Branch and Jackie Stubbs provide depth.
GRADE: B
SPECIALISTS
Lawrence Wiggins gives SLC the best returner in the game. The front office thought enough of his talent and the club’s need for explosiveness in the return game that they signed him to a $5 million deal this past offseason. They hope his game-breaking ability will give them better field position and thus more opportunities to score. Big-footed Luther Adams will handle kick-off duties which should allow Tamaarkin to turn in another fine kicking season. Last year he converted 91% of his kicks handling only field goals. They need an upgrade at punter---Reyna’s not the answer.
GRADE: B
Artie Lyle is in the final year of his contract and GM Vito Stallione has already informed him to be looking for a new home if he can’t put the Stallions in the playoffs this season.
Lyle is a likable coach who still commands respect from his players but the losing has got to stop; it’s the playoffs or bust this season. Offensive coordinator R.J. Rasmussen helped make Jacobs’s transition to the Stallions virtually flawless, and they seem to be building something special together. The offense should continue to diversify as Rasmussen works in a few more wrinkles that undoubtedly will include an emphasis on throwing to 2nd year tight end Ricardo Cochrane and plenty of touches for sophomore running back Maxwell (4.9 YPC) . Defensive coordinator Steve Barber has some youth at linebacker and his unit finished the 2014 campaign on high note.
GRADE: D
QUARTERBACKS
Edward Jacobs proved he’s an elite thrower by tossing a franchise record 41 touchdowns last year. He’s got a big arm and impressive field-swagger. He played smart, steady, and explosive all season. Jacobs’s challenge this year is to get even better after defensive coordinators have devoted the offseason months to figuring out how to stop him. Jacobs needs to improve some of his finer quarterbacking skills, such as looking off his receivers and varying his snap count. Jacobs’s iron-man performance meant that backup Tim Dewitt saw no game action last season and that’s likely a trend that will continue as the front office is very pleased with North Carolina rookie QB Damon Mitchell (fifth round). Mitchell caught the team’s eye at the senior bowl and prospects to be a Jacobs-type starter but the Stallions will be happy if both he and Dewitt don’t see the field this season.
GRADE: A
RUNNING BACKS
Look for Jared Maxwell to win the starting job coming off an impressive rookie season with 768 yards on 154 carries. He’s a game breaker with 33 plays over 10 yards and the Stallions haven’t had a back do that since James Tart retired. Maxwell was every bit as important to Salt Lake City’s success in the passing game as Jacobs. Teams have to account for him in games and that allows for big plays to develop on the outside. Free agent battering ram Richard Guthrie (6’ 225 lbs) and veteran-scat back J.J. Thornburg (5’10” 202) will provide insurance for Maxwell and give the team a change of pace when needed. Rookie Castillo won’t see the field this season if the trio can stay healthy. Fullback Norman Wiseman offers strong lead blocks but his best days are behind him.
GRADE: C
RECEIVERS
Jacobs and veteran receiver David Norris took an instant liking to each other last season, and that translated into a huge year for Norris. Jacobs’ big arm resulted in a career year for WR Gomez also as he cracked 1000 yards for the first time. Now Jacobs has some more weapons to throw to in rookie wide-outs Andy Hutchins and Brian Hohlt. Their presence should allow the Stallions to really showcase their 5WR sets. TE Daniel Rich turned in a 44 catch, 500 receiving yard season before he retired but look for 2nd year TE Ricardo Cochrane and the route-running Irv Wilkerson to make his retirement a quiet one. Cochrane has shown an ability to catch just about everything thrown his way and thus will assume the pass-catching TE role while Wilkerson holds the point in the run game.
GRADE: A
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
The interior of this unit is all-pro caliber. Our concern lies with the tackles as the Stallions added greybeards B.J. Parrish and Charles Overton in the offseason. Both are nearing the end of their careers but SLC thinks their veteran savvy will more than make up for what they lack in physical talents now. Guards Hughes and Kelso are two of the best at their respective positions. These road-graders should be able to lead SLC’s ground game into the top 10 this season. Rounding out the bunch is C Darrin Kaplan; he’s allowed only 3 sacks in as many seasons.
GRADE: B
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
2013 Defensive Player of the Year Quentin Caro only notched 5.5 sacks last season after a promising 13.5 campaign but he led the team with 21 hurries and 25 QB knockdowns. We look for a healthy Lamar Ordona (NT) and LE Junior Bundren to complete a solid yet unspectacular starting line. Backups Isaac Adkins (NT) and LE Monty Alcott provide depth.
GRADE: B
LINEBACKERS
OLB Stephen Strait holds the franchise sack record with 39.5 takedowns of the QB---on the other side; we have the return of all-league OLB Vinny “Boom-Boom” Shinkle who suffered from a lingering hamstring injury all last season. When he and Strait are healthy, they can get after the QB; DPR Victor Barber adds more gravy to the roast as DC Barber moves him around to keep opposing QBs uncomfortable. The inside is manned by ILB Dustin Andersen who replaced Herzog in the lineup after he was traded to Montreal. Andersen was solid as a rookie and the front office believe they’ve found a coverage phenom in rookie WILB Alfred Hayward to pair with him. Look for these guys to stuff the run and break up passes over the middle while SLC brings maximum pressure on the edges. 6th round surprise Ernest Emerson may eventually allow SLC to move Andersen to OLB. Former starter Chester Kinsey can play every linebacker position and is a special-teams demon. We might be looking at an all-league unit here in a couple of seasons.
GRADE: C
DEFENSIVE BACKS
DBs Austin Roberson and Sammy Hancock didn’t play well in a number of games last season, but coordinator Steve Barber corrected the defensive ship late last season and both corners responded with lockdown performances in the last 3 games. Both allow SLC to run a variety of coverages or blitz from the corner position. When they blitz, the Stallions hand-off receivers to the best man-coverage safeties in the game. At 6’, 220 lbs one expects Streets to only be a run-stuffing / big-hit safety but he’s a witch in coverage. At the 2nd safety spot, The ‘Willie Burke experience’ failed to generate the type of play Barber’s zone blitz is meant to evoke. Burke seemed lost at times last season but I expect him to settle down and show us his potential this season. Korey Branch and Jackie Stubbs provide depth.
GRADE: B
SPECIALISTS
Lawrence Wiggins gives SLC the best returner in the game. The front office thought enough of his talent and the club’s need for explosiveness in the return game that they signed him to a $5 million deal this past offseason. They hope his game-breaking ability will give them better field position and thus more opportunities to score. Big-footed Luther Adams will handle kick-off duties which should allow Tamaarkin to turn in another fine kicking season. Last year he converted 91% of his kicks handling only field goals. They need an upgrade at punter---Reyna’s not the answer.
GRADE: B
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