Los Angeles Offseason

[Hoosier]

Los Angeles is returning to its roots. The Imperial League franchise has asked, and received, permission from the league to return to the Matadors nickname. "I was originally only a temporary steward for the LA franchise until Iceman returned from an unannounced hiatus, and after three seasons now, it appears the Imperial League is stuck with me. I could never get behind the nickname Liberty...I toyed with the Libertarians, but ...it didn't click. Returning to the Matadors seemed like the right thing to do. The League doesn't have to update the ingame graphics, and there aren't many red/orange color combinations in the league. I like the Matadors, it's unique, and honors the teams and G.M.'s that were here before me." G.M. David "Hoosier" Owens.



The Draft:

1.6. RB Tom "Ducky" Mallard, Kansas State
5-10, 205 lbs
Interviewed, As Scouted



The old rubric when drafting players is.. combines combines combines. "Ducky" Mallard's combines are eye popping. The ingame scouting report confirmed him, Stelmack loved him, and I couldn't pass him up.
Bars are all excellent. And I love me a running back in this game. Reference the House League and Corey Dillon. Or the UFL and Joe Cribbs. Give me a running back, and I'll ram it down your throat.
So, what does it mean for former first round pick Herb Montgomery? Are his days numbered? No, he'll stay with the team as the second option at running back. I've never really been completely satisfied with him, and he was always a reach. I think he'll be better served as the number two option, and more of the power back we'll need.

[JesterBlaze]

I also like the return to the Matadors!

[Argot]

I love the new/old look.

[sovstar]

looks really nice

[Suicane]

It's a BULL!!

[Matt]

love the Matadors
another RB?
is this the 3rd year that the Matadors have drafted a 1st yr RB

[Hoosier]

love the Matadors
another RB?
is this the 3rd year that the Matadors have drafted a 1st yr RB

and we'll keep on doing it until we get it right..lol.

[JesterBlaze]

I want to draft a non-1st-year RB.

[Hoosier]

2.8. DT Roger Adachi, Illini
6-3, 307 lbs.
Did Not Interview, average volatility



Adachi will play at right defensive tackle, and was drafted specifically for pass rush packages. He's got that nailed down very well. Run d, not so much. He's a great complement to the nine year run stuffing dt Colin Bridges, who's not a pass rusher at all. It makes the substitutions for the pass defense much more effective for us.
Stelmack liked the guy. I love his pass rush strength and his hard hitting ability.

[Hoosier]

5.8. SLB Phillip Poston, Boston College
6-1, 227 lbs.

I needed a backup and special teams contributor, and I got that with Poston. What a lot of people don't know is that he's the grandson of late comedic great Tom Poston.

6.5. QB Walter Upshaw, Oregon State
6-2, 215 lbs.
Did Not Interview.


His bars are a mixed bag... everything from third down passing on down are pretty impressive, but he's not good at short, medium, or deep passes. I wonder if TC and a few years would help the guy? He needs to work on strength, and conditioning mighg help him.
I liked him for his scramble ability and kick holding. The kick holders I have run like Peyton Manning, and I wanted a Michael Vick kind of runner. Combine scores in forty, agility, and position drill are excellent. Broadjump sucks, but that's probably because he's a white dude. Stelmack says he'll land with futures around late forties early fifties, and that's solid for a long term backup.
Lands with two affinities with offensive leaders.

6.7. LB Eric Young, Indiana University
6-0, 228 lbs.

I needed a good wlb backup, and he looks like that to me. And again, he improves our special teams depth.

7.6. LT Stan Godfrey, West Virginia
6-5, 320 lbs.

Drafted to play as a backup to Kyle Ellis. That's about it. He's srong, and I like his blocking bars ingame, but his endurance sucks.

[Hoosier]

Undrafted Rookie Free Agents:

SE Emmanuel Kelly, NC State
5-11, 193 lbs
Recognized

Kelly has great hands, adjusts to ball very well, and is good at getting downfield. He has decent numbers in punt return ability, but better ability in kick returns. With his endurance bars nearly maxed out, I thought he'd be a good young prospect for kick and punt returns.

[Hoosier]

RB Frankie Thornton, SE Missouri State
5-11, 219 lbs
Did Not Interview



I thought he'd make a decent backup running back, his bars are solid, he's elusive and sees the hole very well, but isn't fast. Picks up the bliz well, so he'll be a decent passing down back.