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One night before season 2 begins and everyone in Burlington is starting to get that itch. It's the type of itch that gets you all giddy and you begin calling your team title contenders.
Come down from the clouds, people.
This team is definitely improved from last season, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but they have a ways to go. Still, we can start to see a plan from the ownership who took over in week 5 of last season.
QB- Virgil Sepulveda screams potential. He is a fantasy owners wet dream, what with his 4.3 speed, his tendency to run and the fact that he has know quams throwing the ball deep, even if his man is covered. This season the coaching staff and team owners have surrounded Virgil with much more talent on the offensive side of the ball. It began with picking all world rookie TE Quentin Logan and continued with drafting a young rookie WR and also picking up WR Larry Ostrowski off waivers. They even improved their running game a tad, to take a little pressure off of Sepulveda. What does that mean, exactly? Well Virgil will provide many a headache for defenses and defensive coordinators all season long, whether it be a long bomb, or a qb scramble.
RB-FB While this group may seem pretty bad, they are world's better than last year's group, that is for damn sure. They have a very good offensive line to run behind and Virgil also helps out their running game. The qb posted 628 yards and 1 td, to the tune of 6.15 a carry last season and that may even improve this year. One would hope that this group can manage 1700 yards or more this season on over 4 yards a carry. At Fullback Farias and Kayser can both run when needed and they both provide multible skills on offense. They can both block, recieve, and run.
WR-TE Definitely the strength of this team, no doubt. Max Brown SE led the league in receptions and recieving yards last season and still looks to be improving. The scary thing is, he may not even be the best wr on the team. That honour may go to Joseph Bailey FL. He is a clutch possesion reciever who excels in third downs. But don't let him fool you, if you play him close, he will burn you downfield, without hesitation. The backups look good as well. Larry Ostrowski was a starter last year for a different team and he posted 853 yards and 8 tds. So he is more than a capable sub/emergency starter and they also have rookie sensation Chris Andrews who looked very good in training camp. Have I mentioned TE Quentin Logan yet? This guy is going to be a beast to deal with this year, not to mention years and years to come. He not only will get the 8-10 yard catches, but he loves to beat lbs and safeties deep and he breaks tackles like nobodies business. People were laughing when Logan was picked 5th overall, but he has already improved greatly with just a training camp under his belt and the sky appears to be the limit with this kid. I think if Sepulveda doesn't pass for 4000 yards this year with this group, then he will be a dissapointment.
Offensive Line-This has to be one of the best groups in the league. They could easily start 6 guys honestly on this team. Pinder and Daniels are two of the best in the league and Million and Turner are just getting better and better. This team is probably just as good at run blocking as it is pass blocking and it seems they will be together for a long, LONG time.
K- Joshua Huff was asked to do many things last season. While not the most talented kicker by any means, he more than held his own in a tough year for the Bolts. He not only connected on 20-29 fg's and 29-30 pat's, he also punted 51 times for a 42.9 average, believe it or not. He seems a bargain this year at 550,000 a year.
P- Joshua Huff K He is still growing. He was here last year and one of the reasons Huff was pulling double duty is because Huff is still growing. His leg is still not up to snuff. last year he punted 31 times for a 39.6 average. That is not horrid but as many times as the Bolts needed to punt, it certainly could have been better. Fuller has been holding his own in camp , and management didn't fire him or bring in a replacement. Part of the reason had to be Huff is only 330,000 a year, and the other reason must be Huff's success at this last season.
DE-Stephen Berard LDE might just be the best player on defense. His 11.9 tackle percentage was very good for a defensive end and he also posted 9 sacks as well. The depth behind him (at least for now, looks poor at best)
DT- Will Huey Nelson be back this season? And will he be as good as he was last season, before injury? That seems to be the question everyone is asking in Bulington. Management didn't do much to improve their d-line, so they must feel he will be back, better than ever. We can only hope though. Domingo Waldon LDT is a very nice player and the more complete player of the two, to be honest, but he can be that much better with a better backup or a starter next to him, if they choose to go to the 4-3. Either way, all eyes are on Nelson's return.
MLB- This group looks pretty deep, to be honest, the projected starters are Christian Floyd and Reggie Greiner. Reggie Greiner has already arrived, he and Berard were the heart and soul of the front 7 last year and Greiner looks hungry this season, which isn't good for the offenses they will face. As for Floyd, right now he is a work in progress as far as run stopping is concerned. While no pushover, it is a weakness in his game. However, he has many strengths. He is an excellent pass defender and can also rush the passer. He reads offensive sets well and knocks the snot out of anyone he touches. Thanh Knox is very similar to Floyd as far as weaknesses and strengths go, while not as polished as Floyd, yet... he has the potential to be a dominant pass cover specialist in the near future.
In the preseason Burlington started Knox at SLB. It remains to be seen if they will continue to do so.
OLB- As I stated earlier, it is very possible that Knox starts at the WLB slot as for the other side, Calvin McGary WLB is a stud in the making. Run defense is definitely a weakness, but his pass defense, his pash rushing, as well as his stamina, scream starter. As for backups, Jorge Hickman WLB is the only backup to note and he has a long ways to go, before he is expected to really contribute.
S/Cb- The coaching staff seems to covet man to man defenders and seem to have no qualms whatsoever of starting a safety at cb or a cb at safety. This group is young and the only one that is even close to fully developed of note is Alton Fillmore SS. Because of their committment to man to man defense, this group is talented but their is a huge room for improvement with most of them. Eventually though, this group, if it sticks together, could be scary good.
This writer hopes that this team provides many a highlight on offense and doesn't get dominanted on the defensive side of the ball by opposing offenses. I think 8-8 is a honest goal, and if they can reach that, than they should contend for a wildcard spot till the last few weeks and who knows they could even get in.
GO BOLTS!
Come down from the clouds, people.
This team is definitely improved from last season, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but they have a ways to go. Still, we can start to see a plan from the ownership who took over in week 5 of last season.
QB- Virgil Sepulveda screams potential. He is a fantasy owners wet dream, what with his 4.3 speed, his tendency to run and the fact that he has know quams throwing the ball deep, even if his man is covered. This season the coaching staff and team owners have surrounded Virgil with much more talent on the offensive side of the ball. It began with picking all world rookie TE Quentin Logan and continued with drafting a young rookie WR and also picking up WR Larry Ostrowski off waivers. They even improved their running game a tad, to take a little pressure off of Sepulveda. What does that mean, exactly? Well Virgil will provide many a headache for defenses and defensive coordinators all season long, whether it be a long bomb, or a qb scramble.
RB-FB While this group may seem pretty bad, they are world's better than last year's group, that is for damn sure. They have a very good offensive line to run behind and Virgil also helps out their running game. The qb posted 628 yards and 1 td, to the tune of 6.15 a carry last season and that may even improve this year. One would hope that this group can manage 1700 yards or more this season on over 4 yards a carry. At Fullback Farias and Kayser can both run when needed and they both provide multible skills on offense. They can both block, recieve, and run.
WR-TE Definitely the strength of this team, no doubt. Max Brown SE led the league in receptions and recieving yards last season and still looks to be improving. The scary thing is, he may not even be the best wr on the team. That honour may go to Joseph Bailey FL. He is a clutch possesion reciever who excels in third downs. But don't let him fool you, if you play him close, he will burn you downfield, without hesitation. The backups look good as well. Larry Ostrowski was a starter last year for a different team and he posted 853 yards and 8 tds. So he is more than a capable sub/emergency starter and they also have rookie sensation Chris Andrews who looked very good in training camp. Have I mentioned TE Quentin Logan yet? This guy is going to be a beast to deal with this year, not to mention years and years to come. He not only will get the 8-10 yard catches, but he loves to beat lbs and safeties deep and he breaks tackles like nobodies business. People were laughing when Logan was picked 5th overall, but he has already improved greatly with just a training camp under his belt and the sky appears to be the limit with this kid. I think if Sepulveda doesn't pass for 4000 yards this year with this group, then he will be a dissapointment.
Offensive Line-This has to be one of the best groups in the league. They could easily start 6 guys honestly on this team. Pinder and Daniels are two of the best in the league and Million and Turner are just getting better and better. This team is probably just as good at run blocking as it is pass blocking and it seems they will be together for a long, LONG time.
K- Joshua Huff was asked to do many things last season. While not the most talented kicker by any means, he more than held his own in a tough year for the Bolts. He not only connected on 20-29 fg's and 29-30 pat's, he also punted 51 times for a 42.9 average, believe it or not. He seems a bargain this year at 550,000 a year.
P- Joshua Huff K He is still growing. He was here last year and one of the reasons Huff was pulling double duty is because Huff is still growing. His leg is still not up to snuff. last year he punted 31 times for a 39.6 average. That is not horrid but as many times as the Bolts needed to punt, it certainly could have been better. Fuller has been holding his own in camp , and management didn't fire him or bring in a replacement. Part of the reason had to be Huff is only 330,000 a year, and the other reason must be Huff's success at this last season.
DE-Stephen Berard LDE might just be the best player on defense. His 11.9 tackle percentage was very good for a defensive end and he also posted 9 sacks as well. The depth behind him (at least for now, looks poor at best)
DT- Will Huey Nelson be back this season? And will he be as good as he was last season, before injury? That seems to be the question everyone is asking in Bulington. Management didn't do much to improve their d-line, so they must feel he will be back, better than ever. We can only hope though. Domingo Waldon LDT is a very nice player and the more complete player of the two, to be honest, but he can be that much better with a better backup or a starter next to him, if they choose to go to the 4-3. Either way, all eyes are on Nelson's return.
MLB- This group looks pretty deep, to be honest, the projected starters are Christian Floyd and Reggie Greiner. Reggie Greiner has already arrived, he and Berard were the heart and soul of the front 7 last year and Greiner looks hungry this season, which isn't good for the offenses they will face. As for Floyd, right now he is a work in progress as far as run stopping is concerned. While no pushover, it is a weakness in his game. However, he has many strengths. He is an excellent pass defender and can also rush the passer. He reads offensive sets well and knocks the snot out of anyone he touches. Thanh Knox is very similar to Floyd as far as weaknesses and strengths go, while not as polished as Floyd, yet... he has the potential to be a dominant pass cover specialist in the near future.
In the preseason Burlington started Knox at SLB. It remains to be seen if they will continue to do so.
OLB- As I stated earlier, it is very possible that Knox starts at the WLB slot as for the other side, Calvin McGary WLB is a stud in the making. Run defense is definitely a weakness, but his pass defense, his pash rushing, as well as his stamina, scream starter. As for backups, Jorge Hickman WLB is the only backup to note and he has a long ways to go, before he is expected to really contribute.
S/Cb- The coaching staff seems to covet man to man defenders and seem to have no qualms whatsoever of starting a safety at cb or a cb at safety. This group is young and the only one that is even close to fully developed of note is Alton Fillmore SS. Because of their committment to man to man defense, this group is talented but their is a huge room for improvement with most of them. Eventually though, this group, if it sticks together, could be scary good.
This writer hopes that this team provides many a highlight on offense and doesn't get dominanted on the defensive side of the ball by opposing offenses. I think 8-8 is a honest goal, and if they can reach that, than they should contend for a wildcard spot till the last few weeks and who knows they could even get in.
GO BOLTS!
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