2020 Oakland Assassins Off-Season Thread

[ukpatfan]

Hard Knocks - with the 2020 Oakland Assassins.

The 2019 Season was a season of highs and lows for the Oakland Assassins.
QB Horace Donovan’s 2018 season had been curtailed by injury but he reported at camp fit and raring to go and team confidence was high.
A quality roster and an aggressively confident GM, Jave, carried the franchise to their third straight NC West division title on the back of an 11 – 5 record.
Impressive playoff victories over Vancouver and on the road at Tulsa had the Assassins faithful believing 2019 was going to be their year…..then an embarrassing 20 – 48 pummelling at the hands of Newark in the NC Conference game brought the season crashing to a halt just one step away from the franchise’s second ever Bowl appearance.

So, as the league heads into it’s 18th season, what is the state of the 2020 Oakland Assassins and can they take it to the next level and make a run at IFL Bowl XVIII?

The GM and fans certainly feel there is unfinished business in Oakland and it looks like most of the players feel that way too….three players retired but only one ‘starter’ hung up his cleats.
Starting RCB Heath Borum was the incumbent at the right corner spot through most of 2019, but in truth his play was average at best.
Borum failed to haul in a single pick and he once again fell short of an 80 PDPct (he never reached that benchmark during his nine year career) and he would ultimately lose his starting job to young team leader Jerome Bailey as the team made it’s deep run into the playoffs.
RCB will need addressing but this would have been the case whether Borum returned or not. His retirement is not a body blow for Oakland by any stretch. The writing was on the wall.
Two other players also called it a day. Reserve Center Conrad McWilliams and reserve ILB Karl Hinson both handed in their papers as the vast majority of the team showed there is still a hunger and desire on the roster.
The roster is one year older but retirements will not affect the team’s 2020 showing.

The 2020 draft will see Oakland with a fairly decent handful of picks.
The Assassins hold the rights to the 1.26 / 3.24 / 5.25 / 6.24 and 7.26 picks and will have the ammo needed to keep the starting roster full of quality.
However, the second and third string guys may need some overhauling.

On the eve of staff hiring 2020, Oakland have just 29 players contracted into the new season and will only have around $11m cap room after draftees sign.
Only the Texas Trojans have less players signed and therein lies the challenge facing the Assassins GM.
How will Jave fill the roster with the quality and depth needed to win the thing on a tight budget?
No stranger to Cap Somersaults, Jave will need to be creative again to mount a serious and sustained challenge at a title.

Assassins’ fans wait with baited breath to see what Jave’s first move will be.
Make sure you tune in to the next edition of 'Hard Knocks – Oakland 2020'.

[Jave]

Ohhh damn, you got pics kicking an everything. I'm gonna have to step up my game for mine. There's no way a frikkin Pats fan is gonna outdo me!!

[ukpatfan]

There's no way a frikkin Pats fan is gonna outdo me!!

Come on Al Davis, show me what you've got!!
(And how 'bout a decision on that PM?)

[JesterBlaze]

Love it! Oakland is the team to be feared (assuming a big drop from the Burger "King") in the NC for Phantom Phans in 2020.

This media switcharoo is gonna be interesting.

[markc]

Love these write-ups!

[ukpatfan]

Hard Knocks - with the 2020 Oakland Assassins.

One the eve of staff hiring1, the Hard Knocks team have been working hard to bring our readers the insiders view of the Oakland Assassins as they prepare for the 2020 season.


Tackling a Problem on the Right?
It’s now common knowledge that Oakland is looking to trade in a veteran RT in a bid to boost their running game.
It remains to be seen whether Jave will be successful in cementing the right deal but certainly former 6th rd pick and two time All-Pro RT Duane Barton is looking over his shoulder after two seasons of distinctly average play.

It may take more than hard work in Camp to save Barton's job.

One team employee with knowledge of the situation had this comment:
“Barton has been a fucking ROCK through his career, however last year his skills took a huge hit and it’s our guess he will take another hit this year. The offensive line is this team’s running game. RT is an area that needs filling now.”



Shelton to be Tagged?
Rumours are circulating that the Assassins are going to place the Franchise tag on veteran OC Gerald Shelton.

There was uncertainty whether the 14yr man would return for another season but now the former All-Pro OC has stated his intent for one more go at making the show and Shelton looks certain to pick up one last payday.
The big man performed very well last season and the 2007 1.21 pick out of Texas A&M was excellent in pass protection – he gave up just one sack in the regular season and didn’t let any one get near Donovan in the playoffs.
Whether Shelton may finally end up with one last multi year deal depends largely on his contract demands. With a tight cap budget in Oakland, the feeling is Shelton may prove too expensive for anything more than a one year deal.

Center Gary Shelton - set for one last payday?

Some pundits feel the cap situation in Oakland….or more accurately, the low number of contracted players….may be a problem for the team as they build a roster for 2020.

Jave made light of the team’s position:“Not a problem. As I have said before, I've never had buckets an buckets of cap space. However this years cap concerns were intentional. Over the past 2 seasons, I've resigned every core player to a new contract. Doyle, Wilson, Smith, Stuart, Thompson, Wingfield, Donovan.....they have all been given new contracts. All I really have to do is make cap room for role players and bench fodder. I'll be just fine.”

When asked if cap pressures might restrict his FA moves, Jave made it clear that he would probably look to sign one or two specific role guys but that he was unlikely to go after the bigger name FA’s.
Oakland has 13 players who are listed as RFA and their futures are by no means certain. Jave has indicated that “I wouldn’t sweat losing any one of them.”
If that don’t motivate those guys to work for a contract, nothing will!


Trade rumours.
Following the recent retirement of starting RCB Heath Borum, there are whispers flying around the league that Oakland have made tentative enquiries to trade in a replacement cornerback.
Light on corner cover (just three on the payroll at this time), second year players Jerome Bailey and Alvin Martinez are the only options to start on the right at present.
Although both had playing time in 2019 and both show some potential, neither looks the permanent answer in the secondary and would be better suited to nickel formations.

This publication understands that Lawrence Phantoms CB Sherman Shawwa was the preferred target for the Oakland front office.
However, word on the ground is that that potential deal is dead in the water with Shawwa likely to be franchised by the Phantoms and signed to a longer deal.
It may be that cornerback becomes the priority for the Assassins in the forthcoming draft, but expect more trade rumours to do the rounds right up until Oakland makes their 1st round pick.

Additionally, Oakland return specialist Kent Mulligan is a hot commodity after his 7 return TD’s in 2019.
One other IFL team looks to have tried to prise Mulligan away but the door seems to have firmly shut on that bit of business as Mulligan recently signed a new 1 year deal and looks set to play in silver and black again next season.


Oakland reverting to a 4-3 front?
The Assassins experimented with a 3-4 defensive front last time out but the decision makers in Oakland weren’t happy citing the detrimental effect this had on their run defense.
Indications are that the defensive co-ordinator will be instructed to move back to a 4-3 and finding a DT to partner the beast that is Leonard Wingfield is a priority.
Expect the D-Line to get a little help through the draft.

Leonard Wingfield - Time to unshackle The Beast?

The team is also hanging on DE Sean Carlson’s camp showing. The D-line needs Carlson to have a good camp or RDE also becomes an issue for the D.
Wingfield and LDE Rickey Doyle both had great production in 2019 and the team expects the same again if not better after moving back to the 4-3 where there is less opportunity for opponents to double team either of those stars.

Join Hard Knocks again after Staff Hiring and keep up with all the Assassins news and views.

[JesterBlaze]

Trade rumours....

This publication understands that Lawrence Phantoms CB Sherman Shawwa was the preferred target for the Oakland front office.
However, word on the ground is that that potential deal is dead in the water with Shawwa likely to be franchised by the Phantoms and signed to a longer deal...

Shawwa is still on the block. He'll be franchised but there's no long term contract plans as of yet.

[tarcone]

Ive heard rumors that a veteran all pro RT has been offered to Oakland. This was texted to me by a source close to the situation. This is pure speculation, Im sure.

[Matt]

Why would Gary "the Situation" Jamison have any information

[JesterBlaze]

Why would Gary "the Situation" Jamison have any information

Not Gary but his boyfriend. A source "close" to the Situation.

[Matt]

Not Gary but his boyfriend. A source "close" to the Situation.

hahaha......

[Jave]

This is great fucking stuff. I have to admit, it's been so crazy around here this is the FIRST time I've had a chance to even read it. So far you've been pretty much right on the money. Damn Pat fans has some inside sources and shit!

[ukpatfan]

Hard Knocks - with the 2020 Oakland Assassins.

Post Draft Edition

Staff Hiring:
The Assassins were in the precarious position of entering staff hiring with no coaching position filled.
There were mixed results by the end of staff hiring.
OC Vince Rodriguez negotiated a new 5yr deal and will provide some much needed continuity to the coaching staff but Oakland will see new faces elsewhere.
38yr old rookie Head Coach Zach Merak inked a 5yr deal and he looks to have excellent potential. Already a respected college Head Coach, Merak projects to have a bright future in the pros although it remains to be seen if he can take over the reins without the team missing a step.
Oakland signed another rookie in 46yr old DC Brett Bond on a 5yr deal. Bond is not a bad coach but there are some early doubters who question whether in his first pro job, he can coach a defence which went to the Conference Championship. The jury is out.


As expected C Gary Shelton was tagged as franchise player
Young secondary leader, corner Jerome Bailey spent the summer in Europe


During FA, Jave had indicated he’d avoid splashing the cash and he remained true to his word.
9 players signed cheap 1yr deals through the 2020 season – none of whom look to be anything more than bit players/3^rd stringers
After early FA finished, Oakland now has 38 players signed with just over $8m cap room unallocated. Cap room still looks tight.


Trades:
SE/Returner Kent Mulligan left for Wichita in a deal which saw the Outlaws swap their 2.13 pick for Oakland’s 2021 2^nd rounder.
Probably fair value but he leaves some big shoes to fill.
Oakland also made a move dealing their 2021 1^st and 2022 2^nd to Iowa City for the rights to the 1.25 pick.
Despite openly shopping for a replacement RT, no deal was struck and the draft looked the best hope for reinforcements on the O-line.


Which brings us to Oakland’s 2020 IFL draft:
With no RT trade deal, RT along with DT and CB were perhaps the likeliest areas where Oakland would draft.
The team had a glaring need at corner and Jave had made no secret of his desire to replace RT Duane Barton and also bring in a 4-3 DT to play alongside Leonard Wingfield as the D moved back to a 4-3 system.

With the newly acquired 1.25 pick, Oakland swooped for the second rated CB in the class - Andy Mabe.

Athletic cornerback Andy Mabe

Mabe is a slightly undersized but well developed talent out of North Texas and he had exhibited some excellent skills through his college career.
He wasn’t asked to play much bump and run for North Texas but don’t let that fool you, Mabe will be able to cover receivers in any system.
He has an eye for a pick and is no slouch against the run.
Throw in some eye catching special teams and kick off return skills and Jave seems to have selected an excellent all round cornerback who will contribute in several vital areas.
Grade B+

Oakland also delivered the next card to the Commissioner as they selected OT Teddy Meske in the 1.26 slot.
Meske played for Minnesota-Morris and slipped under the radar a little.
He played LT for the Cougars but will play at RT for Oakland with Troy Stickney a lock at LT.
Meske is an all round talent but he is very raw. A late comer to the game, it will probably be too much to ask him to start straight out of camp.
RT Barton may just get one more shot at retaining his job before Jave throws the rookie in the deep end.
Grade C+

Into the second round and with their newly acquired 2.13 pick, the Assassins drafted DT Toby Collins out of Syracuse.

DT Collins shows his determination to succeed.

Collins was a very good selection in a strong DT class. He is big, smart and had an excellent combine.
A terrific run stopper, alongside Wingfield, Collins will lock down the new 2 man interior on the defensive front for years to come.
No one will want to run inside on the Assassins and this guy is excellent value at the middle of the second.
Grade A-

Third round and Jave had also wanted to beef up his DE cadre with little behind Rickey Doyle other than the ineffective Sean Carlson.
Consequently, DE Tyrus Riley joins the Assassins from Stephen F Austin college.
Riley is a very smart footballer with good tackling ability. His bench press at the combine was poor and Riley might be too light and too weak to really stand out in the pros.
He runs the risk of being pushed around and may not be effective in getting to the QB.
Very definitely a RDE in Oakland’s 4-3, Riley will get a shot to start but Carlson may be another vet that keeps his job.
Grade C-

As the later draft picks rolled around, Oakland decided it was time to try and replace Mulligan’s punt return skills.
With the 5.25 pick, Jave drafted Vanderbilt SE/PR Rich Roque.
The knock on Roque is he is undersized and slow. Relatively sure handed and tricky once he has caught the ball, his receiving skills do look limited however.
He will never be more than a 4^th string receiver but this guy was drafted to return punts.
He may not have the dangerous speed of an elite PR but with the knack to make the first tackler miss, Roque should be reasonably effective.
Grade C-

With Center Gerald Shelton the old man of the team, Oakland decided to take a gamble on Center K.C Ferguson with the 6.24 slot.
Ferguson, out of Southern Methodist, slipped drastically due to size concerns. At 6’01” and only 269lbs, he will need to bulk up fast.
However, this guys has some talent. He can run block well and probably has the skills to hold his own in the pros.
Also an effective long snapper, Ferguson will back up Shelton for one year before getting his chance to make the starting job his own.
Grade B-


With their final pick in the 2020 draft, Oakland rolled the dice on QB Eddie Emmons out of Indiana.
Emmons has a very weak arm, cannot avoid the rush and is another slightly undersized draftee for Oakland.
He has some smarts, is accurate and can gain yards on the ground but the draw backs in his game will see him struggle.
However, with 3^rd year QB Hardy Rhodes struggling to make it in the pros, Emmons will likely get the nod as the third stringer at least for a season.
Grade C-

Overall draft grade: B+
Jave filled his designated needs and struck gold with Mabe and Collins.
If Meske can develop quickly and make Barton redundant, this will go down as a very nice draft for the Assassins.


Heading into Late FA, Oakland will sign all their draft picks to bring their roster up to 45 contracted players.
That will leave somewhere in the region of $3m to pad out the remaining 8 roster spots, unless some vets renegotiate their contracts.
Jave has some work cut out to bring in the bodies and will likely just pad out the roster with scrubs.
The starters on the roster have talent but there isn’t a whole lot of depth on the team.
New Head Coach Marek better have a good medical team because the franchise can’t take too many injuries if they want to get back to the NFC Championship game.
The young secondary will also need to step up, not least rookie Andy Mabe.

Join Hard Knocks next time when we shall see the final Assassins 2020 roster take shape through Training Camp.

[DakotaGeorge]

UKPAT This was very well done. Surprised to be honest.

[ukpatfan]

UKPAT This was very well done. Surprised to be honest.

Praise from DG.....now that's a surprise!
lol.