Matador's Preparing For Offseason..

[Hoosier]

Matadors suffering through back to back injury plagued seasons, looking for better days ahead..

So, we've had the team since 2016, and I took a look at the 'STARS' we've found in the past few drafts. Matadors haven't broken through to the winning side yet, but I think we'll be there sooner rather than later.

This upcoming draft it's important for us to get it right, and I'm afraid we'll have to go after a young quarterback to help tide us over Debussy's 30 week torn patellar tendon. Aside from that, we'll play it close to the vest...

past successes are...

2016 Draft

1.3. LDT Damon Ellard
Miami
6-3, 314
Fan Favorite

Currently sits at 92/92, made the All League 2nd Team Defensive Tackle in 2018, and currently ranks 4th LAS Hurries. Doesn't miss many games as injuries are mild, and very few.

2.2. MLB Shaun Jefferson
Alabama
6-0, 244 lbs
Need Scorecard

Now at 51/51, he's started thirty two straight games without an injury. Has 251 total tackles, and 78 assists, with two blocked passes, three hurries on qb, and two knock downs, five ints and six passes defensed.
　
4.2. Center Ted Dunsmore
Tennessee
6-0 278 lbs.
Recognized.

Currently ranks 43/53 and is maxed out on long snapping, 68 on endurance. Backup to our offensive line leader.

2017 Rookie Draft

1.5. RT Kyle Ford
Appalachian State
6-4 306 lbs
Recognized

Stands at 76/76, and is the starting right tackle and most likely the heir apparent to the left side. 8th LAS Pancake blocks, and 10th LAS Key Run opportunities. Has been slightly nicked up, but has started thirty eight straight games without missing a snap. Not bad.

1.28. LCB Lamont Cano
Syracuse
5-11, 189 lbs.
Secondary Leader
Need Scorecard

The guy currently stands at 5th LAS Pass Defense Percentage, and is at 52/52. Has started thirty two straight games for us, has four ints with one td, and has solid pass defense percentages every year he's suited up.

5.5. LDE Luther Farley
Duke
6-4, 276 lbs
Well Liked

Farley is a good one at 43/49 for us, and is a restricted free agent. We'll need him back despite his mild conflict with Jason DeFelice. Has 6.5 career sacks, seven blocked passes, and eight hurries on qb despite only starting two games. A restricted free agent, we will sign him.

2018 Rookie Draft

1.6. RB Ducky Mallard
Kansas State
5-10, 205 lbs.
Idolized.

You know him, we love him... sits at 74/74.

2.8. RDT Roger Adachi
Illinois
6-3, 294 lbs
Well Liked

47/52 as a backup and still has green bars to grow. Started nine games last season and may be pressed into starting position this season.
　
　　
2019 Rookie Draft

1.14. SE Frankie Shields
Oregon State
6-1, 200 lbs
Need Scorecard

He currently ranks 2nd LAS punt return yards, and 2nd LAS Punt Return TD's. Drops more passes than caught for td's., hopefully that will improve.

2.13. RCB Horace Wesley
Central Florida
5-9, 185 lbs
Recognized

He's only 37/51, and he was just moved to the right side where he'll start this season (unless we draft a stud rookie) and he's got a lot of green bars to grow on.

3.16. SS Larry Horn
Georgia
5-10, 187 lbs
Need Scorecard

23/63 isn't anything to sneeze at and he plays behind Richie Randle. I like the kid....potential abounds.

Matadors have had their busts, and we still have some role players that are contributing well, but the foundation is being built.

[JesterBlaze]

Love the write-up.

As for the pic, I root for that minus the sword in the bull's back everytime I see one of these while flicking through channels.

[Hoosier]

Second year Fl Lee Rondell, a second round pick from Iowa, was sent to Summer League, and we didn't tag anyone.

Ticket prices went up a lot, especially on the Luxury Boxes and Club Seats...we were near the bottom of the Imperial League for ticket prices anyway, and despite the FOF rubric of not increasing ticket prices to help attendance, I felt like I had to bring us in line with the other clubs.

Bill Earle was signed to another three year contract and will resume his head coacing duties. The 72 year old fart has spent 12 years with Albequerque/Los Angeles, and will more than likely retire after this three year deal.

73 year old Arnold Richardson was signed to fill the offensive coordinator duties. The 17 year Imperial League veteran of the coaching wars returns to the Matadors. He last coached in Albequerque from 2003 through 2005, and his longest stretch with any team was with Madison where he languished for ten seasons. He has a solid reputation with running backs and is rated very good by the FOF insiders at that position, something current Los Angeles running back Mallard was demanding, and he's equally very good with young talent.
　
Next...Free Agency and the Rookie Draft
　

[Hoosier]

HOLDOUT!!!!!

Negotiations with holdout veteran middle linebacker Shaun Jefferson have been successful and the veteran run stopper will be in training camp. "This couldn't come at a worst time for us, as we're behind the eight ball a bit in the team financials, and the problems with our starting quarterback's potential career ending injury last season, we were caught offguard with the holdout. It was important to sign Jefferson and we did."
Veteran defensive tackle Colin Bridges, originally drafted by Dakota in the second round of the 2010 draft, was released to free up cash for the Jefferson deal.
"Sad to say we had to let a venerable veteran go, but eleven years on the d line is a long time for a player." If Bridges had been a mentor to the younger d linemen, he may still have had a job but Bridges didn't have that skill and didn't fill a leadership position.
Cornerback Smedley Watson, an undrafted free agent from Kansas, was cut as well to help shore up the team financials.

AND WHAT ABOUT DEBUSSY?

Debussy will stay with the team during his last contract year, but will be allowed to hit free agency. "I can't afford to give him the thirteen million he's asking for in bonus monies alone, especially with the injury hanging over his head. Would he be worth it? I don't know."

Enter J.B. Fogarty, the 15 year veteran and Mr. Chicago Crusader himself. "I signed him as an insurance policy in case we couldn't get that stud quarterback at 1.17, and it proved to be a good move." Fogarty gives the Matadors an opportunity to continue moving toward that winning season and playoff berth.

Fifth round pick Mack Janis, San Diego State's rollout quarterback, lands with good numbers and ten formations. He'll get a long look in preseason, but the starting job is Fogarty's to lose.

MORE D LINE ADJUSTMENTS

Unfortunately, backup defensive end Luther Farley, a fifth round pick of the Matadors in 2017, has signed with West Virginia. "I had an opportunity to franchise him to keep him on roster, but I just couldn't justify doing that to keep a backup in place. I had hoped his high loyalty would have kept him here, but he's now in West Virginia and we wish him luck."
The Solecismic Ingame Defensive End Unit Rankings reflected the Matador's loss as they have dropped the unit's rankings ingame.

The Defensive Tackles Unit rankings still place them atop the Imperial League.


Next up: Training Camp....The Booms and Busts

[Hoosier]

pre camp ratings of rookies...


1.17. DT Watchter
high volatility
p.c. (pre-camp) 24/48 Switched to DE 25/51 +1/+3

2.17. RB Johnstone
high volatility
p.c. 24/39 POST TC 25/35 +1/-4

3.17. CB Barton
average volatility
p.c. 28/44 POST TC 30/41 +2/-3

4.17. FB Hawkey
high volatility
p.c. 24/52 POST TC 25/45 +1/-7

5.17. QB Janis
very low volatility
p.c. 13/56 POST TC 16/50 +3/-6
extreme conflict with Mallard


6.17. DE Fehr
Very low volatility
p.c. 25/41 POST TC 28/41 +3/NC


6.23. CB Woodard
average volatility
p.c. 13/28 POST TC 15/29 +2/+1


7.17. FL Turnbull
high volatility
p.c. 12/46 POST TC 13/36 +1/-10

[JesterBlaze]

Mack Janis might be the IFL's new Dwight "King" Burger.

[Hoosier]

jester, I don't think so!


TRAINING CAMP NEWS

The Good....
SE Frankie Shields, a 1st round pick of the 2019 draft who played at Oregon State, returns from the Summer League with nice improvement. He currently ranks second on Matadors Punt Return Yards and second on Punt Return TD's and is now the number one SE in the depth charts.

The Bad....
Fifth Round selection Mack Janis, a quarterback from San Diego State, is extremely conflicted with Ducky Mallard. Guess who's gonna win that one?

The Ugly....
Strong Safety Larry Horn, taken in the third round of the 2016 draft, sat at pre training camp ratings of 23/63. Without any weight training needed, his post tc ratings are now at...drum roll please....15/36. You do the math.