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Will 2020 be the year of the Dog?
During the last decade of IFL history, for year after long suffering year, the Wichita Outlaws have been the whipping boys of the league.
Perennially bottom of the AC North, the Outlaws have not posted a winning record since 2011 and even had the worst record in football in 2019.
Consistently bad Wichita teams have played in consistently empty stadiums as fans have voted with their feet.
In turn this has ultimately seen the owner vote with his feet as the franchise pledged to move to the city of Baltimore.
For most Wichita residents, the franchise’s impending move to Baltimore can’t come soon enough. Play word association in downtown Wichita and the response you’ll get is “Outlaws = Losers”!
But there is something stirring on the wide open plains of Kansas.
Some IFL commentators are beginning to nudge each other and point.
There is a feeling that as the 2020 season draws ever closer……something wicked this way comes.
The die was cast prior to the 2018 draft, when the Outlaws front office managed to pull off a major coup trading up with the Orlando Pirates for the no1 overall pick.
The deal struck with the Pirates saw Wichita finally get the chance to draft their franchise quarterback as Penn State QB Danny Ouellette became the hottest young kid to come out of the college ranks since Albert Schwartz in 2014.
From the moment UKPatfan handed in a draft card with ‘QB Daniel Ouellette’ written on it, the destiny of the franchise shifted momentously.
For two seasons now, Danny ‘Dogs’ Ouellette has been learning his trade and developing his game after being thrown in at the deep end as a rookie starter day 1 week 1.
For the past two years, Ouellette has been forced to learn on the job, often with a less than talented supporting offensive cast.
Now, on the eve of the 2020 season, Ouellette has fully matured.
It maybe early for Chinese New Year, but is 2020 destined to be the Year of the Dog?
Is the Dog about to be let off the leash?
Let’s take a look at just why Ouellette might be on the verge of breaking out:
Like most young QB’s, those first few seasons were tough on Ouellette.
Pro football is faster, harder, more complex and more downright brutal than the college game.
It takes time to develop and mature, it takes time to cope with the pressures and to think like a pro.
2019 was a significant year for the Wichita number 11.
His season stats improved on his rookie year and he demonstrated some progression but crucially, down the stretch, the Outlaws started winning.
Five wins in the final six games might have been insignificant within a 6 – 10 season as a whole, but was it coincidence that the wins started coming as Ouellette hit full development?
Did we see a monster beginning to stir through the cold months of December and January?
One man does not make a team and nobody knows that better than the
But the
At no point through his career so far has Ouellette enjoyed the benefit of a top level LT protecting his blind side.
No disrespect to tackle Gilbert Sawyer, but he always looked like a RT playing LT and the pass rush consequently made life tricky for no11.
With no real LT talent around when
Sending next years 1st round pick to
Another issue which has hindered Ouellette’s first two seasons has been the lack of talented targets for him to throw at.
Until Flanker Phillip Diedrich was drafted just last year, the offense has had to rely on journeymen receivers.
Diedrich had a great rookie year and should only get better with an extra season under his belt but there are also other options now open to the quarterback.
Speedy rookie Bert Sing is a bone fide deep threat that can stretch the field alongside Diedrich, whilst
Cone may not be an accomplished blocker but he has elite receiving skills and will provide an excellent option across the middle of the field or in the redzone.
There is a new weapon in the backfield too as another trade brought in RB Lawrence Strunk from the Salt Lake Stallions.
Strunk is a back with very good receiving skills and suddenly Ouellette has multiple targets to aim for.
Talking of Strunk, his speed and endurance should also improve the ground attack as
More efficient rushing means more honest defense and more time for Ouellette.
Aside from the offensive additions to the roster,
All-World KR/PR Kent 'Highlights' Mulligan was yet another tradee from
Throw in kick off specialist Alan Ballard, a FA signing from
Similarly, the addition of SS Scottie ‘The Hammer’ Diaz (trade from
All in all, there are encouraging signs as
The D looks even stronger, special teams have benefited from an influx of elite talent and crucially, the offense has added some potent looking weapons.
All of which will take the burden off Ouellette just has he is reaching full development.
AC North look out.
Who let the Dogs Out?
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