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Reno, NV (AP) – With just three years left in our beloved city, the Wolfpack appear to be disintegrating before our eyes. Only 14,500 season tickets were sold to the people showed up to the 68,000 capacity stadium for the opening preseason game here in town which is 1,000 less than last year. Gone were the familiar names—McNeil, Castillo, Sweeney, Bauer, Burnett, Vitale, Fletcher, even the Kicker, Tatum, left for greener pastures. Questions linger over the franchise as they set their sights on a move to Charlotte in 2023.
So is there anything left interesting here to watch on Sunday Afternoon’s? You might be surprised.
Tommy “T” Tylski is in his second year after backing up Bryan McNeil last year. He only started the last game of the season against Oakland and performed admirably in a close loss. He had a great opening preseason game last week and will fight with rookie Robbie Kinney who was drafted as a project in the 6th round. Scouts loved Kinney’s initial work outs and believe he may pan out to be a serviceable quarterback in this league. He had a fairly rough outing in his first preseason action, but it is much too early to tell. Quite frankly, McNeil was never the quarterback the Wolfpack had hoped for when previous ownership traded up to get him in the first round with Castillo 8 years ago. McNeil will get his chance to prove Reno wrong as they face each other twice within the division this year with Vancouver. He just couldn’t seem to make the pressure plays that this league’s QB’s are known for. Or perhaps, we just can’t get Dennis Collela out of our mind. Truly, the Wolfpack are still on the lookout for a franchise quarterback, and with the look at this roster, they might get that opportunity in next year’s draft.
With Castillo gone, everyone is going to have to step up. Castillo was one of the most versatile backs in the league and should do Newark well if he is used correctly. Amos Jordan is not built to handle the bulk of this load and has already injured his shoulder in the preseason. We love Jordan, but he is a change of pace back that complemented Castillo well. It just won’t be the same. Nelson and Morel are backups themselves, with Nelson being a specialist on special teams. They are good locker room guys, and the backfield will need some upbeat players considering how the season may go this year. Grant Hernandez was brought in to mentor the rookies. Look for FB, Ricardo Burnett to take on more carries this year to help out Jordan. Evers is the run blocker, and Burnett may be moved into a different role as he approaches the twilight of his career.
Rusty Lukehart was on the trading block this year and is not happy. After receiving only a 5th round pick as a possible trade option, the Wolfpack decided to hold on to the veteran who many believe they overpaid for 5 years ago. He will probably be the main option in a receiving corps that is led by wiley veteran Billy Foland. Scouts continue to shake their head at Foland who continues to outperform his ratings. He just seems to love the game and is clutch in circumstances where the game is on the line. Youngsters, Rossini, Atkins and Whalen are almost identical in that they are possession receivers who can catch the ball in space and work their way downfield. Look for coaches to play the rookie QB’s close to the vest with short, high percentage passes in hopes that this receiving corps can break the big one. Hogenmiller will join Lukehart on two-tight end packages and is an above average run blocker.
If there’s a bright spot in this roster it is the young offensive line. Management is convinced that this is the most effective way to build a franchise. They have two stud bookends at the guard position, Doug Clark and rookie, Uusatalo. They will make the name Fletcher disappear pretty quick. Nate Umenyiora, who has been a nice surprise will move back into a backup role. Rookie Vitale was no longer necessary with Castillo gone, so Tackle, Chuck Easterling will move onto the right side of the line where he is more comfortable. Jamie Cuomo will have to step up into the left tackle spot to protect the rookie’s blind side. Free agent O.J. Saenez was brought in for cohesion purposes and to help Cuomo. The Center position will be given to rookie Sammy Gilman who was the highest rated center in last year’s draft and whom the Wolfpack believe was a steal in the 2nd round. The middle of the line will make it tough to get through and hopefully the rookie’s can get rid of the ball quickly before pressure comes from the outside.
Fans have also recently learned that Nose Tackle, Ike Kendall, was traded to Louisiana for future draft picks. If nothing else, Kendall took up two linemen which allowed Walton and Woods to get pressure on the QB. Team personnel has noticed a loss of a step for him and felt that he brought good value to the future in draft picks. A future 2nd and 4th however, are less than stellar compensation for this veteran and I think they will regret this decision. But without the support of Sweeney and Diaz in the secondary, maybe the team actually knows what it is doing. Richard Warren will have to replace Kendall for now, but consider that a stop gap measure while the Wolfpack decide to go back to a 4-3 defense. Cuthbert is returning, but continues to show signs of age. Goodwin and Walton are serviceable as ends, but are not a long term option. Cook and Wilcox are being groomed as pass rushers and will probably sub in on Nickel and Dime packages.
The Linebacking Corps has undergone almost a complete renovation with an infusion of youth. McDaniel is back as the Sam LB with Andy Hatley as his substitute, Eddie Zeller will stand next to him in the Mike position. Zeller was an interesting pick at the end of the second round and forever will be linked as the player that replaced Castillo. It hardly seems possible that he could do so, but Wolfpack scouts love him, though they know he has a way to go. Paine will back him up at the position. Darryl Woods returns on the Weak Side as the main blitzer and is good in his single role. Bridges is available to spell him. Rainwater will move to the Jack position, as well as Free agent DeVault. Kenyon Spencer has returned to mentor the young ones.
The Secondary is in trouble. With the loss of Sweeney and Diaz, there is just nothing here of substance. The old veteran Buckner who was a great Safety in his own right before Sweeney and Diaz, and has persuaded management to bring in his buddy Rex Bush to help him. Both are at the end of their career and the team will need to address this in the offseason. The Corners are interchangeable, Davidson, Patton, Sherman, Page. Porter is a special teams specialist, and Christman has always been a great nickel and dime corner. The loss of Sweeney to free agency is what spurred the great dispersion of talent and is the single most hurtful loss of the Wolfpack roster. He cannot be replaced from his run stopping ability to his special teams play. He will be missed.
Oh there's one more bright spot...the Wolfpack took a kicker and a punter in this year's draft. They are good. They better be...they're going to see alot of action.
All in all, this team will get worse before it gets better.
So is there anything left interesting here to watch on Sunday Afternoon’s? You might be surprised.
Tommy “T” Tylski is in his second year after backing up Bryan McNeil last year. He only started the last game of the season against Oakland and performed admirably in a close loss. He had a great opening preseason game last week and will fight with rookie Robbie Kinney who was drafted as a project in the 6th round. Scouts loved Kinney’s initial work outs and believe he may pan out to be a serviceable quarterback in this league. He had a fairly rough outing in his first preseason action, but it is much too early to tell. Quite frankly, McNeil was never the quarterback the Wolfpack had hoped for when previous ownership traded up to get him in the first round with Castillo 8 years ago. McNeil will get his chance to prove Reno wrong as they face each other twice within the division this year with Vancouver. He just couldn’t seem to make the pressure plays that this league’s QB’s are known for. Or perhaps, we just can’t get Dennis Collela out of our mind. Truly, the Wolfpack are still on the lookout for a franchise quarterback, and with the look at this roster, they might get that opportunity in next year’s draft.
With Castillo gone, everyone is going to have to step up. Castillo was one of the most versatile backs in the league and should do Newark well if he is used correctly. Amos Jordan is not built to handle the bulk of this load and has already injured his shoulder in the preseason. We love Jordan, but he is a change of pace back that complemented Castillo well. It just won’t be the same. Nelson and Morel are backups themselves, with Nelson being a specialist on special teams. They are good locker room guys, and the backfield will need some upbeat players considering how the season may go this year. Grant Hernandez was brought in to mentor the rookies. Look for FB, Ricardo Burnett to take on more carries this year to help out Jordan. Evers is the run blocker, and Burnett may be moved into a different role as he approaches the twilight of his career.
Rusty Lukehart was on the trading block this year and is not happy. After receiving only a 5th round pick as a possible trade option, the Wolfpack decided to hold on to the veteran who many believe they overpaid for 5 years ago. He will probably be the main option in a receiving corps that is led by wiley veteran Billy Foland. Scouts continue to shake their head at Foland who continues to outperform his ratings. He just seems to love the game and is clutch in circumstances where the game is on the line. Youngsters, Rossini, Atkins and Whalen are almost identical in that they are possession receivers who can catch the ball in space and work their way downfield. Look for coaches to play the rookie QB’s close to the vest with short, high percentage passes in hopes that this receiving corps can break the big one. Hogenmiller will join Lukehart on two-tight end packages and is an above average run blocker.
If there’s a bright spot in this roster it is the young offensive line. Management is convinced that this is the most effective way to build a franchise. They have two stud bookends at the guard position, Doug Clark and rookie, Uusatalo. They will make the name Fletcher disappear pretty quick. Nate Umenyiora, who has been a nice surprise will move back into a backup role. Rookie Vitale was no longer necessary with Castillo gone, so Tackle, Chuck Easterling will move onto the right side of the line where he is more comfortable. Jamie Cuomo will have to step up into the left tackle spot to protect the rookie’s blind side. Free agent O.J. Saenez was brought in for cohesion purposes and to help Cuomo. The Center position will be given to rookie Sammy Gilman who was the highest rated center in last year’s draft and whom the Wolfpack believe was a steal in the 2nd round. The middle of the line will make it tough to get through and hopefully the rookie’s can get rid of the ball quickly before pressure comes from the outside.
Fans have also recently learned that Nose Tackle, Ike Kendall, was traded to Louisiana for future draft picks. If nothing else, Kendall took up two linemen which allowed Walton and Woods to get pressure on the QB. Team personnel has noticed a loss of a step for him and felt that he brought good value to the future in draft picks. A future 2nd and 4th however, are less than stellar compensation for this veteran and I think they will regret this decision. But without the support of Sweeney and Diaz in the secondary, maybe the team actually knows what it is doing. Richard Warren will have to replace Kendall for now, but consider that a stop gap measure while the Wolfpack decide to go back to a 4-3 defense. Cuthbert is returning, but continues to show signs of age. Goodwin and Walton are serviceable as ends, but are not a long term option. Cook and Wilcox are being groomed as pass rushers and will probably sub in on Nickel and Dime packages.
The Linebacking Corps has undergone almost a complete renovation with an infusion of youth. McDaniel is back as the Sam LB with Andy Hatley as his substitute, Eddie Zeller will stand next to him in the Mike position. Zeller was an interesting pick at the end of the second round and forever will be linked as the player that replaced Castillo. It hardly seems possible that he could do so, but Wolfpack scouts love him, though they know he has a way to go. Paine will back him up at the position. Darryl Woods returns on the Weak Side as the main blitzer and is good in his single role. Bridges is available to spell him. Rainwater will move to the Jack position, as well as Free agent DeVault. Kenyon Spencer has returned to mentor the young ones.
The Secondary is in trouble. With the loss of Sweeney and Diaz, there is just nothing here of substance. The old veteran Buckner who was a great Safety in his own right before Sweeney and Diaz, and has persuaded management to bring in his buddy Rex Bush to help him. Both are at the end of their career and the team will need to address this in the offseason. The Corners are interchangeable, Davidson, Patton, Sherman, Page. Porter is a special teams specialist, and Christman has always been a great nickel and dime corner. The loss of Sweeney to free agency is what spurred the great dispersion of talent and is the single most hurtful loss of the Wolfpack roster. He cannot be replaced from his run stopping ability to his special teams play. He will be missed.
Oh there's one more bright spot...the Wolfpack took a kicker and a punter in this year's draft. They are good. They better be...they're going to see alot of action.
All in all, this team will get worse before it gets better.
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