View Single Post
Old 02-18-2005, 06:42 AM   #171
Taco
High School JV
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: New Zealand
2006 Ring of Fire Division Preview

Honolulu Blue Pacific, Owner: MrBug708
2005 results:
- 13-3 regular season
- Bye in wild card round
- Won divisional game against Anchorage, 20-9
- Won Western Conference finals against Boise, 31-6
- Won CFL Bowl III against Detroit, 19-14

Offense: Honolulu won the CFL championship by having an offense that no one could stop. They averaged 26 points per game (best in the league). Their stars are back again for 2006: QB Ronnie Tu (4443 passing yards, 31 TDs, 10 INTs, 98.5 rating) and RB Colin Sonkin (1285 rushing yards, 4.5 average, 7 TDs). Grade: A

Defense: The secondary has 4 outstanding starters, but the backups are very poor. If there is an injury here it will make a big difference in how the whole defense performs. Also, if there is a weakness on this team it is the defensive line. The way to win games against Honolulu will probably be to run the ball and keep Ronnie Tu off of the field. Grade: B+

Special Teams: The punter this season will be undrafted rookie Orlando Johnstone, who has averaged a little under 40 yards/punt in the preseason. Grade: C+

Overall season outlook: 11-5, The offense will put up points, but the defense could be a problem. Expect a lot of shootouts and exciting games.


Tucson Toros, Owner: Fonzie
2005 results:
- 12-3-1 regular season
- Won wild card game against El Paso, 23-17
- Lost divisional game vs. Boise, 17-20

Offense: Tucson gave up two 1st round picks (1.18 and 1.30) and a 2nd round pick (2.30) to move all the way up to 1.4. With the 4th overall draft pick they selected RB Drew Holliday out of Oklahoma State. Holliday is fast and has good moves, but still has some things to improve on such as his skills in the passing game. Even as a rookie he should be a more effective player than Daryl Bradley, a former 3rd round pick who had 945 rushing yards last year. Grade: B

Defense: The addition of DE Isaiah Melo and DT Chester Reed filled in the weakest part of the defense. The overall unit doesn't have any glaring weaknesses. Last year's star was CB Keven Biggs who set a CFL record with 32 passes defended. He also returned 2 INTs for touchdowns. Grade: A-

Special Teams: The Toros don't have a dangerous return man, although Holliday may occasionally return punts. Punter Kent Eyles and kicker Rubin Castorena are both very good. Grade: B+

Overall season outlook: 11-5, This is a complete team that will once again be in the playoffs.


Arizona Outlaws, Owner: Condors
2005 results: 4-11-1 regular season

Offense: Arizona didn't bring anyone in during free agency and as a result the offense will struggle again. QB Al DeNeff started off well last year in the first 8 games (only 3 INTs and a 3-4-1 record) but then faded over the 2nd half of the season (10 INTs and a 1-7 record). He needs to rebound from that bad streak but he doesn't have much talent around him to work with. Grade: D

Defense: The secondary needed help so Arizona drafted CB Derrick Bottoms with the #6 overall pick. He's a small corner (5'7") but he has the athletic ability to become an all-league player. SS Hans Walton was an all-league player in 2005 after totaling 109 solo tackles. His total was padded due to the fact that the defensive line and linebackers missed so many tackles. Grade: C

Special Teams: Kicker Paul Stephan was signed from Charleston. CBs Bottoms and Tony Richard are both good punt returners. Grade: B

Overall season outlook: 3-13, The sequence continues... 6 wins in 2003, 5 wins in 2004, 4 wins in 2005, and now it will be 3 wins in 2006.


Las Vegas Rounders, Owner: TurfToe
2005 results: 4-12 regular season

Offense: WR Lee McDonald is on his 4th team in 4 years. He has only started 1 game over the past two years, but should start this year. On the other side of the field is WR Michael Feeney who is on his 3rd team in 4 years. He lost his starting job in Tulsa early last season. The offensive line is lacking depth, especially at the guard position. Grade: B-

Defense: Las Vegas brought in 15 new defensive players during the offseason. This list includes the #3 overall draft pick, DT Mario Ah Yat out of Miami. It also includes a pair of veteran defensive backs: CB Douglas Beesley and FS Don Grider. These two immediately make this a respectable defense. Grade: B

Special Teams: WR Feeney returned a kickoff for a touchdown last year for Tulsa in a 16-10 win over Denver. He will probably return kicks again this season. Punter Dorsey Danner was the 1st team all-league punter last year with a 43.5 average and 37 punts inside the 20. Grade: A-

Overall season outlook: 7-9, This team made the necessary moves to improve itself during the offseason, and it should pay off immediately.
__________________
CFL - Durham Bulldogs
WOOF - Des Moines Monks
Taco is offline   Reply With Quote