It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 3:06 am

All times are UTC-07:00




Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 1 post ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Fri May 26, 2023 11:14 am 
Offline
Shreveport Pride
User avatar

Joined: Sat Apr 03, 2004 12:19 pm
Posts: 2423
Location: Shreveport Pride
Shreveport, LA (AP) - The Shreveport Pride look to come out of their self-acclaimed rebuilding period in 2067. Their wallets are open and cash is being spent. Names of the past have been left in the past - familiar names to the Pride faithful like Nolan Scott, Jared Boyle, Kaleb Olson, Jim Ellison, and Hayden Drake. New names fill the headlines of the Shreveport Times - names like Junior Tripp, Dylan Carlson, Travis Francis, and Dixon Johnston. Johnston was the big news coming in for the Pride, signing a massive 4-Year $136M deal with Shreveport.

Most notably, the Pride have their first new Head Coach in 16 seasons. Edgar Farrior, beloved to the city, was given his walking papers in favor of Irving Arnold who spent his last 17 seasons skippering the Brooklyn Brawlers, with whom the Pride have had extenisive run-ins, tet-a-tet with Farrior. Arnold held the playoff advantage winning 2 of 3 over Farrior and the Pride. The two split the regular season games with 6 wins a piece, but Farrior hold the mantle of the only one of the two to win a Championship, avoiding the Brawlers in the playoffs in 2055, who missed the playoffs that year, with only 9 wins.

Arnold scrapped the existing coaching staff (with the exception of Trainer, Leland Devine) and replaced them. At Offensive Coordinator he hired Matthew Nakis, the OC from the Arkansas Razorbacks who most notably developed New Orleans' QB Johnny Reid. Nakis brings with him a Texarkana brand of Spread offense that features two tight ends and a side of grits. At Defensive Coordinator, Arnold brought in Damon Hardy, who runs the 4-3 Under. Local critics believe Hardy is filling a gap until Arnold can find the correct fit for the Pride. Hardy was hardly serviceable in Honolulu, but he understands the base 4-3 under, which seems to be the only real qualification he has. At 42-years old, the new Assistant Coach for Shreveport, Patrick O'Neal, looks to be a development project.

Other significant additions to the Pride this season include DE Adrian Strong and SS Damien Wannstedt (acquired in trades with Boston), legendary DE Chester Anagnostis, journeyman QB Mickey Beauregard, veteran CB Joel Lauher, and veteran K Kent Murphy.

Here is a review of the Pride's Draft Picks:

1.04 - LT Kelvin "Beefcake" Barrett
The Kansas Jayhawk joins Shreveport where he is expected to play Left Tackle opposite of Eduardo Wills. With Junior Tripp taking 48 sacks last season, Offensive Line appeared to be a priority for the Pride. Coach Arnold noted that they needed to add a little "Beefcake" to the front line and thus the mantle was placed upon Kelvin Barrett. Barrett is known as a powerhouse with little issue blocking for the run or in pass situations. However, scouts have criticized his endurance noting that he may tire out on longer drives.

2.06 - SS Burt Wooden
With Hayden Drake departing Shreveport to take up residence in Omaha, the Pride had to prioritize the Safety position in the offseason. In addition to drafting Wooden in the second round, the Pride signed Ezra Marriott from the Arrowheads and traded for Damien Wannstedt with the Blizzard. The Wooden name is revered along the banks of the Red River as Burt is the youngest son of Wally "Deep" Wooden (with his third wife, Veronica). Though none of Wally's other children have taken up the mantle of professional football, Burt has thrived. As an oversized Safety at NC State, he was notorious for his ability to walkup up to the line of scrimmage and function as an additional linebacker in short-yardage situations. Expect to see Wooden slide back and forth from linebacker to safety depending on what the situation dictates. He also seems to possess some of his daddy's kick return skills.

3.05 - WR Floyd Lambuth
Another mediocre wide receiver to add to the mediocre WR corps. Lambuth, though adequately sized to play split end, will not test any cornerbacks with his speed. Expect to see him line up in the slot in Nakis' new spread offense to take advantage of his route running and ball catching skills.

4.04 - G Roman Brown
The early retirement of G Robbie Plesko left a big hole on the left side of the line for Shreveport. Shreveport hopes that Roman Brown is the man to fill that hole, but it is apparent their confidence is not fully given as they appear to have employed some contingency plans later in the draft (Shawn Akaka) and in Late Free Agency (Johnnie Owens, B.J. Kirk). Brown is regarded as having good technique, even though his physical skills may not be up to the task.

5.06 - TE David Mast
OC Matthew Nakis describes his spread offense as "Two Tight Ends and a side of grits." David Mast looks to be the grits in this version of the spread offense. He his a pure pass catching tight end. He can stretch the field down the middle, causing coverage mismatches with linebackers and safeties. Alternatively, he can line up wide and cause size mismatches with cornerbacks. We'll see how much playing time he gets behind journeymen Wesson and Morris who start the preseason ahead of Mast on the depth chart.

6.05 - CB Rich "Redline" Russ
Russ got his nickname "Redline" at Syracuse because he is always going full speed. His man-to-man skills are suspect, but he can line up in a deep zone and destroy receivers coming into his zone. These skills also will translate to the position that he is most likely to play on special teams: gunner.

7.04 - G Shawn "Shikaka" Akaka
Rumor has it that the Shreveport war room was considering Akaka with the same pick that they grabbed Roman Brown with. If this is true, they had to be ecstatic when Akaka was still available at 7.04. Dubbed "Shikaka" by his team mates at the Air Force Academy in reference to "Ace Venture: When Nature Calls" Lieutenant Akaka will be serving in the Air Force Reserves while also trying to secure a spot on the Pride's 53-man roster.

_________________
Image
Deep South Division Champions
2006, 2009-10, 2019, 2023-24, 2027, 2031-32, 2034-35, 2040, 2044, 2046-47, 2051-53, 2055-56, 2058-62
Eastern Conference Champions
2009, 2031, 2055
CFL Champions
2031, 2055
Hall of Fame
Joshua Mask, Douglas Hartman, Carl Bradford, Leland Wellins, Wally Wooden (#80), Brantley Gilmore (#9)


Top
   
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic  Reply to topic  [ 1 post ] 

All times are UTC-07:00


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Semrush [Bot] and 9 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited