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The Memphis Express begin training camp tomorrow with raised expectations following a 4-12 campaign last season. With twenty-seven new additions to the squad, there will be no shortage of new faces helping the Express shore up key weaknesses.
"There was really an emphasis this off-season placed on overall squad depth," commented general manager Tim Brice. "I really feel like this is the deepest we have been in years. Our biggest focus was on the big guys that do battle in the trenches. We added several new offensive and defensive lineman both in the draft and in free agency."
Head Coach Claude Burnett and his staff made clear point in today's team meeting that no position is safe. "Everyone is going to be competing. We have 70 players in camp and jobs are on the line. It is not about who starts at this point, it is about whether or not you can make this team."
Positional previews:
[b5883c93]Quarterback [/b5883c93]- Jermaine Milburn enters his 2nd season after an up and down rookie campaign as a starter. Milburn won the job from Blaine Clark and T.J. Compton in week 3. Milburn completed 67.3% of his passes for nine touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He threw for 2840 yards last season. Nolan Shannon was signed to provide a backup and potentially challenge for the starting job. Shannon, an 11 year veteran, spent his entire career with the Tampa Bay Torpedoes. He has a career life time rating of 72.8 but last saw significant work in 2016. He has started thirty games in his career, sixteen of which were during his rookie season. Blaine Clark and T.J. Compton will compete for the third spot on the roster. Compton, who impressed in limited action last season, appears to have the edge. Clark started the first two games last season, but quickly fell out of favor with poor performances. Undrafted rookie Edwin Longworth (West Virginia) will also be in camp.
[b5883c93]Runningback [/b5883c93]- Marvin Barton, the 2018 number two overall draft pick, had an average rookie season. He had 220 carries and picked 851 yards before sitting out the last two games of the season with a leg injury. Barton was also a threat for catching the ball, hauling in 35 catches for 264 yards. Randall Marci, the surprise of last season, is expected to compete and split carries with Barton. Marci picked up 807 yards last season and five touchdowns on just 168 carries. Clifton Kinney, entering his fourth season, is looking to return to his rookie season form where he gained 915 yards. However, the last two seasons, his carries have been limited. Veteran Darryl Roberson was signed from Boston and is the only running back on the roster to gain over 1,000 yards in a season. 2nd year players Carlos Segui and Howard Montgomery (signed from Anchorage) will be competing for roster spots.
[b5883c93]Tight Ends[/b5883c93] - Team captain T.J Green returns for another season, his twelfth. Green had 28 catches last season for 271 yards. Backup Kent Diamontopoulos resigned after entertaining offers from other teams. He had 15 catches last season including a touchdown. Rod Kobeck and Steven Cash return to compete for the number three spot. Undrafted rookie Gary Spolijaric out of Temple will also be involved in the mix.
[b5883c93]Wide Receivers[/b5883c93] - There is plenty of new faces in the wide receiver corps this season for the Express. Mainstays Ethan Munoz and Morris Hamby return. Hambry will try to return to his 2017 All-Pro form. He had 87 catches for 1033 yards last season. Munoz, who has struggled with injuries the last two season, made 29 catches for 236 yards but is arguably the most talented of the Express receivers when healthy. Chris Sellers was acquired from Charleston to be the expected number three receiver. He made 59 catches for 606 yards and two touchdowns last season. Julio Rose (6 catches for 66 yards last season for Cleveland), Butch Vance (38 catches for 491 yards), and Tony Leinaweaver (19 catches for 261 yards for Chicago last season) will provide depth. The Express also used a 4th round draft choice on Marc Vaughn from Washington State.
[b5883c93]Guards [/b5883c93]- The key signing was guard Neal Kubus from Albany. Kubus started three games for the Crow but is expected to be a regular on the line for Memphis. The other guard position will be decided between third round pick Seth Washington out of Missouri, Terrell Collier (who started 16 games last season for the Express), and second year player Ellis Devine, who started fourteen games last season before getting hurt. Wayne Bradford will be in camp trying to earn a spot on the roster.
[b5883c93]Centers[/b5883c93] - Starter Skip Sherman returns to snap the ball this season for the Express. Sherman has started 71 games in his career for the Express. He has a pair of new players competing to be his backup. Bo Grant has started 47 games in his career, mostly during the last three seasons for Huntington Beach. Nate Newhart played for Albany last season, appearing in six games.
[b5883c93]Tackles[/b5883c93] - The Express resigned starter Terrell Jarvis during the offseason, but his position could be challenged. Alonzo St. Amal, the other starter for the Express, appears to have his starting position locked down. Jason Montgomery will provide depth and perhaps take a starting position away from Jarvis. Second round pick Cris Stearns out of SMU is expected to challenge for playing time as well. Seventh round pick Austin Campana (Tulsa) also figures into the mix.
[b5883c93]Defensive End[/b5883c93] - All-pro caliber Defensive End Bart Baump resigned during the off-season and will once again anchor the defensive line for the Express. However, he will have help this season as the Express acquired veteran Desmond Littleton from Charleston and used its 5th overall draft pick on Rick Licther out of Michigan State. The Express also retained Louis Galloway, Wesley Raag (a starter during his rookie season last year.) , and Will Shaprio. They signed Jonathan Godfrey as a free agent to compete for a roster spot. Brandon Anthony was drafted in the 5th round out of Pittsburgh as a project.
[b5883c93]Defensive Tackles[/b5883c93] - Talented run stoppers Bert Morlando and Ben Kovacs hope to team up to plug up the middle. Kovacs, who played 1 game for the Express back in 2015 before being traded, was signed away from Durham. He had 48 tackles last season. Veteran Alonzo Schilling and second year project Jake Emanski will provide cover. Rookies Walt Buxton (3rd round pick out of Penn State) and Terry Cunningham (6th round pick out of Kansas State) hope to compete for playing time.
[b5883c93]Outside Linebackers[/b5883c93] - Kim Graham decided not to test free agency and pinned a new contract with the Express. Graham made seventy tackles and six sacks last season. Henry Money is expected to move into a starting role. He made nineteen tackles during his rookie season last year. Veterans Emmitt Stevenson and Chester Brazell will provide solid cover. Rookie Broderick Jenson, a 2nd round pick out of Clemson, could be a wild card and take away playing time from those two. Juan Dzarnoski is a project who will be trying to make the roster.
[b5883c93]Inside Linebackers[/b5883c93] - Allen Jacobs started last season and made 97 tackles. He was rewarded with a new contract. However, rookie Wayne Danko, a 4th round pick out of Washington State, has his eyes on the starting job. Perry Runowski was re-signed to provide depth.
[b5883c93]Cornerbacks[/b5883c93] - Shut-down corner Monty Wiley will be the veteran in a slew of second year players. Wiley had no picks last year, but played a critical role in a young defensive backfield for the Express. Earnest Donalsdon started every game last season when healthy. He picked off three passes. Victor Warnsing will provide depth. He had 1 interception, primarily working as a nickel back. Brady Anquillano will give the Express another player with experience, starting five games last season.
[b5883c93]Safeties [/b5883c93]- Andrew Wilson and Dale Fischer return to form a very good starting pair for the Express. Fisher recorded 90 tackles last season and demanded a pay-raise as a reward. Wilson was also solid, with 84 tackles of his own. The real question will be who will earn the backup positions. Terrell Kemp was signed from Fargo. Kemp stated 33 games his first three years in the CFL as a member of the Albany Crow. Draft picks J.B. Keeler (7th round choice from Montana) and Rufus Dunlap (5th round pick from Notre Dame) hope to secure roster spots.
[b5883c93]Special Teams[/b5883c93] - The Express stood pat this offseason sticking with punter Daniel Burden and kicker Wes Leung. Burden was busy last season, punting 89 times for 40.5 average. Leung connected on 23 of 28 field goals including eight from 40+ and one from 50+. He did, however, miss two extra points last season.
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