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November 13, 2011
Atlantic City Phantoms Preview
STRENGTH
LB: Through the draft and free agency, ACI made defense the key to this offseason. The starting point was the linebackers. ILB Darnell Lyon (9th year – 63/63) anchors the group. Lyon is Atlantic City’s all-time leading tackler and had 84 last year despite missing 3 games. As insurance, the team drafted Zack Koethe (Rookie – 40/59) in the second round. Koethe is a smart, athletic player who should be able to give Lyon some plays off throughout the season. One of the top two free agent signings this offseason was weakside linebacker J.C. Morrison (8th year – 64/64). Morrison has recorded more than 100 tackles 3 times in his career and on paper is one of the best linebackers in the league. The only downside may be his health. In 2029, he suffered a severe ankle injury in week 3 and spent the year on injured reserve. He then suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first preseason game this year and may not be active until week 5. Until Morrison gets back on the field, Kurt Watson (5th year – 42/42) will be called on to hold down the starting spot. Watson was also a free agent signing this year. The new starter at strongside linebacker, Edwin Stoner (Rookie – 63/81), has brought a level of excitement to ACI that has not been seen since their last playoff game in 2026. As the 2nd overall pick in the 2030 draft, expectations are high and Stoner appears to have the current and future skills to back that up. As a group, the combination of Morrison – Lyon - Stoner is the 8th, 9th and 10th rated linebackers in the CFL. The question is how many games will they all be on the field together?
WEAKNESS
QB: This was a toss-up between the quarterbacks and wide receivers. In the end, we had to give it to the quarterbacks as they touch the ball each play and this weakness will likely keep the team from making any huge strides in the win column this year. Tyrone Dillon (5th year – 36/36), who started 13 games for ACI, was resigned to once again provide his mediocre QB skills. There were higher rated QB’s available in free agency but Dillon was the best fit for the Phantoms offensive scheme. Rocky Firth (2nd year – 21/47) and Todd Nelson (Rookie – 19/50) are the backups. Like Dillon, both fit the ACI offense but are very young and need time to develop. No matter who is the starter, they are being asked to drive the ship and not make mistakes.
OTHER UNITS
RB: Mario Hall (2nd year – 53/57) rushed for 709 yards in his rookie season and will once again be the starting running back. Halls best running skill is hole recognition, which is 100, but he has low endurance so he won’t get 20+ carries a game. Backing up Hall are Grant Fontenot (2nd year – 35/37) and Lamont Arteaga (3rd year – 33/35) are adequate backups but nothing special. Fontenot is a speed back who likes to bounce runs to the outside. Arteaga is similar to Hall in that he is more of an inside the tackles runner. The strength of the running game is at fullback. Jeremy Wilkerson (5th year – 45/45) was a part of this year’s free agent group and brings excellent running skills from the fullback position. Mario Genovese (2nd year – 43/48) is an up and coming player who excels in passing situations.
WR: The top 4 receivers are barely above average at best - Duane Muscarella (9th year – 38/38), Buddy Wright (6th year – 38/38), Trent Blackwell (3rd year – 33/33) and Gus Kientzy (4th year – 36/36). All fit the offense with excellent getting downfield skills but don’t quite have the hands that you would like. Bryant Corbett (Rookie – 22/44) is going to be a good player but needs a couple years.
TE: Like the wide receivers, the tight ends are a good group but don’t have top tier talent. Phillip Graham (Rookie – 43/48) is the best of the bunch and should blossom into an excellent option in the future. Nathan Summers (6th year – 39/39) was yet another free agent signing who seems to fit the offense but hasn’t played much in his career (16 catches). Edgar Poston (5th year – 34/34) was also a free agent signing is the leader in career catches with 27. That may not bode well for the offense.
OL: Both the offensive and defensive lines went through a major reconstruction. Six of the ten offensive linemen are new to the team with a ton of money being spent on this group. Jimmie Mathews (5th year – 69/69) was one of the top five free agents in the offseason. He signed a $66.97, 5 year deal to anchor the line. He will also mentor future star Roosevelt Shepard (2nd year – 53/77). Guards Harry Newsome (6th year – 47/47), Jessie Blackwell (5th year – 45/45) and Donnie Crumley (5th year – 40/40) were free agency signings. Fifth round pick Curtis Babinchak (Rookie – 41/60) will rotate with the three guard signings to provide a nice rotation. Left tackle Wesley Sample (5th year – 57/57) was another high price signing for $47.53 over 4 years. Gabe Burdick (3rd year – 53/53) and Everett Reed (4th year – 48/48) will rotate at right tackle.
DL: As mentioned above, the defensive line was also reworked in the offseason. Johnnie Kelly (5th year – 45/45) was brought in to team with Lawrence Vergara (4th round – 34/42) and Nate Luong (2nd year – 34/55) as the ends. Everett Shepherd (Rookie – 20/50) is a project. The strength of the line will be the tackles, however. R.J. Bye (6th year – 48/48) and J.R. Rudolph (5th year – 50/50), both signed this offseason, will rotate with 2028 first round pick Darren Richardson (3rd year – 59/59) in the tackle rotation. Dominic Mahoney (6th year – 47/47) is a quality veteran backup.
CB: Dennis Porter (5th year – 67/67) is arguably ACI’s most talented player on defense. He was franchised in the offseason and will look to shut down the opponent’s best receiver. The question here is depth. Artie Chubick (9th year – 42/42) will be the other starter with Ike Roybal (3rd year – 32/38) is the only capable backup.
S: The Phantoms took a huge hit in the preseason when strong safety Dwight Ross (4th year – 53/53) went down with a torn ACL. In Ross’s absence, Wendell Myrick (2nd year – 34/59) will need to accelerate his development. At free safety, Desmond Clemons (6th year – 40/40) and Broderick Murray (5th year – 40/40) are solid players.
ST: With an anemic offense where points will be hard to come by, the ACI front office made getting a big time kicker a priority. The result was the signing of Dixon Finch (8th year – 78/78) for $33.02 over 5 years. Finch was an all-league kicker in 2028 when he was 41-50 in field goals and the hope is that he continues his high level of play. Howard Doyle (Rookie – 41/55) won the battle for punter after an excellent exhibition performance. Cornerback Nate Marsh (2nd year – 14/23) is on the team for one reason – kick returns. Duane Muscarella is the best option on punt returns but is not a game breaker.
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