|
November 21, 2011
Atlantic City Phantoms Preview
STRENGTH
LB: In our preview for the 2030 season, the linebackers were the strength of the team. In 2031, that hasn’t changed. SLB Edwin Stoner (2nd year - 81/81) was the CFL defensive rookie of the year in 2030 and his ratings have improved during the offseason. In the middle, veteran Darnell Lyon (10th year - 57/57) continues to prove that he still has a bit more tread left on his tires. He has lost a few steps in pass coverage but is still a stout run defender. If Lyon begins to age quickly, 2030 second round pick Zack Koethe (2nd year - 45/55) is ready to step in. Koethe started three games in 2030 and is a more than capable backup. At WLB, J.C. Morrison (9th year - 60/60) returns for his second season at Atlantic City. Morrison battled a shoulder injury last year and only started five games but appears healthy and ready to become a key part of the ACI defense. Kurt Watson (6th year - 39/39) and Austin Highlander (6th year - 34/34) are the primary backups. They are solid yet unspectacular.
WEAKNESS
QB: While linebacker is once again a strength, quarterback is once again a weakness. With the 5th overall pick in the 2031 draft, the hope was that a future starting quarterback would be available to address the need. Unfortunately, the draft was very weak in high end quarterback talent so the Phantoms went defensive with their top pick. This meant that there was open competition for the starting spot and ACI brought five quarterbacks to training camp. Todd Nelson (2nd year - 23/48), ACI’s third round pick in 2030 is suffering from severe anxiety and will likely do nothing but occupy a roster spot this year. 2029 fourth round pick Rico Firth (3rd year - 24/41) has not developed as the team had hoped but still has the skillset that the Phantoms offense requires. For the third year in a row, ACI drafted a quarterback and this year it was Claude Ripple (rookie - 25/48) in the fifth round. Like Firth, Ripple is strong in West Coast offense skillsets but is not a “knock your socks off” quarterback talent. Joining the three young quarterbacks were a pair veterans in Tyrone Dillon (6th year - 37/37) and Ronnie Schulz (6th year - 30/30). Dillon started 15 games for ACI last year and was re-signed despite a QB rating of 64. Schulz was signed to a one year deal this offseason to add some veteran competition. This led to many long nights of heated debate in the ACI front office. Do you go with the three young quarterbacks and hope one of them will be your future starter? Do you have another year with a veteran quarterback who has done very little to ignite the offense? Or do you choose the other veteran quarterback who has started a total of five games in his career and wasn’t even on a team’s roster in 2030. In the end, Dillon won the starting spot and the team decided to keep all three young quarterbacks and roll the dice with four quarterbacks.
OTHER UNITS
RB\FB: The biggest change at running back was at the top with Mario Hall being traded to Brooklyn and the signing of Adam Richard (6th year - 40/40). Hall is a very talented player who many thought would be the Phantoms running back for the next 4-5 years. The problem with Hall is his endurance. In 2029, he started all sixteen games but only had 178 carries for 709 yards. In 2030, Hall had a foot injury and only started five games. The decision was made to move Hall and look for a proven workhorse. Enter Richard, who was signed in free agency to a 4 year – $44.59 contract. Richard has run for over 1,400 yards each of the past two seasons and is a backfield leader. Backing up Richard will be Grant Fontenot (3rd year - 41/41), who has an interesting history with ACI. Fontenot was a late season roster casualty when he was released due to a quarterback injury. It worked out well for Fontenot, however, as he was signed by Boston in the divisional playoffs and won a championship. ACI resigned Fontenot to one year deal late in free agency. Chuck Hanson (2nd year - 30/30) beat out Tom Bautista (6th year - 35/35) and Lamont Arteaga (4th year - 35/35) for the third running back spot due to his patch catching abilities. Part of the reason for keeping only three running backs is the strength of the fullbacks. Jeremy Wilkerson (6th year - 43/43) and Mario Genovese (3rd year - 46/46) return as a very solid duo. Wilkerson is the better early down runner while Genovese is an excellent third down back both in receiving and running.
WR: For the second season in a row, ACI failed to bring in any top tier talent at wide receiver. One of these days, the team needs to address the receivers. For now, they will stick with a rotation of Buddy Wright (32/32), Trent Blackwell (34/34), Carlos Norris (40/40) and Gus Kientzy (35/35). As you can see, nothing special. ACI had high hopes for 2030 third round pick Bryant Corbett (30/41) but he was injured in the summer league and it is not certain what he will provide this year. The Phantoms did select two wide receiver’s late in the 2031 draft: Leon Newsome (rookie - 16/32) and Leroy McLaughlin (rookie - 21/41). Newsome, selected in the fourth round, looked like he was going to make the roster based on his special teams’ abilities. However, McLaughlin has been a much better receiver and – for now - holds down the 6th WR spot with Newsome looking for a job.
TE: Graham Phillip (2nd year – 50/50) caught 25 passes in his rookie season and hopes to have a much bigger impact in 2031. Nathan Summers (7th year – 39/39) led all Phantom tight ends last year with 28 receptions and will be the primary backup. Alex McDaniel (rookie – 27/54) was a third round pick who many felt should have been a mid-second round selection. He is a big tight end who should have an instant impact in the running game.
OL: In 2030, ACI spent a large sum of money to shore up the offensive line. The early results were good given the quality of the skilled position players and the Phantoms hope for even better results this season. Anchoring the middle are Jimmie Matthews (6th year – 69/69) and Roosevelt Shephard (3rd year – 70/76). In order to get both players on the field, Matthews will open as the starting center while Shephard will shift over to left guard to take advantage of his size. Right guard will be manned by Curtis Babinchak (2nd year – 57/64). At tackle, ACI will open with Gabe Burdick (4th year – 52/52) on the left and Wesley Sample (6th year – 56/56) on the right. Monty Dunlap (rookie – 30/69) was drafted as a center but moved to guard in the preseason and could be a key contributor in the future. A solid group of backups include guards Jessie Blackwell (6th year – 45/45), Donnie Crumley (6th year – 44/44) and Harry Newsome (7th year – 48/48). The backup tackles are a concern with Max Salinas (6th year – 39/39) and Darnell Reyman (9th year – 39/39).
DL: The Phantoms are from the school of thought that you need to have a strong defensive line to succeed in the CFL. The rebuilding began last year with the additions of end Johnnie Kelly (6th year – 46/46), tackle J.R. Rudolph (6th year – 49/49) and tackle R.J. Bye (7th year – 48/48). They were added to the young duo of tackle Darren Richardson (4th year – 62/62) and end Nate Luong (3rd year – 40/51). This year, the biggest piece so far was added in first round pick end Mike Hipp (rookie – 54/70). Hipp was been a force from the moment he entered training camp and should frighten any offensive coordinator when he lines up on the same side of the field as Stoner.
CB: Despite the presence of Dennis Porter (6th year – 68/68), the cornerbacks for ACI are not a strength. Porter will hold down the right corner spot and won’t need much help. At left corner, new additions Myron Nance (7th year – 35/35) and Omar Goodwin (5th year – 34/34) will rotate and will get plenty of help from the safeties. The fourth corner is Ike Roybal (4th year – 33/33).
S: The Phantoms took a huge hit in the preseason last year when strong safety Dwight Ross 54th year – 52/52) went down with a torn ACL. Ross is back but has been moved to free safety thanks to the development of Wendell Myrick (3rd year – 55/55). They should be one of the better safety pairs in the league. Winston Dennis (4th year – 40/40) and Kennedy Carlisle (3rd year – 34/34) are capable of spot duty but ACI can’t afford an injury to Myrick or Ross if the defense hopes to take the next step in their development.
ST: Kicker Dixon Finch (9th year – 78/78) was given a huge contract in 2030 and made 83% of his field goals last year. Hopefully he will get more opportunities this year. Howard Doyle (2nd year – 50/54) was resigned as the punter after averaging 43.3 yards per kick. The team goal is to improve on his 36 yard net average through better coverage.
_________________ 
|
Login
FAQ
