Atlantic City has fallen from 13 wins in 2037 to 9 in 2038 and then only 7 in 2039. If there is a positive in 7 wins it would be that the Phantoms won their last 3 games of the year. There is still some very good talent left from that 2038 team so a return to the playoffs is not out of the question. However, there are some big question marks with the roster. The team also has cap issues, so what you see is what you get.

Throughout the preseason, we will take a look at each position (projected starters in bold). Today we present the offense.


Offense: The Phantoms have been using a Two-TE offense for the past few years with mixed results. That trend should continue in 2040 but look for an increased emphasis on the running game to take some pressure off the quarterbacks.

Quarterbacks

- Roy Ellard – 6th year – 45/45
- Amos Bradford – 5th year – 34/34
- Brant Flannery – R – 13/41

Ellard started 12 games for ACI in 2039 after coming over as a free agent. He was not a huge success with 10 TD’s and 13 INT’s with a 63.4 QB rating. Cap issues kept the Phantoms from looking for a replacement in free agency, which might be a good thing as many QB’s were drastically overpaid. Two seasons ago, Bradford looked like a decent prospect but he has taken a big hit in his potential and is now just a poor backup. Flannery was drafted in the 7th round and is a project at best.


Running Backs

- J.R. Brustkern – 8th year – 55/55
- Jeffrey Emack – R – 51/57
- Earnest Beyer – 4th year – 29/29

Brustkern ran for 1,029 yards in just 11 games last year, his 7th straight 1,000+ yard season. He has taken a hit in the ratings the past two seasons but despite that was resigned for 3 more years. Emack fell into the hands of ACI in the first round of the draft and should combine with Brustkern for an excellent 1-2 punch at running back. Beyer was signed right before training camp due to his last name (why not…). He sat out the 2039 season but did gain 938 yards for Baltimore in 2038 with a 5.07 yard average.


Fullbacks

- Hunter Dail – 11th year – 46/46
- Toby Griffith – 9th year – 35/35
- Zion Price – R – 29/53

Dail returns for his 11th season to lead a trio of fullbacks for Atlantic City. While Dail has lost some ratings from his days as one of the best fullbacks in the league, he is still a very capable lead blocker and backfield leader. Griffith is a very strong run blocker who should see more time this year with the emphasis on running the ball. He will see strong competition from rookie Price, who was a surprising 2nd round pick this year.


Wide Receivers

- FL – Malcolm Schlecht – 10th year – 39/39
- FL – Jerald Francis – 5th year – 39/39
- FL - Donald Kruger – 3rd year – 35/35
- SE - Al Phillips – 3rd year – 31/34
- SE - Edgar Terrell – 3rd year – 32/32

Another year brings another very pedestrian set of wide receivers. Schlecht returns for his second season as the lead receiver for ACI, catching 62 passes for 610 yards in 2039. Yeah, not much of a threat. Francis was a free agent signing and was overpaid for what he is. However, when your receiving group is horrible you need every player you can find. Francis was brought in more for production (54 catches) than ratings. Kruger continues to take a ratings free fall and only caught 26 passes last year. Phillips and Terrell combined for 12 catches in 2039 so there is not much to see here. Phillips still has room for improvement while Terrell while resigned because a scout somewhere thinks he will be a good 3rd down receiver. Time will tell.


Tight Ends

- Carlos Polhemus – 7th year – 76/76
- Myron Learned – 9th year – 50/50
- Casey Ford – 7th year – 47/47

Once again, the strength of the Atlantic City offense are the tight ends. Polhemus caught 78 passes last year and was rewarded with a new 4 year contract. Another 75+ reception season is a must if ACI are to make the playoffs. Learned caught only 25 passes in 2039 and there is concern that he may be declining in talent at a quick rate. Hopefully, he can bounce back and get back to the 50+ catch mark. Ford was a free agent signing who brings depth and talent to the position.


Centers

- Roosevelt Shepard – 12th year – 64/64
- Buddy Segal – 5th year – 34/43

Shepard is the offensive line leader and continues to be a force in the middle of the line. He did miss 4 games due to injury last year so there are some worrisome signs that he is nearing the end of his career. Segal did a nice job replacing Shepard in the short term but is by no means a future replacement.


Guards

- RG – Sedrick Janjic – 4th year – 81/81
- LG – Shovel Barton – 7th year – 54/54
- K.C. Norton – 9th year – 50/50

Barton, who joined ACI last year via trade, was resigned to a huge contract. His ratings good, not great, but he is a perfect fit for the running game. Janjic, a second round pick for ACI in 2037, continues to improve into one of the better guards in the league. He is also one of the most powerful, as he tied for the leagues strongest man title with 41 reps. Norton is a veteran presence who is set to fill in at either guard spot if needed.


Tackles

- RT - Carlos Urbanchek – 6th year – 72/72
- LT – Dwayne Clements – 2nd year – 29/36
- RT – Joe Kaplan – 8th year – 48/48
- RT – Donny Bratzke – 5th year – 40/40

Urbanchek missed 4 games last year but still had one of his best seasons. He has locked down the right tackle spot for years to come. The question mark remains left tackle. Clements, a first round pick last year, looks to be a bust but will begin the season as the starter. Kaplan was signed in the off-season and is a big time run blocker who struggles in the passing game. Bratzke is a capable backup who started 13 games in 2039, although he did give up 7 sacks.

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Defense: The Atlantic City defense has been the strength of the team for years and this season is no exception. A strong showing is a necessity if the team is going to contend for a playoff spot.


Defensive Ends

- LDE - Mike Hipp – 10th year – 54/54
- RDE – Curtis Borders – 5th year – 48/48
- LDE – Nathan Romanos – 7th year – 39/39
- RDE – Ryan Walsh – 8th year – 26/26

Hipp enters his 10th year as the starting left defensive end and has been a steady, yet unspectacular player. He had 6.5 sacks last season, which is his highest total since he had 9 in his rookie season. Borders enters his 3rd season as the starting right end and his main job is to stop the run. A 92 run defense rating makes him an excellent choice. Romanos joined ACI last year and has decent pass rushing abilities but has not been a big sack guy. For 2040, he is the defensive front leader. Walsh has good run defense numbers but would be replaced if the team had any cap dollars available.


Defensive Tackles

- NT – Norbert Umphenour – 8th year – 35/35
- NT – Joseph Weikel – 5th year – 39/39
- NT – Ellis Weyand – 2nd year – 16/39

The retirement of Darren Richardson is the biggest note at the nose tackle spot. Richardson spent 12 years in Atlantic City and ranks #1 all –time for starts, 2nd in hurries and 3rd in sacks. He will be missed. Umphenour has the job of replacing Richardson, and should be a good run defender. The one difference is that Umphenour is not a pass rushing nose tackle. Weikel was signed this year to provide another option and is also a good run defender who should push for more playing time as the season goes on. Weyand is a project who was signed due to his run defense potential.


Linebackers

- SILB - Dominic Castillo – 6th year – 85/85
- SLB - Corey Fisher – 7th year – 77/77
- WILB – Ellis Oland – 4th year – 31/31
- WLB – Edwin Stoner – 11th year – 59/59
- SLB – Earnest Malicki – 7th year – 41/41
- SLB – Omar Feeley – 5th year - 35/35
- WLB – Blaine Harper – 5th year – 39/39

The strength of the defense continues to be Castillo and Fisher. Castillo was named the teams designated player and signed to a one year deal. He was named an all-league 1st team inside linebacker in 2039 so he deserved every penny. Fisher was named to the all-league 2nd team in 2039 and led the team with 11 sacks. After winning a championship in Omaha, Stoner returns home thanks to a pre-draft trade. He was quickly moved from WILB to WLB, where he will try his hand at pass rushing. Oland is a run defending specialist who also is an excellent special team player. With a lot of passing teams in the league, Oland will be replaced in the nickel package about 70% of the plays. Malicki is a good all-around player who can spell Fisher on occasion. He is not happy as a backup but dude, you are playing behind one of the best linebackers in the league so chill! Harper is listed as a WLB but may see plenty of time at WILB due to excellent run defending skills. Feeley is a backup at both inside spots.


Safeties

- SS – Chris Parrish – 5th year – 42/42
- FS – Zach Dallesandro – 6th year – 44/44
- FS – Kerry Hanson – 8th year – 38/38
- SS – Leroy Talley – 5th year – 39/39
- FS – Neil Riffel – 6th year – 37/37

Long time safety Wendell Myrick was not resigned so this position is in a state of flux. Parrish enters his second season at ACI and gets his first chance as a starter. He is a solid overall player across his ratings. Dallesandro was one of the bigger free agent signings for the Phantoms and brings experience to the safety spot. A career 80%+ pass defense percentage was a big reason why he was given a $14 million dollar, 3 year deal. Hanson is a good pass defending safety who can step in as a starter but is not long term solution. Talley started 3 games for Atlantic City in 2039 but is better suited to backup duty. Riffel is another free agent signing that really excites the team due to his excellent zone defense skills.


Cornerbacks

- RCB - Ralph Myers – 5th year – 58/58
- LCB- Brent DiStefano – 10th year – 49/49
- LCB – Leo Pasquarella – 9th year – 45/45
- RCB – Allen Gilmore – 5th year – 41/41
- LCB – Lukas McAleese – R – 17/26

Myers, a first round pick in 2036, continues get better and better ratings wise and is not the top corner on the roster. DiStefano has been a pleasant surprise and boasts an 82% pass defense percentage at the other corner spot. It seems like every other year Pasquarella tests free agency and then returns to ACI. I am not sure if that is a good or bad sign. Anyway, he is a good run defender and zone coverage guy who should see plenty of time as the nickel back. Gilmore has been a nice surprise as a backup corner / dime back. McAleese was a 5th round flyer in the draft who, so far, has a big bag of nothing. I hope he enjoys his one season in Atlantic City because he will be gone at the end of the year.

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