[b8d976b1]Detroit Vampires[/b8d976b1], Owner: [i8d976b1]fantastic flying froggies[/i8d976b1]
2005 results:
- 11-5 regular season
- Bye in wild card round
- Won divisional game vs. Hartford, 29-23
- Won Eastern Conference finals vs. Memphis, 28-27
- Lost CFL Bowl III vs. Honolulu, 14-19

[i8d976b1]Offense:[/i8d976b1] QB Freddie Mathias has come a long way from his 33 interception season of 2003. Since then he has a 23-13 record as a starter, including the playoffs. Losing WR John Gunter in free agency will hurt, but what this offense really needs is a running game to take the pressure off of Mathias and the passing game. [b8d976b1]Grade: B[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Defense:[/i8d976b1] The defense has good depth, but no true superstars. The closest thing to a superstar is FS Michael Dustin who tied the team record with 6 INTs last season. [b8d976b1]Grade: B+[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Special Teams:[/i8d976b1] WR Harold Infante is a dangerous kick returner, returning one for a TD in the regular season against Honolulu, but coming up empty in the CFL Bowl. [b8d976b1]Grade: B[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Overall season outlook:[/i8d976b1] [b8d976b1]11-5[/b8d976b1], Detroit will once again be one of the league's top teams.


[b8d976b1]Albany Crows[/b8d976b1], Owner: [i8d976b1]thater[/i8d976b1]
2005 results: 7-9 regular season

[i8d976b1]Offense:[/i8d976b1] It will be up to a pair of rookies, WR Cary Wheeler (1.26) and RB Rob West (2.10) to carry this offense. The sooner they learn the system the better. [b8d976b1]Grade: B-[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Defense:[/i8d976b1] CB Sedrick Boyd has matured into a solid starter after being a 3rd round pick two years ago, but Boyd doesn't have an adequate counterpart on the other side of the field. NT Kendrick Gunn, last year's #1 pick, is still improving and could be a name we hear a lot about this season. [b8d976b1]Grade: C+[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Special Teams:[/i8d976b1] Last year the punting average was only 36.5, the field goal percentage was only 75%. Hopefully rookie WR Wheeler will bring some explosiveness to the return game. [b8d976b1]Grade: D+[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Overall season outlook:[/i8d976b1] [b8d976b1]5-11[/b8d976b1], Albany is a young team (14 rookies and 10 2nd year players signed to their roster) who is a few years away from being competitive again.


[b8d976b1]Chicago Hitmen[/b8d976b1], Owner: [i8d976b1]dberner30[/i8d976b1]
2005 results: 7-9 regular season

[i8d976b1]Offense:[/i8d976b1] No team has a better offensive line than the Hitmen, especially at the center and guard positions. That line was the reason why RB Arthur Brady was the league MVP last year with 1888 rushing yards. [b8d976b1]Grade: A[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Defense:[/i8d976b1] Chicago made a good move when they traded with Tulsa to pick up CB Graig Beaton (14 INTs in 3 seasons). Even with Beaton wearing a Chicago uniform this season, they still have a lack of depth there which will hurt them. [b8d976b1]Grade: B-[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Special Teams:[/i8d976b1] This is an average unit. Punter Nolan Grooms is very dependable and was a good pickup last year from Honolulu. [b8d976b1]Grade: B-[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Overall season outlook:[/i8d976b1] [b8d976b1]10-6[/b8d976b1], Now that this is QB Sanford Hardesty's 2nd year in the offense this team can really take off.


[b8d976b1]Cleveland Flats[/b8d976b1], Owner: [i8d976b1]TheLionKing[/i8d976b1]
2005 results: 7-9 regular season

[i8d976b1]Offense:[/i8d976b1] Toothpick Lang, 2005 offensive rookie of the year, will be the main ball carrier behind a good offensive line. The big problem is that Cleveland does not have a QB. Wesley Jones and Norm Rayburn split the duties last season, but neither is a long term solution. [b8d976b1]Grade: C[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Defense:[/i8d976b1] The unit's only standout is SS Elijah Roy (all-league 1st team in 2005). However, the team would be better off if Roy didn't have to make so many tackles. [b8d976b1]Grade: D[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Special Teams:[/i8d976b1] Nothing too exciting here - just an ok punter and kicker along with no proven names in the return game. [b8d976b1]Grade: C-[/b8d976b1]

[i8d976b1]Overall season outlook:[/i8d976b1] [b8d976b1]3-13[/b8d976b1], The Flats are in salary cap trouble which prevented them from doing anything to help the team this offseason. Historically this team has won more games than expected, so it will be interesting to see if that pattern holds true again this season.

[quote791e722="Taco"]No team has a better offensive line than the Hitmen, especially at the center and guard positions.[/quote791e722]

[i791e722]Ahem...[/i791e722]



Great write-ups Taco! Keep them coming!

_________________
Former GM, Boston Panthers
8-8,8-8,8-8,7-9,7-9,4-12,10-6,10-6,11-5,11-5

Great stuff, Taco.

_________________

The big meat up front in Chicago is very appreciative of your praise. Good read of the team status. Keep up the articles.

First CFL Draft recap:

1. Detroit- DE Scott Flowers, the # 1 pick. Flowers was injured and did not play a single down in his rookie season, in his second season he seemed to recover from his injury quite nicely and started 16 games with 37 tackles, and 5 sacks. Flowers looks very solid- and I expect a breakout year from him this year.

2. Albany- NT Kendrick Gunn, pick # 18. Gunn has started all 32 games since being drafted, he 93 career tackles, and 12 career sacks. Gunn has had 2 very solid years and looks like he was a great pick at 18. Gunn should have another great season, and he will establish himself as one of the top tackles in the league.

3. Chicago- SS Clay Campbell pick # 10. Campbell has been a dissapointment on the field so far, he has started 32 games but has only 1 INT, and 97 tackles. Campbell should develop into a solid saftey but he will probably never live up to the hype of being selected # 10 overall.

4. Cleveland- QB Norm Rayburn pick # 20. In his 2 seasons in Cleveland Rayburn has started 22 games (13 as a rookie). He has 3,800 yards and 20 TDs- He has played pretty good for a young QB- it will be interesting to see if he is named the started for opening day- and if he will hold onto that spot all season. This could be a make or break year for Rayburn in Cleveland.

_________________


Home of Marvin "Muddy Waters" Raffo

[quote17abe2a="Taco"]

[i17abe2a]Overall season outlook:[/i17abe2a] [b17abe2a]3-13[/b17abe2a], The Flats are in salary cap trouble which prevented them from doing anything to help the team this offseason. Historically this team has won more games than expected, so it will be interesting to see if that pattern holds true again this season.[/quote17abe2a]

Call it what it is.... Salary Cap hell...

I just took a look at my 2006 schedule for the 1st time.
I like the week 9 bye week, but I hate it that we play the Atlantic division. As a result, I would say your 11-5 prediction for the Vampires is pretty optimistic.

I'd like to go 10-6 and will probably have to settle for 9-7, which [i2129932]might [/i2129932]just be enough to clinch the division...

False modesty or do you truly think so?

[quote312a2ed="Taco"]False modesty or do you truly think so? [/quote312a2ed]

LOL

I called it like i see it...