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[b39a1ede]El Paso Rockets[/b39a1ede], Owner: [i39a1ede]JeeberD[/i39a1ede]
2005 results:
- 10-6 regular season
- lost wild card game to Tucson, 17-23
[i39a1ede]Offense:[/i39a1ede] 335 lb. offensive tackle Kenneth Claypoole had a sensational year in 2005. He was on the field for 477 pass plays and did not allow a single sack. The quarterback that he will be protecting this season is... Well, it's either Ernest Lorenzo or Dustin Hayes. Both guys are young and have not yet reached their potential, and they will continue to compete against each other with mutual benefit. [b39a1ede]Grade: B[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Defense:[/i39a1ede] The Rockets used their 1st round draft pick to select DE Damon Young, who team scouts believe isn't any better than 3rd round selection DT Bart DiStefano. These guys will make the team as backups and their role will be to motivate the starters to play up to their ability. Starter Pierre Hinson has the skills to be a dominate force on the D-Line, but he has not put up the monster numbers that he is capable of. [b39a1ede]Grade: B[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Special Teams:[/i39a1ede] The search for a kicker continues. After 2nd round draft pick Dexter Collett was released along with undrafted rookie Kelly Upton, the Rockets signed Eddie Spires who kicked for Memphis last year. [b39a1ede]Grade: C[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Overall season outlook:[/i39a1ede] [b39a1ede]9-7[/b39a1ede], El Paso started out a surprising 5-0 last year, then fell to 5-4, then rose to 10-4, before losing their last two regular season games and their playoff game in overtime. Expect a lot of close games again this year.
[b39a1ede]Denver Dynomite[/b39a1ede], Owner: [i39a1ede]varacel[/i39a1ede]
2005 results: 9-7 regular season
[i39a1ede]Offense:[/i39a1ede] Denver traded two 1st round picks (2006 and 2007) to Hartford to obtain WR Curtis Plotkin. They also picked up veteran WR John Gunter via free agency. These two will be the new targets for 2nd year QB Marcus Garibaldi. Garibaldi went 2-1 as a starter last year including a 4 TD performance against El Paso in the last game of the regular season. [b39a1ede]Grade: B-[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Defense:[/i39a1ede] SS Jack Upshaw was given the franchise tag after intercepting a team record 7 passes last year. He is now signed through 2010. Last year's #2 overall selection, CB Joel Sanderson, is just one other standout on a very tough defense. [b39a1ede]Grade: A-[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Special Teams:[/i39a1ede] All of the Dynomite receivers can return kicks and kicker Gary Hutchins is very accurate even though he doesn't have the strongest leg in the league. [b39a1ede]Grade: A-[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Overall season outlook:[/i39a1ede] [b39a1ede]8-8[/b39a1ede], Garibaldi is too much of an unknown at quarterback to predict anything better than an 8-8 record.
[b39a1ede]Fargo Boxcars[/b39a1ede], Owner: [i39a1ede]MC[/i39a1ede]
2005 results: 7-9 regular season
[i39a1ede]Offense:[/i39a1ede] The offense now belongs to Dwayne Bridges who threw the ball 647 times last year, including 3 games where he had more than 50 attempts. His career day was against New York in week 14 where he went 24-42 for 458 yards and 3 TDs, including the game winning TD pass with 18 seconds left. The team is very impressed with 3rd round draft pick TE Leon Witt and he may steal some playing time from Delbert Lonergan. [b39a1ede]Grade: C+[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Defense:[/i39a1ede] CB Ismael Edwards was signed as a free agent and will immediately start at the right CB position. LB Jeffrey Weinstein was designated the team's franchise player and will earn a $4.6 million salary this year. Overall the defense lacks a real disruptive player. [b39a1ede]Grade: B-[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Special Teams:[/i39a1ede] WR Jamison Reynolds handles the kick return duties while WR James Doney (along with CB Edwards) returns the punts. Any of these guys can talk one back all the way. [b39a1ede]Grade: A-[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Overall season outlook:[/i39a1ede] [b39a1ede]9-7[/b39a1ede], Bridges should be able to carry this team as long as the offensive line gives him a little bit of time. If the offensive line doesn't play well then Fargo doesn't have a chance of reaching this prediction.
[b39a1ede]Tulsa Talons[/b39a1ede], Owner: [i39a1ede]Doug5984[/i39a1ede]
2005 results: 4-12 regular season
[i39a1ede]Offense:[/i39a1ede] There have been some stories that RBs Butch Fulton and Monty Boyd aren't happy about splitting duties running the ball, but don't expect the conflict to have a major effect on their performance. Both have been 1,000 yard rushers in the past and either one can do it again. Tulsa may allow QB Donnie Lowe to open it up and air it out more this year, but they'd be best to stay with what they do best and that's run the ball. [b39a1ede]Grade: B+[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Defense:[/i39a1ede] LB Nickolas Snodgrass won the defensive player of the year award in 2005 after a 111 tackle/12 sack season. Behind him is an underrated secondary with CB Damon Jankowski and safeties Desmond Ward and Seymour Horgan. [b39a1ede]Grade: A-[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Special Teams:[/i39a1ede] The Talons have two of the leagues best specialists: punter Earle Cabral and kicker Joseph Dunford. Dunford is in his 17th season while Cabral is the youngster in his 14th year. [b39a1ede]Grade: A[/b39a1ede]
[i39a1ede]Overall season outlook:[/i39a1ede] [b39a1ede]10-6[/b39a1ede], Yes, that's right. I predict that the Tulsa Talons will win the Cavalry Division title this year despite having a 12-36 franchise record in their 3 year history. The rebuilding phase is over and it's time to win some games.
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