Well, good to see the old Chicago franchise kept the nickname I gave them even though they've moved. Iowa City Soldiers...gotta love that alliteration.

The Hitmen/Soldiers have made the playoffs twice in their lofty (bear with me) CFL history, and we plan on movin' on up to that DELUXE Apartment in the playoffs.

New helmet and logo to kick things off right:

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I like the new helmet and logo. Cool stuff.

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Joined: 2030 - Moved to Miami in 2052
Conference Champs - 2051

Soldiers 2036 OFFSEASON Report


Show Me The Money!



Iowa City made $20M in profits last season. This despite a drop in attendance.




Ticket prices will be lowered to stimulate attendance.

Our franchise value is the third lowest in the league. WE have ZERO ratings in Roster AND Attendance. But there is hope. The economy is above average at 57, making it the third best economy in the league. That's something you can build on.

Surprise!!!

Strong safety Harris Kelly (36/43: 2nd round pick 18) named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Two interceptions, zero touchdown's allowed, seven passes defensed, and a pass defense percentage of 81.5 while starting all sixteen games.

Tomorrow: Roll Call ...Offense Report!

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Offense

QB Kendall McCarthy (3rd yr: 68/68: 13 formations)

The roll out qb hasn't earned a lot of respect in the league yet, but seems to have the potential to be a good signal caller. His bars look like they're all in the right place. A new offensive package, or packages, could help the guy.

Keys to Improvement:

Receivers

He needs wideouts that are worth a damn. Fourth year flanker Malcolm Lyon has the endurance and hands to be an every down back. BPA seems about average and third down catching is a strong suit at 62. I like the kid.

The split ends are uninspiring. A split end with some BPA and good speed would help and a mentor wideout to help develop our wideouts, especially with the approaching influx of youth at the position.

Running Back

We like our smashmouth in Hoosier land, and the triple head monster that is Dirnabauer, Burgess, and Kressuk are monsters...but not the right kind. We need a primary every down back and a number two option. There are no fullbacks on the roster.

Offensive Line

Adam Bushell is a monster center with a blocking strength of 91 and below average endurance. He's a Red Flag, and I can handle that. Long snapping sucks. Specials will need a long snapper. although TE Preston Sims can do the job rather well.

Guards

Josh Federer is the only guard on the roster, and even then his endurance issues (6) will keep him off the field in anything but spot relief. We need Guards!

Tackles

Thomas Lyon (no relation to flanker Malcolm Lyon) is the real deal at left tackle. He's a fan favorite and he's certainly deserving.

But right tackle is pretty much empty.

The Offensive Cupboard isn't bare, but it certainly isn't stocked for a long run. It's a great chance to build the team the right way through the draft.

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Defensive coordinator Grant Fontenot has been signed to a contract extension. Fontenot's ratings are Excellent in D Linemen, Very Good in Linebackers and Secondary, Good in Young Talent, but Poor in Kickers and Punters. In the previous two season with the Soldiers Iowa City has been mediocre with a 16-16 record and no playoff appearances.

"He'll have a chance for another couple of seasons. I'm hoping our offensive coordinator will offset his poor specials disciplines." Hoosier Owens.

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Sixty nine year old Conrad Cote, an 11 year veteran of the CFL Wars, has been hired by Iowa City as the new offensive coordinator.

Conrad is Good in Quarterbacks, Average in Running Backs and Wide Receivers, Fair in Offensive Linemen, Excellent in Youg Talent and Kickers, Fair in Offensive Linemen.

"He has to show improvement in the Offensive Line part of his job or he's on a short leash. And I'd like to see improvement in wideouts and running backs. We'll reassess his position next season." Hoosier Owens.

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Defensive Coordinator Tackles Defensive Line Woes

Defensive tackle Rufus "Tell Me Somethin' Good" Pritchard (5 yrs: 47/47) has been signed by the Soldiers. Pritchard, originally drafted by the Boston Bees last played with St. Louis. In his entire career Pritchard has started eight games while playing in forty five. He's registered 65 tackles with 29 assists, 3 sacks, 2 blocked passes, 18 hurries on quarterback and one qb knockdown. He has forced three fumbles while recovering two.

Static Bars are about average. His Pass Rush Strength bar is at 60, very solidly above average, and his Punishing Hitter bar is a smidge below average at forty four. He has the right weight and height, and I'm thinking with his Endurance Bar rating he'll be a mainstay on the d line for years.

"Rufus is an Iron Man..and Endurance bar of 93 is outstanding, and our defensive tackles have an issue with endurance. We've corrected that deficiency." G.M. "Hoosier" Owens. "He'll start from day one."

The 6-3, 305 lb former Terrapin will be moved to the right side playing opposite 11 yr pro Blaine Conley (51/51). Conley will serve as mentor to backup defensive tackles Rod Sutter (48/48) and Nick Kasay (50/50). Gilbert Karamazov (26/37) seems to be the odd man out and may stick on the roster only to fulfill a two year contract.

The Soldiers still have a problem at right defensive end. Iowa City doesn't have one, and that's a tuffy. Left defensive end Dusty Heninger (59/59) was put on the trade wires, but seems to have generated very little interest from other clubs.

"We're working to correct that deficiency. Any veteran free agent we sign to our defensive squad will free us up for the skill positions in the rookie draft." Owens.

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Nice writeups.

Thanks! I always get a kick out of the article writing and graphics...adds to my immersion enjoyment. BTW..if you find the Great Lakes Pictorial History, take a look at the Crows helmet I mocked up. If you want some changes, let me know...I love doing that stuff.

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The 2036 Rookie Draft

1.14. LG Marshall "Bob" Barker, Missouri
6-3, 299 lbs.
Very High Volatility
Interviewed : Very Underrated



A little short for left guard, but seems to be the right height for a right guard. , a little underweight, but dang...when it comes to the complete package of skills, he's head and shoulders above what we have now. Which is...nothing. The Soldiers don't have a guard on the roster and this corrects that problem.

Guard may not be the first option for a lot of g.m.'s, some prefer tackles in the first, but when you don't have a guard on roster...this is a must have position. Especially when someone takes your tackle right before your pick.

Stelmack indicates the static bar sticks as advertised... Blocking Strength way above average at 35 reps.

The other bars are pretty much as advertised. He'll take a minor hit on Endurance, but he'll still be in the sixty range.

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2.13. RCB Doug Lykins, Tulsa Golden Hurricanes
5-11, 192 lbs.
High volatility
Interviewed: Very Overrated



I'm at odds with the Scouts on this pick. Very Overrated with a Pos Drill of 51, good 40 times at 4.45, good Agility score at 7.05, and Solevision score smartly at thirty five. Strength is average at thirteen, and he's the right height and weight.

So, what the hell is the scout worried about? Stelmack loved the guy and I couldn't pass.

He'll start from day one.

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3.18. RT D.J. Sadler, Mississippi State Bulldogs
6-5, 317 lbs.
Didn't Interview
Very High Volatility



He's spot on as far as height and weight goes, and his combines in Bench (33), Broad Jump (8 foot six), are outstanding, and his Sole score is outstanding, too , but that's a combine score that really doesn't factor for offensive line guys.

Sadler will start at right tackle for us from day one. He has to, we don't have a right tackle with any endurance at all.

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Review: so far we've picked up three starters, for better or for worse, they're the starters at left guard, right corner, and right tackle.

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4.17. WR Jeff Terry, Alabama Crimson Tide
6-10, 195 lbs.
Didn't Interview
Low volatility



Okay, a low volatility guy in the fourth? I'm nuts. No chance of big boom that way. Terry has average Speed (4.54), very bad Strength (6), but good Agility (7.12) and a nice Position Drill (52).

The Static Bar in Big Play Receiving is around 35, so he's not going to break the big one for us, but his bar in Avoid Drops looks to drop slightly to 50 while Endurance Taps out at 100, as does Third Down Catching. He's a possession receiver and every team needs one. Now to find out if he's strong enough to hold onto the ball after taking a hit.

We need a wide out to flesh out some depth, but also to slightly improve our passing game. I'm not sure he does that, but he'll get a chance.

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5.16. P Bart Hughett, Rutgers Scarlet Knights
6-2, 209 lbs.
Very High Volatility
Didn't Interview



Sixty two percent developed, and he looks like a darn fine punter, which is better than what we have now...none. Kicking power is average, Punt Hang Time and Directional Punting look very good and Stelmack says he'll hold those bars.

He's from Crown Point, Indiana, so the native Hoosier gets a job from another Hoosier. And he's my first B1G player taken this year. Kinda late on that one.

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6.15. FG Kicker Lionel "Train" McWaters, Kansas Jayhawks
5-11, 193 lbs.
Very low volatility
Didn't Interview



The kid is better than advertised on Kicking Accuracy, at least that's coming from the insiders at Stelmack, and Stelly hasn't steered me wrong.

He'll handle the field goal kicking duties only.

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7.14. RB Carlos Dawkins, Kentucky Wildcats
5-7, 204 lbs.
Didn't Interview
Low volatility



Endurance, Special Teams, and Kick Returns caught my eye. It's always difficult to find Specials contributors any time during the draft, but it is an often overlooked part of the game. He'll get a long look at conversion to wideout.

But let's be honest.. a 4.64 40 time is slow for a wideout, so if he does transition to wideout, he'll be another possession receiver, and that's okay for now.

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DRAFT REVIEW: INGAME GRADE A-

1.14. LG Barker 40/63 POST TC 45/66
2.13. RCB Lykins 34/71 POST TC 41/67*
3.18. RT Sadler 20/42 POST TC 22/39
4.17. FL Jeff Terry 25/58 POST TC 36/58
5.16. P Bart Hughett 46/59 POST TC 61/66
6.15. K Lionel McWaters 24/37 POST TC 23/34
7.14. RB Carlos Dawkins 22/28
Switched to Flanker 25/46 POST TC 30/48

*Green Page

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Percy "Duran" Duran, Leaves Death Valley



Mentor QB Signed by Iowa City!

Percy "Duran" Duran, the ten year pro who last played for Death Valley has been signed by the Soldiers. "He's signed to be a viable backup, but much more importantly to mentor our young gun Kendall McCarthy. "McCarthy hasn't had the luxury of a mentor and it's about damn time he got one." "Hoosier" Owens, g.m. of the Chicago Soldiers.

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Split end Bernie Longfellow (3 years, 31/31) threatened the Soldier's front office with a contract holdout and has been cut from the squad.

Longfellow was a fifth round pick out of Tulane in 2034 by Iowa City.

When asked for a quote on the holdout threat, G.M. Hoosier Owens was quick to reply.."Dumbass..."

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We missed on two rookies...the right tackle and the kicker. The right tackle will stay on as a backup, but we'll be shopping for a new prospect next rookie draft, and the kicker probably won't make the team.

But, man, am I happy happy happy with the rest of the draft! BOOM! Goes the Soldiers Fortunes!

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Nice write up and nice draft. Smooth move on the RB to FL.

I am extremely happy with my rookies. Feel good about the draftees and their position changes, except for my 4th round pick, was hoping for more there. Also, I have to live with the fact that not every undrafted defensive lineman can turn into a 60 rated Guard and that 1 out of 3 doing so is ok.

Opening Day for the Soldiers!!!


Soldiers win the season opener against division rival Albany in a solid showing.

QB McCarthy not only passed for a solid game, he ran well picking up 68 yards with one rushing touchdown.

"I thought the young quarterback handled our offense well. His roll out ability opened up a lot of runs for us, and I like that dimension he adds."

Defensively, the outstanding player was rookie right corner back Doug Lykins. Lykins finished with a pass defense percentage of 91.9, and had one interception he brought back for 35 yards. He also made one tackle with one assist.

But, there are problems. Specials didn't play well as field goal kicker Jason Horn missed two field goals, and kickoff specialist McWaters was inactivated by Arty Intel. "Albany started with an average field position at the 26 yard line, and our coverage teams had to get credit for that...it certainly wasn't from Horn's work." G.M. David "Hoosier" Owens.

Attendance: 27, 500 souls. That's up 4, 000 from last season's average, and up 4, 500 from last season's home opener. That's still a far cry from where we need to be, but we're moving in the right direction.

Next up: The Death Valley Copperheads.

Death Valley is one of the rare clubs where the Iowa city Soldiers own an advantage in head to head competition. Iowa City leads 5-3 in the rare matchup.

Death Valley is favored by four.

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