In an earlier article, we looked at the Atlantic City rookie class. This time, we are going to review the entire roster position by position. After a 10-6 season but missing the playoffs, the Phantoms hope to take the next step in becoming a championship contender.
QB
Starter: Todd Nelson – 7th year – 44/44
Backups: Rico Firth – 8th year – 41/41, Kent Kampman – 2nd year – 27/46, Amos Bradford – Rookie – 13/62
Additions: Bradford
Losses: None
Analysis: Firth started all 16 games for ACI in 2035 and threw for 3,136 yards with a 17/18 TD/INT ratio and a QB rating of 77.2. None of these numbers are earth shattering so Firth will have to hold off the preseason challenge of Nelson. Nelson has started one game in his career but actually has better ratings than Firth. The question is can he turn that into positive numbers on the field. Firth and Nelson are the short term quarterback options as their contracts expire in the next two seasons (Firth in 2037 and Nelson this year). The future is in the hands of Kampman and Bradford. Kampman returned from the summer league where he made steady progress and should be a viable option in 2038. Bradford has the potential to be the best quarterback in Atlantic City since Huffman in 2027. The plan is for Bradford to take the reins of the franchise in 2039.
Outlook: Firth will get every opportunity to keep his starting job. However, if he falters early there is a good chance that Nelson gets a shot.
RB
Starter: J.R. Brustkern – 4th year – 79/79
Backups: Harvey Engelke – 5th year – 30/30, Justin Hoover – Rookie – 29/35
Additions: Hoover
Subtractions: Winfred Wells
Analysis: Brustkern ran for 1,152 yards last season, his 3rd straight season with over 1,100 yards. With the departure of the talented Wells in free agency, more of the load will fall on Brustkerns shoulder. Surprisingly, first round bust Engelke was resigned mostly out of necessity once Wells left and a few free agent targets signed elsewhere. What Engelke brings to the running game is speed to the outside with an 86 rating. He should be fresh, as he has 18 carries over the past three seasons. The 3rd down back will be rookie Hoover. While not much of a runner, he has very good current and future ratings for pass catching.
Outlook – Brustkern will be a work horse in the running game. The big question is can he handle the load with almost no support behind him (Wells rushed for 507 yards on 99 carries last year). With an average at best passing game, Brustkern may need a 1,500+ yard season if ACI is to get into the playoffs.
FB
Starter: Hunter Dail – 7th year – 60/60
Backups: Alan Sanders – 2nd year – 36/44
Additions: None
Subtractions: None
Analysis: Dail is an old school fullback whose value comes from blocking skills. He is so good at it that he was named the first team all-league fullback in 2035 despite not having a single rushing attempt. What he did do was record 9 krb, 29 kro, 2 pancakes and 36 receptions. Backing up Dail is Sanders who didn’t play in a single game last year.
Outlook – If Dail can repeat his high level of play, there is no reason that Brustkern can’t compete for a rushing title.
WR
Starters: FL - Donald Kruger – Rookie – 34/57, SE – Emmanuel Harmon – 12th year – 36/36
Backups: Vinny Madera – 6th year – 32/32, Phillip Buckner – 7th year – 33/33, Edgar Terrell – Rookie – 29/44Thomas Hanks – 2nd year – 24/34
Additions: Kruger, Harmon, Terrell
Subtractions: Jake Satterfield, O.J. Rasmuson
Analysis: Here we go again with a weak receiving group for Atlantic City. Both starters from last year are gone. Added are rookie 2nd round pick Kruger and veteran Harmon. Kruger has the potential to be the best Phantoms receiver in a long time but that is a few years away. Harmon has taken a bit of a hit since he was signed in free agency but is still the 2nd best receiver on the team. The returning receivers (Madera, Buckner and Hanks) combined for 21 receptions last year. Terrell looks like he will be a solid #3 receiver down the line.
Outlook – Not pretty. When your starters are a rookie and a 12 year vet it can’t be too good. That being said, Kruger has an outside chance to be the first 1,000 yard receiver for Atlantic City since 2027. Who are we kidding – that is not going to happen. At least not this year.
TE
Starter: Myron Learned – 5th year - (68/68)
Backups: Bryce Jepson – 5th year - (43/43), Cory Eubanks – 2nd year - (33/42), Brock Bauer – 2nd year(29/43)
Additions: None
Subtractions: Tirtha
Analysis: Learned returns as the leader of this group once again and has become a consistent 50+ catch per season receiver. In fact, in his first four years in the league he has 51, 50, 54 and 50 receptions. Jepson is a veteran backup who had 31 receptions in 2035, which was a career high. Bauer and Eubanks are young tight ends who look to be solid backups but nothing special.
Outlook – The Phantoms made a run at a couple high caliber tight ends in free agency but were not able to close the deal. This leaves Jepson as the second tight end in the preferred two tight end system. Learned will still get the majority of the throws and needs to push the 60 catch barrier if the offense is going to click. If Bauer and Eubanks get a lot of playing time then ACI will be in a bit of trouble.
OT
Starters: LT Gabe Burdick – 9th year – 50/50, Carlos Urbanchek – 2nd year – 49/79
Backups: Trent May – 4th year - 28/45, Ernest Keith – 2nd year – 21/47
Additions:
Subtractions: Vince Compton, Kyle Wheelock
Analysis: Burdick returns as one of the veterans of the offensive line. He is a better pass blocker than run blocker, which isn’t the best fit for the ACI offense. Compton was the starting right tackle for many years but has been replaced by Urbanchek. Urbanchek was chosen with the first round pick acquired from Omaha in the Edwin Stoner deal so there is a ton of pressure on him to perform. May and Keith are average backups.
Outlook – Urbanchek is on the rise while Burdick is on the decline. Hopefully they can stay healthy and perform at a high level.
OG
Starters: LG K.C. Norton – 5th year – 58/58, RG Curtis Babinchak – 7th year – 56/56
Backups: David Hudson – 3rd year – 30/45, Donovan Hines – Rookie - 17/43, Carl Redding – Rookie – 16/49
Additions: Hudson, Hines, Redding
Subtractions: Fred Sanford, Gene Kennedy
Analysis: Norton finally performed at the level the team hoped for in 2035 as he started 16 games and had career highs in all statistical categories. Babinchak is a former 5th round pick who has become a key piece of the offensive line. The depth took a hit when Kennedy left in free agency. Hudson will have to provide support at left and right guard. Hines and Redding are battling for one spot and are projects. Hines was taken in the 7th round and has excellent run blocking potential. Redding is a rookie free agent who is another good run blocker but has very little experience (or talent) for pass blocking.
Outlook – Like the tackles, the starting guards are above average but the depth is non-existent.
C
Starter: Roosevelt Shepard – 8th year - 70/70
Backup: Clyde Gonzalez – Rookie – 18/50
Additions: Gonzalez
Subtractions: Ike Powell, Jeremy Murphy
Analysis: Shepard is the offensive line leader and heart of the line. He missed three games last year with good backups but there is not that luxury this year. Gonzalez is a rookie free agent who was moved from guard to center. Of the three rookies, he has the most upside.
Outlook – Once again, the starter needs to remain healthy if the Phantoms are to succeed
DE
Starters: LDE Mike Hipp – 6th year – 60/60, RDE Roy Vaughn – 7th year – 42/42
Backups: Sammie Lynch – 7th year – 49/49, Johnnie Kelly – 11th year – 34/34, Curtis Borders – Rookie – 19/42
Additions: Vaughn, Borders
Subtractions: Nick Frassrand
Analysis: Hipp remains the top pass rushing end on the roster. He hasn’t lived up to his 1-5 selection in 2031 but he is still a solid player who had 6 sacks last year. Vaughn was one of the few free agent signings made by ACI and brings solid run defense to the right of the defensive line. Lynch, last year’s starter at RDE, moves to the left side to hopefully provide a fresh, 1-2 punch with Hipp. Kelly was resigned as a mentor but had a terrible TC where he was -11/-11. With a $2.5 million cap number, can the team afford to keep him? Borders is a rookie 5th round pick who might be an excellent run defending end in a few years.
Outlook – Sacks have been tough to come by for the Phantoms in the past few years. If Hipp / Lynch can combine for 12+ sacks then the defense has a chance to take the next step.
DT
Starter: Darren Richardson – 9th year – 64/64
Backups: Levon Biakabutuka – 3rd year – 46/46, Neil Farr – 9th year – 35/35
Additions: Farr
Subtractions: Brent Blackwell
Analysis: Richardson is one of the top players on defense and is moving up the ACI career charts with every season. Biakabutuka is undersized at 277 pounds but has done a nice job as the primary backup. Farr was signed in free agency (his second stint with ACI) but promptly dropped -12/-12 at TC. Strong affinity to Kelly might actually be his downfall if Kelly is cut.
Outlook – Once again, the starter needs to remain healthy if the Phantoms are to succeed.
OLB
Starters: SLB Corey Fisher – 3rd year – 65/77, WLB – Percy Cooperstein – 6th year - 35/35
Backups: Nick Sanders – 3rd year – 19/29, Dustin Bruce – 5th year – 20/26, Winfred Henry – 5th year – 32/32
Additions: Bruce, Henry
Subtractions: Norm Berrian
Analysis: Fisher had 86 tackles in 2035, his first full season as a starter. He continues to improve with every game and is on the verge of being one of the top linebackers in the CFL. Cooperstein is battling Bruce and Henry for the pass rushing specialist job at WLB. Based on pass rushing skills, Henry (recently acquired for a 5th round pick) has the best numbers but Cooperstein has the best statistics. Henry is a veteran who has never been given a chance to rush the quarterback due to poor overall ratings. Only 2 of the 3 will make the final roster.
Outlook – Fisher should have a huge season and pass 100+ tackles. Don’t expect big sack numbers from the WLB’s but the hope is that whomever makes the team can combine for 10+ sacks.
ILB
Starters: SILB Dominic Castillo – 2nd year – 50/81, WILB Emmitt Suhocki – 6th year – 54/54
Backup: Russell Franz – Rookie – 16/42
Additions: Bruce, Henry
Subtractions: Norm Berrian, Trevor Paolini
Analysis: Like Fisher, Castillo has the makings of a future star in the league. Add Suhocki to the mix and 3 of the 4 linebacker spots are in excellent hands. Franz is an undrafted rookie who might turn out to be a very capable backup. The loss of Berrian and Paolini hurts the depth.
Outlook – This is sounding like a broken record, but there is no depth at this position.
CB
Starters: Dennis Porter – 11th year – 55/55. Carlton Hucke – 7th year – 56/56
Backups: Ralph Myers – Rookie – 33/46, Calvin Van der Haak – 4th year – 36/36, Mercury Osborne – 3rd year – 24/42
Additions: Myers
Subtractions: Leo Pasquarella
Analysis: Porter is still going strong in his 11th year, as shown by his 4.39 40 time which ranks him as one of the fastest players in the CFL. Hucke was the 2nd part of the Stoner deal to Omaha and had a very nice season in 2035. Pasquarella, who left in free agency, will be missed as the nickel back. That job will fall to rookie Myers (a first round pick that looks like a bust out of the gate) or Calvin Van der Haak (who had 2 interceptions in 5 games last year). Osborne may be running out of time to show his skills to the coaches.
Outlook – Porter and Hucke are still a very strong starting duo at cornerback. Injuries and who will play nickel / dime are a concern.
S
Starters: SS Wendell Myrick – 8th year – 62/62, FS Dwight Ross – 10th year – 39/39
Backups: SS Ronald Rolf – 6th year – 46/46, FS Marvin Wayne – Rookie – 23/50
Additions: Wayne
Subtractions: None
Analysis: Myrick has become the top safety on the squad as age has started to take a toll on Ross. With a new 4 year contract in hand, he will be at ACI for the rest of his career. As mentioned, Ross had a big drop in the offseason and now has backup ratings but remains the starter. Rolf is a solid backup who can help at both safety spots. Wayne has been a nice surprise so far after being drafted in the 4th round. If he can hold his potential, he will be the successor to Ross.
Outlook – Myrick is still a very good safety and should put up solid numbers. The questions mark is at free safety – can Ross play above his actual ratings or will Wayne have to get more playing time early than hoped?
Special Teams
K - Dixon Finch – 14th year – 62/62
P – Jermaine Holmes – 2nd year – 51/56
Kickoff Returners – Madera, Kruger
Punt Returners – Hoover, Kruger
Outlook: Finch had a horrible 2035 (21/32 field goals) but has looked very sharp in the preseason. This is the last year of his 3 yr, $13.66 deal and in his 14th year there aren’t many left. Holmes was at the bottom half of punters last year but does have a very strong leg. For the first time in a long time, the Phantoms have some returners who are a threat. Madera had two kickoff return touchdowns in 2035. He will be joined by Kruger who has very similar return skills. On punt returns, ACI will be counting on two rookies in Hoover and Kruger. Kruger is a better punt returner than kick returner who is still growing at this spot while Hoover is already one of the top 10 punt returners based on ratings.
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