In 2035, it looked like the Atlantic City Phantoms were ready to make a serious move in the CFL. Despite missing the playoffs, the Phantoms were 10-6. In 2036, they took a huge step back with a 6-10 record. As the team looks ahead to 2037, there has been a flurry of trade activity and the roster is as solid as it has been in more than 10 seasons. There are still a few missing pieces but the expectations for 2038 are playoffs or bust.

Here is a quick look at the roster (starters in bold):

Offense – The Phantoms have been running a hybrid 2 TE offense for a couple seasons now. For 2038, they are fully committed to the offense and finally have the parts to (hopefully) really make it work.

Quarterbacks

- Rico Firth – 9th year – 41/41
- Howie Boyd – 4th year – 41/43
- Amos Bradford – 2nd year – 24/57

Last season, Firth lost his starting job in preseason to Todd Nelson. Nelson started five games and had a 2/7 TD/INT ratio and a 47.7 QB rating. After Nelson was benched, Firth started the final 11 games and his numbers were better (7 TD’s and 14 Interceptions and a 68.3 QB rating)) but still not good. Just days before training camp, Atlantic City signed Boyd, who was out of the league in 2036. Boyd has a very similar skillset to Firth and will be his main competition for the starting spot. Both quarterbacks know 15 formations, are very good at short to medium passes with excellent accuracy and timing. With Firth in the last year of his contract, and asking for huge dollars to resign, and Boyd a better backup than starter the future is Bradford. After spending the summer in CFL Europe, Bradford has grown but still has a long way to go. His skillset makes him a good choice for the offense and he should get a lot of preseason playing time.


Running Backs

- J.R. Brustkern – 5th year – 70/70
- Mark Picchietti – 2nd year – 40/40
- Justin Hoover – 2nd year – 29/34

The offensive rookie of the year in 2033 and coming off of his 4th straight 1,100+ rushing yard season, Brustkern is the motor that makes the offense succeed. With a new 5 year contract in hand, he can now concentrate on moving to the elite status that many have predicted for him. Picchiett was acquired in a pre-draft trade to be the primary backup. He is a young prospect who, like QB Bradford, spent the summer in Europe. Hoover is likely the 3rd down back due to excellent receiving skills, which should take some pressure off of Brustkern.


Fullbacks

- Hunter Dail – 8th year – 60/60
- Toby Griffith – 6th year – 38/38
- Alan Sanders – 3rd year – 41/41

In a 2 TE offense with an average wide receiver group, you need a strong running game to keep some pressure off the short passing game (3rd and long are not ideal situations). Atlantic City has put together one of the best set of fullbacks in the CFL. Dail was all-league in 2035 and his 2036 numbers were nearly identical. 74 run blocking, mentor and backfield leader are just examples of how important he is. The addition of Griffith (and his 79 run blocking) gives the Phantoms the #2 and #3 rated run blocking fullbacks in the league. Sanders is a solid all-around fullback who should see considerable time in 3rd down passing situations.


Wide Receivers

- Donald Kruger – 2nd year – 47/55
- Edgar Terrell – 2nd year – 36/42
- Vinny Madera – 7th year – 32/32
- Pete Western – 6th year – 33/33
- Walt Lacey – Rookie – 15/28

The receivers group is probably the weakest on the roster, hence the 2 TE offense. Kruger, a 2ndround pick last year, did not disappoint in his rookie season with 63 catches. Behind Kruger, the receivers all have a wart or two. Terrell is young and still developing but is likely only a 3rd receiver talent. Madera is a veteran mentor but is angry about his role. Western was signed prior to the draft to fill depth but doesn’t offer much going forward. Lacey is an undrafted F/A who may turn out to be a good special teams coverage guy more than a receiver. This position will likely see the most changes throughout the season.


Tight Ends

- Carlos Polhemus – 4th year – 81/81
- Myron Learned – 6th year – 63/63
- Rufus Walsh – 11th year – 47/47
- Brock Bauer – 3rd year – 25/33
- Cory Eubanks – 3rd year – 33/33

A 2 TE offense needs strong tight ends and Atlantic City feel they have two of the best. The plan was to get one of the top rookies in the draft but when that didn’t work out they traded for the highest rated tight end in the CFL. Polhemus’ ratings are close to being off the chart and there are huge expectations at ACI. Paired with Polhemus will be Learned, who has caught more than 50 passes a season four times. This duo is ready to light up the CFL. Oh, and just in case there are any injuries the Phantoms brought in veteran Walsh who has been 1st or 2nd team all-league 4 times in his career. Bauer and Eubanks are young TE’s who may have a tough time holding their spots after pre-season.


Centers

- C - Roosevelt Shepard – 9th year – 75/75
- C - Clyde Gonzalez – 2nd year – 23/48
Shepard is one of the best centers in the league that you may have never heard of. Despite putting up huge blocking statistics, playing in the poor Phantoms offenses keeps him from getting league-wide recognition. Gonzalez is the understudy that no one wants to see forced into action.


Guards

- LG - K.C. Norton – 6th year – 58/58
- RG - Curtis Babinchak – 8th year – 62/62
- RG - Sedrick Janjic – Rookie – 29/66
- LG - David Hudson – 4th year – 37/48
- LG – Randall Alston – 7th year – 42/42

Norton had his best year in 2036 with 23 krb and 71 kro. Babinchak is a very good all-around guard who can really punish defenders in the running game. Even though he is a rookie who needs time to develop, Janjic is already one of the strongest players in the CFL. Hudson continues to develop and is a good short term option but is limited due to endurance issues. Alston is a career backup who is good cover in case of injury.


Tackles

- RT - Carlos Urbanchek – 3rd year – 67/78
- LT - Gabe Burdick – 10th year – 39/39
- RT - Ernest Keith – 3rd year – 21/41

Urbanchek started all 16 games at right tackle in 2036 and looks like he is ready to become one of the best in the league after an excellent training camp. Burdick, unlike Urbanchek, had a brutal training camp and has dropped considerably in skill. If there is one weak spot on the line it is left tackle. Keith was drafted the same year as Urbanchek but the similarities end there. Time will tell if he makes it on the opening day roster.

Defense is next...

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Defense: In 2035, a switch was made from a 4-3 to the 3-4. With another season of player signings and position switches the defense should be ready to make some noise as a top 10 unit.


Defensive Ends

- LDE - Mike Hipp – 7th year – 58/58
- RDE - Edgar Hayes – 4th year – 43/43
- LDE - Sammy Lynch – 8th year – 50/50
- RDE - Curtis Borders – 2nd year – 30/42

Hipp (5.5 sacks) and Lynch (8 sacks) return and will rotate at LDE and are a formidable duo. Hayes was signed to be the RDE and has an 82 rating in run defense. Borders is the primary backup at RDE and has made strong strides in his run defense rating.


Defensive Tackles

- NT - Darren Richardson – 10th year – 63/63
- NT – Ted Pacheco – 4th year – 34/34
- NT – Reuben Brookins – Rookie – 21/43

Richardson continues to be the anchor of the defensive line. He is a stout run defender who is underrated as a pass rusher. Pacheco was a late signing who is a very good run defender but doesn’t offer much of a pass rush. Brookins is an undrafted F/A that the team is taking a chance on as a future run defender. However, he also could be one of the final cuts depending on how the roster sorts out.


Linebackers

- SILB Dominic Castillo – 3rd year – 68/84
- SLB Corey Fisher – 4th year – 71/71
- WILB Emmitt Suhocki – 7th year – 50/50
- WLB Winfred Henry – 6th year – 30/30
- WILB Russell Franz – 2nd year – 19/38
- SLB Zack Koethe – 8th year – 32/32
- WLB Gino Wayne – 8th year – 26/29
- WILB Ellis Oland – Rookie – 16/45
- SILB Charlie Scurlock

The strength of the defense may be the young duo of Castillo and Fisher. Castillo continues to get better each season and still has more potential. Fisher has settled in as the SLB and looks to improve on his 83 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season. Suhocki returns as the primary WILB and is a very tough run defender (65 run defense). The coaches almost moved Fisher to WLB as a monster rusher but instead are going to rely on Henry and Wayne (a converted MLB) for the pass rush. Both are 140+ pass rush strength + pass rush technique. Koethe returns to the Phantoms as a valuable backup as well as a defensive front leader. Franz’s ratings are not very high but he looks promising as a future WILB. Oland was one of the few ACI draft picks this year (5th round) and is another future candidate for the WILB spot. Scurlock was signed for his excellent special teams play.


Safeties

- SS Wendell Myrick – 9th year – 64/64
- FS Levon Bullock – 7th year – 45/45
- FS Dwight Ross – 11th year – 35/35
- FS Marvin Wayne – 2nd year – 33/46
- SS Scott Granden – Rookie – 17/38

Myrick is the secondary leader who is strong across all ratings. Bullock was a free agent signee who is expected to start at FS despite not being a full time starter since 2034 in Texas. Wayne is a progressing as a future FS. Ross is a team legend who will need to fight off Granden, an undrafted rookie who could have the edge with his special teams skills.


Cornerbacks

- LCB Carlton Hucke – 8th year – 57/57
- RCB Dennis Porter – 12th year – 46/46
- RCB Leo Pasquarella – 6th year – 50/50
- LCB Ralph Myers – 2nd year – 44/44
- RCB Calvin Van der Haak – 5th year – 35/35
- RCB Mercury Osborne – 4th year - 27/43

Hucke, who was part of the Stoner to Omaha trade, has been a very nice surprise at cornerback. He was tied for third in the league for interceptions in 2036 while also having an 87.2 pass defense percentage. Porter, like Ross a future team ring of honor inductee, signed a new 2 year contract with ACI and still has some life left in his legs. Pasquarella returns to the team that drafted him and is battling Porter for the starting right cornerback spot. Myers has been a bit of a disappointment as the teams 1st round pick in 2036 but is still a key contributor in the nickel / dime packages. Van der Haak, who also signed a new 2 year contract in the offseason, is a good fit ratings wise although his lack of special teams play is an issue. Osborne has not progressed like the team had hoped although he still has the potential to be a strong backup at some point. Once again, a complete lack of special teams skill is worrisome.


Special Teams

Punter
- Jermaine Holmes – 3rd year – 47/47
- Sammy Bookas – Rookie – 40/49

Incumbent Holmes has a strong leg but has deficiencies in hang time and direction. Bookas was drafted to provide some competition and has a good chance to win the spot due to directional punting skills.


Kicker

- Dixon Finch – 15th year – 54/54

Finch is a player the Atlantic City fans have a love / hate relationship with (but isn’t that true with all kickers?). On the positive side, Finch was all league in 2028, he ranks 8th all-time in the CFL in field goals, made 85% of his attempts in 2036 and has been over 90% 3 times. On the negative side, 2028 was a LONG time ago and in 2035 he only made 65% of his field goal attempts. Despite all that, Finch was signed for 2 more years as the Phantoms kicker at a very reasonable cap number.

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I'm glad Hucke is still playing good for you and what a killer write up. Good Job

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JJ Smitty's Record
Atlantic Division Champions - 2007, 2008, 2010, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2028, 2035, 2037, 2039, 2044, 2046, 2047
Eastern Conference Champions - 2008, 2039, 2047
CFL Champions - 2008, 2039, 2047

Love the write ups.

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