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2005 American Conference Preview

March 28, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


Editor's Note: af2's sixth season begins Friday, April 1 with five games on the opening weekend schedule. Below is a team-by-team preview of the American Conference. A team-by-team preview of the National Conference will follow on Tuesday.

EAST DIVISION

Albany Conquest (2004: 6-10)

Home Field: Pepsi Arena (13,901)

Head Coach: Richard Davis, first year in Albany, 37-17 career regular season record

Returners: 6

Rookies Invited to Camp: 14

Key Players Lost: OS - Tony Locke, DS – Rob Green, WR/DB – Jamie Ware

Key New Faces: DS - Donte Wells, WR/DB – Martino Theus, OS – Jerald Burley

Key Returners: QB – D Bryant, WR/LB Jeff Higgins, DS – Travis Coleman

Burning Questions: Will a mid season stretch of six of seven games against playoff teams from last season (Memphis, Louisville, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Quad City, Louisville and South Georgia) propel the Conquest to the playoffs or end their season prematurely? Can newcomer Jerald Burley step up to make up for the loss of Tony Locke to the AFL?

Last Game: Lost to Cape Fear 44-37 in regular season finale

Comments: New head coach Richard Davis doesn't have to look far for a leader on offense as D Bryant returns for Albany. Last season Bryant threw for 2,953 yards and 52 touchdowns while rushing for another four scores. Bryant's double threat attack means he will have East Division defensive specialists on their heels. The only returning member of Albany's 2004 receiving corps is Jeff Higgins. Martino Theus, and his 311 career receptions, and Jerald Burley who caught 40 passes in his rookie season in 2004, join the Conquest. The Conquest season is going to go the way of Bryant. If he can quickly gel with his new receivers, look for the Conquest to make some noise.

Green Bay Blizzard (2004: 6-10)

Home Field: Resch Center (7,995)

Head Coach: Bob Landsee, first year in Green Bay, 0-0 career regular season record

Returners: 3

Rookies Invited to Camp: 21

Key Players Lost: OS - Randall Lane, WR/DB - DeRonn Finley, QB – Chris Greisen

Key New Faces: QB – Johnny Turman, OL/DL Antonio Dingle, OL/DL – Asa Francis

Key Returners: FB/LB – Dustin Sagedahl, WR/LB - Robert Garth, WR/DB – Torrey Day

Burning Questions: Can former Philadelphia Eagle and first year head coach Bob Landsee keep up in a competitive East Division? Finley is gone, can Garth step up his game on offense and defense?

Last Game: Won at Peoria 33-30 in regular season finale

Comments: With Chris Greisen in the AFL with Dallas, the Blizzard needed a new signal caller, and Johnny Turman brings some solid credentials. In 2003 Turman earned league honors as rookie of the year, throwing for 3,138 yards and 63 touchdowns. Turman then moved up to the AFL with the Indiana Firebirds for the 2004 season. Now Turman comes home to af2 with new head coach Bob Landsee, who was the line coach for Turman's 2004 Firebirds team. Asa Francis comes from the Steamwheelers to protect Turman and wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.

Louisville Fire (2004: 9-7)

Home Field: Freedom Hall (15,646)

Head Coach: Tommy Johnson, third year in Louisville, 14-18 career regular season record

Returners: 8

Rookies Invited to Camp: 15

Key Players Lost: OS – James Scott, WR/LB – Anthony Payton

Key New Faces: WR/LB - Lawrence Matthews, DS – Rob Green

Key Returners: QB – Matt Sauk, FB/LB - Demetrius Forney, WR/DB – Tony Stallings

Burning Questions: Last season Louisville earned their first playoff victory in their first ever post-season appearance, can they take it farther this season? Sauk is dependable, as he started all sixteen games last season, but with no other experienced quarterback on the roster, what will the Fire do if Sauk does down?

Last Game: Lost at Tulsa 42-49 in National Conference Semifinals

Comments: Rob Green goes from Albany to Louisville, and now they are in the same division. This should create a new rivalry between the two teams. After last season's "Miracle at the Mark" when Derrick Sheppard shocked Quad City on a missed field goal returned for a touchdown with no time remaining in the playoffs, the Steamwheelers and Fire are no longer in the same division. They will still meet in two highly anticipated games this season. Despite the loss of Anthony Payton, Matt Sauk is back, so look for the Fire to light up the scoreboard.

Manchester Wolves (2004: 5-11)

Home Field: Verizon Wireless Arena (9,650)

Head Coach: Ben Bennett, first year in Manchester, 19-13 career regular season record

Returners: 10

Rookies Invited to Camp: 15

Key Players Lost: QB – Chris Sanders, WR/LB Henry Frazier, DS – Marvin Owens

Key New Faces: OL/DL – Marc Bacote, OL/DL – Juwan Jackson, QB – Jake Eaton

Key Returners: WR/LB - Reggie Robinson, DS – Allistair Sebastien, OL/DL – Mike Wells

Burning Questions: Can the Wolves turn one of af2's best fan bases into victories after only three home wins last season? Will Jake Eaton be able to step in for Chris Sanders?

Last Game: Lost to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 37-44 in regular season finale

Comments: The Wolves were left without a coach during the off season when Mark Stoute, who was hired in September, resigned to take a position with the AFL Tampa Bay Storm in November. This ended up being a blessing in disguise for Manchester which was able to attract AFL Hall of Famer Ben Bennett as their new head coach. Bennett guided the Florida Firecats to victory in the ArenaCup last season and is the only current af2 head coach with an af2 ring. His experience will be key as Manchester plays in a very competitive East Division.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (2004: 13-3)

Home Field: Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza (7,950)

Head Coach: Les Moss, second year in WBS, 13-3 career regular season record

Returners: 11

Rookies Invited to Camp: 15

Key Players Lost: WR/LB – Leroy McFadden, OL/DL – Ufuoma Pela,

Key New Faces: QB – Kyle Rowley, OL/DL – David Barnard, WR/LB – Carmelo Ocasio

Key Returners: OS – J.R. Thomas, QB – Tim Hicks, DS – Jamie Hattley

Burning Questions: Seen by some as the favorites in the East, can the Pioneers live up to the preseason hype? Can J.R. Thomas avoid a sophomore slump after his stellar rookie season?

Last Game: Lost to Florida, 31-41 in American Conference Championship game

Comments: Last season was the most successful in Pioneers history, compiling a 13-3 record before falling a game short of the ArenaCup, losing to the eventual af2 Champions, the Florida Firecats. With the Rookie of the Year J.R. Thomas and Coach of the Year Les Moss returning, hopes are high for the Pioneers. This optimism means that anything less than an ArenaCup appearance will be a disappointment for the Pioneers.

SOUTH DIVISION

Arkansas Twisters (2004: 4-12)

Home Field: ALLTEL Arena (16,508)

Head Coach: Gary Anderson, fifth year in Arkansas, 30-34 career regular season record

Returners: 18

Rookies Invited to Camp: 12

Key Players Lost: OL/DL – Arthur Abston

Key New Faces: OS – Robert Kilow, QB – Chris Windsor, OL/DL – Antoine Simpson

Key Returners: WR/DB – Ted Alford, OS/QB Kevin Williams, OL/DL Clay Arnold

Burning Questions: Is Chris Windsor or returner Travis Motley the answer at quarterback? Do the Twisters' veterans have enough left in their tank for another season?

Last Game: Won vs. Bossier/Shreveport 60-36 in regular season finale

Comments: The Twisters are a veteran team with 55 total seasons of af2 experience on their training camp roster. Arkansas' five leading receivers and four leading tacklers return. The hope for the Twisters lies in Kevin Williams. Splitting time last season at offensive specialist and quarterback Williams, played strong down the stretch at receiver, but can play under center if needed. Williams finished last season as Arkansas' leading passer, rusher and first in receiving yards.

Birmingham Steeldogs (2004: 10-6)

Home Field: Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center (16,000)

Head Coach: Bobby Humphrey, sixth year in Birmingham, 47-33 career regular season record

Returners: 7

Rookies Invited to Camp: 18

Key Players Lost: OS - Detronn Harris, WR/DB - Anthony Jordan, WR/DB – Larry Huntington

Key New Faces: FB/LB – Roger Terry, WR/DB – Terence Samuel, QB – Andrew Zow

Key Returners: WR/DB – Carlos McNeary, DS – George Williams, OL/DL Quinan Johnson

Burning Questions: Can the Steeldogs finally make a run in the playoffs? Is rookie Andrew Zow the answer at quarterback?

Last Game: Lost at Cape Fear 53-54 in the first round of the playoffs

Comments: The 2005 Steeldogs have several storylines at work. Bobby Humphrey, the longest tenured coach in af2, begins his sixth season as the Steeldogs coach. Key players like leading receiver Carlos McNeary and George Williams, who came to the Steeldogs late in the season, return. Jeff Aaron and Kenton Evans, both of whom played significant time at quarterback last season, are not back. Former University of Alabama quarterback Andrew Zow joins Birmingham. With a combination of new faces and returning veterans the Steeldogs will be a force to contend with once again.

Florida Firecats (2004: 10-6)

Home Field: Germain Arena (7,128)

Head Coach: Kevin Bouis, first year in Florida, 0-0 career regular season record

Returners: 10

Rookies Invited to Camp: 10

Key Players Lost: QB – Ken Mastrole, OS – Cainon Lamb, DS – Quincy Sorrell

Key New Faces: QB – Mike Gluski, WR/LB – Xavier Patterson, DS – Kelly Snell

Key Returners: OS – Magic Benton, FB/LB – Chris Morant, FB/LB – Steve Gorrie

Burning Questions: Can new head coach Kevin Bouis lead the Firecats to a repeat of their championship performance? Mastrole has put on the headset, can Gluski return the ‘Cats to the Cup?

Last Game: Won the 2004 ArenaCup 39-26 vs. Peoria

Comments: The Firecats are coming off their first championship in franchise history and will have a bulls eye on them all season. Steve Gorrie, who rushed for an af2 record 500 yards last season returns, but defensive specialist Quincy Sorrell does not. Factor in a new coach and there are questions down in Florida. Don't count out the Firecats though as their roster is still filled with af2 experience. Ken Mastrole stepping off the field and taking over as offensive coordinator should aid the Firecats on and off the field.

Macon Knights (2004: 3-13)

Home Field: Macon Coliseum (7,128)

Head Coach: Mike Hold, second year in Macon, 25-23 career regular season record

Returners: 7

Rookies Invited to Camp: 10

Key Players Lost: FB/LB – Glenn Mitts, FB/LB – Rendell Jackson, OL/DL – Jason Perry

Key New Faces: WR/LB – LaQuonne Holden, DS – Larry Casher, QB – Kenton Evans

Key Returners: OL/DL – Andre Slappey, WR/DB – Hosea Laney, WR/DB - Jamaal Garman

Burning Questions: Is Kenton Evans the answer at quarterback? Can the Knights turn around their offense that averaged only 37.7 points per game, second worst in the af2 last season?

Last Game: Lost vs. Birmingham 31-50 in regular season finale

Comments: After advancing to the ArenaCup in 2003 the Knights had a disappointing 2004 season, winning only three games. Now they look to regain the 2003 form. Joining the Knights is Larry Casher, a rookie to af2 but not Arena Football, playing for the Carolina Cobras of the AFL in 2003. The Knights struggled to find stability at quarterback last season. Now former Steeldog Kenton Evans takes the reigns in 2005. The Knights return two of their three leading receivers in Jamaal Garman and Hosea Lane. Coming in to help is AFL veteran Derek Stingley who will take over the defensive coordinator position.

South Georgia Wildcats (2004: 12-4)

Home Field: Albany Civic Center (8,034)

Head Coach: Chris Siegfried, fourth year in South Georgia, 35-13 career regular season record

Returners: 5

Rookies Invited to Camp: 16

Key Players Lost: OS – Matt Burstein, QB – Jake Eaton, WR/DB – Mitch Galloway

Key New Faces: WR/DB – Adrian Cockfield, QB – Bryan Snyder, OS – Rodney Woodham

Key Returners: WR/LB – Chris McKinney, OL/DL – Brian Huff, K – Wes Virgilio

Burning Questions: Can Adrian Cockfield make up for the loss of Burstein? After Mike Gluski played the majority of the season and Jake Eaton took the snaps in playoffs, can af2 veteran Bryan Snyder provide stability under center?

Last Game: Lost at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 37-40 in American Conference Semifinals

Comments: For the third consecutive season in 2004 the Wildcats put up double-digit wins in the regular season. However, the Wildcats fell short of the ArenaCup. Now the 2005 season brings some changes. The Wildcats have moved to Albany, Georgia, 2004 Offensive Player of the Year Matt Burstein is gone and so is Mitch Galloway. One of af2's best receivers, Adrian Cockfield, joins the Wildcats squad. Chris Siegfried, the only head coach the Wildcats have ever known, returns and will look to keep the winning tradition of Wildcats football alive.

About af2

Kicking off its sixth season in 5 days, af2 serves as a vehicle to bring Arena Football to second-tier cities and as a developmental league with an unmatched history of sending players, coaches and officials to major professional football leagues each year. af2 operates under the same Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights as the Arena Football League, which is currently in its 19th season and third on NBC. Log on to www.af2.com for more information.

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