2006 af2 Natonal Conference preview
March 28, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
Editor's Note: af2's seventh season begins Thursday, March 30 with two
> National Conference games on opening night. Five more league contests
> finish up the Week 1 schedule on Friday (3 gms) and Saturday (2 gms).
> Below is a team-by-team preview of the National Conference. A
> team-by-team preview of the American Conference will follow on Wednesday.
>
> MIDWEST DIVISION
>
> Amarillo Dusters (2005: 8-8; 1-1 playoffs)
> Home Field: Amarillo Civic Center (4,870)
> Head Coach: Steve Perdue, first full year in Amarillo, 6-7 career regular
> season record
> Returners: 3
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 23
> Key Players Lost: QB Julian Reese, WR/DB Chavis McCollister, WR/DB
> Kendrick Walker
> Key New Faces: OS Josh Richey, FB/LB Gathan McGinnis, DS Jahmal Fenner
> Key Returners: QB Steve Panella, WR/LB Jarrod Rouanzoin, OL/DL Kert Turner
> Burning Questions: Can Steve Panella lead the team as a regular starter?
> Will the team find new playmakers to replace McCollister and Walker? Can
> Steve Perdue make this young team a playoff contender?
> Last Game: Lost at Memphis, 30-71, in the National Conference Semifinals
> Comments: After a successful first season that included a trip to the
> second round of the 2005 playoffs, Amarillo looks brand new again in 2006.
> That's because last year's Offensive Coordinator and af2 Assistant Coach
> of the Year, Rickey Foggie, moved on to take the head coaching job with
> the expansion Everett Hawks - and brought a strong core of the Dusters'
> best players with him. Amarillo does have experience at the QB position in
> Steve Panella, who was the backup in 2005 behind Julian Reese. The Dusters
> are also high on the return of athletic WR/LB Jarrod Rouanzoin, the
> addition of FB/LB Gathan McGinnis from Rio Grande Valley, and the
> unveiling of exciting OS Josh Richey. Amarillo also has a distinct home
> field advantage at "The Cellar," where the team won six of eight games in
> 2005.
>
> Arkansas Twisters (2005: 5-11)
> Home Field: ALLTEL Arena (16,508)
> Head Coach: John Gregory, first full year in Arkansas, 5-7 career regular
> season record
> Returners: 16
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 9
> Key Players Lost: QB Kevin Feterik, FB/LB Byron Douzart, FB/LB Darnell
> Small
> Key New Faces: QB Walter Church, OL/DL Kimani Jones
> Key Returners: FB/LB C.J. McClain, OS Robert Kilow, WR/LB Kevin Williams,
> WR/DB Ted Alford
> Burning Questions: Will Walter Church be the consistent QB Arkansas needs
> to earn their first playoff appearance since 2003? Will veterans like
> Williams, Alford, and Kilow continue to be as productive in the passing
> game? How many sacks will McClain have in his anticipated role as the
> defensive line specialist?
> Last Game: Beat Amarillo, 44-40, in regular season finale
> Comments: Arkansas has high hopes for 2006 under the direction of head
> coach John Gregory, an Arena Football coaching legend. Gregory, who came
> to the Twisters four games into the 2005 campaign, has the benefit of a
> full season ahead and a strong group of veterans at his disposal. If
> Walter Church can be a heady, steady leader on the field, the Twisters
> should be a much-improved team.
>
> Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings (2005: 3-13)
> Home Field: Century Tel Center (12,500)
> Head Coach: John Fourcade, first year in Bossier-Shreveport, 19-29 career
> regular season record
> Returners: 3
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 20
> Key Players Lost: QB Tim Hicks, OS Bo Smith, WR/DB Reggie Perkins
> Key New Faces: OL/DL Roger Green, WR/DB Donte Wells
> Key Returners: WR/DB Adrian Burnette, QB Brent Rawls
> Burning Questions: Can veteran coach John Fourcade make the Battle Wings
> into winners for the first time since the 2002 season? Will a young, new
> group of players spell success or struggle? Other than veteran Adrian
> Burnette, who will emerge as playmakers for Bossier-Shreveport?
> Last Game: Lost at Memphis 37-47, in regular season finale
> Comments: With the start of a new season brings renewed hope for fans of
> the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings. Veteran Head Coach John Fourcade
> knows he has a lot of work to do this year to bring a level of
> respectability back to a franchise that has won just 11 games over the
> past three seasons. He's essentially started fresh with just two players
> back from 2005, QB Brent Rawls and WR/DB Adrian Burnette. Burnette was the
> team's second-leading receiver (62 catches, 775 yards, 8 TDs) and
> third-leading tackler (35.5) last season.
>
> Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2005: 10-6; 0-1 playoffs)
> Home Field: Ford Center (17,844)
> Head Coach: Jeff Jarnigan, second year in Oklahoma City, 10-6 career
> regular season record
> Returners: 8
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 21
> Key Players Lost: WR/DB B.J. Barre, DS Rickie Davis, OL/DL James Landers,
> OL/DL Howard Duncan
> Key New Faces: WR/DB Chavis McCollister, WR/LB Ryan Karr
> Key Returners: QB Craig Strickland, OS Jarrail Jackson, WR/DB Al Hunt
> Burning Questions: How much better can the Yard Dawgz offense get with the
> addition of WR/DB Chavis McCollister? Will Craig Strickland break Matt
> Sauk's records for most passing yards and touchdown passes in a season?
> How will the team's defense be without standouts B.J. Barre, Rickie Davis,
> James Landers and Howard Duncan?
> Last Game: Lost to Amarillo, 56-59, in first round of playoffs
> Comments: Oklahoma City has a potent offensive lineup on tap for 2006 just
> with the return of QB Craig Strickland and OS Jarrail Jackson. Together
> that combination helped the Yard Dawgz average over 54 points per game in
> 2005. Add to the mix former Amarillo WR/DB Chavis McCollister (af2-best
> 1,866 receiving yards in 2005, 36 TDs), and Oklahoma City should light up
> the scoreboard at the Ford Center even more. The question entering this
> season is the Yard Dawgz' defense. If they can get a few stops per game
> this team will be tough to beat.
>
> Rio Grande Valley Dorados (2005: 10-6; 2-1 playoffs)
> Home Field: Dodge Arena (5,500)
> Head Coach: Marty Hammond, first year in Rio Grande Valley
> Returners: 12
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 14
> Key Players Lost: Marquis Floyd, Chris Robinson, DS Norman Mason
> Key New Faces: WR/DB Mel Long, DS Kharee Shorter
> Key Returners: QB Josh Kellett, WR/DB Dwight Counter, WR/LB Travis
> McAlpine, OL/DL Curtis Jeter
> Burning Questions: Can rookie coach Marty Hammond lead this veteran group
> back to the playoffs? With Marquis Floyd gone, how good can Dwight Counter
> be as Kellett's main option? How will Rio's defensive unit be in 2006 as
> compared with last year's, which gave up over 52 points per game?
> Last Game: Lost at Memphis, 49-64, in National Conference Finals
> Comments: The Dorados have a strong core of veterans back this year from
> their 2005 team that made it all the way to the conference championship
> game. That's good news for rookie head coach Marty Hammond. He and the
> team have high expectations again as some of former coach Kevin Guy's top
> guns are back and that much better after another year of experience. Count
> on Dwight Counter to have a huge year and for the Dorados to again make a
> postseason run.
>
> Tulsa Talons (2005: 11-5; 0-1 playoffs)
> Home Field: Tulsa Convention Center (7,111)
> Head Coach: David Alexander, second year in Tulsa, 11-5 career regular
> season record
> Returners: 10
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 20
> Key Players Lost: OS Donovan Morgan, QB Josh Blankenship, DS Nick Davis,
> DS Chris Canty
> Key New Faces: QB Mark Radlinski, OS Ricky Ross
> Key Returners: WR/DB James Sadler, OL/DL Wallace Sonnie
> Burning Questions: Can the Talons continue their winning ways without the
> services of Donovan Morgan and Josh Blankenship on offense and defensive
> specialists Nick Davis and Chris Canty on defense? Will rookie QB Mark
> Radlinski develop quickly to become a top-flight signal-caller? How
> quickly will Coach Alexander's group of young players learn the game? Is
> Ricky Ross the next Donovan Morgan?
> Last Game: Lost to Rio Grande, 42-65, in National Conference Semifinals
> Comments: This Talons looks quite a bit different than the veteran group
> last season that won 11 games and earned the franchise's fourth division
> title and sixth trip to the playoffs in as many seasons. The coaching
> staff is high on new QB Mark Radlinski and OS Ricky Ross as replacements
> for QB Josh Blankenship (with Stockton) and Donovan Morgan (with NFL's
> Houston Texans). Despite Tulsa's youth movement, history says this team
> wins every year. Time will tell.
>
> WEST DIVISION
>
> Bakersfield Blitz (2005: 6-10)
> Home Field: Rabobank Arena (9,000)
> Head Coach: Gary Compton, first year in Bakersfield
> Returners: 17
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 7
> Key Players Lost: QB Chad Elliott, Kharee Shorter
> Key New Faces: QB Michael Wall, WR/DB DeRonn Finley
> Key Returners: WR/LB Eric Mahanke, FB/LB Nick Onaindia, DS Alex Wallace,
> Rennard Reynolds
> Burning Questions: Will a fresh start in Bakersfield help QB Michael Wall
> regain his form from 2004 that saw him toss 36 TDs and just three INTs in
> seven games with Memphis? How successful will Gary Compton be as an af2
> coach after enjoying such a great run in the AFL as a player? Does this
> Blitz team have the right combination of veteran leadership, talent, and
> coaching to earn a trip to the playoffs?
> Last Game: Lost at Rio Grande, 27-38, in regular season finale
> Comments: Rookie Coach Gary Compton may be a rookie in coaching, but he
> sure knows the game of Arena Football. The 13-year AFL veteran has a lot
> of weapons and a lot of veterans at his disposal this year. Wall is an
> experienced QB who should do well with a change of scenery and a clean
> bill of health. Expect success from this bunch.
>
> Central Valley Coyotes (2005: 8-8)
> Home Field: Selland Arena (8,911)
> Head Coach: Fred Biletnikoff Jr., second season in Central Valley, 10-13
> career regular season record
> Returners: 8
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 13
> Key Players Lost: QB Juston Wood, FB/LB Jujuan Huddleston, WR/DB Anthony
> Arceneaux, WR/DB George Williams
> Key New Faces: QB Scott Rislov, OL/DL James Landers
> Key Returners: WR/LB Wes Borba, FB/LB Vai Notoa, K John Gockman
> Burning Questions: Will QB Scott Rislov be as good as Juston Wood, or
> better? Will new recruit James Landers (OL/DL) return to his form from
> 2004 when he was the af2 Lineman of the Year? With George Williams gone,
> who will be the new playmaker for the Coyotes?
> Last Game: Defeated San Diego, 88-53, in regular season finale
> Comments: After a solid 2005 season, Head Coach Fred Biletnikoff, Jr. and
> company look to break through and compete for a division title in 2006.
> They have a small but strong group of veterans returning, led by FB/LB Vai
> Notoa (7 rushing TDs, 4.5 sacks in 2005) and Wes Borba (8 TD catches, 41.0
> tackles in 2005). They also return one of 2005's most dependable kickers,
> John Gockman. The key will be the play of Rislov and the play of their
> defense. If the Coyotes get solid performances from both on a weekly
> basis, Central Valley will be in the hunt.
>
> Everett Hawks (expansion team)
> Home Field: Everett Events Center (8,300)
> Head Coach: Rickey Foggie, first season with Everett
> Returners: N/A
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 12
> Key Players Lost: N/A
> Key New Faces: QB Julian Reese, WR/DB Kendrick Walker, OL/DL Rico Ochoa
> Key Returners: N/A
> Burning Questions: How good can the Hawks be during their first season of
> af2 play? Will Julian Reese rush for more than 28 TDs in 2006 and break a
> league record he tied in 2005? Will rookie Head Coach Rickey Foggie win
> more games in Everett this year than his former team in Amarillo where he
> was an assistant in 2005? Is the Pacific Northwest ready for Arena
> Football?
> Last Game: N/A
> Comments: Rumor has it that former AFL veteran QB Rickey Foggie has
> assembled a strong team for his first season as an af2 head coach. QB
> Julian Reese is as dangerous as any player in the league and is poised to
> have another tremendous with Foggie in his ear. The fans in and around
> Everett will enjoy the show this season for sure.
>
> Spokane Shock (expansion team)
> Home Field: Spokane Arena (9,909)
> Head Coach: Chris Siegfried, first season with Spokane, 37-21 career
> regular season record
> Returners: N/A
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 13
> Key Players Lost: N/A
> Key New Faces: WR/DB Antwone Savage, WR/LB Nian Taylor, WR/DB Kevin Beard,
> QB Alex Neist
> Key Returners: N/A
> Burning Questions: Who will emerge as the Shock's top QB and lead this
> team? Can veteran coach Chris Siegfried return to his winning ways after a
> sub-par 2005 season cut short in South Georgia? Which of Spokane's many
> playmakers will stand out in 2006?
> Last Game: N/A
> Comments: Chris Siegfried, one of the winningest coaches in league
> history, gets the chance for a do-over from 2005. With South Georgia only
> a memory, Siegfried is looking forward to the opportunity that lies ahead
> with a brand new team this year. a very talented team. Savage, Taylor and
> Beard should make plays and help the Shock score a ton of points. If
> Siegfried finds a consistent quarterback and some defensive presence,
> expect him to bring Spokane a winner.
>
> Stockton Lightning (expansion team)
> Home Field: Stockton Arena (10,117)
> Head Coach: Richard Davis, first season in Stockton, 39-21 career regular
> season record
> Returners: N/A
> Rookies Invited to Camp: 17
> Key Players Lost: N/A
> Key New Faces: QB Josh Blankenship, WR/DB George Williams, WR/DB Kenyatte
> Morgan, WR/LB James Newson
> Key Returners: N/A
> Burning Questions: How good will Josh Blankenship be this year with a new
> team and new supporting cast? Is there a more explosive receiving corps in
> the league than Morgan, Williams and Newson? Can veteran coach Richard
> Davis make the Lightning into a winner right away?
> Last Game: N/A
> Comments: Davis hit the jackpot when he acquired Blankenship in a recent
> trade with Memphis. With a proven leader under center and an
> ultra-talented group of pass catchers, the Lightning should strike early
> and often in 2006. The question about just how good this team will be
> answered by Stockton's defense and special teams play. If Davis can teach
> his young players the game in a hurry, the Lightning should be a fun team
> to watch - and a nasty team to play.
>
> About af2
> Kicking off its seventh season in 3 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 20th season. Log on to www.af2.com
> The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
arenafootball2 Stories from March 28, 2006
