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2009 Central Division Preview

March 18, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - The af2's 10th anniversary season begins this Friday, March 20, when the Central Valley Coyotes host the Tri-Cities Fever. The two-game slate that is 2009's "Kickoff Weekend" finishes Saturday when Florida hosts South Georgia in a South Division showdown. The year gets into full swing the following weekend with 12 Week 1 affairs, including six on Saturday, March 28. This week a special team-by-team preview will be presented for each division. The fourth division profiled is the National Conference's Central Division, which features three teams: Amarillo, Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

CENTRAL DIVISION

Amarillo Dusters (2008: 8-8, 2-1 playoffs)

Home Field: Amarillo Civic Center (4,870)

Head Coach: Ben Bennett, first year with Dusters, seventh season overall; 64-42 record (including playoffs)

Rookies Invited to Camp: 22

Key Players Lost: QB Julian Reese, WR Jim Lukowiak, DB Aaron Williams, DB Terick Thomas, K Jacob Felton

Key New Faces: QB Collin Drafts, QB Matt Bassuener, DL Ranoriss Ray, WR Brent Craft, WR John King

Key Returners: WR/DB Craig Fulton, Jr., OL Aaron Turner, DL Jared Williams

Burning Questions: Can Ben Bennett become the first coach in league history to lead four different teams to a playoff berth? Which QB in camp will win the starting job?

Last Game: Lost at Spokane, 49-79, in 2008 National Conference Championship (August 16)

Comments: After Amarillo's most successful season in team history in 2008, the Dusters enter 2009 sporting a new look, a new coach and heightened expectations. This year's team will be led by six-year coaching veteran Ben Bennett. Bennett, who ranks third in league history with 64 career wins, helped guide Austin to a postseason berth in 2008. The Dusters currently have just three players back from their 2008 club that made a run to the National Conference Championship - WR/DB Craig Fulton, Jr., OL Aaron Turner and DL Jared Williams. Fulton, Jr. has been with Amarillo since the team's first af2 season in 2005. Last year he was the Dusters' top all-around player, recording 19 offensive touchdowns (10 receiving, 9 rushing) in 10 games while leading the team with 613 kick return yards (21.1 yards per return). Fulton, Jr., Turner and Williams may be the only players back from a year ago, but two other names fans will be happy about seeing suit up in the Dusters new red and black uniforms are WR/DB/KR Kendrick "Boss" Walker and DB/KR Donta Bright. Walker, who starred as an af2 rookie with Amarillo in 2005, played last yea in Lubbock and showed he's still in top form (57 tackles, 5 INTs, team-best 31 PBUs). Bright, in his third af2 season, was a top player with the Dusters in 2006. Last year he stood out with Oklahoma City, recording 38 total tackes and four interceptions in addition to leading the club in MFG return yards, KR yards and total return TDs (4 - 3 kick return, 1 missed field goal). With these three athletes in town, Amarillo should have its secondary and special teams in good form. Continuing to run down the defense, look for Williams (24 tackles, 6 TFLs, 3 sacks, 4 FFs, 3 FRs) along with league veteran Ranorris Ray (19.5 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, 4 FRs with Lubbock in 2008) to cause havoc up front. Dantrell Gabriel looks to be standing out in the early going amongst a host of rookies competing for a FB/LB roster spot. On offense, Bennett will likely continue to evaluate his young QBs in camp and choose from either Matt Bassuener or Collin Drafts. Both have performed well so far and the race looks to close to call at this point. The receiving corps will be made up of veteran John King (43-565-10 TDs in 11 games with Lubbock in 2008) and a collection of youngsters that could include Brent Craft, Mike Malone, Richard Perkins and Xavier Hair. If one of Bennett's young gunslingers steps up and performs well, the Dusters could be ready to book a second straight trip to the af2 playoffs.

Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2008: 6-10)

Home Field: Cox Convention Center (10,595)

Head Coach: Sparky McEwen, second year with Yard Dawgz, second season overall; 5-5 record

Rookies Invited to Camp: 11

Key Players Lost: QB Evan Gray, DB Donta Bright

Key New Faces: QB Robert Kent, FB/LB Kendrick Bournes, WR/LB Chris Maddox

Key Returners: WR/DB Al Hunt, FB Freddie Rollins, WR Danny Howard, WR/DB Keaton Graham, WR Agim Shabaj, DB Andre Burns, DB Travis Seaton, DB Fred Shaw

Burning Questions: Can new addition Robert Kent be the answer at QB for the Yard Dawgz? Does Oklahoma City and Head Coach Sparky McEwen have enough talent assembled to challenge in-state rival Tulsa for the division title?

Last Game: Won in overtime against Amarillo, 57-51, in 2008 regular season finale (July 26)

Comments: After the Yard Dawgz stumbled to a 1-5 start in 2008, the team brought back former offensive coordinator Sparky McEwen to take over as head coach. His influence paid off in the second half of the year as Oklahoma City earned victories in four of its last six contests. McEwen is back in 2009 and worked hard in the offseason putting together a strong roster as the team vies for its first winning season since 2006. Among the last cast of returning players from 2008 include veteran WR/DB Al Hunt, FB Freddie Rollins and DBs Andre Burns, Travis Seaton and Fred Shaw. Hunt has been a major player for the Yard Dawgz since the beginning of the franchise in 2004. He put together another stellar season in 2008 that showed he hasn't slowed down at all. Hunt earned a spot on the All-Ironman team last year after pacing Oklahoma City in receiving (94-1343-26 TDs) and total touchdowns (36). He also recorded 16 total tackles on defense.

Rollins, in just nine games last year, led the Yard Dawgz with 227 rushing yards and 14 rush TDs. Burns, Seaton and Shaw were Oklahoma City's top three tacklers in 2008, respectively, with Burns leading the squad with 76 total stops and five interceptions. In addition to the team's capable cast of returnees, McEwen was also able to bring back two of the team's all-time best defensive linemen (Barrett Allen and Aaron Chavers) and one of the squad's all-time great receivers (Jarrail Jackson). All three athletes played with Tulsa in 2008. Chavers registered 27 total tackles with the Talons along with seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Allen accumulated 14.5 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Jackson (17-181-3 TDs in just 4 games) played three seasons with the Yard Dawgz (2005-07) and averaged over 30 TDs per year. The team is also high on a trio of new additions, LB Kendrick Bournes, WR/LB Chris Maddox and QB Robert Kent. Bournes was a disruptive defender for Bossier-Shreveport in 2008 (24 total tackles, 6.0 TFLs, 5 sacks) while Maddox (49-437-9 TDs) showed great potential in his first af2 season with Tulsa. The player with the most promise and pressure, however, is Kent, a three-year veteran who spent the past two seasons with Lubbock. The 6-4, 210-pound Jackson State alum is coming off his best professional season. Last season Kent led the Renegades to their first playoff berth with 4,100 yards passing, 86 TD passes and a QB rating over 114. He also tied for the league lead in total touchdowns with 102 (86 passing, 16 rushing). One of the problems behind Oklahoma City's sub-par play in 2008 stemmed from inconsistency under center. Kent should be the answer. If he has another strong season, the Yard Dawgz have a legitimate chance to challenge for a playoff spot in 2009.

Tulsa Talons (2008: 12-4, 0-1 playoffs)

Home Field: BOK Center (6,777)

Head Coach: Mitch Allner, third year with Talons, third season overall; 30-7 record (including playoffs)

Rookies Invited to Camp: 16

Key Players Lost: DL Barrett Allen, DL Aaron Chavers, DL C.J. McLain, DB Jon Holland, WR/LB Chris Maddox

Key New Faces: FB Tim Murphy, DB Carlos Campbell, FB/LB Kamau Jackson

Key Returners: QB Justin Allgood, WR/KR Jeff Hughley, DB Jermaine Hope, OL Anthony Bolden, FB/LB Jamar Ransom, DB Delenell Reid, WR Jermaine Landrum, DL Terrance Carter, K Luke Phillips

Burning Questions: Can QB Justin Allgood return to his old form before an injury cut short his 2008 season? Do the Talons have the talent and experience needed to make a return run to the ArenaCup like they did in 2007? Will new addition Tim Murphy's presence open up the playbook for offensive coordinator Craig Strickland?

Last Game: Lost to Amarillo, 62-65, in first round of 2008 ArenaCup playoffs (August 2)

Comments: Just like the af2, the Talons are the celebrating their 10th anniversary season. Last year Tulsa earned its ninth straight playoff berth and seventh division title. The Talons again look like a strong bet to earn another division title as they return a large number of notable members from last year's team. All-af2 WR/KR Jeff Hughley is back for his third season in the league. Hughley had another strong season in 2008, pacing the Talons in a host of offensive categories including receiving (123-1629-33 TDs) and returns (KR: 64-1298-1 TD, MFG: 8-212). Another familiar face back on offense for Tulsa is QB Justin Allgood. Allgood was in the midst of a phenomenal season in 2008 before an injury cut his season short. In 12 games, the Central Oklahoma alum threw for 2,938 yards with 64 TDs and 12 interceptions. He also accumulated seven rushing scores. Two other offensive players to keep a close eye on are WR Jermaine Landrum and new addition FB Tim Murphy. Landrum finished second to Hughley in receiving (73-680-13 TDs) while Murphy rushed for 693 yards and 19 TDs in two All-af2 seasons with Mahoning Valley (2007-08). On defense, the Talons have a lot to be thankful for. DL Terrance Carter leads the group up front. Carter registered a team-best 11 sacks in 2008. The linebacking corps looks especially strong with returnee Jamar Ransom (88 tackles, 8 TFLs, 3 INTs, 4 FFs) joined by new addition Kamau Jackson from Austin (31 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks with Wranglers). Both players earned All-af2 honors in 2008. The secondary is in good shape with veteran stoppers like Delenell Reid and Jermaine Hope leading the way. Carlos Campbell, Florida's top defensive back in 2008 (9 INTs, 14 pass breakups), also joins the group. If everyone plays to their potential, it's hard to argue that Tulsa won't make it 10 straight postseason appearances in 2009.

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