af2 arenafootball2

af2 2007 Central Division preview

March 28, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - The af2's eighth season kicks off tomorrow night (Thursday, March 29) when the expansion Laredo Lobos host the Bakersfield Blitz. Ten more games follow on the weekend, two on Friday and eight on Saturday. Today is the final installment from the special team-by-team preview presented for each division. The division featured today is the National Conference's Central Division, which includes five teams: Amarillo, Arkansas, Lubbock, Oklahoma City, and Tulsa.

CENTRAL DIVISION

Amarillo Dusters (2006: 4-12)

Home Field: Amarillo Civic Center (4,870)

Head Coach: Steve Perdue, second full year in Amarillo, 10-19 career regular season record

Returners: 12

Rookies Invited to Camp: 19

Key Players Lost: FB/LB Gathan McGinnis, OL/DL Kert Turner, WR/DB John Roberson, WR/LB Jarrod Rouanzoin

Key New Faces:

Key Returners: QB Steve Panella, DB Terrell Mingo, DB Jahmal Fenner, WR/DB Donta Bright, WR/LB Derek Watson

Burning Questions: Can QB Steve Panella stay healthy in 2007? Who will replace All-af2 lineman Kert Turner? Can Steve Perdue's Dusters rebound from their sophomore slump?

Last Game: Lost to Tulsa, 33-67

Comments: The Dusters are looking to rebound after a hard luck 2006 season that saw the team lose seven straight games to close out the year after running out to a strong 4-3 start through the their first seven games. In their successful early season stretch, the Dusters lost a tough, four-point affair to Spokane and then won at Oklahoma City the next week and took out Arkansas at home the week after. In Week 9, however, QB Steve Panella went down with an injury and Amarillo never fully recovered. This year's hopes again hinge largely on Panella's health. The Canadian signal caller is the unquestioned on-field leader of the Dusters offense. Amarillo's defensive unit looks to be solid in the secondary thanks to the return of Second Team All-af2 performer Terrell Mingo. Mingo registered team-highs in tackles (63.5), interceptions (6) and pass breakups (13) in 2006. Other valuable backline defenders returning are Donta Bright (37.5, 2 INTs) and Jahmal Fenner (35.0 tackles, 2 INTs, 11 PBUs). Bright also played well at receiver, catching 26 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns. Two important defensive pieces that will not with the team this year are All-af2 First Team OL/DL Kert Turner and FB/LB Gathan McGinnis. Despite these losses, the team can compete with anybody if Panella plays well and stays upright.

Arkansas Twisters (2006: 10-6; 2-1 playoffs)

Home Field: ALLTELL Arena (16,058)

Head Coach: John Gregory, 3rd year in Arkansas, 15-13 career regular season record

Returners: 10

Rookies Invited to Camp: 19

Key Players Lost: QB Walter Church, FB/LB Steve Watson, WR/DB Delenell Reid, DL C.J. McLain, WR/DB Ted Alford, Byron Hughey

Key New Faces: OL/DL Barrett Dallmeyer, OL/DL Woody Telfort

Key Returners: WR/DB Pierre Thomas, WR/DB Jon Schoonover, QB Brian Villanueva, WR Robert Kilow, WR/LB Kevin Williams, K David Carlton, FB/LB Reggie Cooley

Burning Questions: Will Arkansas' defense be as strong without the presence of Art Haege? Can QB Brian Villanueva step in and be a solid starter for the Twisters? Does this team have enough depth to make a return trip to the playoffs?

Last Game: Lost to Spokane, 30-48, in National Conference Championship game

Comments: The Twisters may be missing five of their best players from a year ago, but those losses can't compare to the organization's recent tragic loss of defensive coordinator Art Haege. His personality and presence will be missed. Arkansas still has high expectations and aspirations after falling one step short of the ArenaCup last season. Despite going the season without impact players such as DB Delenell Reid, FB/LB Steve Watson, DL C.J. McLain and QB Walter Church, the Twisters still have a strong core of veterans back in the mix. Those key returnees include team's top three wide receivers, WR Robert Kilow (82 catches, 927 yards, 23 TDs), WR/LB Kevin Williams (70 catches, 901 yards, 16 TDs) and WR/DB Jon Schoonover (59 catches, 812 yards, 18 TDs). All three are playmakers who should help aid in the development of former backup QB turned starter Brian Villanueva. On the defensive side, the Twisters will be hard pressed to have the same sort of success in the pass rush as they did a year ago with Watson and McLain. In 2006, the tandem combined for 30.5 of Arkansas' af2-best 51 total sacks. The Twisters are also without their top two defensive backs, Delenell Reid and Bryron Hughey. One defender the team is high on is DL Barrett Dallmeyer, a 6-foot-4, 270-pound rookie from Angelo State. If John Gregory's new-look line can produce a suitable pass rush and protect Villanueva, the Twisters should be able to book a second straight trip to the postseason.

Lubbock Renegades (First year in af2)

Home Field: City Bank Coliseum (6,928)

Head Coach: Rodney Blackshear, 1st year in Lubbock

Returners: N/A

Rookies Invited to Camp: 25

Key Players Lost: N/A

Key New Faces: DB Byron Hughey, WR/DB James McCoy, WR/LB Preston Hartfield, OL/DL Marco McGee, QB Justin Midgett, WR/DB David Terrell, OL/DL Pierre Colin

Key Returners: N/A

Burning Questions: Will QB Justin Midgett star or struggle in a starting role? How good is Lubbock's group of linemen? Are the Lubbock area fans ready for Arena Football?

Last Game: N/A

Comments: The expansion Renegades should benefit greatly in their first season with Head Coach Rodney Blackshear, a former Texas Tech standout who also played five seasons in the Arena Football League. Lubbock's camp roster includes a talented group of young players mixed in with some seasoned veterans. The Renegades strength looks to be in the defensive secondary and at receiver. Veteran DBs Byron Hughey and James McCoy should be stellar along the back for Lubbock. Hughey is an import from the Arkansas who ranked second on the Twisters in tackles (64.0) and also intercepted four passes and registered 16 pass breakups. McCoy comes to town after enjoying a strong rookie campaign with South Georgia, leading the Wildcats with 96.5 tackles. He also recorded 16 pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. Lubbock's receivers include playmakers Preston Hartfield from Texas Tech and David Terrell, a former NFL player who played collegiately at Texas El Paso. At quarterback, the Renegades are likely leading towards starting second-year signal caller Justin Midget. If Midgett plays big, and if Lubbock found some solid lineman to protect him, this team may surprise some people in 2007.

Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2006: 11-5; 0-1 playoffs)

Home Field: Ford Center (17,884)

Head Coach: John Fitzgerald, 1st year in Oklahoma City

Returners:

Rookies Invited to Camp: 14

Key Players Lost: QB Craig Strickland, WR/KR Jarrail Jackson, K A.J. Haglund, FB/LB Anthony Dingle

Key New Faces: QB Stan Hill, OL/DL Vincent Carter

Key Returners: WR/DB Al Hunt, DB Jon Holland, DB Oliver Fletcher, OL/DL Barrett Allen, WR/DB Fred Shaw

Burning Questions: How well will the Yard Dawgz do without QB Craig Strickland? Will new Head Coach and former AFL QB John Fitzgerald suit up for OKC in 2007? Who will replace WR/KR Jarrail Jackson's production?

Last Game: Lost to Arkansas, 43-47, in first round of ArenaCup playoffs

Comments: The Yard Dawgz have enjoyed a great deal of regular season success in their three-year existence thanks to arguably the best quarterback ever to play in the af2, Craig Strickland. Despite Strickland's presence, however, the postseason hasn't been as kind to Oklahoma City as the team has yet to win a playoff game. This year the Yard Dawgz will try to take that next step, but they'll have to do so with a new-look team. Not only did Strickland decide to retire at the end of 2006, but his favorite target, WR/KR Jarrail Jackson, is gone as well. Jackson made the move East in the fall to take a coaching job at Dartmouth. Since he now temporarily calls New Hampshire home, he will play this summer for the Manchester Wolves. Even their head coach the past two seasons, Jeff Jarnigan, departed to accept an AFL promotion with the San Jose SaberCats. This year's team will be guided by John Fitzgerald, who decided to step into coaching after playing for five years in the AFL, most recently in Austin. The Yard Dawgz will look to start Stan Hill at QB to begin the 2007 season. Hill was a backup to Brian Jones last year in Memphis. Despite Jackson's absence, Hill will still have plenty of talent to spread the ball around to, namely veteran WR/DB Al Hunt. Hunt has been one of the league's most consistent all-around players since his career began in 2003. He has earned four straight All-af2 selections, the most of any current league athlete. Also returning to the team are dependable DBs Jon Holland and Oliver Fletcher. A newcomer to watch out for could be OL/DL Vincent Carter. There's no question Oklahoma City has a few more questions than they've had in the past, but this group should continue to be very competitive in 2007.

Tulsa Talons (2006: 11-5; 0-1 playoffs)

Home Field: Tulsa Convention Center (7,111)

Head Coach: Mitch Allner, first year in Tulsa

Returners:

Rookies Invited to Camp: 12

Key Players Lost: QB Mark Radlinski, WR/DB James Sadler, K Luke Phillips, DL Chaz Murphy

Key New Faces: QB Josh Blankenship, DB Delenell Reid, WR Donovan Morgan, DL C.J. McClain

Key Returners: WR/DB Stephen Battle, WR Andre Forde, WR/DB Don McGee, WR Ricky Ross

Burning Questions: Can the tandem of QB Josh Blankenship and WR Donovan Morgan be as lethal as they were together in 2005? Will the Talons run away with the division? Can Mitch Allner make the transformation from af2 star player to af2 star coach?

Last Game: Lost to Arkansas, 51-53, in semifinal round of ArenaCup playoffs

Comments: The Talons look loaded in 2007. They may be missing four key components from their 2006 team that won the Midwest Division regular season title, but they've added a number of impact players to make up for their losses. Tulsa's new faces aren't so new to the af2. After a year in Stockton in 2006, QB Josh Blankenship is back in Tulsa, a place where he enjoyed an impressive 2005 campaign. One of the main reasons behind his success in 2005 was the presence of WR Donovan Morgan. Blankenship threw 89 touchdowns that season, while Morgan caught an af2-record 54 scores. Together, they helped the Talons win the West Division with an 11-5 record. Other notable names returning to Tulsa include WR Andre Forde, WR/DB Don McGee, WR Ricky Ross and Stephen Battle, the team's top four wideouts from a year ago. Forde led the cast with 83 grabs for 923 yards and 25 touchdowns. The Talons defense also looks to be rock solid thanks to the additions of former Arkansas stars Delenell Reid and C.J. McLain. Reid led the Twisters in tackles (100.5), interceptions (7) and pass breakups (35) in 2006 while McLain led the team in tackles for loss with 20.5, including 14.5 sacks. If this teams stays together and plays together, it's hard to imagine a scenario that doesn't include the Talons claiming the division and making a deep run in the playoffs.



arenafootball2 Stories from March 28, 2007


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central