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af2 2007 East Divsion preview

March 22, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHICAGO - The af2's eighth season kicks off next 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. Over the next week, a special team-by-team preview will be presented for each division. The first division profiled is the American Conference's East Division, which features four teams: Albany, Mahoning Valley, Manchester and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

EAST DIVISION

Albany Conquest (2006: 5-11)

Home Field: Times Union Center (13,901)

Head Coach: Pete Costanza, 4th year with Albany, 5th year overall, 24-33 career regular season record

Returners: 3

Rookies Invited to Camp: 21

Key Players Lost: QB Ryan Vena, WR/LB Manwell Talbert, K Vinny Cirrincione, WR Thomas Anthony

Key New Faces: QB Ryan Hart, FB/LB Eric Hall

Key Returners: WR Bakari Brown, FB/LB Jose Harris, WR Antwun Williams

Burning Questions: Can one of Coach Pete Costanza's rookie signal callers fill the shoes of former QB Ryan Vena? With playmakers like Manwell Talbert and Thomas Anthony not with the team, who will emerge as the new stars for the Albany offense? Will Albany's defense improve this season with the addition of coordinator Jeff Hoffman, a former AFL assistant?

Last Game: Lost at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 27-54, in 2006 regular season finale

Comments: Albany started out of the gates strong in 2006, winning four of its first six games. Over the team's final 10 contests, however, the Conquest scored just one win and finished with seven straight defeats. QB Ryan Vena piled up the passing yards, but couldn't make up for a soft defense that allowed 56.7 points per game. This year Albany seems almost brand new with a roster heavy with rookies. Former Rutgers top gun Ryan Hart, RPI standout Daniel Cole, and San Jose State alum Joe Micco are vying to replace the departed Ryan Vena at quarterback. The coaching staff is capable, but the players will need to learn fast in order for this team to be successful.

Mahoning Valley Thunder (First year in af2)

Home Field: Chevrolet Centre (5,700)

Head Coach: Mike Hold, 1st year as Thunder head coach, 5th year overall, 27-27 career regular season record

Returners: N/A

Rookies Invited to Camp: 19

Key Players Lost: N/A

Key New Faces: QB Glen Gauntt, OL/DL Anton Ceaser, OL/DL Keith Glover, DB Rob Green, WR/LB Sam Crenshaw, DB Maurice Taylor

Key Returners: N/A

Burning Questions: Can Coach Mike Hold create an instant winner for the Valley? How big of an impact will AFL veteran QB Glen Gauntt have in his return to the af2? How quickly will the young players from Youngstown adapt to the Arena Football game?

Last Game: N/A

Comments: The expansion Thunder might be brand new, but they have the benefit of having two key veteran components to their team - Head Coach Mike Hold and veteran QB Glen Gauntt. Gauntt knows the Arena game very well, having starred in the af2 with the Augusta Stallions in 2001-02 before spending the last four seasons in the AFL. His presence, skill and leadership should help Mahoning Valley get off to a solid start. Gauntt will also be especially comfortable in his new surroundings thanks to having his old head coach in Augusta, Hold, directing him on the sidelines for the Thunder. Last time the two were together in the af2 in 2002 they won 13 games. While that goal might be a bit overly optimistic at this stage, Thunder fans should expect this team to be competitive right away. The difference in whether this squad can become great will ultimately depend on a bendable defense, solid line play, and how quickly the young players take to their new confines between the walls.

Manchester Wolves (2006: 9-7; 1-1 playoffs)

Home Field: Verizon Wireless Arena (9,650)

Head Coach: Ben Bennett, 3rd year in Manchester, 5th year overall, 40-24 career regular season record

Returners: 8

Rookies Invited to Camp: 15

Key Players Lost: QB D. Bryant, WR Steve Gonzalez, WR/LB Marc Bacote, QB Steve Bellisari, FB/LB Mark Kimener, DB William Haith

Key New Faces: OS Jarrail Jackson, QB Brian Zbydniewski, WR/LB Patrick Rouzard

Key Returners: WR/DB David Bailey, WR Ari Confesor, OL/DL Mike Wells, OL/DL Jimmy Williams

Burning Questions: Who will lead this team from the QB position in 2007? After J.J. McKelvey in 2005, then Steve Gonzalez in 2006, who steps forward as the Wolves' go-to receiver this year? Manchester has a line that will protect the quarterback, but who will provide the pass rush on the defensive side?

Last Game: Lost to Florida, 39-40, in American Conference Semifinals

Comments: After a sub par inaugural season in Manchester in 2004, the Wolves have turned things around under the direction of Ben Bennett. Bennett, currently the af2's winningest active coach with 45 wins overall (including playoffs), has a strong base to work from again in 2007. The two biggest assets are an experienced group up front and great skill and depth at the receiver position. The team's question marks are at quarterback and defensive secondary. If the season started today, veteran QB Brian Zbydniewski would likely get the starting nod under center as he has more experience than rookie Shawn Brady. The Wolves also received quite a gift around holiday time when Jarrail Jackson, formerly of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, was assigned to Manchester. Jackson's career numbers rank among the very best all-time in receiving and kick returns. If this squad has good health on its side, Manchester could earn its third straight trip to the postseason.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (2006: 9-7; 0-1 playoffs)

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

Head Coach: Rich Ingold, 2nd year in WBS, 5th year overall, 43-21 career regular season record

Returners: 6

Rookies Invited to Camp: 13

Key Players Lost: QB Mike Granieri, DS Matt Forbes, WR Yardon Brantley, WR/DB Yaacov Yisrael, WR/LB Leroy McFadden, DB Jamie Hattley

Key New Faces: QB Ryan Vena, DB Pete McBride

Key Returners: WR/KR Jim Jones, DL Doug Harding, FB/LB Joe Hollister, WR/DB William Ferguson, K David Davis

Burning Questions: Does Vena's presence equal instant success? Who will replace Forbes, Yisrael and Hattley in the defensive secondary? Who will do the yelling for Head Coach Rich Ingold while he rests his throat after surgery?

Last Game: Lost to Manchester, 44-55, in first round of playoffs

Comments: The Pioneers now have not one, but two fiery leaders in Head Coach Rich Ingold and veteran QB Ryan Vena. Vena is fresh off a record-setting 2006 season for Albany in which he broke the af2 record for passing yards in a season with 4,520. His competitive nature and determination are common traits he shares with his new coach. The Pioneers have added another solid newcomer in DB Pete McBride, who led Albany in tackles in 2006 with 52.0. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton also returns speedy WR/KR Jim Jones and DL Doug Harding. Jones is a two-year veteran who spent most of last season in Albany before being claimed late in the year by the Pioneers. He earned All-af2 Second Team honors in 2006. Harding recorded a team-best 9.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks as a rookie. The team's only weak spots could be in the defensive secondary and depth at offensive and defensive line. The Pioneers, however, will be a solid bet to get to the postseason as long as Ingold and Vena are their leaders.

About af2

With its eighth season set to begin next week (Thursday, March 29) with 30 member teams, af2 serves as a vehicle to bring Arena Football into small to midsize 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 began its 21st season on March 1 with 19 teams and a five-year media partnership with ESPN. Log on to www.af2.com for more information.

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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.


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