af2 2007 West Division Preview
Published on March 24, 2007 under 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 division profiled today is the American Conference's West Division, which features seven teams: Bakersfield, Boise, Central Valley, Everett, Spokane, Stockton and Tri-Cities.
WEST DIVISION
Bakersfield Blitz (2006: 9-7; 1-1 playoffs)
Home Field: Rabobank Arena (9,000)
Head Coach: Gary Compton, 2nd year in Bakersfield, 9-7 career regular season record
Returners: 9
Rookies Invited to Camp: 19
Key Players Lost: DB Alex Wallace, DL Jerry Turner
Key New Faces: QB Chad Elliot, DB Paul Cannings
Key Returners: WR/LB Eric Mahanke, WR/DB DeRonn Finley, QB Alex Neist, WR/DB Nathan Munson, OL/DL Ben McCombs, FB/LB Nick Onaindia, WR Rennard Reynolds
Burning Questions: Which veteran QB will start on opening night? Will Coach Gary Compton be able to keep both QBs in town? Can this team make a deeper run in the playoffs?
Last Game: Lost to Spokane, 47-50 in ArenaCup semifinals
Comments: Head Coach Gary Compton, a 13-year AFL veteran, led Bakersfield to a winning season and a playoff berth in just his first season in 2006. With a roster boasting a large number of returnees from a year ago, the Blitz are looking for another successful run in 2007. Bakersfield also boasts two quality QBs currently in camp vying for the starting spot, Chad Elliot and Alex Neist. Elliot is a six-year af2 veteran who played in Bakersfield from 2002-05. He ranks second all-time in league history with over 15,000 passing yards. Neist began last season in Spokane, but finished in Bakersfield, leading the Blitz into the postseason. He compiled 53 TD passes in 14 regular season games combined. The Blitz also have the benefit of talented two-way players like Eric Mahanke, DeRonn Finley, Ben McCombs and Nathan Munson back in the mix. The defense, however, will miss 2006 af2 Defensive Player of the Year Alex Wallace (11 INTs, 26 breakups) and Lineman of the Year Jerry Turner, who earned their way to the AFL. New addition Paul Cannings from Tulsa should aid in the secondary while McCombs can bring the rush, registering 8.0 sacks in 2006.
Boise Burn (First year in af2)
Home Field: Qwest Arena (5,006)
Head Coach: Lee Leslie, 1st year in Boise
Returners: N/A
Rookies Invited to Camp: 24
Key Players Lost: N/A
Key New Faces: FB/LB Levi Madarieta, QB Bart Hendricks, QB Casey Rehrer, WR/DB Lee Marks, OL/DL Vince Feaua, WR/DB Brandon Hazenberg
Key Returners: N/A
Burning Questions: How quickly will Leslie's young bunch learn the Arena game? Who will be the Burn's main man under center? Are the Boise area fans ready to feel the Burn?
Last Game: N/A
Comments: The Burn have some question marks going into their first af2 season, but one question they don't have is at head coach. Lee Leslie was brought in to lead Boise after spending last year as an assistant with the AFL's Utah Blaze alongside one the League's all-time great leaders, Danny White. Although the Burn roster is laden with af2 rookies, Leslie likes his young team's potential. The team features a number of former Boise State standouts, including QB Bart Hendricks, who is competing with Casey Rehrer of Southern Utah for the top spot. Skill players like Lee Marks, a converted running back from Boise State, and Casey Allen from Linfield look like keepers.
One player who should help Leslie in both skill and leadership is FB/LB Levi Madarieta. Madarieta won an ArenaCup title in 2006 as a member of the Spokane Shock. The BYU alum recorded 31.5 tackles and seven rushing touchdowns for Spokane. Leslie is also high on his team's group of lineman. If the team gets steady QB play, the Burn will earn respect in their first season.
Central Valley Coyotes (2006: 12-4; 0-1 playoffs)
Home Field: Selland Arena (5,487)
Head Coach: Fred Biletnikoff Jr., 3rd year in Central Valley, 22-17 career regular season record
Returners: 5
Rookies Invited to Camp: 23
Key Players Lost: QB Scott Rislov, WR/DB LaMonte Jones, WR Marvin Brown, DB Maurice Taylor
Key New Faces: WR Geoff McArthur, QB Clay Groefsema, QB Brian Luke, WR Tonae Martin, OL/DL Freddie Weinke
Key Returners: WR/LB Wes Borba, OL/DL Doug Langenfeld, OL/DL Donyell Booker, WR/DB Aaron Miller
Burning Questions: Who will replace last year's stars like QB Scott Rislov and WR/DB LaMonte Jones? Can the Coyotes repeat their success from 2006?
Last Game: Lost to Bakersfield, 37-45 in ArenaCup playoffs
Comments: Central Valley had its best season ever in 2006 with 12 wins, including seven straight to finish the regular season. Four of the Coyotes top players from last year are not on the team. The biggest losses are QB Scott Rislov (Arena Football Record 106 TD passes in 2006), who earned an AFL promotion to San Jose, and LaMonte Jones (2006 af2 Ironman of the Year), who migrated north to the Everett Hawks. Head Coach Fred Biletnikoff, Jr., however, is a strong recruiter who knows talent, and his team won't go away in 2007. The Coyotes welcome back veterans Wes Borba, Doug Lagenfeld and Donyell Booker. Borba recorded 70 catches for over 700 yards and 20 touchdowns last year on offense while posting 49.0 tackles, two interceptions and four fumble recoveries on defense. Lagenfeld (9.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks) and Booker (8.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks) will key the Central Valley defense. Rookies looking to make an impact on offense are former Cal standout Geoff McArthur and Tonae Martin of West Texas A&M. Rislov's likely replacement at this point will be a battle between rookies Clay Groefsema and Brian Luke.
Everett Hawks (2006: 4-12)
Home Field: Everett Events Center (8,300)
Head Coach: Cedric Walker, 1st year in Everett
Returners: 4
Rookies Invited to Camp: 8
Key Players Lost: QB Brian Baker, WR Hassan Brockman, WR J.R. Thomas, OL/DL John Fields, OL/DL Clay Harrell, DB Toure' Butler
Key New Faces: QB Ben Bowling, QB Jason Campbell, WR/DB LaMonte Jones, WR Marvin Brown, WR/LB Phil Goodman, OL/DL Shakorr Bryant
Key Returners: WR/DB LeJuan Edwards, OL/DL Chuck Jones
Burning Questions: Can new Coach Cedric Walker make Everett into a winner? The Hawks have some receivers that can fly, but which QB will get them the ball?
Last Game: Lost to Bakersfield, 42-47
Comments: The Hawks got off to a rough start in their first season of 2006 and never fully recovered, finishing a disappointing 4-12. New Head Coach Cedric Walker, however, has set out to make sure last season is nothing but a memory. Walker has done a stellar job of recruiting, bringing in impact skill players like LaMonte Jones, Marvin Brown and Phil Goodman. Jones, the 2006 af2 Ironman of the Year, registered 107 catches, 1,419 yards and 40 touchdowns on offense for Central Valley. He also had a strong campaign in kick returns (837 return yards, 2 TDs) and on defense (36.5 tackles, 3 INTs). Brown, Jones' teammate a year ago, had nearly 1,000 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns for the Coyotes. Goodman spent 2006 with the Stockton Lightning and had 1,227 receiving yard, 30 touchdowns and 46.5 tackles on defense. Walker also feels good about his secondary led by former Louisville Fire player Charles Ealy and former AFL player Art Smith. Everett's question marks are on the line and at quarterback. Overall, this team has the talent and experience to be a factor in 2007.
Spokane Shock (2006: 14-2, 3-0 playoffs, ArenaCup Champions)
Home Field: Spokane Arena (10,187)
Head Coach: Adam Shackleford, 1st year in Spokane
Returners: 7
Rookies Invited to Camp: 18
Key Players Lost: WR/LB Charles Frederick, QB Kyle Rowley, DB Leo FenceRoy, WR Kevin Beard
Key New Faces: WR Lynzell Jackson, WR/DB Andre Rector, OL/DL Brandon Leyritz
Key Returners: WR Antwone Savage, DB Rob Keefe, OL/DL Katon Bethay, WR/DB Raul Vijil, K John Koker
Burning Questions: With QB Brett Dietz now in the AFL, who will lead the Shock in their second season? Can new Coach Adam Shackleford continue Spokane's winning ways in 2007? Will Spokane sell out every home game?
Last Game: Beat Green Bay 57-34 in ArenaCup7
Comments: One of only two teams to defeat Spokane on its way to the ArenaCup title in 2006 was the Louisville Fire. That's why, when Head Coach Chris Siegfried moved up to be an assistant in the AFL, the Shock went out and hired Louisville's offensive coordinator Adam Shackleford to lead the team in 2007. Shackleford has a good group of veterans returning to Spokane this year, led by receivers Antwone Savage and Raul Vijil. The Shock also have fan favorite Rob Keefe back to lead the defensive secondary. Despite the strong group returning, Spokane only has one quarterback currently on its roster in unproven rookie Matt Gutierrez. The team was recently assigned last year's Rookie of the Year, QB Brett Dietz, but a week ago Dietz signed a practice squad contract with the Kansas City Brigade. Siegfried is the offensive coordinator in Kansas City. The Brigade also have former Shock standout Charles Frederick on their roster. Despite the team's current cloudy situation at quarterback, the Shock will be just fine. They still have Shackleford, who is a talented coach, and Spokane has the best fans in the league. Chances are good that the Shock will be tough to beat again in 2007.
Stockton Lightning (2006: 5-11)
Home Field: Stockton Arena (10,117)
Head Coach: Doug Murray, 1st year in Stockton
Returners: 8
Rookies Invited to Camp: 14
Key Players Lost: QB Josh Blankenship, WR/LB Phil Goodman, OL/DL Clay Harrell, WR Atnas Maeko
Key New Faces: QB Derrick Crudup, FB/LB JaJuan Huddleston, WR/LB Sale' Key, WR/DB Ty Johnson
Key Returners: WR/DB Kenyatte Morgan, WR/LB James Newson, FB/LB Lyndell Hawkins, OL/DL Anthony Bolden
Burning Questions: Can new Head Coach Doug Murray create a winner in Stockton? Can QB Derrick Crudup be an effective starter? Will Stockton's defense improve in 2007?
Last Game: Lost to Central Valley, 49-62
Comments: The Lightning hope to strike early and often in 2007 for a passionate fan base that saw just five wins in 2006. Despite losses like QB Josh Blankenship, WR/LB Phil Goodman, OL/DL Clay Harrell and last year's Internatonal Player of the Year Atnas Maeko, Stockton looks improved already from a year ago. New Head Coach Doug Murray secured key returnees in WR/DB/KR Kenyatte Morgan and FB/LB Lyndell Hawkins and added former AFL players like FB/LB JaJuan Huddleston and WR/LB Sale' Key, both of whom are also former af2 standouts. Huddleston played with the San Jose SaberCats in 2006 while Key spent last year with the Utah Blaze. Key also won an ArenaCup title in 2005 as a member of the Memphis Xplorers. If they can get solid QB play from likely starter Derrick Crudup from the University of Miami, the Lightning will be much improved.
Tri-Cities Fever (First year in af2)
Home Field: Toyota Center (7,000)
Head Coach: Tony Wells, 1st year in Tri-Cities, 2nd year overall, 4-6 career regular season record
Returners: N/A
Rookies Invited to Camp: 20
Key Players Lost: N/A
Key New Faces: WR/LB Robert Garth, WR J.R. Thomas, QB Brian Baker, DB Jamie Hattley, WR/LB Leroy McFadden, WR/DB Ruschard Dodd-Masters
Key Returners: N/A
Burning Questions: Can Tri-Cities be the next great af2 team in Washington? Will Brian Baker be able to prove himself as a star signal caller?
Last Game: N/A
Comments: On paper, the Fever look impressive on offense and strong on defense. One of the new teams in the af2 this year boasts some of the league's most seasoned veterans at key positions. At quarterback, Tri-Cities has Brian Baker, who played for new Fever Head Coach Tony Wells last season in Everett. Baker played well late last year and could be primed for a breakout season, especially with the cast of receivers he has to throw to. The skilled set includes Robert Garth, J.R. Thomas and Leroy McFadden. Garth, who has played the last four years in Green Bay, is known around the league as "Superman." The 6-foot-4, 235-pound two-way player had 16 receiving touchdowns in 2006 with the Blizzard, while also recording 23.5 tackles on defense. Thomas, who started last year in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton then relocated to Everett, caught 12 touchdowns in just five games played for the Hawks. McFadden is another big man who has spent the majority of his af2 career in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. In six games with the Pioneers in 2006, McFadden had 10 receiving touchdowns. Defensively, the secondary looks in order with Jamie Hattley, formerly with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Ruschard Dodd-Masters, who spent last year in Everett. If Wells gets solid play out of his offensive and defensive lineman, the Fever could be tough to bring down in 2007.
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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