BOISE (AP) The Boise Stampede will play their final preseason game in Atlantic City tomorrow afternoon to cap off what has been an extremely busy offseason. Through free agency, a plethora of trades and the draft, the Stampede project to have 11 new starters (5 on offense and 6 on defense) when the 2008 season opens next week.

"With all the new faces, I feel like we should call this Episode 2008: A New Hope," Head Coach Johnnie Sutter said.

Free Agency saw the Stampede add a new free safety in Jeff Hulse from Seattle, but the biggest additions came via trade. Boise swapped with Santa Cruz giving draft picks for shutdown cornerback Charles Spry along with wideout Marvin Athey who has had over 1000 yards receiving in each of the past two seasons.

"Just adding those two improves our team dramatically on both sides of the ball," Sutter explained. "Last year our secondary was just awful and offensively QB Branden Lin really only had one target."

A flurry of draft trades saw Boise pick up the top pick in the draft and trade down for a package of 5 picks from Detroit. Boise then drafted CB Lamont Gott and DE Marvin Leaf, both of whom will start as rookies.

"We're really happy with both of our first round picks," Sutter gushed. "We could've hung on to the number 3 pick and got one great player, but we opted to make a move that ultimately brought in two good guys that we feel really fit our system."

Boise picked up two more contributors in the second round when they picked RB C.J. Washington and DE Lincoln Gomez. Gomez will likely platoon at one of the DE spots while Washington has won the starting RB job outright.

"C.J. Washington was something of an intriguing draft pick," Sutter opined. "He's going to be a 28 year old rookie, and I probably shouldn't mention this, but word on the street is that he is also a 28 year old virgin. Yikes!"

After the draft, Boise proceeded to make even more trades. Trading away the rest of the picks they had received in the trade from Detroit to pick up a pair of starters in 2 time 2nd team All Pro defensive tackle Derick Javier from El Paso and veteran right tackle Joel Cheeks from Tampa Bay.

"The thing that's important to keep in mind is that most of these guys will be in Boise for years," Sutter scolded a doubting reporter. "Aside from Cheeks all of the starters we picked up in trades are signed to cap friendly contracts for the next four years."

[ba44c2c6]Breakdown of what Boise received in trade with Detroit:[/ba44c2c6]

1.15 - CB Lamont Gott - projected starter
1.26 - DE Marvin Leaf - projected starter
2.26 - DE Lincoln Gomez - projected contributor
1st round pick 2009 - traded with 4th round pick for DT Derick Javier (starter)
2nd round pick 2009 - traded with 2010 3rd for RT Joel Cheeks (starter) and QB Casey Durant

I'm glad I don't play Boise this year. If C.J. Washington can step right in and play well I think you've got a shot to win it all.

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