<img src="
http://www.thecfl.net/images/pressman/koch.PNG" alt="Erwin Koch" title="Erwin Koch" width="311" height="273" align="right">
[b0ee1efa]Shreveport Pride
Last year's performance - 7-9[/b0ee1efa]
Shreveport stumbled out of the starting blocks to a 1-5 start and never fully recovered, finishing a disappointing 7-9 on the year. The offense was rather anemic, getting outrushed on average and only producing 15.5 points per game, a franchise low. For the last two years the Pride have had very little to be proud of, with a lowly 15-17 record over that span.
[b0ee1efa]Strongest Unit - Defensive Front[/b0ee1efa]
This will be one of the best defensive fronts in the history of the CFL. Former number 1 pick Jerald Barber will team with two time second team all pro Derick Javier to form a devastatingly strong interior while Harland Weir will team with talented rookie Rufus Leagra at the end spots. Leagra will be learning on the go, but his amazing pass rush strength should overcome his shortcomings in other areas to make him a solid fourth member of the line. There are quality reserves as well in DE Scottie Berosik and former long time starter DT Danny Glaspie. The starting linebackers are equally great, lead by MLB Joshua Mask. Depth is much more of a concern at the linebacker spot, though.
[b0ee1efa]Weakest Unit - Offensive Line[/b0ee1efa]
Shreveport spent the offseason stocking up at wide receiver and on defense. The offensive line, however, remains a bit soft. Not soft like a baby's bottom so much as soft like a Pac Ten defense. C Refugio Davis and T Loren Creekmore are excellent lineman. G Percy Cherpeski is servicable. The other starting lineman will be a bit weak, though, and it could become a problem.
[b0ee1efa]Key Unit - Offensive Backfield[/b0ee1efa]
The running game was useless last year with starter Weldon Rayburn averaging just 3.25 yards per carry. Quarterback Douglas Hartman's touchdown to interception ratio was probably worse at 6-12. These guys have to prove themselves this year. This should be one of the best 4 or 5 teams in the league, and they have a legitimate shot at a championship if the offensive backfield can produce like they should. The addition of WR Marvin Athey should help Hartman tremendously, and that in turn should open up the running game for Rayburn.
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Impact Newcomers - WR Marvin Athey, DT Derick Javier
Key Loss - T Daniel Braddy
Outlook - [/b0ee1efa]The pride is back. Also the Pride are back. Both. This team should be among the top 4 or 5 in the league. They will make a run at the title. Hartman and Rayburn will be to explosive offense what Hartman and Farley were to explosive laughs in the early to mid '90s on SNL. I didn't even mention the seconday which will also be excellent lead by CB Erwin Koch. [b0ee1efa]Projected record: 12-4[/b0ee1efa]
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New Orleans Raging Horde
Last year's performance - 10-6[/b0ee1efa]
The Horde closed out the regular season strongly, winning 3 straight to take the division for the second time in a row and make the playoffs for the fourth straight year. The defense was tough in 2008, setting a new franchise record by allowing just 15.3 points per game. Their meat was no match for the cobalt blue steel they ran into in the playoffs in the form of Durham's defense, which shut them down to win 20-10 in the wild card round.
[b0ee1efa]Strongest Unit - Offensive Line[/b0ee1efa]
New Orleans has some talented big men up front on offense. Seriously big. Meatnormous. The two biggest are the best in RT Chris Sandidge who tips the scales at 348 pounds and his little buddy LG Cristobal Farias who weighs in at 341. Those two guys are good enough to start anywhere. The line as a whole is excellent, although the new starting center, Cedric Swinford, will be the one weak spot. Still, these guys should push some teams around.
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Weakest Unit - Defensive Line[/b0ee1efa]
The secondary looks pretty weak, but the d-line is worse. The lone competent starter along the line this year will be DT Lewis Rasmussen, who is decent. The other defensive line spots will be manned by assorted young guys who really aren't ready for full time action. They'll get beat up on a little bit this year, but there is at least hope that a couple of these guys can use the experience to develop into decent players.
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Key Unit - Running Back[/b0ee1efa]
The Horde have traded away star running back Brooks Creel and his 1469 yards of offense from a year ago. Bill Reyes will come in and take over. Reyes was the top back taken in the 2007 draft and rushed for 585 yards off the bench as a rookie. He actually could be successful behind this massive offensive line, but on paper he is a huge step down from Creel. That is the key to the New Orleans season. Can they get enough production out of the running back spot to win games? We'll see.
[b0ee1efa]Impact Newcomer - RB Bill Reyes
Key Loss - RB Brooks Creel
Outlook -[/b0ee1efa] New Orleans is a quality team that is just a couple guys short of really being able to compete for the division title. They've set themselves up well for the future by getting multiple first round picks for Creel. The present should have some ups and downs, though. [b0ee1efa]Projected record: 9-7
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[b0ee1efa]Memphis Express
Last year's performance - 8-8[/b0ee1efa]
Memphis got a pleasant surprise with a 6 game winning streak to get out to a 6-3 start last year. They kind of got the meathole end of the stick down the stretch, though, going 2-5 to finish the season at .500. Still, QB Blaine Hoffman hadn't taken a snap in the CFL before last year, so 8-8 behind a young quarterback could be a sign of better things to come.
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Strongest Unit - Offensive Backfield[/b0ee1efa][/b]
Hoffman will team with newcomer RB Stephen Metz out of the backfield, giving the Express a balanced offensive attack. Hoffman should improve upon last year's numbers, and Metz will be a big upgrade at running back. The line in front of them should be decent. With a young quarterback, they'll have some bad days, but the Memphis offense should do considerably better than the 15.1 points and 296.1 yards per game they put up last year.
[b0ee1efa]Weakest Unit - Receiving Corps[/b0ee1efa]
Memphis really only has one legitimate target for Hoffman to go to in John Parsley who caught 82 for 1002 and 5 touchdowns last year. TE T.J. Green will be a good one, but is only entering his second year so he's not quite there yet. The rest of the receivers can't be counted on for much.
[b0ee1efa]Key Unit - Defensive Backfield[/b0ee1efa]
The secondary is starting to come together. Last year's first round pick, Clyde Alston, is starting to develop into a solid starter. He will team with newcomer Chris Wilber to make for a relatively solid tandem at corner. The best safety is Craig Davidson who has picked off 11 passes over the last two years. This team will need that kind of production out of their secondary to win games this year. They'll not only need these guys to be great in coverage, but make some big plays to sway games in their favor.
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Impact Newcomers - CB Chris Wilber, RB Stephen Metz
Key Loss - OLB Lee Luciano
Outlook -[/b0ee1efa] Who knows? This team should be better than they were a year ago on both sides of the ball. They added a big, physical cover corner on defense and a solid veteran running back to lead the offense. The thing is, they got some breaks to go 8-8 a year ago. Will luck swing back the other way? They still have some holes on defense, and the lack of a solid second receiver could make it tough for Hoffman. I'm not really sure what to predict. Think. Think, Tim. Ok. [b0ee1efa]Projected record: 8-8[/b0ee1efa]
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San Antonio Stingers
Last year's performance - 2-14[/b0ee1efa]
San Antonio had a rough year in 2008. They only managed 2 wins, and even at that fell just shy of getting the number one pick. They even lost at that. They were still able to get the best player in the draft with the number two pick, though. That was their biggest victory in some time.
[b0ee1efa]Strongest Unit - Defensive Line[/b0ee1efa]
Three time all-pro tackle Zack Shirley will team up with first round pick DE J.J. Houston and wreak havoc on opposing backfields for the next few years. Edward Hamlett will be the end opposite of Houston, and he's pretty good as well. There is actually some pretty solid depth along the line, too. Watching Houston develop into a superstar will probably be the most fun thing for Stinger fans to take in over the next season or two.
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Weakest Unit - Receiving Corps[/b0ee1efa]
This is another team with just one legitimate wide out. They do have a pair of good tight ends in Ricky Horowitz and John Vandenberg, but after Miles Shumaker there is noone at receiver. Todd Donovan is a guy who should see more time this year as he runs good routes, but has mostly sat the bench behind an aging Gregory Carley. Rookie Barry Vartanian also could see a little time as he's the only even semi-deep threat out of the group and has good potential for a fifth round pick.
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Key Unit - Defensive Backfield[/b0ee1efa]
This is a pretty good secondary on a surprisingly solid defense. They have kind of a cornerback by committee thing going with 4 guys who are all pretty decent as opposed to 2 good starters and filler at the backup spots. That should allow them to play nickel and dime packages often to help out against the pass while their strong defensive front takes care of the run. They don't have great one on one type talent at cornerback so there will be breakdowns, but I think the sheer number of quality players back there should make them pretty effective.
[b0ee1efa]Impact Newcomer - DE J.J. Houston
Key Loss - WR Lloyd Robinson
Outlook -[/b0ee1efa] It almost feels like San Antonio is ready to turn the corner, but I'm not quite sure it's for real. They are getting better on the whole, but even if the previously mentioned holes were filled, I'm not sure how far you're going to get with Eddie Crawford at quarterback paired with Dana Montgomery at running back. You could get by with one of them, but you better have a stud in the other spot. Even so, I'd be tempted to pick them to go .500 if they had a quality number two receiver. They're getting better (especially on defense), but they're not quite there. [b0ee1efa]Projected record: 5-11[/b0ee1efa]
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