|
[bf47a9b4]Tucson Toros
Last year's performance - 10-6[/bf47a9b4]
Tucson recorded their fourth straight season with double digit wins with 10 in 2008, only to falter in the playoffs once again. This time the postseason was a one and done affair with the defeat coming at the hands of Seymour Barre and the legs of Alexis Rounds in Sacramento. Even though the Colonel, quarterback Milan Hogan, missed 3 games with an injury, the team scored 25.5 points per game, which is a franchise record.
[bf47a9b4]Strongest Unit - Defensive Backfield[/bf47a9b4]
Picking the strongest unit on a team as good as Tucson is pretty tough. On paper, it makes the most sense to go with the db's. Two of the best players on the team are in the secondary in S Mitchell Enoch and CB Keven Biggs. Biggs missed 10 games last year, so keeping him healthy will be a concern. He is the best cover guy they have.
[bf47a9b4]Weakest Unit - Defensive Line[/bf47a9b4]
The loss of DE Lance Crane for the year with a torn ACL will hurt as he was quickly developing into one of the better pass rushers in the league. The best among the guys remaining along the line is DE Howie Grier, who is really more of a run-stuffer than a pass rusher. The defensive tackles are solid, but not spectacular and there is less depth at tackle than at end. Still, this is more of a slight concern than any kind of gaping hole. With a solid linebacking corps behind them, and a great run-stopper at safety in Enoch, the Toros will be fine against the run. The lack of a pass rush could lead to some problems against good passing teams, though.
[bf47a9b4]Key Unit - Offensive Line[/bf47a9b4]
Of the 11 O-Lineman currently on Tucson's roster, 5 joined the team during this offseason, and 7 weren't part of the team 2 seasons ago. That amount of shuffling is a cause for concern, especially with Tucson leaning so heavily on Drew Holliday and the running game. Most of the new guys will be riding the pine, however, and the only newcomer that will really challenge for a starting spot is RG Richard Eaddy. I expect to see Kelvin Connell win that battle as a superior run-blocker. There is not much here in terms of depth along the line, though, and with two young guys moving up to start at the guard spots, whether or not this line can open up holes for Holliday the way they have the past few years is in question heading into the season.
[bf47a9b4]Impact Newcomer - WR Sydney Armitage
Key Loss - DE Lance Crane (injury)[/bf47a9b4]
[bf47a9b4]Outlook - [/bf47a9b4]Tucson is not a perfect team, but they are pretty good. There are some slight concerns on the offensive line, but it'll ultimately be a matter of being effective as opposed to being dominant. Noone can completely stop Drew Holliday. Armitage will have a career year and make the people of Tucson forever forget the droptastic ways of Carl Markey. Tucson will roll through the regular season and maybe even do some damage in the playoffs this year. [bf47a9b4]Projected Record: 12-4[/bf47a9b4]
[bf47a9b4]
Honolulu Blue Pacific
Last year's performance - 11-5[/bf47a9b4]
After a human 1-3 start, Ronnie Tu switched back to his right hand and Honolulu got hot in a hurry, winning 8 in a row on their way to yet another division title. Tulsa made them look soft and old in the playoffs, though, coming into Honolulu and rushing for 204 yards to knock off the Blue Pacific 28-20 in front of God and everyone in the very house that Ronnie Tu built. Hawaiian children wept openly.
[bf47a9b4]
Strongest Unit - Offensive Line[/bf47a9b4]
Four of the 5 starters on the offensive line have won two titles starting together in Honolulu. It's hard to argue with that. I would figure the Blue Pacific line to be pretty good, but not quite great, and unfortunately it'd take a miracle to be effective running the ball with the stable of running backs Honolulu currently has. That's ok, though, because the passing attack has always been the number one option in Hawaii.
[bf47a9b4]Weakest Unit - Running Backs[/bf47a9b4]
There are a slew of holes on this Blue Pacific squad including
Last edited by timmynausea on Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
|
Login
FAQ
