SET at QB? JJ starts until he decides to retire. WAY above average QB. It’ll all depend around the supporting cast for him. Ominous warnings from former teams employing this player are now passé. He is for real. Chris Ditto COULD start now, but will benefit under the tutelage of JJ for another season or 2, and the prodding from prospect Kane Claunch. Claunch is the darling of team management, but remains raw, and it appears he will be so for at least 3 seasons (putting him on the same time table as Ditto? WERY (Arte Johnson) interesting. Given that QBs are coming into this league at-a-dime-a dozen-rate, team is in excellent shape. Long term, projections are Claunch to start, Ditto to backup? Only time will tell. SOLID!
IFFY at RB: Excellent stable of horses for this season. PPPs are changing to accommodate the ratings. This group is aging, but Bo Kelly and Michael Blair offer promise for the future. PPPs will determine the future of this group. Their roles are changing this season. Jury is out, but this may be one of the more productive overall groups in the league this season. It may depend on which back can catch a pass out-of-the-backfield this season?
OUT_A_CONTROL at WR: We challenge ANY GM to come up with a better group for this season. Team tried to move some of these players, but it just didn’t work out. Cool. New PPPs should see an upswing in Shakes numbers this season? Let’s rock!
OL a mystery? NOT to those assembled to play this season. Veterans lead off, middle aged players will contribute, and an excellent rookie crop from past seasons will contribute. Depth is actually a plus this season. This group lead the league in sacks allowed against last season. It is revamped, but the personnel remains the same? Expect more of the same from this group… hopefully more with changes in PPPs.
K under construction? One game turned around once suspect K Brion Hurley: a FIFL record 7 for 8 loss where his game winning 42 yarder was blocked. Since that game, Hurley has ruled the kicking stats as a FG K in the FIFL. He is aging, but will not capitulate to the young K picked up by Louisiana this season. Elezovic realizes his position, but will push Hurly? Nobody lasts forever. Louisiana drafted another punter this season, but it was a season too early for a player of his type. He was unceremoniously cut in favor of incumbent Brian Lee. Lee will see a slight increase in ST this season. That historically signals another P drafted by Louisiana next season.
DL living on past history? Area of need landed only prospect Pete Jablonski. NOT good. Players are adequate, but far from 1st rate. Team will depend on past stalwarts to make big plays when needed. Good luck. Still, this group is talented. However, PPPs may prop up this group.
Last call for Beast LB tentacles? This all-import group features former Dayton stud Masiah Porter. St Louis traded Marcus Wiggins to Louisiana, and he is now tasked as THE MLB in the new Beast PPPs. Import Cedric McKinnon is an inspiration at LB3. Last season piece de resistance Troy Fields mans the LB4 slot. Jermaine J Smith and Ryan Brady are play making backups. Cale Good provides insurance due to injury. This is an excellent but thin group.
DB a plus? Always a Beast strength, the addition of CB Delmonico Montgomery kicks off renewed confidence in the Beast secondary. Past trades paid off in the draft as Montgomery assumes the #1 CB slot. The veterans behind him are above average. Expect zero loss in production from this group.
Prognosis? Given the schedule, 8-6 and the play offs. This team is still in excellent shape for the future.
