Last year the Mad Dogs suffered a season ending injury to their young QB Shane Franzer. They didnt really see enough of him to determine whether Franzer is the QB of the future or not . He was even offered in a pre-draft deal.
Offensively the team look good, defensively there is work to be done with the LB's and secondary but that could have been solved in the draft. Heres a quick rundown....
QB: The team were 2-4 under Franzer but veteran Richard Fuentes nearly guided the team to the playoffs as they were 5-2 under him. FA backup Mike Hohensee also won his only start in a wild shootout.
Franzer was lost for the year early on, he didnt look great but had to play in too many offensive gameplans and this will be adjusted for this season. Fuentes had some good displays but fumbled way too much including an incredible 5 in one game. The season still depends on Franzer a lot.
For a 3rd year pro his player stats are excellent....
O QB3 6 Shane Franzer OK 3 82 79 79 85 78 82 89 83
After a training camp this year his INT should be in the 90's, his HA's need to improve but Franzer still has a lot of potential.
RB: Madison had the 4th best rushing offense and the 3rd leading rusher in HB Omar Bacon. Surprisingly in a lot of games last year Bacon didnt always receive many carries late on. Bacon rushed for 1153 yards and 10 td's and also caught 61 passes. Still very young Bacon should be the starter for many more years to come. FB will be a battle between Josh Fourdyce and Mad Dogs veteran Lamont Coleman.
WR: The trade of Rashaan Vanterpool might have looked risky but in the end it paid off. Little known WR Jerry Reese went from 0 catches last year to Madison in a trade and Reese was one of the trades of the season as he caught 81 passes for 1,149 yards and 5 td's and was a deep threat all year. He won the starting WR1 spot over Ira Hillary and was brilliant. Hillary a former 1st round pick looked more suited to the WR2 role than the main starting role and caught 54 passes for over 700 yards. Young WR3 Corey Fleming also fitted into the plans well. Veteran TE Johnnie Ostermeyer had a 'down' year with 37 catches but is a great veteran TE
OL: Possibly one of the strong points of the team and one filled with some great young talent. Currently the starting five are...
G Ed Gillies
G Eric Arrington
C Giovanni DeLoatch
T Ronnie Thompson
T John Summerday
G Evan Triggs
All 6 have brilliant ST and DeLoatch who was a rookie last year could be one to watch. Many teams have already offered to trade for him (some laughable offers) but DeLoatch is the teams best offensive linemen and with 93 ST already in his 2nd year he will be one of the best in years to come.
Arrington is in his 6th year, DeLoatch and Triggs were rookies last year and great picks and should continue to start for many years. T John Summerday was another high draft pick and will again start in his 5th year. The two rookie offensive linemen picked could see action next year. A strong group
D-line: The defensive line are great against the pass but need to work harder against the run. The starting lineup are...
DE Andrew Marlatt
DE Jim Spady
DT Curt Mull
DT Andre Slappy
DT Patrick Garth
Marlatt was voted to the All-FIFL team after leading the team with 34 tackles and 12 sacks. Spady made 7 sacks, Mull 8 sacks and played very well at DT and rookie 1st round pick Slappy made 5 sacks. Rookie DT Garth surprised many in his spot appearances making 6 tackles and 4 sacks and could be one to watch out for ! A strong d-line but with not much depth.
LB's: The problem area of the Mad Dogs. Filled recently with FA pickups but all that could change with 1st round pick Shan Housekeeper who should instantly start.
The starting foursome appear to be veteran LB Spencer, LB Housekeeper, LB Williams and LB Curtis. Veteran Phillips was the leading LB last season but his slow SP could give him the push. Curtis is a young prospect, Spencer and Williams have been in the system for a while and should rack up some decent numbers. The question is whether speedy LB Housekeeper should start at LB1 or LB2. His low INT might give him the LB2 job for now. Madison were LAST against the run last year hence Housekeepers selection. This has to improve if they are to get to the playoffs !
Secondary:
Features some great players but also some weak depth. CB Cliff Baskerville had 2 ints and led the team in tackles and was named All-FIFL. Hes still only in his 5th year. Veteran safeties Mike Morris and Stanley Marrow are a great duo. Morris made the All-FIFL team and led the team with 4 interceptions. Veteran Marrow had 2 ints and continued to play well.
The second starting CB spot could go to Steve Thonn or Kahil Carter or even rookie Joseph Todd.
Special teams: After nearly getting cut last year K Ian Howfield finished ranked as one of the top kickers last year and was unlucky not to go to the All FIFL game. Howfield made 32 of 39 FG's and was 13/16 in FG's of 40-49 yards ! Rookie P Todd Latourette suffered a quiet season but still looked decent and should improve.
Overall: The team has a lot of strength in certain areas , its huge offensive line is one of them and the d-line is also another. LB's are a question mark but that could have been addressed in the draft. Franzer is still a question mark, on paper his skills look very good but he needs to come good this season. Due to injury last year it was too early to see whether Franzer can make it or not.
After another good draft Madison appear to be headed in the right direction. Just a few seasons ago many pundits moaned the team were too old, now they have a lot of young talent fused with a fair few classy veterans.
Madison Preview
Yeah i remember reading that a few times. One of the kickers in the CFL (forgotton his name) was born in the UK. Vince Abbott formerly of the Chargers back in 87 and of course Mick Luckhurst (Falcons) were also english. Coach Al Saunders was born in England also.
WR Scott McCready who has a Superbowl ring with the Pats and who has done very well in NFL Europe even leading the league in receptions last year also is english.
Theres a few of us around !
WR Scott McCready who has a Superbowl ring with the Pats and who has done very well in NFL Europe even leading the league in receptions last year also is english.
Theres a few of us around !
Yeah McCready came from nowhere, i think he moved to the states when he was 14. He was on the practice squad of NE so he did actually win a SB ring (despite being on the practice squad all year !) but either way hes the first englishman with a superbowl ring. Not a blazing fast guy but as a Ricky Proehl type of WR he could do a decent job, was in training camp and preseason with Carolina last year
Last year in NFL Europe he led the whole LEAGUE in receiving which has shown hes pretty good. Theres currently a 19 year old english DT playing in NFLE so i think after he goes to an american college he could be decent.
I remember Ridgeway who had a very good career.
Last year in NFL Europe he led the whole LEAGUE in receiving which has shown hes pretty good. Theres currently a 19 year old english DT playing in NFLE so i think after he goes to an american college he could be decent.
I remember Ridgeway who had a very good career.