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Anchorage- The only team in the AC North to make it to the playoffs the last two years. They have the most dominant defensive player in the OSFL in R.J. Peterson. For those of you were under a rock last year, Peterson tallied 27.5 sacks last year and set a record that may never be broken. Offense is led by QB Kurt Price and Lamar Mcafee. Mcafee is a two-time thousand yard rusher and Price while not the most talented QB in the league is beloved by his team and has an OSFL Bowl appearance. The Anchorage front office brought in some offensive help by signing former Charlotte WR Randal Dotson to a 1 yr, 4.5 million dollar contract. Some felt that they overpaid for Dotson based on his previous output. Dotson has never had more than 46 catches in a season. On the other hand, Dotson is still young and has the skills to be a #1 receiver. I expect big things from Dotson and if Peterson and the Anchorage D have a year like they did last year, you should expect to see the Gladiators back in the playoffs.
Kalispel- The Stags snuck into the playoffs last year with an 8-8 record and played the Utah Bees tough before losing 17-10 in the first round. Kalispel focused primarily this offseason on resigning its current player and creating cap room by renegotiating contracts. They did not sign one significant FA agent and seemed content to focus on helping their young teams grow. The team used its #20 pick on LG Omar Webster who will immediately start and will help anchor the line with 2007 pick, LT Percy Grier. While the Stags have talent on both sides of the ball (DT Wally Turner is a monster!) I don’t know if they have enough talent to get them into the playoffs in 2008. Average QB play could doom this team if their defense isn’t able to carry them.
Washington- The Bombers are led by the #3 pick of the 2007 draft, Randy Richardson. Richardson has been a star since his first game in the NFL. He is about as well rounded a RB as you can be but he has one Achilles heel…..he can’t hold onto the ball. He led the league with 19 fumbles last year and it will be interesting to see if his problems were due to his adjustment to pro football or if this will be an issue throughout his entire career. The offensive line is solid but like the other teams in this division, the Bombers have an average QB in Lawrence Sanderson. The WR corps is talented but young and I look forward to seeing #8 pick Wally Lum line up across from the current #1 receiver Albert Porter. The defense is lead by DE Roger Boren who would have been the talk of the league last year with his 16 sacks if it wasn’t for R.J. Peterson. The biggest FA signing was SS Kendall Hutson who will serve as a mentor to the young secondary. A question remains whether Hutson is totally healed from his serious ACL injury in 2007. This team has a ton of question marks but they have enough talent to have a winning season and push the Gladiators for the division crown.
Portland- Portland went from 10-6 in 2006 to 5-11 in 2007. What happened? QB Shaun Douglas retired and there wasn’t anyone ready to step up and lead the Phantoms. The battle for the starting QB position is between last year’s four game starter Ty Poston and 2nd round pick Henry Andrews. Andrews looks like he’s going to be great in a few years but may be too green to start out the gate. Also, I don’t think that the Portland front office wants to start two rookies at key offensive spots now that it looks like rookie Craig Price will be named starting RB. The offense also took a huge hit when WR Sammy Slade went down with a high ankle sprain and may not return until midseason. Slade appeared poised for a breakout year so it was tough loss. On a positive note, the Phantoms biggest offseason signing wasn’t a player. It was new head coach Malcolm Galloway. Galloway has a career record of 28-9 and led the Columbus Catfish to the playoffs in his two seasons with the team. Portland also drafted perhaps the most talented player in the draft in CB Leo Duffy. The Portland D has been consistent and will only improve with a player like Duffy joining the team. I don’t think Portland will make the playoffs this year but I wouldn’t be surprised if they have more than 5 wins this year.
Predictions:
1. Anchorage (Division Champ)
2. Washington
3. Kalispel
4. Portland
Kalispel- The Stags snuck into the playoffs last year with an 8-8 record and played the Utah Bees tough before losing 17-10 in the first round. Kalispel focused primarily this offseason on resigning its current player and creating cap room by renegotiating contracts. They did not sign one significant FA agent and seemed content to focus on helping their young teams grow. The team used its #20 pick on LG Omar Webster who will immediately start and will help anchor the line with 2007 pick, LT Percy Grier. While the Stags have talent on both sides of the ball (DT Wally Turner is a monster!) I don’t know if they have enough talent to get them into the playoffs in 2008. Average QB play could doom this team if their defense isn’t able to carry them.
Washington- The Bombers are led by the #3 pick of the 2007 draft, Randy Richardson. Richardson has been a star since his first game in the NFL. He is about as well rounded a RB as you can be but he has one Achilles heel…..he can’t hold onto the ball. He led the league with 19 fumbles last year and it will be interesting to see if his problems were due to his adjustment to pro football or if this will be an issue throughout his entire career. The offensive line is solid but like the other teams in this division, the Bombers have an average QB in Lawrence Sanderson. The WR corps is talented but young and I look forward to seeing #8 pick Wally Lum line up across from the current #1 receiver Albert Porter. The defense is lead by DE Roger Boren who would have been the talk of the league last year with his 16 sacks if it wasn’t for R.J. Peterson. The biggest FA signing was SS Kendall Hutson who will serve as a mentor to the young secondary. A question remains whether Hutson is totally healed from his serious ACL injury in 2007. This team has a ton of question marks but they have enough talent to have a winning season and push the Gladiators for the division crown.
Portland- Portland went from 10-6 in 2006 to 5-11 in 2007. What happened? QB Shaun Douglas retired and there wasn’t anyone ready to step up and lead the Phantoms. The battle for the starting QB position is between last year’s four game starter Ty Poston and 2nd round pick Henry Andrews. Andrews looks like he’s going to be great in a few years but may be too green to start out the gate. Also, I don’t think that the Portland front office wants to start two rookies at key offensive spots now that it looks like rookie Craig Price will be named starting RB. The offense also took a huge hit when WR Sammy Slade went down with a high ankle sprain and may not return until midseason. Slade appeared poised for a breakout year so it was tough loss. On a positive note, the Phantoms biggest offseason signing wasn’t a player. It was new head coach Malcolm Galloway. Galloway has a career record of 28-9 and led the Columbus Catfish to the playoffs in his two seasons with the team. Portland also drafted perhaps the most talented player in the draft in CB Leo Duffy. The Portland D has been consistent and will only improve with a player like Duffy joining the team. I don’t think Portland will make the playoffs this year but I wouldn’t be surprised if they have more than 5 wins this year.
Predictions:
1. Anchorage (Division Champ)
2. Washington
3. Kalispel
4. Portland
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