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I’m here with the 2009 installment of Aaron’s OSFL Season Preview. With 2 weeks, to preview all 8 divisions I hopefully will have enough time to preview everyone. I’m starting off with the AC East this year for one reason: I promised Clay that I would do an analysis of his first round pick (He was a bum anyway ;-) and I forgot. So the AC East gets the pleasure of being the first division I preview this year
Lake County – Russell Estell became the best running back in the league last year and lead the Xtreme to the playoffs despite average QB play. Estell had a career high in rushing yards and TDs last year and will continue to dominate as he enters the tail end of his prime. LC’s starting QB, Nick Pipkin continued to give them average QB play but that may change this year with the addition of WR Leland Lilledahl. Lilledahl is one of the most interesting players in the league. He is universally considered one of the most talented players in the league but he has never had a 1000 yd season and he has played with two all pro QB’s (Lincoln and Cosby). The big question is whether Lilledahl will improve Pipkin’s play or whether Leland’s stats will decrease playing with an average QB. The Xtreme defense is young and solid with two young DT’s (Von Olehoffen and Crawford) stopping the run and one of the best LB’s in the league, Marshall Greer (102 tackles in 08). This team has enough talent to win the division but not enough to contend for a conference championship.
Motor City- From championship contenders to a .500 team, that’s the story of the 2008 Mechanics. I’m still trying to figure out what happened. Injuries affected the performance of former league MVP, RB Kenneth Clements as he had his first season under 1000 rushing yards. It will be interesting to see how he responds to last season and the trade rumors that surrounded him in the offseason. QB Billy Joe Jizmeijan returns after a solid first season in Motor City but the front office is looking for more from him this season especially with his 12 mil a year salary. Speaking of the front office, they were unable to sign a major free agent this offseason but that wasn’t because of a lack of effort. They offered big contracts to Lilledahl and Kent Hutton but were turned down. MC’s defensive strength is its secondary with star CB Jermaine Lowman (2nd team all pro CB) and big hitter Harry Berry. The loss of CB Fernando Reeve could be significant but with its D line improving, the secondary won’t have to cover for as long as they did last year. First round pick, Nicky Cortez has a bright future but won’t be able to contribute more than nickel duty this season. The Mechanics are still talented and with a few breaks could be back at the top of the division.
Ohio Valley- What happened? The Showboats won 58 of their first 6 games and proceeded to lose 10 in a row to end the season. The Showboats’ front office proceeded to blow up the team and start over. QB Bert Kalter? Gone to Phoenix. T Deon Aviles? Gone to Morgantown. SE Edgar Lowe? Retired. CB Bert Castillo? Gone to Phoenix. So who’s left? Star RB Sherman Ellison is and so is WR Kent Hutton. Hutton was the star of the FA class and was courted by over 10 teams. After millions of dollars in offers and 2 ½ months of waiting, Kent Hutton decided to stay in Ohio. The Showboats swapped QB’s with Phoenix by adding Rob Knopf. Knopf isn’t going to wow you with his ability but he is a game manager who is enough of a throwing threat to keep 8 men out of the box against Ellison. The defense has been weakened with the loss of DE Nathan Reynolds and DT Jerald Messina and I expect it to struggle against the top offenses. The biggest news of the offseason wasn’t the resigning of Hutton though. It was OV moving up in the draft to draft T Eric Poliska. Poliska was one of the “Big 2” in the 2009 draft and will be able to help the line immediately. Still, Ohio Valley is in rebuilding mode and I can’t see them winning more than 6 games this year in this division and with this talent.
Punxsutawney – Are the Phils better off with or without LT Brendan Kolb. Kolb is an all pro tackle, a sure fire hall of famer and still one of the top left tackles in the game. On the other hand, he makes 16 million dollars a year, is in his 14th year and his game started to decline last year. His contract is the big problem as it makes it difficult for the Phils to sign a star FA and takes up almost a 1/5 of the cap. The Phils made news this off season by trading their 1000 yd RB Horace Tatum to Yuma. QB Jamie Francis is decent but he struggles to stay on the field because of injuries and it will be interesting to see if he can come back from a serious hip injury last year. This team’s strength continues to be its defense. The Phils have one of the best CB combos in the league with Don Lenihan and Tyrus Stuart but will miss Grant Greer who is out for the season with a torn Patellar tendon. LB Riddick Melton became a tackling machine and an all pro with 130 tackles. As good as the defense is, it won’t be enough to contend this season in the AC East.
Lake County – Russell Estell became the best running back in the league last year and lead the Xtreme to the playoffs despite average QB play. Estell had a career high in rushing yards and TDs last year and will continue to dominate as he enters the tail end of his prime. LC’s starting QB, Nick Pipkin continued to give them average QB play but that may change this year with the addition of WR Leland Lilledahl. Lilledahl is one of the most interesting players in the league. He is universally considered one of the most talented players in the league but he has never had a 1000 yd season and he has played with two all pro QB’s (Lincoln and Cosby). The big question is whether Lilledahl will improve Pipkin’s play or whether Leland’s stats will decrease playing with an average QB. The Xtreme defense is young and solid with two young DT’s (Von Olehoffen and Crawford) stopping the run and one of the best LB’s in the league, Marshall Greer (102 tackles in 08). This team has enough talent to win the division but not enough to contend for a conference championship.
Motor City- From championship contenders to a .500 team, that’s the story of the 2008 Mechanics. I’m still trying to figure out what happened. Injuries affected the performance of former league MVP, RB Kenneth Clements as he had his first season under 1000 rushing yards. It will be interesting to see how he responds to last season and the trade rumors that surrounded him in the offseason. QB Billy Joe Jizmeijan returns after a solid first season in Motor City but the front office is looking for more from him this season especially with his 12 mil a year salary. Speaking of the front office, they were unable to sign a major free agent this offseason but that wasn’t because of a lack of effort. They offered big contracts to Lilledahl and Kent Hutton but were turned down. MC’s defensive strength is its secondary with star CB Jermaine Lowman (2nd team all pro CB) and big hitter Harry Berry. The loss of CB Fernando Reeve could be significant but with its D line improving, the secondary won’t have to cover for as long as they did last year. First round pick, Nicky Cortez has a bright future but won’t be able to contribute more than nickel duty this season. The Mechanics are still talented and with a few breaks could be back at the top of the division.
Ohio Valley- What happened? The Showboats won 58 of their first 6 games and proceeded to lose 10 in a row to end the season. The Showboats’ front office proceeded to blow up the team and start over. QB Bert Kalter? Gone to Phoenix. T Deon Aviles? Gone to Morgantown. SE Edgar Lowe? Retired. CB Bert Castillo? Gone to Phoenix. So who’s left? Star RB Sherman Ellison is and so is WR Kent Hutton. Hutton was the star of the FA class and was courted by over 10 teams. After millions of dollars in offers and 2 ½ months of waiting, Kent Hutton decided to stay in Ohio. The Showboats swapped QB’s with Phoenix by adding Rob Knopf. Knopf isn’t going to wow you with his ability but he is a game manager who is enough of a throwing threat to keep 8 men out of the box against Ellison. The defense has been weakened with the loss of DE Nathan Reynolds and DT Jerald Messina and I expect it to struggle against the top offenses. The biggest news of the offseason wasn’t the resigning of Hutton though. It was OV moving up in the draft to draft T Eric Poliska. Poliska was one of the “Big 2” in the 2009 draft and will be able to help the line immediately. Still, Ohio Valley is in rebuilding mode and I can’t see them winning more than 6 games this year in this division and with this talent.
Punxsutawney – Are the Phils better off with or without LT Brendan Kolb. Kolb is an all pro tackle, a sure fire hall of famer and still one of the top left tackles in the game. On the other hand, he makes 16 million dollars a year, is in his 14th year and his game started to decline last year. His contract is the big problem as it makes it difficult for the Phils to sign a star FA and takes up almost a 1/5 of the cap. The Phils made news this off season by trading their 1000 yd RB Horace Tatum to Yuma. QB Jamie Francis is decent but he struggles to stay on the field because of injuries and it will be interesting to see if he can come back from a serious hip injury last year. This team’s strength continues to be its defense. The Phils have one of the best CB combos in the league with Don Lenihan and Tyrus Stuart but will miss Grant Greer who is out for the season with a torn Patellar tendon. LB Riddick Melton became a tackling machine and an all pro with 130 tackles. As good as the defense is, it won’t be enough to contend this season in the AC East.
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