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One player can change everything. In 2007, the San Francisco Bayhawks were the worst team in the OSFL at 2-14 and had no identity. It took the drafting of one player to change all of that…QB Rico Whalen. You will be hard pressed to visit the Bay Area and not see a Rico Whalen jersey. 3 yrs into his career, Whalen was the MVP, Offensive Player of the Year and a All Pro. With great accomplishments come great expectations and fans are starting to expect more than division titles and playoff appearances. They want a championship and San Fran’s front office has done everything they can to make that happen. The first move was the trade for RB Wesley Bornstein. Bornstein is a 3 time 1000yd rusher who struggled his last two seasons in Port City. Some argue that Bornstein is hitting the wall like every RB nearing 30 but I disagree with that. Average backs are able to run for a 1000 behind SF’s offensive line and their passing game. I think Bornstein will be able to do the same if not better.
The Bayhawks were probably the most active team in the OSFL during the offseason They signed DE Sam Barrett from North Liberty, Tackle Dave Schafly from Denver, WR Harry Donovan from Memphis and T Billy Sargent from Denver. Barrett gives the Bayhawks a much needed pass rush. The two tackles solidify the line and will protect Whalen. Donovan is a perfect #3 slot receiver and will take a load off star WRs Monty Barton and Todd Bradford. I think this is the year the Bayhawks make a serious run at the conference title.
Yuma QB Jumbo Clements is a former MVP and brought a championship to Yuma so there isn’t much negative you can say about him. Shoot, there isn’t much negative you can say about this entire team. “No Fear” Boshier is due for another 1000 yard season. The offensive line is one of the league’s best. The only negative is that they lack WR depth but that’s been the case for a while now and the Aces still continue to make the playoffs.
The Aces focused on defense in this year’s draft with 6 of their 7 picks going on the defensive side. #1 pick DE Dennis Treu is expected to start immediately and they are hoping that teaming him with DE Donovan Kovel will make a formidable combo. While San Fran’s biggest move was adding to its offense, Yuma countered that by signing top FA DT Tito Roby to a 5 yr, 65 million dollar contract. Roby is young, skilled and a 2 time All Pro. Adding Roby should free up LB “Sundance” Mobley to make even more tackles.
The Pearl Harbor Defenders have the bad luck of being in the NC West. If they were in the South, they would have enough talent to contend for a division title but they aren’t. They are in the West and have to face San Fran and Yuma twice a year. That equals 3-4 losses a year. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the Defenders have plenty to build on starting with Offensive rookie of the year RB Fred O’Donnell. 1200 yards and 5 tds is pretty good for a 2nd rounder who many scouts didn’t expect much from. QB Hunter McGarrahan is an up and coming QB who looks like he could be the future of this franchise. FL Rob Frysinger shook the bust tag by catching 80 passes for over 1200 yards. Their defense still needs a lot of work though. The addition of rookie CB Julio Hambrick will help strengthen the right side of the defense but the lack of a consistent pass rush from their defensive line remains a big issue. This team is still building so no one expects them to make the playoffs still I think PH could improve to 8-8 this year.
How the mighty have fallen. The Las Vegas Outlaws were the first Stevens Cup champions but have failed to get a winning record in the last 4 yrs. We can make that number 5 after 2012. On offense, the Outlaws look a lot like the 2011 Gainesville Gaels. Former Gaels QB Winston McGregor will start the season as a backup but if Mitchell Joiner continues to struggle this year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see McGregor behind center. Same goes for former Gales RB Carlos Harzstark who will back up Mack Madera. Madera is coming off the worst season in his career and will be pushed for his starting job by Carlos. The only way the Outlaws will win games is if the defense can keep the score down. Many laughed at the amount of money Las Vegas paid DE Ben Ellard last year but he proved his worth by tallying 10 sacks and making his first pro bowl. The defense has several other solid players on defense like S Quinn Gaylor and DE JT Alcott but they don’t have enough to keep high-powered offenses like San Fran and Yuma off the board.
The Bayhawks were probably the most active team in the OSFL during the offseason They signed DE Sam Barrett from North Liberty, Tackle Dave Schafly from Denver, WR Harry Donovan from Memphis and T Billy Sargent from Denver. Barrett gives the Bayhawks a much needed pass rush. The two tackles solidify the line and will protect Whalen. Donovan is a perfect #3 slot receiver and will take a load off star WRs Monty Barton and Todd Bradford. I think this is the year the Bayhawks make a serious run at the conference title.
Yuma QB Jumbo Clements is a former MVP and brought a championship to Yuma so there isn’t much negative you can say about him. Shoot, there isn’t much negative you can say about this entire team. “No Fear” Boshier is due for another 1000 yard season. The offensive line is one of the league’s best. The only negative is that they lack WR depth but that’s been the case for a while now and the Aces still continue to make the playoffs.
The Aces focused on defense in this year’s draft with 6 of their 7 picks going on the defensive side. #1 pick DE Dennis Treu is expected to start immediately and they are hoping that teaming him with DE Donovan Kovel will make a formidable combo. While San Fran’s biggest move was adding to its offense, Yuma countered that by signing top FA DT Tito Roby to a 5 yr, 65 million dollar contract. Roby is young, skilled and a 2 time All Pro. Adding Roby should free up LB “Sundance” Mobley to make even more tackles.
The Pearl Harbor Defenders have the bad luck of being in the NC West. If they were in the South, they would have enough talent to contend for a division title but they aren’t. They are in the West and have to face San Fran and Yuma twice a year. That equals 3-4 losses a year. That’s the bad news. The good news is that the Defenders have plenty to build on starting with Offensive rookie of the year RB Fred O’Donnell. 1200 yards and 5 tds is pretty good for a 2nd rounder who many scouts didn’t expect much from. QB Hunter McGarrahan is an up and coming QB who looks like he could be the future of this franchise. FL Rob Frysinger shook the bust tag by catching 80 passes for over 1200 yards. Their defense still needs a lot of work though. The addition of rookie CB Julio Hambrick will help strengthen the right side of the defense but the lack of a consistent pass rush from their defensive line remains a big issue. This team is still building so no one expects them to make the playoffs still I think PH could improve to 8-8 this year.
How the mighty have fallen. The Las Vegas Outlaws were the first Stevens Cup champions but have failed to get a winning record in the last 4 yrs. We can make that number 5 after 2012. On offense, the Outlaws look a lot like the 2011 Gainesville Gaels. Former Gaels QB Winston McGregor will start the season as a backup but if Mitchell Joiner continues to struggle this year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see McGregor behind center. Same goes for former Gales RB Carlos Harzstark who will back up Mack Madera. Madera is coming off the worst season in his career and will be pushed for his starting job by Carlos. The only way the Outlaws will win games is if the defense can keep the score down. Many laughed at the amount of money Las Vegas paid DE Ben Ellard last year but he proved his worth by tallying 10 sacks and making his first pro bowl. The defense has several other solid players on defense like S Quinn Gaylor and DE JT Alcott but they don’t have enough to keep high-powered offenses like San Fran and Yuma off the board.