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Motor City- Some teams are just happy enough to make it to the playoffs and hope for the best. Others are hesitant to make the moves needed to make their team a championship contender. While others do what’s necessary to give their team a chance at a championship. An example of a team willing to do what it takes is the Mechanics. The made the second biggest splash in the FA market by signing, QB Billy Joe Jizmejian. Jizmejian is a three thousand yard passer entering his fifth year. He joins a team with a great offensive line and arguably the best running back in the game, Kenneth Clements. The Jizmejian signing energized the Detroit area and he is by far the most popular player on the team. He’s a huge improvement over last year’s QB Glen Hecht (who ironically now plays for the Charlotte Cougars, Jizmejian’s former team) and could be the key to a championship run. The only negative for this team is that they are really offensive heavy. Spending eighty million on a QB limited the amount that the Mechanics could spend on defensive help and with the exception of CB Jermanine Lowman, the defense is pretty average. First round pick DT Kent Cook has been impressive in preseason but you have to wonder will that be enough.
Lake County- The Xtreme are proof that talent matters most in this league. They made it to the playoffs last year despite an absentee owner. The main reason was RB Russell Estell. With back-to-back 1200+ yard seasons and eighty catches in 2007, he carried this team. He was a second round pick in the original OSFL draft and is proving that he should have been a first round pick. Lake County’s biggest frustration is QB Nick Pipkin. He was the #6 pick in the 2006 draft and passed for over 3300 yards last year but in both of his seasons at the helm he’s had more interceptions than TDs. Because of an ownership change, Lake County wasn’t that active during the off-season but they drafted the line of their future with DT Carlton Von Oelhoofen and DE Omar Herbert. They join last year’s #1 pick Blaine Crawford to form one of the league’s youngest and most talented defensive lines.
Ohio Valley- Two years of losing seasons and no playoff appearances and I don’t think its changing in 2008. The AC North has nothing but premier running backs and Ohio Valley is no exception. Sherman Ellison was the 2007 offensive rookie of the year and while it seems that Washington’s Randy Richardson gets more press, its clear that currently Ellison is the better back. Almost 1200 rushing yards and 74 pass receptions. Another Showboats star is FL Kent Hutton who has a breakout year with 95 catches and 1356 yards. Ohio Valley has one of the better lines in the league but they have no one who can consistently throw the ball. Dave Langham started 9 games last year but he doesn’t look like a good short or long term option at QB. The Showboats defensive line is one of the better lines in the league and the front office gave it depth by drafting DE Mike Haggulund in the first round. Beyond the line this team is pretty weak so expect them to be among the worst defensive teams in the league statistically.
Punxsutawney- The Phils are looking to bounce back from last year’s disappointing finish. They were active in the FA market but were unable to sign DT Hugh Adams and WR Leland Lilledahl Unable to sign a top FA, the Phils stayed pat and focused on developing their young players. RB Horace Tatum is the least well known of the great AC North running backs but that may change in 2008. He has back-to-back 1220-yard seasons and will be looked to carry the team even more than he did in 2007. The reason for this is their passing game is practically non-existent because of an inexperienced QB in Jamie Francis and average play at WR and on the line. Francis throws for a high passer rating but 15 TDs isn’t enough for a team to contend in this division. The Phils biggest defensive pickup was first round pick CB Tyrus Stuart. He is a member of the tremendous 2008 CB draft class and has the talent to start. Many questioned the Stuart pick because of the young and talented CB team of Lenihan and Greer already starting for Punxsutawney.
Predictions:
1) Motor City
2) Lake County
3) Ohio Valley
4) Punxsutawney
Lake County- The Xtreme are proof that talent matters most in this league. They made it to the playoffs last year despite an absentee owner. The main reason was RB Russell Estell. With back-to-back 1200+ yard seasons and eighty catches in 2007, he carried this team. He was a second round pick in the original OSFL draft and is proving that he should have been a first round pick. Lake County’s biggest frustration is QB Nick Pipkin. He was the #6 pick in the 2006 draft and passed for over 3300 yards last year but in both of his seasons at the helm he’s had more interceptions than TDs. Because of an ownership change, Lake County wasn’t that active during the off-season but they drafted the line of their future with DT Carlton Von Oelhoofen and DE Omar Herbert. They join last year’s #1 pick Blaine Crawford to form one of the league’s youngest and most talented defensive lines.
Ohio Valley- Two years of losing seasons and no playoff appearances and I don’t think its changing in 2008. The AC North has nothing but premier running backs and Ohio Valley is no exception. Sherman Ellison was the 2007 offensive rookie of the year and while it seems that Washington’s Randy Richardson gets more press, its clear that currently Ellison is the better back. Almost 1200 rushing yards and 74 pass receptions. Another Showboats star is FL Kent Hutton who has a breakout year with 95 catches and 1356 yards. Ohio Valley has one of the better lines in the league but they have no one who can consistently throw the ball. Dave Langham started 9 games last year but he doesn’t look like a good short or long term option at QB. The Showboats defensive line is one of the better lines in the league and the front office gave it depth by drafting DE Mike Haggulund in the first round. Beyond the line this team is pretty weak so expect them to be among the worst defensive teams in the league statistically.
Punxsutawney- The Phils are looking to bounce back from last year’s disappointing finish. They were active in the FA market but were unable to sign DT Hugh Adams and WR Leland Lilledahl Unable to sign a top FA, the Phils stayed pat and focused on developing their young players. RB Horace Tatum is the least well known of the great AC North running backs but that may change in 2008. He has back-to-back 1220-yard seasons and will be looked to carry the team even more than he did in 2007. The reason for this is their passing game is practically non-existent because of an inexperienced QB in Jamie Francis and average play at WR and on the line. Francis throws for a high passer rating but 15 TDs isn’t enough for a team to contend in this division. The Phils biggest defensive pickup was first round pick CB Tyrus Stuart. He is a member of the tremendous 2008 CB draft class and has the talent to start. Many questioned the Stuart pick because of the young and talented CB team of Lenihan and Greer already starting for Punxsutawney.
Predictions:
1) Motor City
2) Lake County
3) Ohio Valley
4) Punxsutawney
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