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Utah- The 2007 American Conference Champs are looking to defend their title. While everyone in the league was predicting that the Memphis Admirals or the Motor City Mechanics were sure bets for the AC title, the Bees snuck up on everyone with a stingy defense and a high-powered offense. The Lochtfield-Viola QB-WR tandem is back for another year and there is no reason to think that this tandem wont remain one of the best in the league. Van “Lucky” Lochtefeld increased his TD total by fourteen and decreased his interceptions by four in 2007. He seemed to really come into his own last season and he performed well in the OSFL Bowl. Lucky has nothing but talent to throw to as both Chester Quinteros and Danny Viola both had over 70 catches last years. The running game isn’t very impressive but with a great passing game, the Bees only need an average one to be successful. The defense isn’t spectacular but they have a good secondary and future star in last year’s first round pick LB Tracy Givens. This off-season, Utah stayed pat with no major FA signings and no first round pick. Bees fans hope that they have enough talent to make it back to the big game.
Phoenix- 13-3 in 2006. 8-8 in 2007. Many thought that this 5 game drop occurred because of the midseason loss of team leader C Bruce Brooks. I think that was a factor but in my opinion a lack of talent on offense was a bigger reason behind the .500 season. The Riders are pretty average on offense in 2007 without a 3,000 yard passer or a 1,000 yard rusher or receiver. Not much has changed in 2008. The riders return the same QB, RB and #1 receiver from 2007. The Riders did not sign one major free agent and used its first round pick on LG Otis Fedolfi. Fedolfi is going to be a great G in a few years but RB Conrad Bronson may have been a better pick for immediate help. Defensively, the Riders need help. They have a few stars in CB Brendan Korinek and SLB Ian Stokes but there isn’t enough talent around them and teams like Utah will have a field day picking on starting CB Burt Highlander.
Los Alamos- The Monsters are a team on the rise but the window is small. Their starters average age is seven years and some of their most talented players like WR Quentin Kirk are at the tail end of their careers. On the plus side, their starting QB and RB are just entering their prime. RB Henry Harrell and QB Adrian Hermon had breakout years last year and will only improve. The offensive line is one of the best in the league and their safeties are ball hawks that anchor the defense. Los Alamos did what most teams in the OSFL did during the off-season and focused on resigning its own players and adding players during the draft. In the NC this would be a problem but in the AC a team could realistically make it to the playoffs with 9 wins. That’s only a one game improvement for the Monsters and in this weak division entirely possible.
Denver- The tough times look to continue in Denver. Fans in Denver hoped that this would be the year that QB Jamie Scoggins would take the reins and start for the Grizzlies but based on his performance in training camp and the preseason it doesn’t look like that is going to happen this year. QB Ellis Austin is primed to start opening week and fans are wondering when Scoggins will be ready to start. Rookie RB Warren Bryant will start for the Grizzlies and while he is a solid back he is far from a game breaker. It’s a shame because Denver has arguably the most talented offensive line in the league but all the protection in the world doesn’t matter if you have no one who can throw the ball consistently. Defensively, Denver has one of the better squads in the division with last year’s first rounder CB Donnell Burke primed to have a breakout season and tackle machine MLB Donovan Bauer (124 tackles in 2007) ready for another 100 tackle season. Even with all of the talent on the defensive side of the ball, it wont matter of they cant put points on the board and with the talent in place it doesn’t look like that will happen this year.
Predictions:
1) Utah
2) Los Alamos
3) Phoenix
4) Denver
Phoenix- 13-3 in 2006. 8-8 in 2007. Many thought that this 5 game drop occurred because of the midseason loss of team leader C Bruce Brooks. I think that was a factor but in my opinion a lack of talent on offense was a bigger reason behind the .500 season. The Riders are pretty average on offense in 2007 without a 3,000 yard passer or a 1,000 yard rusher or receiver. Not much has changed in 2008. The riders return the same QB, RB and #1 receiver from 2007. The Riders did not sign one major free agent and used its first round pick on LG Otis Fedolfi. Fedolfi is going to be a great G in a few years but RB Conrad Bronson may have been a better pick for immediate help. Defensively, the Riders need help. They have a few stars in CB Brendan Korinek and SLB Ian Stokes but there isn’t enough talent around them and teams like Utah will have a field day picking on starting CB Burt Highlander.
Los Alamos- The Monsters are a team on the rise but the window is small. Their starters average age is seven years and some of their most talented players like WR Quentin Kirk are at the tail end of their careers. On the plus side, their starting QB and RB are just entering their prime. RB Henry Harrell and QB Adrian Hermon had breakout years last year and will only improve. The offensive line is one of the best in the league and their safeties are ball hawks that anchor the defense. Los Alamos did what most teams in the OSFL did during the off-season and focused on resigning its own players and adding players during the draft. In the NC this would be a problem but in the AC a team could realistically make it to the playoffs with 9 wins. That’s only a one game improvement for the Monsters and in this weak division entirely possible.
Denver- The tough times look to continue in Denver. Fans in Denver hoped that this would be the year that QB Jamie Scoggins would take the reins and start for the Grizzlies but based on his performance in training camp and the preseason it doesn’t look like that is going to happen this year. QB Ellis Austin is primed to start opening week and fans are wondering when Scoggins will be ready to start. Rookie RB Warren Bryant will start for the Grizzlies and while he is a solid back he is far from a game breaker. It’s a shame because Denver has arguably the most talented offensive line in the league but all the protection in the world doesn’t matter if you have no one who can throw the ball consistently. Defensively, Denver has one of the better squads in the division with last year’s first rounder CB Donnell Burke primed to have a breakout season and tackle machine MLB Donovan Bauer (124 tackles in 2007) ready for another 100 tackle season. Even with all of the talent on the defensive side of the ball, it wont matter of they cant put points on the board and with the talent in place it doesn’t look like that will happen this year.
Predictions:
1) Utah
2) Los Alamos
3) Phoenix
4) Denver
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