OSFL 2012: NC SOUTH PREVIEW

aholbert

Pro

Join Date: Dec 2006

Posts: 2258
- Share
- Tweet
#1

OSFL 2012: NC SOUTH PREVIEW

01-25-2009, 07:15 PM

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CAARONH%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5 Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CAARONH%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5 Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CAARONH%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5 Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"> <style>  </style> One of the best divisions in the OSFL became one of the worst last year. Why? That�s what happens when 2 teams get old and 2 teams are rebuilding. Let�s start with one of the teams getting older, the Columbus Catfish. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The Catfish won the division last year with an average 8-8 record and it took a late season push to get them to 8-8. QB Corey Lincoln is still on board and entering his 16<sup>th</sup> year in the league. While he still had a QB rating in the high 90�s, there are signs that his skills are falling off. He had a career high 18 interceptions and failed to lead them o wins in a number of big games. He also had the worst postseason performance of his career last year. With that said, the offense still has All Pro WR Jimmy Mathis and the two headed RB monster of Darnell Wilkins and Fernando Perkins. Yes�the same Fernando Perkins who ran for 1700 yards last year. The same Fernando Perkins that was 1<sup>st</sup> All Pro. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The Perkins signing is one of the most interesting signings in league history for a number of reasons. 1) Phoenix took a huge risk by letting a 1700 yd RB hit the FA market w/o getting a thing for him. 2) Many feel that Perkins was just a product of Phoenix�s high-powered offense and will be an average RB in any other offense. 3) Perkins signed with a team where he may not be the best back on his team. Many scouts prefer Wilkens. 4) Perkins turned down long term offers from a number of teams to sign w/ Columbus. Columbus however didn�t take a risk at all. The Perkins signing occurred toward the end of the offseason when they had 10 million to spend. If he is a success they can franchise him. If he sucks, they can let him become a FA. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The biggest weakness is Columbus� defense and it�s the main reason the Catfish were 8-8 last year. Their secondary is average at best and their defensive line fails to provide consistent QB pressure. In another division this lack of dense would be a killer but in the NC South, they will take home another division crown. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Gainesville took a different approach this offseason. The Gaels were active in FA adding future hall of fame CB Lenny Huff and RBs Horace Tatum and Warren Bryant. Tatum and Bryant are both former 1000 yd rushers and will battle it out for the starting RB spot. The Gales also made a huge trade adding former Phoenix QB Lorenzo Kaplan. Many question this trade though. Kaplan could not beat out former Gales QB Carl Reese for a starting job in Phoenix so it comes to question why the Gales think Kaplan will perform better than Reese in Gainesville. There are many new parts on the Gales� offense and it will be interesting to see if those pieces can come together.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
On defense, the biggest additions are #1 draft pick Hardy Eicholz and DE Ronald Frederickson. Frederickson is a veteran DE who should give the Gaels even more QB pressure. The biggest issue is he is out until midseason with a broken leg and there is no guarantee that he will return to his 2011 performance level. Eicholz is a talented MLB from Wake Forest and was one of the top prospects in the draft. He is small for the position and cannot play any other linebacker spots so0 it will be interesting to see if he is good enough to beat starting MLB for a starting spot. I think these additions are enough for the Gales to contend and vie for a wild card spot. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
The Morgantown Maniacs finished the season losing 4 of their last 5 and choking away a playoff spot and division crown. So what did they do on the offseason? Not much. Their biggest addition was adding back up CB Edwin Dawson. The Maniacs had a solid draft by drafting perhaps the steal of the draft in LB Jon Segers but they did not add enough to this team imo. Offensively, they still have one of the best QB�s in league history in Floyd Cosby but they don�t have a running game that they can depend on and they only have one dependable WR/ TE Lamont Dawson (57 catches in 2010) will have to continue to play a big role in order for this team to move the ball.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
The Maniacs� defense isn�t much better than their offense. The defense is full of overpaid veterans like CB Luke Oakes and DT Larry King and young players like Segers and DE Les Pagnotti who aren�t quiet ready to dominate. This adds up to the Maniacs missing the playoffs and having their first losing season in history.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
The Charlotte Knights on the other hand are searchi8ng for their second winning season ever. That isn�t going to happen this year but there is reason to be optimistic. The Knights drafted with the #1 pick perhaps the greatest athlete entering the OSFL ever. CB Jeremy Camelleri will start Day 1 for the Knights and team up to create one of the best CB combos in the league with last year�s pick Kendrick Mathis. I think the Knights defense has a chance to be really good. They have a deep, young and talented secondary and a defensive line that is rated highly by many scouts. The problem for their defensive line is that those ratings have not translated into stats. Last year�s # 1 pick DE Zach Sullivan only had 3 sacks in 13 games and former #1 pick Joseph Mallow has not yet come into his own (averaging 4 sacks in his first 2 seasons).<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
I expect the Knights� offense to improve greatly from last year. Different from last year, it�s clear how will be the Knights starting QB. Tom Skeen started every game for the Knights in 2011 and is expected to start this year. In order for this team to win more than 2 games Skeen will have to cut down on the Ints. Another key to improvement is RB Sedrick Thompson. Thompson had a sophomore slump as his rushing yards and TDs dropped from his rookie year. The Charlotte front office unsuccessfully pursued RB Fernando Perkins and hope that this will put a fire under him. They also hope the continued improvement of WR Cory Bobro and the pick of WR Monty Nugent will give Skeen two consistent downfield threats. The Knights won�t win the division or make the playoffs but I think they are good enough to win more than 2 games. <o:p></o:p>
Tags: None
kingfc22

Rookie

Join Date: Dec 2006

Posts: 913
- Share
- Tweet
#2

01-25-2009, 07:23 PM

Love these! A) They are well done and B) It means it's almost game time!

OSFL - Anchorage Gladiators
2015, 2019 OSFL Champs
2006, 2015, 2019, 2021 AC Champs
2007-2008, 2012-2014, 2016-2017, 2019-2020 AC North Champs

13 Playoff Appearances

FOFL - Indiana Apocalypse
Comment
outkast44

Rookie

Join Date: Jul 2008

Posts: 39
- Share
- Tweet
#3

01-25-2009, 07:51 PM

Wow, this is a great in-depth look at this division!
The Maniacs are slightly handcuffed by a few huge salaries that will be expiring this year. I was kind of banking on finding an immediate impact rb or wr in the first round but I didn't see an obvious pick and just couldn't pass up on Segers. This was one of those seasons where you have to choose between giving it one more shot, or blowing it up completely and starting anew. I chose to give it one more shot this year, perhaps naively, because it looks like we will be forced to blow it up next offseason with a few expected retirements and a ridiculous # of expiring contracts. We'll see if I made the right choice, but I fear that you right about our upcoming season.

Great read though, can't wait for the season to start.
Comment
Jake

All Star

Join Date: Dec 2007

Posts: 5796
- Share
- Tweet
#4

01-25-2009, 09:19 PM

Great job Aaron. I think we're going to be able to compete at a really high level this year, but our success really rests on Sedrick Thompson and Tom Skeen. I can't figure Thompson out, but hopefully he puts it together this year.

Charlotte Knights - OSFL
Syracuse Slammers - BLB
South America - 1984 WBC Runner Up
Comment
Bigsmooth

Rookie

Join Date: Dec 2006

Posts: 380
- Share
- Tweet
#5

01-25-2009, 09:21 PM

Great read. I'm sure Perkins will have a good year in Ben's offense.
Comment

Previous template Next

Announcement

OSFL 2012: NC SOUTH PREVIEW

OSFL 2012: NC SOUTH PREVIEW

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment