SNOHOMISH – In 2006, the expansion Spokane Force won the af2 championship and fellow West Division members Central Valley and Bakersfield both reached the playoffs.
Along the way, the trio feasted on the division’s two weaker members, Everett and Stockton.
First-year Everett Hawks coach Cedric Walker said he expects that to change in 2007.
“Everybody in this division has upgraded,” Walker said. “There won’t be any weak sisters in the West.”
Everett’s roster has undergone a complete overhaul after the Hawks posted a 4-12 record in their maiden season in af2. Among the additions are 2006 af2 “Ironman of the Year” LaMonte Jones, plucked from Central Valley, where last season he caught 107 passes for 1,419 yards and 40 touchdowns to go along with 36.5 tackles, three interceptions and two kickoff returns for TDs.
Jones is part of a talented receiving corps that should give Everett’s offense a boost this season.
Walker said he’s very comfortable with his defense, which is anchored by defensive end Shakorr Bryant and defensive specialist Charles Ealy.
The biggest question marks are at quarterback, where Ben Bowling, the former Tulsa back-up, takes over as the starter, and with an unproven offensive line – although Walker expresses confidence in both.
Walker, too, is unproven as a head coach, but his players sound confident in his ability to cook up something special with the batch he has assembled in Everett.
“We have all of the ingredients,” loquacious wide receiver Phil Goodman said, pointing across the field at Walker. “And, we’ve got the good chef right over there.”
Here’s a look at the West Division teams the Hawks will face this season:
Bakersfield Blitz
2006: 9-7, 1-1.
Home field: Rabobank Arena (9,000).
Head coach: Gary Compton, second year, 9-7 career regular-season record.
Key players: WR/DB DeRonn Finley, QB Alex Neist, QB Chad Elliot, WR Rennard Reynolds, OL/DL Ben McCombs.
Outlook: After leading a turnaround that resulted in a playoff berth in 2006, Compton lost Lex Wallace, the af2 defensive player of the year. Bakersfield boasts nine returnees, including McCombs (eight sacks). Blitz has QB issue to settle. Neist was effective for both Spokane and Bakersfield in 2006. Elliot, who previously played for the Blitz (2002-2005), is second all-time in af2 with more than 15,000 yards passing. Neither veteran is likely to happily accept a back-up role.
Walker says: “Bakersfield’s trying to fly under the radar.”
Boise Burn
Expansion team.
Home field: Qwest Arena (5,006).
Head coach: Lee Leslie, first year.
Key players: FB/LB Levi Madarieta, QB Bart Hendricks, QB Casey Rehrer.
Outlook: With two rookies (Hendricks from Boise State and Rehrer, Southern Utah) battling for starting QB spot Boise will need leadership of Madarieta, who helped Spokane to 2006 title. Leslie was the defensive coordinator for AFL’s Utah Blaze last season and is using the connection to land talent. Roster features a brace of former Boise State Broncos.
Walker: “They’ve got some very talented guys, especially with that Utah pipeline.”
Central Valley Coyotes
2006: 12-4.
Home field: Selland Arena (5,487).
Head coach: Fred Biletnikoff, Jr., third year, 22-17.
Key players: WR/LB Wes Borba, OL/DL Doug Langenfeld, OL/DL Donyell Booker.
Outlook: Coyotes are coming off the best season in franchise history, but must replace prolific QB Scott Rislov (AFL) and top receivers LaMonte Jones and Marvin Brown, both with Everett. Borba is a game-breaker (2006: 70 receptions for 700 yards and 20 TDs, 49 tackles, two interceptions and four fumble recoveries).
Walker: “(Biletnikoff) does a great job of getting those junior-college guys around that Fresno, Sacramento area.”
Everett Hawks
2006: 4-12.
Head coach: Cedric Walker, first year.
Home field: Everett Events Center (8,250).
Key players: QB Ben Bowling, OL/DL Shakorr Bryant, WR/DB LaMonte Jones, WR/LB Phil Goodman, DS Charles Ealy, WR Robert Reed, WR Marvin Brown, Josh Richey, OL/DL Kai Ziegler.
Outlook: Everett will not start the season 0-7 like it did last year.
Walker: “We’re good, we’re ready.”
Spokane Shock
2006: 14-2, 3-0 playoffs, ArenaCup champion.
Home field: Spokane Arena (10,187).
Head coach: Adam Shackelford, first year.
Key players: WR Antwone Savage, DB Rob Keefe, WR/DB Raul Vijil.
Outlook: In 2006 Spokane proved “expansion” moniker meaningless in af2. Shock took a hit when 2006 af2 rookie of the year QB Brett Dietz, obtained from Louisville in February, followed former Spokane coach Chris Siegfried to AFL’s Kansas City Brigade.
Walker: “They went and got probably the best offensive coordinator in the league from last year as (head) coach.”
Stockton Lightning
2006: 5-11.
Home field: Stockton Arena (10,117).
Head coach: Doug Murray, first year.
Key players: WR/DB Kenyatte Morgan, WR/DB James Newsom.
Outlook: Despite losiong QB Josh Blankenship (to Tulsa) and Phil Goodman (Everett) the Lightning return eight key players, led by Morgan and Newsom, and added former af2 standouts (FB/LB JaJuan Huddleston and WR/LB Sale’ Key) who played in AFL in 2006. The key will be development of rookie QB Derrick Crudup (Miami).
Walker: “Stockton might be the most athletic team in the division.”
Tri-Cities Fever
Expansion team.
Home field: Toyota Center (7,000).
Head coach: Tony Wells, 4-6.
Key players: WR/LB Robert Garth, WR J.R. Thomas, QB Brian Baker, WR/DB Rushcard Dodd-Masters.
Outlook: Wells, who turned Everett around last season after taking over 0-6 team, has added trio of former Hawks. The Fever also brought in former Green Bay Blizzard standout Garth, who is known around league as “Superman.”
Walker: “They’ve got skill guys from Everett … they’ve got big Garth from Green Bay and now they’ve added some good linemen.”
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