Anchorage Blizzard in the FI Football League

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Draft recap

1. DT LeRoy Pickens (84/24), Kentucky
12. CB Raven Bender (77/21), Arizona State
46. FS Oliver Joyce (81/22), Purdue
80. HB Fred Bridges (82/21), Texas
108. OLB Biff Beal (80/23), Arizona
121. WR Jim Richardson (75/22), Clemson
125. C Eugene Hoover (75/21), N.Illinois
144. TE Josh Perry (76/24), Idaho
182. LG Chester Cumbie (79/23), Tennessee Tech

After the draft was completed, the team also signed TE Jerry Smelley (72/22, Florida) and FB Marshall Knight (83/23, Arizona).

The Blizzard has had trouble over the years evaluations DTs in the draft. This time, they appear to have hit a home run with Pickens, a 6'6 player with SPD 71 and STR 97.

Raven Bender has an odd (awesome) name, and wears an odd jersey number for a cornerback: #49. We can remember some defensive players with that number, like SS J.T. Gore or LB Craig Hayden, but also one of the best fullbacks ever in Josh Sindle. But we don't think the team has ever had a #49 cornerback. Back to Bender though: he is somewhat of an oddity, but brings classic speed (SPD 98, ACC 90, AGI 85) and decent tackling (TAK 78) to the team. Will have to learn a bit more of the game (AWR 57), but that comes with being a rookie.

Joyce was kind of an afterthought, as many defensive backs were scouted more than he was. But when the 46th spot came, he appeared to be the best option. He is a natural FS, but might get a look at SS, where he could bring some physicality (STR 77) and also speed (SPD 97).

Bridges is comparable to current backup Leslie Sapp, but a little less power and ball security. He has a shot if the team goes with 3 running backs.

Beal was not in the initial plans. He doesn't have as much speed as the team likes (SPD 82), but he brings strength (STR 85).

Richardson was kind of a surprise, as Anchorage barely scouted wide receivers. But dash results appeared to be deceptive, and Anchorage looks to have found a diamond in the rough: SPD 99, ACC 90, AGI 91. He has much to learn (AWR 54, CTH 74) but might get a spot on the roster.

Hoover is not a bad lineman but we don't see him cracking the roster, at least this year.

Perry, Smelley and Knight would be way down the depth chart, but they are good players who deserve a chance to make the opening day roster.

Cumbie could be one of the steals of the draft. He is not as big as some other linemen (6'4, 320), but he is mobile (SPD 59) and strong (STR 98) and starts with decent blocking skills (AWR 64, RBK 79, PBK 85).

[JPK]

Breaking news
Starting defensive back traded

The Blizzard chose to trade Jaquan Robbins to the Wolves for next year's 1st- and 3rd-round picks. This means that rookie Raven Bender and sophomore Bradley Schultz (and possibly Matt Westbrook) will battle for the starting position opposite Lomas Homan.

[JPK]

Final cuts

The team signed TE Mo Clewett and released the following:

HB Fred Bridges
WR Derek Rose
TE Josh Perry
TE Jerry Smelley
LG Ryan Taylor
C Eugene Hoover
DT Chad Monroe
OLB Lorenzo Branch
OLB Biff Beal
FS Cedric Carpenter
SS John Millard

Oliver Joyce converted to strong safety and will wear #26. Germane King agreed to give it to him, and is switching to #43.

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Opening day depth chart

QB: 7 Nate Clarke (95/27), 14 Jamaal Williams (80/25)
HB: 21 Dwight Jones (87/26), 34 Leslie Sapp (81/28)
FB: 47 Austin Duncan (93/26), 37 Marshall Knight (83/23)
WR: 10 James Logan (95/30), 88 Lester Walker (88/25), 17 Daryl Rutledge (81/22), 13 Jermaine Vincent (84/31), 15 Jim Richardson (75/22)
TE: 89 Blake Blair (90/27), 82 Charles Jones (95/29), 48 Jon Alexander (96/29), 84 Lamar Jansen (78/24), 80 Mo Clewett (76/26)
LT: 77 Barry Pratt (99/32)
LG: 66 C.J. Holt (94/28), 68 Chester Cumbie (79/23)
C: 65 Antwaan Jones (91/27), 64 Mark McFarland (75/26)
RG: 73 Timmy Stafford (87/22)
RT: 71 Randy Gonzalez (98/32), 75 Germane Rowe (82/23)

LE: 96 Keith Glass (90/26), 94 Randy Baker (79/25)
DT: 99 LeRoy Pickens (84/24), 97 Floyd Warner (86/29)
RE: 90 Joe Burns (89/26)
LOLB: 56 Bennie Cote (89/32), 59 Bill Andrews (77/29), 91 Clay Bennett (71/25)
MLB: 54 Tony Battle (83/28), 52 Gerald Jones (75/26), 53 Jevan Warren (72/23), 51 Chad Marshall (70/24)
ROLB: 92 Joel Curtis (77/22), 58 Alex Siegel (77/24)
LB/CB: 93 Ike Roberts (99/24)
CB: 27 Lomas Homan (93/28), 49 Raven Bender (77/21), 25 Bradley Schultz (74/22), 87 Kobe Parkman (76/26), 9 Jerry Morris (80/30), 38 Willie Calderon (72/31)
FS: 28 Willie Sheth (90/27), 29 Matt Westbrook (81/25), 43 Germane King (83/26)
SS: 26 Oliver Joyce (81/22), 33 Tayshaun Watts (82/26), 23 Lonnie Robbins (83/25)

K: 4 Rod Sparks (77/27)
P: 2 Adrian Finley (79/28)
H: 14 Jamaal Williams
LS: 94 Randy Baker
KR: 13 Jermaine Vincent, 88 Lester Walker, 15 Jim Richardson
PR: 13 Jermaine Vincent, 88 Lester Walker, 15 Jim Richardson


Additional notes:

-Matt Westbrook will spend most of his time as a primary extra safety in DB-heavy (3-2-6) formations, but will also split time with Raven Bender to play opposite Lomas Homan in the 3-4-4 formation.

-Similarly, Bennie Cote will be a starting linebacker in 3-4-4, allowing Keith Glass (and sometimes Randy Baker) more time at defensive end. And in 3-2-6, when Glass is split wider, Cote (and sometimes Randy Baker) will play at defensive end.

-For the first time since before Bob Harper, and for a rare season in the past 124 last years, kicking and punting duties will be split.