[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: The 53 for the 2110 season

Pre-season is over, our 53 names for the 2110 season are now known.

The quarterbacks
30/45 QB Harrison Singleton - our quarterback
25/25 QB Billy Russell - our backup quarterback
20/20 QB Drake Bishop - our emergency mentor kick holder

The backfield
30/30 RB Bennett Holmes - the main ball carrier
35/35 RB Marcus Jorg - the change of pace back
40/40 RB Cary Delgado - the pounder of the backfield
25/25 RB Darnell Greenham - new! - the backup punt returner
30/30 FB Randy Julian - the extra run blocker
25/45 FB Kenneth Holse - rookie - special teamer

The tight ends
40/60 TE Ben Gordon - rookie - the project
45/45 TE Garrett Alcala - the safety net in the passing game
30/30 TE Wesley Martin - the mentor and key blocker
20/20 TE Darnell McKie - living proof we can win playoffs games

the prima donnas
75/75 WR Jessie Vertelney - our playmaker
60/60 WR Calvin Maxwell - the legend, ready to play WR2
45/45 WR Preston Gray - the WR3 that can get open and won't drop it
35/45 WR Jaylen Gearhart - the gazelle
35/40 WR Kai Cote - the other gazelle
20/20 WR Rick Emerson - the mentor

the offensive linemen
60/60 C Zane Chaplain - the man in the middle
45/55 C Roman Gillespie - starting caliber interior lineman, stuck on the bench
65/65 G Brett Stickney - the do it all on the line
60/60 G Andres Uwaezuoke - the run blocking guard
30/45 G Tutan Shapiro - the man with the muscles, but not ready to play
75/75 RT Ivan Dole - our run blocking anchor
50/60 LT Earl McBirney - our left tackle, blindside protector
45/45 LT Harold Gruenwalder - the backup and mentor of McBirney

The defensive linemen
70/70 DE Frank Bernard - complete, elite, ready to run havoc
35/35 DE Howie Tucker - the pass rusher
35/50 DE Steve Aber - the project pass rusher
30/30 DE Zachary Abueva - the backup pass rusher
70/70 DT Efrain Hutchins - the successor to the all-time greats
55/55 DT Gabriel Morris - declining, still an excellent run stuffer
30/30 DT Mitch Potchynok - the big pass rusher up the middle
35/45 DT Leslie Jeffries - the extra run stuffer

The linebackers
75/75 LB Gus Coleman - the monster linebacker
65/65 LB Caiden Hastings - the running downs monster
50/50 LB Xavier Hoover - the running downs LB3
30/40 LB Bobby Diaz - rookie - the project, quality ass defender, special teamer
35/35 LB Avery Distel - will play on the D-Line as a pass rusher
15/15 LB Mack Pang - the special teams hero

The secondary
45/45 CB Joel Delgado - the shutdown corner?
35/45 CB Byron Sokol - the shutdown project
20/20 CB Will Warrick - new - the punt returner and backup corner
35/35 CB Skip Horner - our nickelback
45/45 S Dan Peterson - new - our new running downs safety
35/35 S Craig Clancy - the elite zone defender
35/35 S John Aponte - the other elite zonde defender
45/45 S Noah Matthews - the interceptions booster
35/35 S Johnatan White - we have too many zone defenders

The special teams specialists
65/65 P Jimmy Summers - better than the rookie we cut
90/90 K Oscar Harrington - best in the game
20/20 LS Bennett Brock - because we require one, he's great at it though

I feel good and confident about this group. Singelton was a reliable quarterback last season, while Russell now has the second season boost in case we're stuck with him. With Vertelney, Maxwell, Gray, Gordon and Alcala, we have a quintet that can compete. The O-line is solid and the same bunch for the 3rd season straight. The backfield the same 3 guys in rotation, with Singelton as the dual treat guy.

The defense is mostly the same bunch, with Bernard, Hutchins, Hastings and Hoover ready to show they are the sidekicks Coleman and Morris were waiting for. The secondary is good enough to defend the pass, they are the elite of the league with 50 interceptions in the last 2 seasons combined. And the special teams unit is really something special, arguably the best one in the league.

Yes, we've shown quite some flaws last season, but the core of a winning team was there and with another season of experience in the bag, this team should be ready to prove the world they're ready to make the playoffs and not just to participate in the post-season, but actually make something happen.