Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - Detroit's Dark Knight: The Des Moines Dragons Reborn

revrew · 02-18-2019, 08:28 AM

What We Learned at Training Camp
Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register

Fresh from Walston-Hoover Stadium on the lovely campus of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, here's a quick breakdown of the leading stories from the Des Moines Dragons training camp:

Most of the pundits were watching second-year QB Dakota Corriveau, to see if he can make the leap to legitimate NFL starter. Reviews are mixed. He does show good arm strength and throws a pretty deep ball, but accuracy and timing are still inconsistent, and the scuttlebutt suggests he's still struggling to digest the full playbook.

The fans, however, had their eyes on top-10 draft pick, WR Louis Forbes. The newcomer has made himself very popular following some spectacular plays in camp, and watching his ability to track the ball in the air and contort to catch even a badly thrown ball might be exactly the security blanket Corriveau needs to thrive.

The other first rounder, DE Elias Reese, is making an impression, too. The sound of him hitting the sled cracks like thunder. Coaches I talked to on the sideline keep repeating the same thing, "untapped potential." Part of that's a compliment, to be sure, but then the same coach sighs, as though he's resigning himself to a massive task ahead. We'll see if that potential can be realized.

At the other end of the draft, 7th round selection Jimmy Perot has been more "slippery" than advertised, and he may well find a spot on the opening day roster. 6th rounder, center Aaron Alexander, has been raising some eyebrows, especially with his run blocking. The same, however, cannot yet be said for the fourth round pick Cedric Grundy, who is having a hard time pushing past the other offensive lineman for reps.

Overall, however, there's some excitement building. The offensive line, once a real weakness for this team, is a deep unit. The rookie receivers and budding quarterback hint at an offense we've yet to see in Dragon football. Could Coach O'Dea be building a more balanced team? 2028 will be a real test.

02-18-2019, 08:28 AM	#129
revrew Team Chaplain Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Just outside Des Moines, IA	What We Learned at Training Camp Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register Fresh from Walston-Hoover Stadium on the lovely campus of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, here's a quick breakdown of the leading stories from the Des Moines Dragons training camp: Most of the pundits were watching second-year QB Dakota Corriveau, to see if he can make the leap to legitimate NFL starter. Reviews are mixed. He does show good arm strength and throws a pretty deep ball, but accuracy and timing are still inconsistent, and the scuttlebutt suggests he's still struggling to digest the full playbook. The fans, however, had their eyes on top-10 draft pick, WR Louis Forbes. The newcomer has made himself very popular following some spectacular plays in camp, and watching his ability to track the ball in the air and contort to catch even a badly thrown ball might be exactly the security blanket Corriveau needs to thrive. The other first rounder, DE Elias Reese, is making an impression, too. The sound of him hitting the sled cracks like thunder. Coaches I talked to on the sideline keep repeating the same thing, "untapped potential." Part of that's a compliment, to be sure, but then the same coach sighs, as though he's resigning himself to a massive task ahead. We'll see if that potential can be realized. At the other end of the draft, 7th round selection Jimmy Perot has been more "slippery" than advertised, and he may well find a spot on the opening day roster. 6th rounder, center Aaron Alexander, has been raising some eyebrows, especially with his run blocking. The same, however, cannot yet be said for the fourth round pick Cedric Grundy, who is having a hard time pushing past the other offensive lineman for reps. Overall, however, there's some excitement building. The offensive line, once a real weakness for this team, is a deep unit. The rookie receivers and budding quarterback hint at an offense we've yet to see in Dragon football. Could Coach O'Dea be building a more balanced team? 2028 will be a real test. __________________ Winner of 6 FOFC Scribe Awards, including 3 Gold Scribes Founder of the ZFL, 2004 Golden Scribe Dynasty of the Year Now bringing The Des Moines Dragons back to life, and the joke's on YOU, NFL! I came to the Crossroad. I took it. And that has made all the difference.