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

revrew · 06-12-2019, 08:15 AM

Dragons Pre-Season Preview
Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register

The Dragons are thinking bounce-back after a disappointing 7-9 follow-up to their NFC championship season. Cutting down turnovers and opponents' defensive touchdowns would go a long way to helping with that, but so would developing a ground game, which has eluded Des Moines for years.

Training camp highlights

The biggest story out of training camp is watching former Oklahoma State wide receiver Carlton Agree play running back. In shorts, he looks smooth and fast, but there's still a great deal of controversy over whether this experiment will work in pads against full, NFL competition. Meanwhile, last year's 3rd rounder, RB Douglas Flagg, got most of the reps with the 1st team and is competing for the starting spot.

Fans attending camp at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, were also buzzing about second-year, second-string QB Julian Price. The former Hawkeye throws a beautiful bomb of a deep ball, and some are wondering whether the youngster has the QB acumen to match the obvious physical talent.

Fourth year WR Robbie Thompson has always had the speed, but his hands have looked particularly impressive in camp, becoming a more and more reliable target for QB Dakota Corriveau. He's gotten better and better each year – could this be a breakout season?

Training camp question marks

It has been said that when you have two starting quarterbacks, you have no starting quarterbacks – meaning a competition for the top spot is merely and indication of mediocre talent. Right now, I fear the same could be said for the critical Dragon runningback position, where Boyette has the experience, Flagg the surge, and Agree is the shiny, new toy. None of them, however, is blowing away the competition, and considering how bad Boyette has been in his career, that's not a good sign.

The same scenario is in play at cornerback, where the grizzled veterans are gone and none of their former backups look capable of filling their mentors' shoes.

Predictions

Easy prediction: The Dragons, for the 7th year in a row, fail to find a 1,000-yard rusher. Predictable prediction: The Dragons finish within a game or two at most of .500. Gutsy prediction: FS Gerald Barnes not only makes the ProBowl, but is voted 1st team All-Pro as the best safety in the NFL.

06-12-2019, 08:15 AM	#205
revrew Team Chaplain Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Just outside Des Moines, IA	Dragons Pre-Season Preview Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register The Dragons are thinking bounce-back after a disappointing 7-9 follow-up to their NFC championship season. Cutting down turnovers and opponents' defensive touchdowns would go a long way to helping with that, but so would developing a ground game, which has eluded Des Moines for years. Training camp highlights The biggest story out of training camp is watching former Oklahoma State wide receiver Carlton Agree play running back. In shorts, he looks smooth and fast, but there's still a great deal of controversy over whether this experiment will work in pads against full, NFL competition. Meanwhile, last year's 3rd rounder, RB Douglas Flagg, got most of the reps with the 1st team and is competing for the starting spot. Fans attending camp at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, were also buzzing about second-year, second-string QB Julian Price. The former Hawkeye throws a beautiful bomb of a deep ball, and some are wondering whether the youngster has the QB acumen to match the obvious physical talent. Fourth year WR Robbie Thompson has always had the speed, but his hands have looked particularly impressive in camp, becoming a more and more reliable target for QB Dakota Corriveau. He's gotten better and better each year – could this be a breakout season? Training camp question marks It has been said that when you have two starting quarterbacks, you have no starting quarterbacks – meaning a competition for the top spot is merely and indication of mediocre talent. Right now, I fear the same could be said for the critical Dragon runningback position, where Boyette has the experience, Flagg the surge, and Agree is the shiny, new toy. None of them, however, is blowing away the competition, and considering how bad Boyette has been in his career, that's not a good sign. The same scenario is in play at cornerback, where the grizzled veterans are gone and none of their former backups look capable of filling their mentors' shoes. Predictions Easy prediction: The Dragons, for the 7th year in a row, fail to find a 1,000-yard rusher. Predictable prediction: The Dragons finish within a game or two at most of .500. Gutsy prediction: FS Gerald Barnes not only makes the ProBowl, but is voted 1st team All-Pro as the best safety in the NFL. __________________ 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.