[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Training Camp 2091
Hopefully pre-season will bring better news...

Training camp 2091 wasn't something to get all excited about. It was a chance for all the young guys on the team to show and make progress, proving us they can live up to their potential. 12 guys got reported with good progress, 11 others with okay improvement. The roster, as we enter pre-season:

Quarterbacks
40/40 Moe Sheldon (-1/-1)
35/35 Francisco Farley (+2/-2)
20/35 Brandon Bell (+2/n.c.)
15/30 Bert Martin (+3/+1)
Sheldon the best guy in overall talent. Farley seems to have reached his potential, Bell once again an unimpressive camp, time to give up on him? But what about his stats? Martin with the least unimpressive camp. This reaks of another transition season...

Running backs
55/55 Francisco Patter
35/45 Trey Beyer (+1/n.c.)
35/40 Patrick Joseph (+2/n.c.)
35/35 Reggie Thongchanh
25/25 Asher Ford
Beyer and Joseph look nice, but training camp was very underwhelming. Most of the time, that doesn't bode well for the future. It'll be tough to make up my mind on them, pre-season will possibly be the deciding factor. Patter and Thong' will remain our tandem. Ford will only make the team if we have enough roster spots for special teamers.

Fullbacks
45/45 Clay Brosseau
20/40 Tracy Rhodes (+4/-1)
So, Rhodes could be for real, but we already have Brosseau. Two fullback will be a bit too much. I could have decided to keep Rhodes around as an insurance policy in case pre-season has a disaster up it's sleeve, but I'm taking the gamble here. Sorry kid, maybe another team will give you a chance, or report back for camp in 2092.

Tight ends
45/55 Clay Gaynor (+4/n.c.)
35/45 Clarence Gore (+3/+1)
35/40 Jeffery Blake (+4/n.c.)
35/35 Sherman Bridges
30/30 Renaldo Crawford
Misleading information this is. Gaynor and Gore are receivers, Blake and Crawford run blockers. Those are their roles, with Gore still a longshot to make the 53-men roster. Bridges is a mentor, but I'm not yet convinced we'll keep a roster spot for him available this season.

Wide receivers
75/75 Theodore Bondy
35/50 Trey Samuels (+4/n.c.)
40/40 Branden Sandlin
35/40 Harris Wilkerson (+2/n.c.)
30/45 George Stuckey (+2/n.c.)
25/50 Rickey Lyle (+3/-1)
30/30 Santiago Messenger
20/20 Tracy Arntt
It's early, pre-season and all, but behind Bondy, I'm really struggling to determine what to do here. Sandlin has the route running and big-play ability to bounce back as a viable WR2. Stuckey still pretty green, but route running and downfield ability make him another WR2 candidate. Wilkerson can play special teams, lacks route running, but still had 46 catches as a WR3 last season, Lyle is similar to Sandlin, but a ton greener and with return potential, he could be our punt returner this season. Samuels still an enigma, overall a good receiver, (lack of) endurance is his only real weakness. Messenger is our kickoff returner, Arntt the backup and special teamer. Decisions, decisions.

Offensive Line
70/70 G Michael Szott
70/70 C Butch Pearson
65/65 RT Howard Humphrey
60/60 LT Nathan Hadinger
45/45 G Andre Watson
30/40 G Marvin Silvan (+4/n.c.)
20/40 C Brady Burke (+4/-2)
30/30 LT Myron Hamilton
30/30 C Jared Labbe
Bar disaster, the starting five will remain. Silvan has solidly claimed the OL6 slot. Hamilton will be the backup LT. Burke or Labbe is the race for slot 8.

Defensive Line
65/65 DT Darien Fletcher
60/60 DE Gene Kondovski
55/55 DT Jumbo Mojica
45/45 DE Archie Exner
40/40 DE Andy Russell
35/35 DT A.J. Ritt
35/35 DE Tony Whiting
30/30 DT Kurt Ackerman
20/30 DE Trent Donovan (+3/+1)
Yes, Donovan was moved from OLB to DE. But he won't make the 53-men roster, unless something unexpected happens. The plan is to have all eight active during the regular season, rotate them, keep the guys fresh. This bunch is state of the art in rushing the passer. The guys that can defend the run will have to be spared a bit, four guys will be exclusive on obvious passing downs.

Linebackers
75/75 Brandon Brady (+5/+4)
55/55 Daquan Espino
45/45 Clayton Jackson
35/40 Brant Rayburn (+4/n.c.)
20/35 Van Bertolone (+3/-2)
20/35 Trenton Prescott (+4/-3)
25/25 Alex Palmer
Brady, you sneaky kid, you're better than we anticipated? Espino will be a running downs 'backer. Jackson a passing downs guy, but we might put him in the formations with 3 linebackers as well. Rayburn is improving, but reamins to be a pass rusher at best and a special teamer at worst. Palmer and Prescott are also special teamers. Bertolone won't make the pre-season roster.

Secondary
70/70 CB Kirk Hitchcock
70/70 CB Jackie Richardson
35/60 S Devon Farrell (+4/-3)
45/45 CB Ted Frias
45/45 S Alexander Marty
35/40 S Chuck Murray (+4/n.c.)
35/35 S Thomas Lucas
35/35 CB Jessie McNeil
35/35 S Salvador Harper
25/40 CB Adam Harmon (+4/n.c.)
30/30 S Riddick Newsome
25/30 S Jon Brotzman (+3/n.c.)
So much not to dislike here. First of all, Lucas and Harper won't make the pre-season roster. Farrell will be our all downs safety, Marty the running downs guy, Newsome the passing downs guy. Murray is too new to be a starter, but he'll be ready some day, as will be Brotzman, who already took over Harper's special teams slot. Hitchcock and Richardson is the clear cut CB duo. Frias and McNeil will battle for the nickelback role, Harmon is going to be a starter soon enough, but for now, it's all about gaining experience.

Special teamers
60/60 P Doug Gouynes
75/75 K Mark Giles
20/20 LS Bryce Karney
Just still healthy, guys.

Yeah, it's too early to claim this is how it will be: pre-season, oh pre-season. The starters will get action in the first two pre-season games. That will be with Brandon Bell at quarterback. Moe Sheldon will get the back end of the exhibition action. Or Martin. Or both. Pre-season's unpredictability will make the difference...