Detroit's Dark Knight: The Des Moines Dragons Reborn

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 4: 2-1 Des Moines travels to 3-0 Dallas

The Cowboys are among the class of the NFL, and their defense is particularly stout. It showed today. QB Dakota Corriveau displayed all the fearless guts he's known for, still finding a way to throw for 300 yards … and 3 picks.

Still, you can't blame the youngster much, when his running game nets an abysmal 16 yards on 17 carries. That's just unacceptable. The Dragons got close at the end, but one of those Corriveau picks was returned for six, sealing the loss, 24-14.

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Des Moines Dragons First Quarter Report
Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register

In just four games, it's become clear the 2-2 Des Moines Dragons are already a much-improved team over last season's 4-12 squad.

On defense, the bite has returned, led by a monster DE duo in Ricardo Heuring and Elias Reese, who are thus far the most potent quarterback-harrassing tag team in the NFL. Rookie OLB Bob Clinton has been a boost to the run-stuffing front, while adding a pair of sacks of his own. And fellow rookies in the secondary, FS Gerald Barnes and CB Lee Ross, have earned starting spots on a defense that currently ranks #2 in the NFL in yards allowed.

On offense, the young QB Dakota Corriveau may still be struggling to put TDs on the board, but he is posting career best marks in completion percentage, yards per pass and completion, 300-yard games, and QB rating.

The rebound from two years of bottom feeding is well underway, as GM Jack Ledger's recent string of draft picks seem to be hitting on all cylinders. But that's not to say the rebuild is complete. The Dragons still have an anemic ground attack. And when teams don't respect the run, Corriveau is forced to dump the ball off short or make risky throws deep. Neither of those approaches are currently working for a team that ranks 21st in points scored.

So far, so very, very good. But I catch my eyes drifting to the college game. Is there a running back in Iowa who can fill the gaping hole that remains in Ledger and Coach O'Dea's reboot of Dragons 2.0?

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 5: 2-2 Des Moines visits 1-3 Philadelphia

Aargh. Fumbles on special teams. A missed FG. The Eagles running out 4 minutes of clock at the end of the fourth. And a running game that continues to disappoint.

QB Dakota Corriveau just isn't the kind of elite QB who can take a team on his shoulders and carry them to victory when he can't even get 60 yards of rushing out of his teammates. Another close loss, 23-20.

Season 5, Week 6: 3-1 Giants come to 2-3 Des Moines

In a game that was shocking devoid of big plays by either squad, it was all about field position and chipping away at the opposition. Dragon RB Drake Boyette finally provided some ground support with 73 yards and a score, and P Rick Clark nearly won POG with brilliant booting. In the end, however, it was K Alexis Galloway, whose 5 field goals made the difference in this victory, 22-16.

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 7: 3-3 Des Moines visits the 0-5 Bears

Rookie FB Dwight Stanton notched his first NFL TD, and the Dragons played efficient ball until the end of the game, when QB Dakota Corriveau started to heat up. Corriveau hit TD strikes to stud TE Kelvin Satterfield and emerging star WR Louis Forbes in the second half, on the way to a 24-9 victory.

Season 5, Week 8: 4-3 Des Moines goes to 0-7 Green Bay

"On the road again," the long-lost Dragons looked a bit tired through most of this game, so rather than an easy win, it turned into a heated battle.

The Dragons' tired legs gave up 13 points in the 4th quarter, and it looked like the game was slipping away.

But then, QB Dakota Corriveau got the ball with 1:42 left and 80 yards to go. Five plays later, with only :04 on the clock, Corriveau hit WR3 Robbie Thompson with a 7-yard TD pass, and the game was won! Corriveau had one of his finest games, throwing for 313 and a pair of scores and rushing for another 58. Dragons win, 27-26.

[revrew]

Des Moines Dragons Hit Halfway
Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register

The baby Dragons (if I may so label them because of their youth) are taking baby steps in the right direction.

QB Dakota Corriveau is enjoying his best season to date, though only by a bit. His current QB rating of 81.5 eclipses that of his rookie year (68.6) and his disastrous sophomore campaign. 2nd-year WR Louis Forbes is outperforming his rookie season in every statistical category. Even the sack squad, DE Elias Reese and DE Ricardo Heuring, are on pace to eclipse last year's sensational first season together.

The team as a whole feels like it's coming along, especially after a pair of wins over winless division opponents.

But I'd hold back on celebrating 5-3 just yet, or thinking about doubling it to 10-6.

This is a Dragons team that has yet to eclipse 30 points in a game. The rushing attack is still as anemic as ever. There's a big difference between baby steps and a playoff run.

But after a pair of ugly seasons, is sure does feel good to be seeing the young playmakers stretch their legs. It's almost as if a run is right around the corner.

[revrew]

Bye-week business

Extensions signed:
CB Mitch Wells (40/40, 30yo, mentor)
RB Drake Boyette (31/31, 25yo, mentor)
OLB Ross Flanagan (39/39, 25yo, mentor)
CB3 Broderick Garcia (45/45, 25yo)
FS2 Herb Dallesandro (49/49, 29yo, mentor, position leader)
LG Ellis Morris (52/52, 26yo)
RG Fred McLane (55/55, 26yo)
LE Ricardo "ManChild" Heuring (36/36, 25yo pass rush specialist)
DT2 Robbie Blake (38/38, 27yo)

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 10: 3-5 Washington comes to 5-3 Des Moines

Outside of surrendering a single big play, the mighty Dragon D roared in this contest. Didn't give up a single rushing first down. Held Washington to 1 of 12 on third down. Racked up 5 sacks, four from Ricardo "ManChild" Heuring.

On the offensive side of the ball, the team did cough up 5 fumbles, but only lost 1. The running game wasn't there (what's new?), but Corriveau was efficient, keying in on our solid triplet of receivers: Myles Kinney, Louis Forbes, and TE Kelvin Satterfield. Corriveau's final line was 22 of 29 for a pair of scores, no picks, and a 119.9 rating in this solid, 23-17 victory.

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 11: 6-3 Vikings battle for division lead at 6-3 Dragons

The Dragon offense struggled in this one, and as expected, Viking stud QB Kris Van Pelt put up some numbers, despite a solid defensive foe. Early, a HUGE 89-yard pick 6 by Dragons safety Mitch Plante seemed to be all that was keeping us in it.

But as the game wore on, Corriveau did something rare – he protected the ball, didn't push too hard, found RB Drake Boyette on check-downs, and kept the game close.

The longer the game was close, the more it seemed like the Dragons might be able to pull off the upset.

And when rookie FS Gerald Barnes snagged another Kris Van Pelt pass out of the air, the sold-out home crowd could smell a win!

K Alexis Galloway booted the ball through the uprights to take the lead with 4:55 left … and that was it! The Vikings couldn't put together another drive, and the Dragons leave home with a division lead-taking 23-21 victory!

(And with that victory, the Des Moines Dragons have indeed risen from "Worst to first." But can they hold that position?)

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 12: 6-4 Chiefs visit 7-3 Dragons

In a battle of division leaders, the difference was yet again the Dragon D and Corriveau avoiding the turnover.

The Dragons opened the game with three, consecutive scoring drives (what team is THIS?), including a 66-yard catch and run, as WR Louis Forbes raced around and away from defenders to the house.

After that, it was a defensive slug fest, led by ascending rookie sensation, FS Gerald Barnes. On the day, Barnes led the team with 6 tackles, defended 3 passes, and intercepted another. WR Louis Forbes finished with 6 catches on 8 targets for 113 and a score, and Corriveau played mistake-free ball, notching 19 of 23 for 265 and a score, QB rating 118.2.

This one felt really, really good. Dragons get a key victory, 19-17.

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 13: 4-7 Arizona comes to 8-3 Des Moines.

The Cardinals bring with them the 1st-round QB that Jack Ledger passed up in the most recent draft (because he wasn't from Iowa). The Dragon D, however, made him look like a joke. On the day, the rookie completed less than half his passes, only threw for 92 yards, and notched a 34.3 QB rating.

Statistically, the Dragons dominated.

Alas, WR Louis Forbes went down to injury in the first quarter, and Dragon QB Dakota Corriveau started to fall apart without his security blanket. 4 picks for Corriveau in a game that looked a lot like last year.

And even though rookie first rounders, OLB Bob Clinton and FS Gerald Barnes, both picked off their fellow rookie on the opposite side of the ball, two of Corriveau's turnovers resulted in defensive scores for the Cardinals (of 92 and 98 yards, respectively). In a fluke game we shouldn't have lost, Des Moines loses, 31-17.

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 14: 8-4 Dragons fly out to 5-7 San Diego.

On the road for the first time in weeks, with WR Louis Forbes limping most of the game, the old, offensive ineptitude reared its ugly head again. The defense, now confirmed a formidable force, did their job incredibly admirably.

But with one second left on the clock, after Corriveau had pushed the Dragons into field goal range, Des Moines' young kicker, Alexis Galloway, MISSED the game winner.

In overtime, the defenses ruled again, as each team had three possessions. In the end, however, San Diego's kicker proved the more accurate, and the Chargers hit the game winner. Des Moines drops another one we shouldn't have with this 16-13 loss.

Worse yet, we lost a pair of key starters, likely for the rest of the year in TE Kelvin Satterfield and rookie OLB Bob Clinton.

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 15: 8-5 Dragons limp into 7-6 Minnesota

Hoping to hang on to a slim division lead, the Dragons (who have been mostly healthy all season) suddenly find themselves injury prone at the worst time of the year, heading into the most important game of the regular season.

The perfect time to play a perfect game.

With so many pieces missing around him, defensive captain MLB Dale Griffin made this his game to shine. Griffin was an absolute animal, leading the team in tackles, slicing through the holes for 2.5 sacks, and holding the Vikings to only ONE first down on the ground.

This put the game on the Viking QB's shoulders and allowed the Dragon pass rush to pin back its ears – to the tune of SEVEN sacks. Under pressure, the Vike QB faltered, allowing Nickel CB Calvin Minnig to snag a pick, and when rookie CB Lee Ross racked up a pick-6 in the 3rd quarter, the Vikes were on the ropes.

Meanwhile, Dragon QB Dakota Corriveau played mistake-free ball and found unlikely targets RB2 Cooper Saucedo and the rookie FB Dwight Stanton for scores.

In a battle of field position, however, we can't forget the Dragons' all-league punter, Rick Clark, who pinned 4 of 7 inside the 20, including a 71-yard bomb of a kick and a 54.4 average on his punts. The Vikings just got buried in this Dragon statement win, 24-8.

And with that victory, having swept the Vikings on the season, the Dragons have guaranteed an NFC North championship and playoff appearance! WORST TO FIRST, baby!

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 16: 8-6 Broncos visit 9-5 Dragons

Another clash of division leaders, as the Broncos have leapfrogged the Chiefs.

Denver, however, had no answer for the Dragon D. The Broncos managed a mere 192 yards total, and when facing a punter kicking out his freaking mind (7 punts, 3 inside the 20, a 56.7 average, with a long of 67), Denver was up a creek without a paddle.

The Dragons didn't have much of a paddle, either, but they still walked away with a win, 9-7.

10-5? Leading the division with one game to go? Can you FEEL the excitement?

[revrew]

Season 5, Week 17: 3-12 Bears come to 10-5 Des Moines

With a potential bye on the line and a chance to run the table in the NFC North (but a slough of banged up players), Des Moines hosted the lowly Bears.

And again, it was the defense that came up big. 6 sacks and a pair of turnovers plagued the Bears, while the Dragons …

… stunk.

Yet, still – Dakota Corriveau played safe, nearly flawless football. The young QB completed 18 of 20 passes for a pedestrian, yet effective, 189 yards and a score, even enduring a broken nose in the process and still persisting. In the end, it was enough, as Des Moines wins, 13-7.

[revrew]

Worst to first!
Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register

There were whispers in training camp. I didn't really believe them. At the halfway point of the season, I warned my readers not to buy in too quickly. And all along … I was wrong.

Worst to first!

At this time last year, Des Moines Dragons fans were staring at a 4-12 record, the second straight losing campaign in which the beloved Iowa boys were among the worst few teams in football. We were grumbling about a young quarterback who threw more interceptions than touchdowns. We hinted that perhaps Dragon Coach O'Dea had misplaced his trust in the young gun and that the Dragons might be better served with a different coach.

Oh, how different that all looks in light of THIS season. From last place in the division, to sitting atop our rivals with an 11-5 record and a playoff game to come, the Dragons are suddenly the golden boys of Des Moines again!

And you questioned the Coach! Tsk, tsk.

You doubted the quarterback? Have patience, football fans!

To be honest, Dragon QB Dakota Corriveau still isn't lighting it up, still isn't among the true game-winners of the NFL, but the resurrection of the Dragon D means he doesn't have to be.

In fact, little known or realized is that Corriveau ranks 6th in the NFL in completion percentage, while the Dragon D ranks No. 3 in completion percentage against. In today's passing league, that means we're winning games.

And with six defensive players (DEs Reese and Heuring, LBs Griffin and Clinton, and Safeties Plante and Barnes) playing at Pro-Bowl levels, the Dragons are #2 in the NFL in rushing the passer, #2 in stopping teams on 3rd down, and #3 in points scored against. THAT's winning.

Now the Dragons have done the improbable – risen from two years in the dumps to the top of the heap in the NFC North.

Congratulations, guys! We knew you had it in you!

(OK, we doubted at times. We grumbled and whined a bit. But …) Let us fans and pundits be doubters no longer! Our Dragons are legit. They're young. They're hungry. And who knows how much better they could soon become?

[revrew]

Season 5: 2029 Wildcard Round – 10-6 Seattle travels to 11-5 Des Moines

Seattle brings a high-flying, often-flying passing attack, led by WR Butch Long, who topped 100 catches en route to a 1400-yard, 13-TD season. Their QB, Dean Ingram, is one of the league's best, and he already has a championship ring.

They also bring in a suspect defense, which struggles across the board, and may have one of the worst linebacker corps in the league.

All in all, it should be a decent matchup for the Dragons, who specialize in rushing the passer and could really use the help of a weak defensive opponent in order to put points on the board.

And that pregame preview proved to be practically prescient.

Seattle had no answer for a young QB with a big chip on his shoulder, as Dragon QB Dakota Corriveau began the game carving up the Seahawks like we hadn't seen all season. 3 of the first 4 drives went for touchdowns, both to WR Myles Kinney, who had the best day of his career, 11 of 15 for 172 and a pair.

In a blink, Seattle was down 21-7, and the Seahawks took to the air.

The Dragon pass rushers, therefore, pinned their ears back and got after it. DE Elias "Beast" Reese hurried and knocked down Seattle QB Dean Ingram over and over, and DE Ricardo "ManChild" Heuring blitzed him with a pair of sacks from the opposite side. All in all, 6 sacks were recorded on the day.

Seattle came roaring back late, but Corriveau led a 6-minute, 10-play, 76-yard drive in the 4th to cool the Seahawks down. And with 3 seconds left to play, the Dragons kicked a field goal to do something they hadn't done all season, send the score to 30 points. And that kick meant the Dragons did something they've never done in their history …

… WIN a playoff game! Dragons win, 30-27!

[revrew]

Season 5: 2029 Conference Semifinal – 12-5 Dragons visit 11-5 Panthers

The Panthers look a lot like Seattle, only better. Much, much better. Carolina QB Darien Peterson leads the best passing attack in the NFL and is a leader with 4,646 yards, 40 TDs, and only 7 INTs. He doesn't cough up the ball, he never gets sacked, and Carolina is the #1 scoring offense in the league.

That said, Carolina also has far and away the worst defense.

Can the Dragons hope to stop this stellar O? Or will it turn into a shootout? And can Corriveau survive the latter?

The game started with a bang, as the Panthers completed a 41-yard pass for a TD.

But then, something happened. It's like a switch flipped. Dragon QB Dakota Corriveau started slicing and dicing. Long drive after long drive. By the end of the day, he had completed 32 of 44 for 298, a passing score, a rushing score, and NO interceptions. WR Myles Kinney had caught 14 of 17 for 148. WR Louis Forbes caught the TD. At the half, the Dragons had scored on 5 straight possessions.

On the other side of the ball … all-star QB Darien Peterson was having a good game, but the Dragon scoring onslaught put the pressure on him to score. He began to press. He pressed too hard. The QB who had only tossed 7 INTs all season gave one up to Dragon SS Mitch Plante. Then he gave up another to Dragon FS Gerald Barnes.

Still Peterson pressed. And he did score – touchdowns compared to Des Moines' field goals, and he seized the lead.

Then, with 2:19 left to play, and the Dragons down by 1 and pinned on their own 14 … Corriveau took the HECK over. Who IS this kid??? 9 plays and 84 yards later, with the clock about to expire, the Dragons lined up for the kick …

… and WON their second playoff game! Dragons win, 26-24!

[Izulde]

Corriveau = Eli Manning looking ass

[revrew]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Corriveau = Eli Manning looking ass

Heh. That's probably a good comparison.

(But he's the best we've got!)

[revrew]

The suddenly hottest ticket in town
Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register

At the beginning of the season, no one – I mean no one – could have even guessed that Joker Field would still be busy this weekend.

Even when the improbable happened and the Des Moines Dragons completed their worst-to-first rise to atop the NFC North, nobody expected Des Moines … to HOST the NFC championship game.

But when the Dragons won not only their first, but also their second ever playoff game, and when the New Orleans Saints rose from the 5th seed to knock off the 'Niners AND the Giants … all of a sudden …

We need to buy tickets! The NFC Championship Game will be in Des Moines!

[revrew]

Season 5: 2029 Conference Championship – 13-5 Dragons host the 12-6 Saints

In the Seahawks and Panthers, the Dragons faced opponents who were among the best in the league at passing and among the worst on defense. New Orleans brings a new wrinkle: One of the league's best running backs and most balanced offensive powerhouses. Yet still, the Saints boast the #31 defense. Can the Dragons really survive another shootout? Or will the Saints grind down the Dragons and not allow Corriveau enough time to dink and dunk his way to points?

Coach O'Dea's defensive strategy from the opening was both obvious … and brilliant. Facing a RB with nearly 2000 combined yards rushing and receiving, the Dragons keyed in on the all-star with not one, but two all-stars of their own. MLB Dale Griffin and SS Mitch Plante, playing relentlessly close to the line, shadowed, blitzed, and completely stuffed the Saints running game. Yes, it opened up some passing lanes, but the Saints just couldn't keep a sustained drive going with their bread and butter bottled up.

Meanwhile, Corriveau stuck to his twin wideouts, Myles Kinney and Louis Forbes, who each had 9 catches on the day, while no other player had more than 1. It proved effective, as Kinney and Forbes ran circles around the Saint secondary.

In the end, however, it was all about that D, 'bout that D. The Dragons sacked New Orleans 5 times, held one of the league's top rushing attacks to a paltry 32 yards, and forced 3 turnovers, including a pick-6 that DE Elias Reese (of all people) took back to the house.

The Saints got a late touchdown to pull it close, but in reality, it never was that close. Dragons win, 22-17!. ON TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!!

[revrew]

"The ManChild" Has Grown Up
Adam West, Sports Illustrated

He was just 20 years old, hardly more than a child when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the 7th round of the 2024 draft. But standing 6'5" and 295 pounds, Ricardo Heuring was obviously more than a boy. More than a child. He was … a MAN.

But it wasn't until the Des Moines Dragons took him with the final pick of the expansion draft that the nickname – The "ManChild" – caught on.

To this day, Heuring laughs at the moniker.

"I grew up in Harvard, Massachusetts, and I was six feet tall by my 12th birthday," Heuring recalls. "The assumption was that I would play basketball, but I just had no taste for it. I wasn't an athlete, I was a book nerd with a big appetite."

In fact, Heuring didn't play basketball in Massachusetts. Didn't play football, either. Most assumed the young wiz kid who graduated high school at age 16 would actually matriculate at Harvard University. But the overgrown Heuring had other plans.

"I loved watching things grow," Heuring recalls. "Plants, flowers, vegetables, didn't matter. I had a whole garden under sun lamps in my family's basement. Thank God the girls in my school didn't know about it – I'd have been laughed off!"

So it wasn't Harvard that captured Heuring's attention, but the Heartland. He wanted to be a farmer, a gentle giant just raising his crops and driving the tractor. So when it came time to pick a school, he chose Iowa State University.

At ISU, however, it was hard for the locals to overlook the teenager who now stood 6'5" and was chiseled without even trying. The football coach coaxed the gentle giant to come try pushing a sled around instead of a plow. And as it turns out, when you've got that much raw muscle mass, it doesn't matter how much you have or haven't played – it's an impressive sight on the gridiron.

"He didn't know a thing about football," Iowa State Coach Tom Bridges recalls about Heuring. "He was as green as the plants he was studying. But when he put a hand in the dirt and the ball was snapped, he exploded into the backfield like he had been playing all his life. He had the raw talent. It was all there. We just had to teach him the game of football."

Heuring finished his college career with an impressive harvest of sacks, but plenty of missed tackles and blown assignments as well. The tape still showed a raw powerhouse, and whether he could put it together at the pro-level was anyone's guess.

When the Des Moines Dragons took Heuring with the last pick of the expansion draft, in fact, ESPN's Todd McShay called Heuring "a seventh round rookie who likely won't even make an NFL roster."

And Heuring's first year in the Dragon green and gold revealed just how green Heuring was. Despite starting all 16 games and notching 7 sacks, he was struggling to keep up with the pro game.

"I just didn't have the moves or the experience to fight through the double teams," Heuring candidly admits. "I was stymied when I couldn't rely on overpowering my opponent."

After his third year, Heuring had only amassed 15.5 sacks, and the pundits were calling for the Dragons to desperately get some pass-rush help.

The help came in the form of a rookie, a similarly oversized young man they called "The Beast" – Elias Reese.

But rather than replace Heuring, Reese became his student. And the relationship changed them both.

"I came into the league ready to bull rush over everyone," Reese recalls. "But ManChild pulled me aside and said, 'Forget it. It doesn't work. We gotta be smarter than that.'"

With a budding superstar and eventual Defensive Rookie of the Year under his wing, Heuring applied himself to becoming a teacher. And in teaching, he learned. The ManChild was growing up.

The first year Heuring and Reese were paired, Heuring recorded 13.5 sacks and 16 hurries, by far his best season, college or pro. He earned his first ProBowl and 2nd team All-Pro for his efforts. In the dynamic pass-rushing duo's second year, Heuring did even better, with 14.5 sacks and 20 hurries.

In a few days, the Des Moines Dragons are going to play in their first Super Bowl, in large part because of the student and his teacher, the twin towers of power on the Dragon defensive line.

For Heuring, it's hard to believe he's come so far – from non-scholarship player, to dead last pick in an expansion draft, to playing for the Lombardi. And he's still just 25 years old.

"Yeah, I don't know how long the name 'ManChild' is going to stick," Heuring said. "But when you're as big and as young as I am, I suppose you can't complain.

"Maybe when I turn 30," he says. "Maybe by then, they can call me just … 'The Man.'"

[revrew]

Scouting report for the 2029 Super Bowl

The AFC Champion Baltimore Ravens feature the unquestioned best back in the league. RB Freddie Osborne has averaged 1500 yards and nearly 5ypc in each of his 5 seasons. He's had multiple 100-catch seasons and has nearly hit 1,000 yards receiving multiple times. He's the star of the AFC, a multiple-time All-Pro in the prime of his career, seeking his first championship trophy.

On defense, the Ravens aren't as weak as the Saints or the Panthers before them in the Dragons' improbable run to the NFC Championship, led by sack-monster Shaun Stobierski, who has never posted fewer than 10 sacks in any of his 9 seasons. The Ravens are susceptible to the big play, however, especially with a whole hospital ward of injured safeties on their roster.

One of the big questions is how well Dragon WR Louis Forbes will be able to play. He and WR Myles Kinney have been both security blankets and big play outlets for young QB Dakota Corriveau, helping to keep their signal caller out of the INT category. But Forbes is dinged up, and the Dragons in general are in a world of hurt.

In fact, the Dragons are missing star TE Kelvin Satterfield, their slot receiver Robbie Thompson, both of their left tackles, and both of their promising rookies on defense. This NFC Champion Dragon team is nearly identical to the squad that went 4-12 last season, save for rookie phenoms SLB Bob Clinton and FS Gerald Barnes. But both Clinton and Barnes will be on the sideline for the Super Bowl.

Net result: There's not a pundit in the country who is picking the limping Dragons to top the Ravens. The Dragons are just missing too many pieces. Las Vegas has Baltimore at the 6.5-point favorite, a hefty spread for any Super Bowl.

[revrew]

SUPERBOWL – (13-5) Baltimore Ravens v. (13-5) Des Moines Dragons

The game opened exactly as all Dragon fans feared. 12 plays, 80 yards, and Baltimore's Freddie Osborne plowed in from 2 yards out for the opening lead.

But don't count out these Dragons, not this year's Dragons – not for a second. QB Dakota Corriveau answered with a 9 play, 75-yard drive of his own, capping it off with a TD pass to the gimpy, but reliable WR Louis Forbes. The receiver would finish the day with 13 catches on 16 targets for 118 yards. The quarterback throwing him the ball would finish with 277 yards passing and a QB rating of 101.8.

In the second quarter, Freddie Osborne continued to pick away at the Dragons and pushed Baltimore into field goal range. But on the ensuing kickoff, Dragon WR Myles Kinney took the kick 94 yards back to the house! Dragons up, 13-10! Seven minutes later, Kinney caught a TD pass, and the Dragons were shocking everyone, up 20-10!

The second half, however, opened with the worst possible play, as Corriveau tossed a pick-6, allowing Baltimore right back into it.

A punt. A fumble. A punt. The teams trade turnovers, but in the 4th quarter, trailing 23-20, Baltimore mounted one more drive. Freddie Osborne continued to wear down the Dragons, both by land and by air, and the drive kept going, and going, and with only 3:19 left on the clock, Osborne punched in another TD to take the lead, 27-23.

In the end, despite fantastic games from Corriveau (save for the pick 6), Louis Forbes, Myles Kinney, Mitch Plante, and Dale Griffin, the Dragons just couldn't stop the SuperBowl MVP Freddie Osborne when it counted most.

A great game, Dragon fans. Great game. Alas, you'll have to content yourselves with NFC champs as the Dragons lose, 27-23.

[revrew]

Season 5 Statistical Season Recap
*Previous season in parentheses

Team Passing: 18th (20)
Team Rushing: 23rd (30)
Total O: 24th (24)
Team Scoring: 20th (29)
Team Pass D: 11th (17)
Team Rushing D: 11th (27)
Total D: 8th (16)
Team Scoring D: 3rd (19)
Turnover margin: 15th (31)

Individual top performances:

Passing: Dakota Corriveau, 64.2%, 3688 yards, 15TDs, 14INTs, 83.1 rtg
Rushing: Drake Boyette, 644 yds, 3.17 ave, 6 TDs
Receiving: Miles Kinney, 1005 yds, 4 TD, 5 drops
Tackles: MLB Dale Griffin, 109 tackles
Sacks: DE Ricardo Heuring, 14.5 sacks, 20 hurries; Elias Reese, 13.5 sacks, 29 hurries
PassD: SS Mitch Plante, 5 INTs, 9 Pdef, 82.3 PDPct; rookie FS Gerald Barnes, 4 INTs, 13 Pdef, 85.0 PDPct
Punting: Rick Clark, #1 in NFL punting average, #5 in net average

**SS Mitch Plante, All-Pro, 1st team; DE Elias Reese, All-Pro, 2nd team; MLB Dale Griffin, All-Pro, 2nd team

Team profit: $48.7 M (24.5 M)
Attendance: 99.5% (99.3)

[revrew]

BEGIN SEASON 6

Retirements:
CB Ashton Dodge, part of the Dragons' stellar early secondary, retired as the #3 INT man in Dragon history.

Free Agency recap

Extensions of note:
LT Roman Glover 49/49 (27yo)
WR Myles Kinney 59/59 (30yo)
DE3 Julian Sisson 40/40 (27yo)

New signings:
None

[revrew]

ESPN Draft Profile: Des Moines Dragons

Not since their first season have the Des Moines Dragons garnered so much attention leading up to the NFL rookie draft. In fact, what the Dragons are going to do seems to be all anyone can talk about!

Quarterbacks are always at a premium, so it's no surprise that the draft's indisputably best QB prospect sits atop every sports guru's mock draft. But that quarterback … just happens to be Grayson Shello. Of the University of Iowa.

If there was ever a draft prospect the Dragons were drooling over, it's gotta be Grayson, right? And the Dragons' current QB is only one season away from being derided in some circles as the worst QB in the league. A natural fit, right?

But after their surprise run to the Super Bowl last season, Dragon QB Dakota Corriveau has staked his claim as the team's signal caller. He's immensely popular in Iowa. Does Dragon GM Jack Ledger really ditch the QB who took his team to the title game in favor of the hottest prospect to come out of Iowa since Nile Kinnick?

And even though few oeople question Grayson Shello is the better QB prospect, there's two big hurdles to clear. First, the Dragons possess the 31st pick in the draft. Moving up to #1 overall would be a herculean lift for Ledger. Second, that first pick just happens to be held by … the division rival Chicago Bears, who desperately need a QB of their own, with only a 6th round rookie on their own roster.

There's no way Chicago wants to give up Shello. But there's no way Ledger can let an Iowa Heisman-quality QB slip off to his rival … can he?

That said, let's take a look at who everyone in the NFL knows the Dragons have their eyes on - the talent from Iowa - and where said players are currently project to be drafted:

1st Round:
QB Grayson Shello of Iowa will go #1 overall ... to someone. Rarely has there been such a clear choice. Shello is smart, shows impeccable timing, and is comfortable throwing the ball to every route on the tree. Finished second in the Heisman voting behind Maryland running back Dwight Knechtel. Shello's a tad small for a pocket passer at 6'1", but he is a field general par excellence and holds every passing record in the Hawkeye record book.

2nd Round:
WLB Alec Green went to Ol' Miss, but graduated from a Waterloo, Iowa, high school. Green showed very well at the combine and has scouts scrambling to reexamine the tape. He's a gamble, being both a fast riser as draft day approaches and a player who could be more of a workout wonder.

Middle Rounders
RB Douglas Flagg of Iowa State is a smaller back with both elusiveness and speed. He showed good patience and vision, and while he won't overpower tacklers, may be an effective runner at the next level.
QB Julian Price sat in Grayson Shello's shadow at Iowa and has little game experience, but he has a cannon for an arm and looks the part. He's green, but he should be worth developing as a backup.
QB Scottie Coffman led Drake University in Des Moines with a sharp, West Coast timing game. He's only 5'10", but his tape shows a better QB than many taller prospects higher on many peoples' boards.
QB Frank Bondy of Iowa State is a very smart, polished passer with great pocket presence, but he lacks the arm strength to be a top prospect.

Late
RB Jermaine Bankston Iowa State
MLB Wes Price, Iowa
FS Tre Woodcock, Iowa

Sleeper:
WR Isaac Kinney of Iowa State dashed a 4.47 40 at the combine and was a reliable target for QB Frank Bondy. His tape, however, doesn't show that speed leading to many big plays.
DT Ty Wynn Iowa
CB Tyree Redd Iowa State
FB Manuel Foreman Iowa State

[revrew]

Draft Day: Dragons GM Jack Ledger holds first ever press conference

The Des Moines Dragons were already the talk of the draft, but their reclusive general manager dropped a complete bombshell of a news story on draft day by announcing a press conference. Dragon GM Jack Ledger had never previously held a press conference, in fact, had rarely been seen by the press since taking over the Dragons four years ago.

Every reporter in the room and every sports pundit watching on a monitor had theories about what the Dragons would do about the Bears holding the No. 1 overall draft pick and thus, the expected rights to Iowa superstar quarterback Grayson Shello. Some predicted Ledger would stick with the incredibly popular QB Dakota Corriveau, who had just led the Dragons to the NFC championship. Others were certain Ledger would pull off the trade of the century to jump up and grab Shello.

When Ledger stepped to the microphone with Head Coach Kevin O'Dea behind him, the collective power of flashbulbs popping nearly gave the pale Ledger an instant sun burn.

LEDGER: Ladies and gentlemen of the press, thank you for attending. I know you've been – ah, buzzing – like bees, like busy, busy bees, about the future of the quarterback position in Des Moines.

I appreciate all the free publicity. (Laughter from the press)

But today, I'm going to make myself very, very clear. We have done our due diligence. We have reviewed Corriveau's performance. We have studied Grayson Shello. We have looked at what it would take to extend Corriveau's contract and how that compares to what it would take to trade for Shello.

So, yes, to confirm the rumors, we have contacted the Chicago Bears about making a deal. (Stirring from the press).

That's not because we lack confidence in Corriveau. He's a hero in Des Moines. But before we made a decision, we needed to know what it would cost, you see, what it would cost to keep him, and what it would cost to trade for a successor.

And in the end, the answer was remarkably easy. When we asked the Bears what it would take to pry Shello from their clutches, their response was basic-ally, "Over my dead body."

And since we don't plan to start an actual war with Chicago … (nervous laughter from the press)

It's simple. The cost compared to the benefit was just too high.

We believe Dakota Corriveau can and will lead us to a Super Bowl victory, and we're not willing to actually murder someone in Chicago for the chance that Shello can do it better.

So we will, as they say, "dance with the one who brung ya." I look forward to negotiating a contract extension with Corriveau's agent, and, since we can't actually murder Chicago, we look forward to simply beating them as often and as brutally as possible.

Thank you.

And with that, the Clown Prince of Social Media stepped away from the podium, off the dais, and allowed his head coach to answer any remaining questions.

[revrew]

Season 6, Draft day:

After all the build up, after all the drama, after all eyes were on Des Moines … the draft for the Dragons was a complete fizzle. Iowa QB Grayson Shello did, indeed, go #1 overall – to Chicago.

And with no other 1st round Iowa players on the board at 1.31, NFL Commissioner James Gordon stepped forward and announced a trade:

The Des Moines Dragons traded the 1.31 to the Jets for

CB Warren Sims (28/50, 2nd year), University of Iowa
The 4.21
And next year's 3rd

Draft pundits largely panned the trade, suggesting Des Moines could have gotten much more for the 1.31, if they weren't beholden to drafting players out of Iowa alone.

Later in the draft, the Dragons selected:

3.31 RB Douglass Flagg, Iowa State (28/47) - A smaller back with both elusiveness and speed. He showed good patience and vision, but he won't overpower tacklers. Have the Dragons finally found a playmaker at the RB position?

4.21 (from Jets) QB Julian Price, Iowa (11/54) – Grayson Shello's backup at Iowa is largely an unknown. But he has a cannon for an arm, was highly recruited, and very much looked the part at Iowa's pro-day. A big question mark.

4.31 QB Scottie Coffman, Drake (12/34) – The second QB taken by the Dragons in the same round, Coffman is a short of stature and short-pass specialist. He might be a fit in a West Coast offense.

6.31 WR Isaac Kinney, Iowa State (19/33) – He's fast enough, having clocked a 4.47 40 at the combine. But there's little on game tape to suggest he'll rise up the depth chart.

7.31 DT Ty Wynn, Iowa (7/12) – A big body, but is he talented enough to more?

[revrew]

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

Training camp for the Des Moines Dragons has come to a close, the NFL preseason is about to begin, and it's time for a look back at what we've learned about the all-Iowa roster.

Training camp highlights
I remember some pundits complaining when the Dragons took FS Gerald Barnes in the first round last season, arguing the team had bigger needs. This training camp, only Barnes' 2nd in the NFL, may have completely silenced those critics. Barnes may well be the best safety in the league now, and coupled with SS Mitch Plante, there's no question the Dragons have the best safety tandem in the NFL. Who knows, but if Barnes had been healthy and suited up for the Super Bowl, if the outcome may have been different?

Undrafted rookie MLB Wes Price out of Iowa has become a fan favorite, and with good effort and a good head on his shoulders, he looks to make the team, at least as a special teamer.

Speaking of rookies, QB Julian Price of Iowa is outpacing Drake grad Scottie Coffman in the battle of fourth round signal-callers.

Meanwhile, another QB, Dakota Corriveau, is leaps and bounds ahead of the rookies, showing a good grasp of the playbook. This should be an important campaign for him, as he has a natural rival in Chicago who was just drafted #1 overall.

Training camp question marks
The Dragons took Iowa State RB Douglas Flagg in the third round, hoping he could bring fresh legs to a tired backfield. So far, the results haven't been particularly promising.

The bigger question mark, however, may be at CB. The whispers are long-time vet Mitch Wells is slowing, and while the newcomer via trade, Warren Sims, is looking to lock down one starting spot, there will be a battle for the second.

Projections
The Dragons got older, and this past draft did almost nothing to improve the team. Chicago, meanwhile, hauled in top picks in each round, and while every team in the NFL hopes itself improved in the off-season, Des Moines remained largely stagnant. It's not likely the Dragons will achieve back-to-back NFC North titles.

[JustinSmith94]

Just read all of this in one sitting, really enjoying it

[revrew]

Originally Posted by JustinSmith94

Just read all of this in one sitting, really enjoying it

Thanks! That's quite the commitment to read it all in one sitting. I'm humbled by that.

On a personal note, I can't tell you how surprised I was that the Dragons made the SuperBowl ... or how disappointed I was that they lost. With these restrictive house rules, it's hard to put together an elite squad that's solid top to bottom. We're bound to have holes (like running back) in one place or another.

And making the Bowl meant there was no way to get Shello, the best Iowa prospect to come down the line in this franchise. Brutal Catch-22 there. It's not often I get a crack at that kind of elite talent.

But for better or worse (and I already know there will be some of both), we forge ahead!

[revrew]

Season 6, PRESEASON

Game 1: QB Dakota Corriveau looked good in limited action, and so did the Dragon pass rush, but the offensive backups were far from inspiring in a 16-13 loss to Cincinnati.

Game 2: QB2 Julian Price played well, but struggled with pocket presence, taking 5 sacks. K Alexis Galloway booted 5 FGs in a 22-21 victory in Houston.

Game 3: Efficient, but unspectacular play from both QBs and an 11-tackle day from MLB Dale Griffin kept the score low in a 16-6 win at home vs. Baltimore.

Game 4: The scrubs played like crap … except for RB Jimmy Perot … in a garbage game that rested almost all our starters. In a backfield of scraps and maybes, Perot's performance has moved him up the depth chart. Still, this was a 24-9 loss in Jacksonville.

[JustinSmith94]

I just recently discovered the game and am having a difficult enough time without any sort of restrictions so I can only imagine how challenging limiting yourself to Iowa would be. Here's hoping Iowa decides to start producing some more playmakers sometime soon

[revrew]

Originally Posted by JustinSmith94

I just recently discovered the game and am having a difficult enough time without any sort of restrictions so I can only imagine how challenging limiting yourself to Iowa would be. Here's hoping Iowa decides to start producing some more playmakers sometime soon

Welcome to the FOF family! There's no way I would have tried this without having thoroughly mastered the game first. I've been playing for going on two decades now, so the basics I have down, especially on the slightly older version that I am playing with in this dynasty.

Without any sort of house rules, playing just against the AI, I've discovered I can turn around a franchise from futility to SuperBowl contender in about 2 seasons. Within 5 seasons, I can typically get a team to the point where it's in the SuperBowl roughly 50% of the time. So playing MP, or playing with house rules like this make it a brand new, fresh challenge all over again.

But I'll confess, this set of house rules is killer. (How much easier if I had chosen Texas or California!). I'm not sure whether I can or can't win a SuperBowl with these few Iowans. We shall see!

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 1: Minnesota comes to Des Moines

The first game of the season features the two squads most likely to vie for the NFC North crown. And it was clearly a battle of the heavyweights, a back-and-forth battle that began with the better QB, Minnesota's Kris Van Pelt, tossing a TD pass for a 7-0 lead.

But then, the Dragon D woke up, and Des Moines' QB Dakota Corriveau began to pick apart the Vikes. The dynamic pass rush duo of Elias "Beast" Reese and Ricardo "ManChild" Heuring picked up a pair of sacks each, and the Dragon safety squad – SS Mitch Plante and FS Gerald Barnes – clamped down hard on the running game.

Back and forth the game raged, but Van Pelt, unfortunately, got the ball last. Des Moines just doesn't have the running game to hold on to a lead. The Dragon rookie, Douglas Flagg, looked dismal in his debut. Van Pelt drove the Vikes into field goal range, handing the Dragons what could be a foreshadowing loss, 23-24.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 2: 0-1 Des Moines travels to 1-0 Jacksonville

Once again, the Dragons will be without star TE Kelvin "Glass Jaw" Satterfield, who just can't seem to stay healthy. The good news is that WR3 Robbie Thompson returned from injury, and the coaches have been very high on the improvement he's shown in practice.

The receiver that stole the show in this contest, however, was WR Louis Forbes, who caught 13 of 14 for 146 yards.

Alas, the Dragon D just wasn't making the plays today, while the Jaguar D got a fumble return for a score, and the Dragons have come out of the gate defending their NFC title with yet another loss, 16-27.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 3: 2-0 San Francisco comes to 0-2 Des Moines

In a pair of games this season, rookie RB Douglas Flagg has been largely ineffective, despite scoring his first NFL touchdown vs. Jacksonville. In an effort to shake up a sluggish offense, Coach Kevin O'Dea decided to give RB Jimmy Perot, more of a big-play specialist, the start.

It didn't help. Neither did the run defense, which gave up over 200 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns, then lost both FS Gerald Barnes and SLB Bob Clinton (who both missed the Super Bowl to injuries as well) to broken bones.

Corriveau tossed 351 yards, including 130 to WR1 Louis Forbes and 126 to WR3 Robbie Thompson, but also tossed 4 picks. Added to 5 fumbles, and this was a shocking, blowout loss, 40-16.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 4: 0-3 Des Moines travels to 2-1 New Orleans

The Saints were the first Dragon opponent of the year to lose a game (the Dragons' first 3 opponents sat at 9-0 combined), but they weren't about to lose this one.

RB Jimmy Perot averaged negative yards rushing, QB Dakota Corriveau was sacked 5 times, and the Dragons look ready to follow up their "worst to first" season with a "first to worst," dropping another loss, 20-7.

[revrew]

First quarter report
Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register

Oh, what a cruel irony that the Dragons were good last year. Good enough last season to miss out on drafting a franchise-changing QB, but bookending that solitary, shining season with a pair of stinkers.

The bye couldn't come at a better time, as the Dragons try to figure out what to do to right the ship.

This is a team that can't run, that is struggling to stop the pass, but mostly … just can't score. What's new?

Efficient, boring play out of the passing game and a non-existent rushing attack. Sure would be nice if an Iowa college or university would produce an NFL-caliber running back …

[revrew]

Corriveau signs huge extension
Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register

Des Moines Dragon quarterback Dakota Corriveau has just used the bye week to sign a massive, 6-year extension to his contract that makes him among the top-5 paid QBs in the league. The deal means the extremely popular player will likely stay in Des Moines until 2034.

There was some question prior to the season as to whether Dragon GM Jack Ledger would resign Corriveau, especially as University of Iowa standout Grayson Shello sat atop the rookie draft board. Ledger, however, was unable to secure a trade that would bring Shello to Des Moines, so rather than losing out on Corriveau after this, his contract year, the crafty GM signed Corriveau to an extension.

Corriveau is a former fifth-round draft choice, meaning his rookie contract has no 5th-year option. This, his fourth season, was to be his final season under his rookie deal.

Corriveau has a career 21-32 record, has passed for far more interceptions than touchdowns, and his career QB rating is a paltry 72.7. Even though he led the Dragons to an NFC championship last year, his play hardly merits a high-ranking salary.

That said, Corriveau's contract carries only a shockingly low, $12 million guaranteed. The vast majority of the contract is in yearly salary dollars that don't count against the cap should the contract be voided. The cap-friendly number means that if Corriveau sticks with the team, he'll be paid handsomely, but should Corriveau fail to be Des Moines' best option in a future season, it will cost the squad little in cap space to cut or trade the veteran.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 6: 0-4 Des Moines travels to 2-2 Chicago

QB Dakota Corriveau, fresh off his big contract extension, was given the chance to prove it in dramatic fashion, by immediately taking on the rookie No. 1 overall draft pick that Des Moines GM Jack Ledger couldn't trade for, QB Grayson Shello.

Thus far this season, the two have been equally ineffective. Shello, buoyed by an outstanding rushing attack, has been far more conservative, throwing for fewer than half as many yards as Corriveau. But Corriveau, without a rushing attack at all, has also tossed twice as many INTs. Corriveau boasts a dismal 76.4 QB rating, while Shello is even worse, at 73.2.

In the game itself, both QBs looked equally pedestrian – each threw for about 200 yards a score and a pick. And while Corriveau showed better pocket presence and avoided the rush, the Dragons had no match for Chicago's running game, which outgained Des Moines by over 100 yards. Once again, no running game means no glory, as Des Moines drops the painful loss, 27-17.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 7: 3-3 Tampa comes to 0-5 Des Moines

It may not have been pretty, but it appears Dakota Corriveau is sick of losing. The veteran QB led the team in rushing with 52 yards on 9 scrambles and tossed the ball 52 times. His two picks were tough to take, but when Corriveau dove into the end zone late in the 4th quarter, capping off a 10-play drive for the winning touchdown, the INTs were forgotten.

Des Moines finally gets off the schneid with a 20-17 victory.

Season 6, Week 8: 1-5 Dragons visit 2-5 Falcons

QB Dakota Corriveau continued to press and press hard, and this time it was for 3 picks.

But he also managed to complete 10 of 11 to WR1 Louis Forbes and 7 of 13 for 103 and a score to SE Myles Kinney.

And with DE Elias "Beast" Reese sidelined by injury, DE Ricardo "ManChild" Heuring stepped it up with 2.5 sacks, including a forced and recovered fumble. The fumble led to a last gasp drive, and with time expiring, K Alexis Galloway booted through the game winner, 24-23.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 9: 7-1 Panthers visit 2-5 Dragons

FS Gerald Barnes returned from injury this week, and he did lead the team in tackles, record a forced fumble and fumble recovery, but …

Barnes was hardly the story.

How about putting up 52 points? The lowly Dragon offense put up – can you believe it? – 52 FREAKING POINTS!

The game started with a bang, as CB Calvin Minnig returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a score. In the third quarter, CB Broderick Garcia would return another 101 yards for a score.

Meanwhile, QB Dakota Corriveau merely completed 20 of 24 for a score, no picks, and ran in another from 26 yards out. A total of 4, yes 4, rushing touchdowns on the day and a pair of kickoff scores, and the Dragons gave the home town a completely unexpected, upset win, 52-23.

How does a 2-5 team whomp on a 7-1 squad like that??

In related news, the Dragons' recent success may have been spurred in part by the return of RB Drake Boyette to the lineup. Despite never averaging more than 4 yards per carry in any given season, he is averaging 5 per this season.

Alas, studly FB Dwight Stanton completely blew out his knee in this contest and will miss multiple seasons, a tough blow for the young bruiser in his second season.

[revrew]

Halfway madness in Des Moines
Dick Grayson, sports reporter, Des Moines Register

Who are the Des Moines Dragons? At this point, I wish I knew.

This is a team that lost 5 straight to start the season, then won 3 in a row, including a 52-23 stomping of a 7-1 squad.

This is a team that has long-time disappointment RB Drake Boyette enjoying the best season of his career on a team that ranks 26th in rushing.

This is a team led by a pair of monster pass rushers but ranks 27th in opponents' 3rd-down percentage.

This is a team that plays conservative, offensive football with high completion percentages … and ranks dead last in the NFL in turnover margin.

This is a team that ranks 24th in yards per catch, but WR Louis Forbes is on pace for nearly 1500 yards and double-digit scores, which would be the best season by a Dragon WR in history.

Can you make sense of any of that?

Here's what I assume: Some of what we've seen so far this season is a fluke. Whether it's the good or the bad, however, is anybody's guess.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 10: 3-5 Green Bay visits 3-5 Des Moines

And just like that, the Dragons move into second in the NFC North.

RB Drake Boyette, who was almost cut after the preseason, hit 100 yards on a 6-yard-per average. QB Dakota Corriveau threw for 300, 3 scores, no picks, and a 140.8 rating, and WR Louis Forbes racked up 147 yards on just 6 catches.

The game was close, but the Dragons are suddenly roaring with yet another victory, 27-24.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 11: 4-5 Des Moines travels to 6-3 Minnesota

The streaking Dragons were put to the test against the division-leading Vikings.

The game started off strong, with Corriveau on fire again, this time for 365 yards, 171 of which went to WR1 Louis Forbes.

But with two starting O-linemen out to injury, RB Drake Boyette could not find a hole, averaging less than a yard a carry.

The lack of a running game cost the weary Dragons in the end, as Minnesota all-star QB Kris Van Pelt threw a pair of 4th quarter TD passes to seal the Dragon loss, 38-24.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 12: 4-6 Des Moines visits 7-3 Indianapolis

The tough stretch continued in the Indy dome. Once again, Boyette failed to average a yard per carry. Without the stalwarts on the offensive line, he's struggling, and the whole team is showing it.

A predictable loss, 24-16.

Season 6, Week 13: 4-7 Dragons visit 8-3 Giants

The brutal schedule continued. QB Dakota Corriveau went down to injury. The season is over. Loss, 33-10.

Season 6, Week 14: 3-9 Texans visit 4-8 Dragons

13 Dragons on the bench with injuries. Offensive line in tatters. Still, the rookie Julian Price put up 369 yards in a valiant effort, but an inevitable loss, 34-20.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 15: 5-8 Bears visit 4-9 Dragons

This game held some drama, as a pair of rookie quarterbacks from the same college squared off against one another: Heisman Trophy winner Grayson Shello and his former backup, Julian Price, both from the University of Iowa.

And at the end of the day, it was the former backup who came out on top! Price didn’t have a particularly good day, throwing for only 216 yards and a pair of picks. But the highly touted Shello was abysmal, completing only 11 passes for 56 yards, suffering 6 sacks along the way.

Veteran Dragon CB Mitch Wells added insult to injury and sealed the 17-3 victory with a pick-6 late in the 4th.

[revrew]

Season 6, Week 16: 6-8 Titans visit 5-9 Dragons

Again, the rookie threw for 300, and again the defense roared. SS Mitch Plante racked up 2 picks, and FS Gerald Barnes snagged another to seal a 13-10 victory.

Season 6, Week 17: 6-9 Des Moines travels to 6-9 Green Bay

With second place in the NFC North on the line (for what that's worth), QB Dakota Corriveau returned to the lineup. And after a brutal, 0-5 start to the season, the Dragons salvaged a 7-9 season, as Corriveau found WR Louis Forbes for just enough, and the potentially dominating Dragon D obliterated the Pack passing attack with 3 picks (2 by safety stud Gerald Barnes and the third by fellow safety stud Mitch Plante) and EIGHT sacks.

Check out this line for DE Elias "Beast" Reese: 6 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 hurries, 8 knockdowns. Dang.

Dragons win, 16-14.

And with that, the Dragons rattle off 3 straight wins to end the miserable season that began with 5 straight losses. Does this mean a turn has been made for the better? And what's with Iowa's celebrated #1 overall draft pick (by Chicago) Grayson Shello flaming out? Could the player the Dragons almost traded the farm to get really be that bad? Was Jack Ledger right to stick with Dakota Corriveau after all?