2010 Bristol Bay Vipers Preview
Quarterbacks : Jay Randolph returns as starter. Randolph is more seasoned than his rookie season where he won the Rookie of the Year and threw for over 4000 Yards. All his targets from last year return, but for HB Tony Goosen, who was traded for a highly talented rookie HB J.T. McKenzie. Randolph should help elevate his team to at least 6 or 7 wins. 2nd year QB Christian Burns and Rookie Jake Brown are decent back ups at best and will get most of the playing time in Preseason. Burns has the inside track for 2nd string, but if Brown plays good during preseason he could take that from him.
Runningbacks : With the trade to bitter rival Cleveland, that sent Tony Goosen one of the best players on Bristol Bay last year. In return Bristol Bay gets a talented HB in J.T. McKenzie who adds better playmaking ability and break away speed that Goosen didnt have. It should help take some pressure off of Randolph and the passing game. McKenzie is also a threat out of the backfield, He also has above average catching and can pass block somewhat. The Vipers also drafted one of the best blocking HB in draft with Tyrone Smith out of LSU, a late round pick. Tyrone Smith will get a shot at winning the 3rd back spot from McKenzie during Preseason.
Fullback : Also in that trade to Cleveland, The Vipers traded away their starting FB and free-agent signing Jacob Hester, in favor of 6th round draft pick Isaiah Health because Health has better skills out of the backfield then Hester but doesnt block as well. We will have to see how this plays out.
Wide Receivers : Everyone returns. Everybody is more seasoned and has a better understanding of the system. Travontae Edwards is coming off a 1000 yard season and 10 touchdown season, and will be Randolphs go to receiver when times get tough. Darrin Easley and Ronyell Patterson will fight for the other starting job during preseason. Patterson will be given a shot because he had a much better season then Easley did, but Easley is still the favored going into preseason.
Tightends : Lionel Curtis will be the starter and he also led the team in receptions with 70, just beating out Edwards be one. Curtis has one year remaining on his contract, so expect him to step up his play this season in hopes of getting a big pay out. Robbie Branch and Nico Little with compete for 2nd string during preseason with Little having the edge due to better blocking skills.
Tackles : All 4 tackles are returning, but this Bernard Tatum and London Reeves will have to fight to keep their starting job due to a very poor season, and off-season. Tatum went down in overall and Reeves stayed the same. Anthony Oldham and Colby Law both had a great off-season, going up in overall and will be given a shot to dethrone Tatum and Reeves as starters in Preseason. All 4 tackles will get equal time with the 1st team offense.
Guards : Spoon Quinn will automatically start, seeing how he is the best O-Lineman we have and is still only 23 years old. Travis Herman will start due to the last of competition but had a crappy off-season. Rookie Anthony Taylor will sit a year and next year will try to take Hermans spot.
Centers : Junior Crawford will start but Rookie Glenn Woods will be right behind him. If Crawford goes into a funk, The Vipers will not think twice about throwing Woods into the starting job. Woods was a steal in the draft and the O-Line coachs love him. Woods has better blocking but lacks the awareness and strength needed.
Defensive Line - With The Vipers letting Ray Edwards go during the off-season the defensive line looked bad, but The Vipers made a blockbuster trade to get back into the 1st round and selected Defensive Tackle Darron Tucker, who will start from day 1. Tucker is big guy who is good at stuffing the run. Ronald Santiago and Robbie Hitchcock will start at ends, and they have no one behind him worth talking about. It Hitchcock or Santiago goes down for any period of time, The Vipers will be kicking themselves for letting Edwards walk.
Linebackers : The Vipers added Youdlain Brown in draft who will take the over at MLB for Cornell Pattison who played little last year. Clint Stagg and Marco Swain will be the OLB. Clint Stagg played in 6 games last year but didn't make any impact but the Coaches are praying that a year of learning his job will help him. Marco Swain was a starter last year and showed that he can make some big plays.
Cornerbacks : With the free agent signing of Fabian Washington,witch is an instant upgrade. Washington adds much needed speed and the playmaking skills which is what they sorely need last year. Gene Simons returns but gets knocked down to the number 2 cornerback and may get replaced by Marcus Parkes during Preseason or during the regular season. Parkes is a upcoming star for this team, Parkes was forced to start last year and made little impact but with a season under his belt, he is looking to shine.
Safetys : Drafting Patrick Hunter with the 2nd overall pick, was what this team needed. Hunter is a playmaking, ball hawking safety who likes to roam. Hunter also adds speed and the ability to help in run defense. The team also drafted Ben Cross who will compete with D'Wayne McGwire for the starting FS job. Cross adds what McGwire cant, speed and the ability to cover tight ends.
Preseason Recap Next
06-11-2010, 04:18 PM
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