Preseason Game 1 Notes
- A 35-23 win of the Indianapolis Colts
- Tony Pike, the team's starting quarterback, could not get a rhythm going offensively, and led the team to two field goals
- Dan LeFevour & Armon Binns established quite the rapport, connecting on 4 passes for 93 yards and one touchdown. LeFevour also found DeAndre Brown for a score
- Jordan Todman looked sharp with 80 yards on 15 carries, although Larry Johnson & LenDale White are ahead of him on the depth chart
- Jamarcus Russell got the most playing time at Quarterback, but spent a lot of his time handing the ball off to Jordan Todman
- Abdul Hodge and Chimdi Chekwa both had interceptions
- Terrell Owens was held receptionless, but had a 32 yard rush on a WR Reverse
- Derrick Williams scored on his only reception, a 46 yard touchdown catch from Jamarcus Russell
The team could be looking for a quarterback depending the team's QB performance this week
LA got out to a great start, up 38-14 at halftime in preseason game number 2, against the Tennessee Titans. Things of note:
- Armon Binns was significantly quieter in this game
- Mardy Gilyard had three touchdown catches
- Tony Pike looked a lot better in this game
- Pat Devlin & Ryan Perrilloux made their debuts. Devlin looked sharp, Perrilloux looked rusty, completing only one pass
- Dan LeFevour was a lot worse in this game, getting sacked four times
- Jamarcus Russell did not see any action
- Bruce Johnson & Sherrick McManis returned picks for touchdowns
- The Defense had four interceptions, Landon Johnson came up a yard short on scoring off of his, and Donovan Warren had a minimal return
- Larry Johnson and LenDale White looked like starting backs in their handful of carries each, Jordan Todman looked like a rookie again, fumbling a punt return as well.
The team signed Free Agent Quarterback Matt Leinart, giving the team a total of 6 on the current roster. Coach Jeff Fisher said that at least one quarterback will be let go after the third game, and that not one was safe. The team was also talking to the agents of Troy Smith and Donovan McNabb.
The Demons take on the 2-0 Chiefs in Kansas City during Week 3 of the preseason.
Los Angeles GM Brad Childress got himself an idea from Mark Cuban (taking a hint from his NBA days): Sign. And Trade.
With several deserving Free Agents out on the market, Childress decided to sign some of them, and proceed to get value out of them by trading them elsewhere. He had a small idea in his head, and big results in his sights. A busy week all around for the team's front office.
The first trade went down Sunday morning: A 2012 second round pick to the Houston Texas for Rookie LOLB Brooks Reed. LA fans seemed excited, boy were they in for a huge surprise. That afternoon the team signed RB Clinton Portis, whom the Kansas City Chiefs were apparently in on. LA caught wind of this, and scooped him up. LA fans were confused: another aging running back? With Larry Johnson on the roster, and LenDale White right behind him, the move seemed puzzling. But just hours later the Demons had flipped him for WR Jonathan Baldwin (a 2011 first round pick) and 3rd and 4th rounders in 2013.
But the puzzling (but seemingly brilliant) moves didn't stop there: Los Angeles signed wide receivers Brandon Gibson & Mike Sims-Walker. So, trade for a young wideout, then sign two more rather young players at the same position. Surely, Trindon Holliday, Greg Salas, or DeAdnre Brown were about to get cut right? Wrong. Gibson and Sims-Walker were dealt to Cincinnati for CB Adam (nee Pacman) Jones, Rookie RG Clint Boling, and a 2013 2nd round pick.
Good moves all around, get a young WR to build around and improve the O-Line & secondary.
And then.
The Big One.
As it turns out, Baldwin wasn't really in the teams plans at all, they wanted something more....exciting? They sure got what they were looking for. They signed DE Antwan Odom, packaged him with Baldwin & a 2013 3rd round pick and sent him to Dallas for 2012 3rd round pick.....and Dez. Bryant.
teaming Bryant up with Owens should do wonders for the team's passing game, whether it be Leinart or Pike, or anyone else under center.
**NOTE**
The game froze shortly after this, and I don't remember where my last saving point was, so hopefully if these trades aren't still in there, I can make them happen again. (crosses fingers)
After some signings and cuts here's the Los Angeles Demons Opening Weekend Roster.
Los Angeles Demons
#
OFFENSE
POS
AGE
HT
WT
COLLEGE
2
Terrelle Pryor
QB
Ohio State
7
Matt Leinart
QB
USC
10
DeAndre Brown
WR
Southern Miss
11
Mardy Gilyard
WR
Cincinnati
15
Tony Pike
QB
Cincinnati
20
Mikel Leshoure
RB
Illinois
23
Larry Johnson
RB
Penn State
24
Montell Owens
FB
Maine
38
John Clay
RB
Wisconsin
40
Jordan Todman
RB
Connecticut
44
Weslye Saunders
TE
South Carolina
61
Kris O'Dowd
C
USC
62
Brandyn Dombrowski
T
San Diego State
63
Clint Boling
G
Georgia
65
Manny Ramirez
C
Texas Tech
67
Daniel Kilgore
G
Appalachian State
69
Trevor Canfield
G
Cincinnati
71
Chris Scott
T
Tennessee
72
Mario Henderson
T
Florida State
73
Adrian Jones
G
Kansas
75
J'Marcus Webb
T
West Texas A&M
80
Armon Binns
WR
Cincinnati
81
Terrell Owens
WR
Tennesee-Chattanooga
82
Lance Kendricks
TE
Wisconsin
85
Derrick Williams
WR
Penn State
87
Greg Salas
WR
Hawai'i
88
Dez Bryant
WR
Oklahoma State
89
Chase Coffman
TE
Missouri
#
DEFENSE
POS
AGE
HT
WT
COLLEGE
21
Donovan Warren
FS
Michigan
25
Walter McFadden
CB
Auburn
26
Adam Jones
CB
West Virginia
27
Randy Phillips
FS
Miami (FL)
29
Bruce Johnson
CB
Miami (FL)
31
Roy Williams
SS
Oklahoma
32
Perrish Cox
CB
Oklahoma State
33
DeNorris Searcy
SS
North Carolina
35
Chimdi Chekwa
CB
Ohio State
50
Lofa Tatupu
LB
USC
52
Larry English
LB
Northern Illinois
56
Abdul Hodge
LB
Virginia
58
Landon Johnson
LB
Purdue
59
Dannell Ellerbe
LB
Georgia
74
Kyle Love
DT
Mississippi State
79
Greg Romeus
DE
Pittsburgh
91
George Selvie
DE
South Florida
92
Brian Price
DT
UCLA
93
Jeremy Jarmon
DE
Kentucky
94
Robert Quinn
DE
North Carolina
95
Brooks Reed
LB
Arizona
96
Marvin Austin
DT
North Carolina
97
Brandon Graham
DE
Michigan
98
Lawrence Wilson
LB
Connecticut
99
Stephen Paea
DT
Oregon State
#
SPECIAL TEAMS
POS
AGE
HT
WT
COLLEGE
5
Garrett Hartley
K
Oklahoma
6
Matt Dodge
P
after Week 3 there a bunch of high quality guys available in the Free Agent Pool: Mike Leshoure, Marvin Austin Stephen Paea, Kyle Love, Brian Price, Garrett Hartley, DaNorris Searcy, Dannell Ellerbe, Lawrence Wilson & Chase Coffman.
Before Week 1 began I signed the following: Terrelle Pryor, Brandon Graham & Larry English (these three took the roster spots of Jamarcus Russell, Vernon Gholston & Dontay Moch, respectively).
ill be following on one condition... get john clay a lot of touches! ..... jking ill be following anyways, but it would be nice to see how good clay can be...
ill be following on one condition... get john clay a lot of touches! ..... jking ill be following anyways, but it would be nice to see how good clay can be...
Clay's a formation sub in three formations I think, one of which I run screen plays out of, so we'll see what happens. I also might put him as my goal line FB.
ok. he was a great power back for us in wisconsin so hopefully it carries over to the nfl. His first carry was two weeks ago and was a touchdown so all of the wisconsin fans were happy about that. Usually wisconsin has great running backs so if u need one look for one out of wisconsin lol!
It was the first NFL regular season game in Los Angeles since 1994.
It was a big day for everyone involved.
It was a big day for Dez Bryant.
It was a disappointing day for fans.
As the Demons took the field, none looked prouder than Mark Cuban, who spent the entire game on the sidelines, watching "his baby" closely. Matt Leinart had weapons, Terrell Owens & Dez Bryant that were as hyped as his USC offense. Perhaps they could have used Reggie Bush. The ground game featured a whos who of young running backs and perhaps a well-past-his-prime Larry Johnson, who mustered up only 41 yards, while Mikel Leshoure was second on the team with 28 yards. Montell Owens had the team's only rushing touchdown, a 1 yard scamper.
In a much hyped return to the Golden State, TO held his own, with 6 receptions for 91 yards, while Dez Bryant stole the show, collecting 11 catches for 194 yards and three TD tosses from Matt Leinart (the only other touchdowns for the Demons on the day). Leinart added one interception to his 3 TD passes. All in all, a valiant effort, but perhaps the team was too hyped, especially with such a young defense, inexperienced offensive line, and young backfield, as they lost 38-31 to the Philadelphia Eagles.