Re: Return to Glory: Coach Hat Isback's Diary (HC 09)
The preseason is now in the books and what a good one it was. After beating the Raiders 37-3 I really had some difficult decisions going into this next game. Five people had to be cut and after evaluating the roster I decided to let go of WR Davone Bess, DT Jeff Cohen, K Billy Newsome, CB Orlando Scandrick, and ROLB Harry Thompson. I also added five new wildcat formations into the playbook, which I will probably unveil against the Arizona Cardinals in our first regular season game.
Against Green Bay, I thought our defense did a spectacular job. Our offense was another story. We couldn't get anything going and we lost 3-0 on a last second fieldgoal. Truly dissappointing that we didn't win, but you have to take some good out of it and that is in 2 games our defense has given up an average of 3 points. I can deal with that. I however, got some bad news after the game. Defensive End Al Wallace has a sprained ACL and will be out anywhere between 5-8 weeks.
Going into the third preseason game, I had five more cuts to make which were even harder than before. I let go of RG Gene Mruckzkowski, DE Lance Johnstone, FS Wayne Tyson, FB Chester Clay, WB Andre Woodson and Cs Sylven Footman and Tony Wragge. I know, you are thinking, that is six players. I had to release Wragge so I could sign Ryan Kalil. That's right, the University of Southern California Trojan Ryan Kalil! I saw his name pop up on waivers and I outbid the Detroit Lions to get his services. I signed him to a one year, two million dollar contract, and gave him the starting job.
My next game was against the Chicago Bears, where we won 9-0. Again, our defense is playing lights out. So in three games we have given up the average of a safety.
Going into the final week, cuts were a little bit easier to do since I pretty much had everyone in place. RG Dumane Duckett, LE Alex Hoffman, and DT Isaac Sopoaga. I released Sopoaga because it saved some cap room and I have two rookie DT's that are plenty capable of holding the position down at least until the end of the seasonl
My last preseason game we won 22-17. The offense finally showed some life and the defense only gave up 23 points all preseason, so I believe we should be very excited to begin the regular season. Hopefully we can take this confidence and motivation with us into that game and shut down the Arizona passing attack. Wish us luck@
Entry #14
The preseason is now in the books and what a good one it was. After beating the Raiders 37-3 I really had some difficult decisions going into this next game. Five people had to be cut and after evaluating the roster I decided to let go of WR Davone Bess, DT Jeff Cohen, K Billy Newsome, CB Orlando Scandrick, and ROLB Harry Thompson. I also added five new wildcat formations into the playbook, which I will probably unveil against the Arizona Cardinals in our first regular season game.
Against Green Bay, I thought our defense did a spectacular job. Our offense was another story. We couldn't get anything going and we lost 3-0 on a last second fieldgoal. Truly dissappointing that we didn't win, but you have to take some good out of it and that is in 2 games our defense has given up an average of 3 points. I can deal with that. I however, got some bad news after the game. Defensive End Al Wallace has a sprained ACL and will be out anywhere between 5-8 weeks.
Going into the third preseason game, I had five more cuts to make which were even harder than before. I let go of RG Gene Mruckzkowski, DE Lance Johnstone, FS Wayne Tyson, FB Chester Clay, WB Andre Woodson and Cs Sylven Footman and Tony Wragge. I know, you are thinking, that is six players. I had to release Wragge so I could sign Ryan Kalil. That's right, the University of Southern California Trojan Ryan Kalil! I saw his name pop up on waivers and I outbid the Detroit Lions to get his services. I signed him to a one year, two million dollar contract, and gave him the starting job.
My next game was against the Chicago Bears, where we won 9-0. Again, our defense is playing lights out. So in three games we have given up the average of a safety.
Going into the final week, cuts were a little bit easier to do since I pretty much had everyone in place. RG Dumane Duckett, LE Alex Hoffman, and DT Isaac Sopoaga. I released Sopoaga because it saved some cap room and I have two rookie DT's that are plenty capable of holding the position down at least until the end of the seasonl
My last preseason game we won 22-17. The offense finally showed some life and the defense only gave up 23 points all preseason, so I believe we should be very excited to begin the regular season. Hopefully we can take this confidence and motivation with us into that game and shut down the Arizona passing attack. Wish us luck@
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