HOUSTON SPARTANS SEASON 9 PREVIEW
Quick Facts:
Owners: Mookie, Kentae
GM’s: Mookie, Kentae, Meigzoh, Jurro, Jpin, JSTRIKER
Stadium: Coliseum of Leonidas (Expansion Still Under Construction)
Franchise Record: 19-13
Season 8 Record: 12-4 (5th Place BBB#11)
Season 8 Offensive MVP’s: QB Joe Montana, HB Quickk Six
Season 8 Defensive MVP: DE Michael Dumass
Offensive Philosophy
Offensive Coordinator Jpin recently said this on the Dan Patrick Show, “You'll see my offense is very balanced, but it will adjust during the game based off of the score and field position. My offense is setup like I'm actually there calling the plays. Most team's will have DC's out there trying out their latest craze or gimmick play creator, but my offense is setup to abuse high blitzing teams so they only thing they can do is pull everyone back in a deep zone and hope I throw it long. I'd like everyone to please dust off your trophy shelves because this is the season of the Spartans.”
Offensive Overview
Despite racking up 82 points a game a season ago, management decided that to move further towards the goal of a championship they would need to change coordinators and veteran owner and GM extraordinaire jpin was brought in to beef up the running game and make the Spartans a more balanced squad to contend with.
Backfield
Under center for his second season as a Spartan will be Season 8 co-MVP Joe Montana Jr. Joe Cool smoked BBB#11 defenses last season for 4369 yards and 50 TD’s against only 5 INT’s. In the backfield the Spartans sport a two-headed monster in Season 8 co-MVP Quickk Six and brawny FB Al Blockalot. Blockalot rushed for 8 TD’s and amassed 177 pancakes. HB Six did a majority of his damage in a record setting campaign on special teams, but did also account for 13 rushing TD’s and had 7 TD receptions.
Receivers
Back again will be WR’s XGrabbi and Don Beebe Jr. who combined for over 5000 receiving yards and 67 TD receptions. Veteran TE Sven Friedrichs caught 41 receptions and 4 TD’s and was a monster special teams monster. Free agent pick up Curtis Rison brings great speed to the line up as well as outstanding blocking ability.
Offensive Line
The offensive line received heavy upgrades during the off-season and was infused with the talent needed to compete in the new league. Crescent Dragonwagon was brought in to anchor the line. He racked up 139 pancakes while playing for African AAA#2 MaRawk last season. GM Meigzoh brought over his OT Mario “No Pads” Musselman and look for the ultra-quick Mussleman to make a nice home for himself on the right side. Protecting Montana’s blind side will be the athletic Clifford Clavin. Clavin notched 128 pancakes while playing for the Western Europe A#1 Atom Bombs. Two year-starter Nigel Dunningham also returns for another season after picking up 49 pancakes for the Spartans in Season 8. Guards Hard Nosecandy and Lester the Protecter return in the middle.
Defensive Philosophy
The crusty coordinator was his usual laconic self when he made this statement to reporters at the final press conference as training camp broke, “We really focused on getting speed this offseason. You are going to see a high-flying, high-octane high intensity defense. This might be the best defense the Spartans have ever had.”
Defense Overview
Like the offense, management brought in several high level studs to give the defense the firepower it needs to compete in the new league. There is speed everywhere and tremendous depth in the linebacking corps and secondary.
Defensive Line
Everything starts up front for the Spartans. Reigning MVP DE Michael Dumass tallied a team record 43 sacks and 67 tackles in Season 8. DT Canis LupusII came over in mid-season and ended up finishing 3rd in BBB#11 in forced fumbles. The big off-season signing was lv. 44 DE Canis Lupus. Lupis picked up 4 sacks in Season 8 while playing for the USA AA#2 Anchorage Wolves. DE Rocky “Reindeer” Blitzen (19 sacks) will make back up OT’s sweat and be a killer on the kickoff team.
Linebackers
Speed. Speed. Speed. FA signees Mister Steele and Tom Bubkiss will make plays from sideline to sideline yet play with enough power to be a factor in the running game. Steele had 54 tackles and forced 7 fumbles while playing for the Legal Smexies in Eastern Europe AA#1 and Bubkiss had 87 tackles and 5 sacks while in uniform for the African AA#3 Comoros Lions. As training camp comes to a close, returning LB’s Diqueno Butkis and Dameon Luther are still battling for the final starting spot.
Secondary
As good as the other unit’s are, the secondary may be the heart of the defense. SS Jack Tatum led the team in INT’s with 4 and tackles with 89. He is joined by FA pick up Angus Garfield. Garfield had 47 tackles and 2 INT’s while playing for the Legion of Doom in Canada BBB#16 in Season 8. The Spartans sport two shut down corners in Lava Burns and Snooty McSwirlz. Burns, the Season 7 defensive MVP, registered 89 tackles and 2 INT’s last season while McSwirlz notched 46 tackles also in a Legion of Doom uniform.
Special Teams
An integral part of the Spartans success last season, the special teams must step it up a notch if they are to repeat or even come close to last season’s success. Not only will there be a huge step-up in competition but they will be without All-League punt returner Pickk Six, who will spend most of his time in Spartans retooled backfield. The front office was lucky to bring in two new kickers, both from agent Meigzoh’s stable.
Kicker Barry Foote, upon retiring from a stellar career with MLB’s Chicago Cubs, has made a nice career for himself as a kicker in GLB. Foote hit 44-60 field goals last season including 14 from 40+ yards. Punter Koffen Korner averaged a respectable 36 yards a punt last season for the Formby Crackers in Western Europe AAA#4.
The biggest question surrounding the special teams is, who will replace Pickk Six and his 31 return TD’s? Word is that newly signed HB Tele Porter has the inside track but he is not a proven commodity in the return game.
Quick Facts:
Owners: Mookie, Kentae
GM’s: Mookie, Kentae, Meigzoh, Jurro, Jpin, JSTRIKER
Stadium: Coliseum of Leonidas (Expansion Still Under Construction)
Franchise Record: 19-13
Season 8 Record: 12-4 (5th Place BBB#11)
Season 8 Offensive MVP’s: QB Joe Montana, HB Quickk Six
Season 8 Defensive MVP: DE Michael Dumass
Offensive Philosophy
Offensive Coordinator Jpin recently said this on the Dan Patrick Show, “You'll see my offense is very balanced, but it will adjust during the game based off of the score and field position. My offense is setup like I'm actually there calling the plays. Most team's will have DC's out there trying out their latest craze or gimmick play creator, but my offense is setup to abuse high blitzing teams so they only thing they can do is pull everyone back in a deep zone and hope I throw it long. I'd like everyone to please dust off your trophy shelves because this is the season of the Spartans.”
Offensive Overview
Despite racking up 82 points a game a season ago, management decided that to move further towards the goal of a championship they would need to change coordinators and veteran owner and GM extraordinaire jpin was brought in to beef up the running game and make the Spartans a more balanced squad to contend with.
Backfield
Under center for his second season as a Spartan will be Season 8 co-MVP Joe Montana Jr. Joe Cool smoked BBB#11 defenses last season for 4369 yards and 50 TD’s against only 5 INT’s. In the backfield the Spartans sport a two-headed monster in Season 8 co-MVP Quickk Six and brawny FB Al Blockalot. Blockalot rushed for 8 TD’s and amassed 177 pancakes. HB Six did a majority of his damage in a record setting campaign on special teams, but did also account for 13 rushing TD’s and had 7 TD receptions.
Receivers
Back again will be WR’s XGrabbi and Don Beebe Jr. who combined for over 5000 receiving yards and 67 TD receptions. Veteran TE Sven Friedrichs caught 41 receptions and 4 TD’s and was a monster special teams monster. Free agent pick up Curtis Rison brings great speed to the line up as well as outstanding blocking ability.
Offensive Line
The offensive line received heavy upgrades during the off-season and was infused with the talent needed to compete in the new league. Crescent Dragonwagon was brought in to anchor the line. He racked up 139 pancakes while playing for African AAA#2 MaRawk last season. GM Meigzoh brought over his OT Mario “No Pads” Musselman and look for the ultra-quick Mussleman to make a nice home for himself on the right side. Protecting Montana’s blind side will be the athletic Clifford Clavin. Clavin notched 128 pancakes while playing for the Western Europe A#1 Atom Bombs. Two year-starter Nigel Dunningham also returns for another season after picking up 49 pancakes for the Spartans in Season 8. Guards Hard Nosecandy and Lester the Protecter return in the middle.
Defensive Philosophy
The crusty coordinator was his usual laconic self when he made this statement to reporters at the final press conference as training camp broke, “We really focused on getting speed this offseason. You are going to see a high-flying, high-octane high intensity defense. This might be the best defense the Spartans have ever had.”
Defense Overview
Like the offense, management brought in several high level studs to give the defense the firepower it needs to compete in the new league. There is speed everywhere and tremendous depth in the linebacking corps and secondary.
Defensive Line
Everything starts up front for the Spartans. Reigning MVP DE Michael Dumass tallied a team record 43 sacks and 67 tackles in Season 8. DT Canis LupusII came over in mid-season and ended up finishing 3rd in BBB#11 in forced fumbles. The big off-season signing was lv. 44 DE Canis Lupus. Lupis picked up 4 sacks in Season 8 while playing for the USA AA#2 Anchorage Wolves. DE Rocky “Reindeer” Blitzen (19 sacks) will make back up OT’s sweat and be a killer on the kickoff team.
Linebackers
Speed. Speed. Speed. FA signees Mister Steele and Tom Bubkiss will make plays from sideline to sideline yet play with enough power to be a factor in the running game. Steele had 54 tackles and forced 7 fumbles while playing for the Legal Smexies in Eastern Europe AA#1 and Bubkiss had 87 tackles and 5 sacks while in uniform for the African AA#3 Comoros Lions. As training camp comes to a close, returning LB’s Diqueno Butkis and Dameon Luther are still battling for the final starting spot.
Secondary
As good as the other unit’s are, the secondary may be the heart of the defense. SS Jack Tatum led the team in INT’s with 4 and tackles with 89. He is joined by FA pick up Angus Garfield. Garfield had 47 tackles and 2 INT’s while playing for the Legion of Doom in Canada BBB#16 in Season 8. The Spartans sport two shut down corners in Lava Burns and Snooty McSwirlz. Burns, the Season 7 defensive MVP, registered 89 tackles and 2 INT’s last season while McSwirlz notched 46 tackles also in a Legion of Doom uniform.
Special Teams
An integral part of the Spartans success last season, the special teams must step it up a notch if they are to repeat or even come close to last season’s success. Not only will there be a huge step-up in competition but they will be without All-League punt returner Pickk Six, who will spend most of his time in Spartans retooled backfield. The front office was lucky to bring in two new kickers, both from agent Meigzoh’s stable.
Kicker Barry Foote, upon retiring from a stellar career with MLB’s Chicago Cubs, has made a nice career for himself as a kicker in GLB. Foote hit 44-60 field goals last season including 14 from 40+ yards. Punter Koffen Korner averaged a respectable 36 yards a punt last season for the Formby Crackers in Western Europe AAA#4.
The biggest question surrounding the special teams is, who will replace Pickk Six and his 31 return TD’s? Word is that newly signed HB Tele Porter has the inside track but he is not a proven commodity in the return game.
Last edited Apr 15, 2009 04:02:57
