THE 2006 SABERCATS HAVE A ‘NEW ATTITUDE’ AFTER SUFFERING THROUGH A DISAPPOINTING AND DEFENSELESS SEASON IN 2005

 Team Preview by: Jared Neumeier

PAYETTE – Nestled and sheltered near the western edge of the state of Idaho was a new… and developing new RMFL franchise in 2005.

From the standpoint of the RMFL, they had a solid season; they represented well. They lost every game, but the represented well.

From the standpoint of the Sabercats, themselves, they were verily disappointed at their efforts, the outcome, and the process of the 2005 season. By all accounts, the team was divided and unhappy for most of the year; something the rest of the RMFL… just didn’t notice.

The 2006 Sabercats, however, EXPECT to be noticed!

Their pre-season victory over the Idaho Matadors, in fact, has already risen them into the periscopes of the AA radar screen. Of course, no one wins titles in pre-season games, so the Sabercats must extend those efforts to the games that count.

One thing I can tell you already. The Sabercats have already won the award for the most comprehensive pre-season input of anyone. They are proud of their team… and don’t mind talking about it.

When multi-talented threat and Western Division MVP, Tyler Collingwood was moved to quarterback last season, the Sabercats offense took off. A threat as a runner and passer, Collingwood created big problems for opposing defenses. It was a situation quite similar to when talented tailback, Manzo Hodge of the original Treasure Valley Cowboys played for what would become the Treasure Valley Panthers and moved to quarterback. Not often does the conversion of great athlete to quarterback always work, however, in these two cases it did… it does.

Collingwood may be the offensive key and triggerman, but as EVERYONE surely knows by now, the Sabercat defense was the teams Achilles heel in 2005. The Sabercats finished an abysmal 21^st out of 21 teams in defense… and its worse than that. Not only did they finish a full 80 yards per game worse than the 20^th ranked defense, but this performance came with a schedule that didn’t even include any of the RMFL’s top offenses; in fact, the only non-western Idaho opponents were Brigham City and the Utah Blitz, not exactly RMFL offensive juggernauts.

So have they done enough to right their defensive ship? I’m just not ready to say they have. From a standpoint of who they have added to their defense, they just don’t show any significant additions to signal a big turnaround from 2005. The only “key additions” they list that will be defensive starters are defensive lineman, Reggie Leedy and defensive back, Jeremy Noland; both of which appear to be fine players, but not necessarily defensive saviors.

I caught a little flack at the end of last season from Sabercat management… and players on why linebacker, Matt Frye did not make the all-star team, and I responded. Even if Frye was the best linebacker in the league, no team that finishes so woefully on defense will likely get a defensive representative, especially when it was giving up rushing yardage that was the teams biggest weakness of all, something your linebackers are supposed to prevent.

So it will fall on Frye as well as Kyle Netcher and Jeff Valenzuela, as the linebackers… and maybe even more so on defensive lineman, Rob Castleman, who is also the team’s defensive coordinator to figure out a way to turn this defense around.

I have no doubt that the Sabercat offense will be good enough to take them to the title game, if the defense can come to play… they will all go together… in 2006.

KEY ADDITIONS:

Jared Acevez – Quarterback/Defensive Back

Joseph Garcia – Running Back/Defensive Back

Reggie Leedy – Defensive/Offensive Line

Wesley Newman – Offensive Line

Jeremy Noland – Defensive Back/Wide Receiver/Place Kicker

Alan Wood – Wide Receiver

OFFENSE:

After starting fairly well in 2005 on offense with original starting quarterback, Matt Saylors under center, the Sabercats offense hit rock bottom at mid-season when they were shut out in two consecutive games by the Magic Valley Bulldawgs and Boise Roughriders. Tyler Collingwood took over the quarterbacking job for the Boise game and held it for the remainder of the season. What the Sabercats seemed to learn in those 4 games was that Collingwood was Collingwood, and not Saylors. The More Tyler Collingwood was allowed to free-wheel and use his athleticism, the more plays he was able to make for the Sabercat offense. Well, that lesson having already been learned, they come into the 2006 season re-tooled, re-vamped and ready to explode. The rest of the backfield ahs also been adjusted with Shawn King, the original Sabercats team founder, moving from wide receiver to tailback. King will share those duties some with newcomer, Joseph Garcia. Roger Gonzalez is expected to hold down the fullback position after missing most of 2005 with an ankle injury, bringing “power and drive” to the offense. Zach Howard will become the teams first “True” tight end and the wide receiver spots will be covered nicely by Cody Bates, one of the leagues top receivers last season with 46 receptions and 662 yards to finish 5^th overall in the league. Bates has the ability to go deep and catch the ball in traffic, a receiver very similar to the Madison Lionz MVP tight end, Nate Brown. Bates will be teamed with newcomer, Alan Wood who has the speed to stretch defenses. The Sabercats offensive line is ENTIRELY rebuilt with newcomers. Wesley Newman, Jeremy Gomez, Dan Neeley, Andy Frasier and Ben Rowe will be the primary group called upon to make this offense click. If you talk to the Matadors, they will be the first to say that this new Sabercat line does “getter done…”! This offense may be one of the few in the AA that looks solid all around and should keep this team in the thick of it and, hopefully, into the play-offs.. Projected Offensive Rank: 2^nd .

DEFENSE:

Last season I projected the Sabercat offense to finish 20^th of 21 teams. Last season I was WAYYYYY off! The Sabercat defense finished so far in last place, it was more like they finished 24^th or 25^th! Okay, okay, so enough of the gratuitous flogging of the Snake River defense. But my message to the Sabercats defense should be loud and clear, “you wanna shut up the critics??? Then TACKLE someone!!!” Although the 2005 version did not handle pass coverage all too well either the almost 2000 yards given up on the ground speaks volumes more about where these team needs to work. In 8 games, that works out to be an average of almost 250 yards per game, just on the ground. There were 11 RMFL teams that didn’t average giving up that much… TOTAL. So, the Sabercats should know where they need to go to work, the question is: have they succeeded? Obviously, no one will know that until pads start to pop during regular season play, however, looking through their defensive lineup, I’m hard pressed to see where the significant improvement will come from. Castleman anchors the defensive line, along with touted newcomer, Leedy and they will be joined by two other Sabercat newcomers, Richard Calleron and Anthony Jangula. Nothing, on paper, at least with this group to spell I M P R O V E M E N T yet. At linebacker, team stud, Matt Frye is back, however, he is joined a new by 2^nd year players, Kyle Netcher and Jeff Valenzuela. Frye lead the team in tackles and Netcher and Valenzuela were up there too, Valenzuela also lead the team with 4 sacks, but what is missing is last season’s defensive captain, second in tackles, Brett Smith. I’m not sure that is a good thing. The Sabercats secondary will see Greg Chamberlain and returning db, Thomas Kamo at the corners with Lance Smith and Jeremy Noland both seeing time at strong safety and the venerable, Jay Hatfield at safety. I think Noland was a good pick-up and will also handle the teams kicking duties quite nicely, but the rest of the Sabercat defensive backs will have to step up in pass coverage as the Sabercats will likely have to use their safeties for run support more than not, exposing Kamo and Chamberlain to regular man coverage, a tough assignment even for the best of them.  Projected Defensive Rank: 12^h.

INTANGIBLES AND COACHING:

Maybe the best inspiring “intangible” that could help inspire the Sabercats will be the pre-view. I intentionally did not pull any punches in reviewing the Sabercat defensive unit because I honestly believe that this team could have a very special season if that unit lives up to its potential I would also encourage the Sabercat offensive players to help and support their defense (and vise versa) as teams win and lose together and I believe that Dallas Hoffman and Rob Castleman, along with offensive coordinator, Shaun Bolin will get this team ready and put the best team on the field at all times to give them the best chance to win. This is a Sabercat team capable of a AA championship. If they can stay focused, stay motivated… and play inspired defense, they can go all the way. If not, it could be another disappointing season of “what if”

PROJECTED RANK: 7^th