WITH AREA TEAMS IMPROVING AND MUCH ADO IN MISSOULA/HAMILTON, COULD FORMER STATE TITLE-HOLDER HELENA TITANS “FLY BELOW THE RADAR”… AND INTO THE RMFL AA CHAMPIONSHIP CIRCLE IN 2006?

 

Team Preview by: Jared Neumeier

 

HELENA – Can you name the RMFL’s top receiver over the past two seasons with 77 receptions and 1583 receiving yards, including 19 touchdowns?? Buck Mouser? No. Brock Gunter? No. Nate Brown… Charlie Brown?!?!?  Who???

 

The Helena Titans star receiver, Dave Garza.

 

Garza emerged into the Titan camp in 2004 and injected life into the Titan offense. The question for 2006 is, can he re-inject life into the re-organized Helena Titans team as the team’s head coach?

 

Certainly, the Titans will be one of the league’s “mystery teams” heading into the 2006 regular season.  Top ranked quarterback, Shane Jurasek gone to Missoula, Garza coaching, no Hollis Huggins, no more of coaches O’Dell and Baker; there are a certainly a lot of question marks swirling around as the Titans prepare for their 5th RMFL season.

 

That seems to be the way Garza wants it.

 

Although, the talent has materialized in the state capital.  A new, young, athletic quarterback (circa, Shane Jurasek in his early Titan years), as likely to take off and run as he is to beat you on a deep pass in Jacob Pena. New receiving talent in Eddie Sullivan from Montana State and Bozeman of the NIFL, the 6’3” and incredibly fast, Rocky Hamilton and Bradley Bain, a 6’7” tight end with a lineman’s mentality. Also added is a 6’3, 325 lb offensive lineman from local Helena High school, Nathan Strum, who the team claims is their strongest player, capable of bench pressing more than 500 pounds. Also added is another key defensive back to an quickly improving defense which counts 2005 sack leader, Justin Lamb along the defensive front.

 

Even if Garza has the talent at wide receiver that he thinks he has, he may still find ways to inject his own dangerous presence in the lineup, creating match-up and headaches for opposing defenses. This offense may be as explosive as the past versions… and if the defense which is a veteran unit that has now played together for a while can step it up, this could very well be the team to be hosting the AA Championship game in 2006.

 

KEY ADDITIONS:

 

Rocky Hamilton – Wide Receiver/Quarterback

Eddie Sullivan – Wide Receiver

Bradley Bain – Tight End

Nathan Strum – Offensive line

Greg Lundell – Defensive Back

Jacob Pena - Quarterback

 

OFFENSE:

 

No Jurasek, no problem.  Enter Jacob Pena out of Manhatten High School. This young quarterback will likely remind fans of Jurasek from a few years ago who was more dangerous on the run than dropping back in the pocket.  The difference being, however, that Pena not only has a better stable of receivers than Jurasek had then, he also has a coach… that IS a receiver.. This should help keep Pena focused on the passing game which will include the newest addition in Eddie Sullivan (see above) and the 6’3” Hamilton, who Garza predicts will be one of the top receivers in the Northern Conference.  With Hamilton will be big Bradley Bain who played at Carroll College and wide receivers, Scott Jablonski and Titan veteran, Ken Sanford. The team even seems most excited about Sullivan who they say, “he is also one of the toughest players to bring down, always fighting for more yardage. We look forward to seeing him on the field and possible with a tandem even with Garza…”  All-purpose threat at fullback, Ryan Ewan, (not to be confused with brother, Jeremy Ewan who was one of the league’s top fullbacks in 2005) takes over at fullback and another Titan veteran, Keith Deboo gets a shot at the full-time tailback position after seeing only some reps in 2005.  A completely re-manufactured offensive line sets the table for the skill players with center, Fabian Talley as the only returning starter.  Joining the 305 pound Talley will be Strum (see introduction), Chris Bourn (285 lbs.), Jim Kirkbride (290 lbs.) and Mike Connolly (295 lbs.)  Garza is pleased and confident in his offensive line who, he says not only has the size, but the agility to be even more effective, and believes the unit will be one of the best in the AA when the season is said and done.  One big loss is RMFL record-holding place-kicker, Bryan Hilborn.  Hilborn was  difference maker in a number of Titan games over the years, however, Garza feels good about his replacement, Dolan Gilreath.  Gilreath is a collegiate kicker for UM Western and should provide more than adequate support in the special teams game    Projected Offensive Rank: 1st

 

DEFENSE:

 

Although the cards have been re-shuffled a bit with the AA/AAA split, what many forget from 2005 was that the Titans had a pretty decent defense as well.  With an offense that was ranked #1, it was easy to forget that the defense did a fairly good job, too.  The 2005 Titan defense ranked 7th overall, even ahead of Missoula. In fact, the only AA team with a higher ranked defense was the Vipers who ranked 5th.  So, the Titans start with a pretty good core of defensive players and show no signs of a let down even “under new management”.  Long time Titan linebacker, Keith Simendinger, takes over as defensive coordinator, joining original Titan co-founder, Rich Wallis.  The Titan defensive line will be anchored by none other than the 2005 sack champion, Justin Lamb, how at 6’5, 320, Garza says is actually “faster and stronger” playing in what he says will be his final year.   Former linebacker and the team’s 2005 tackle leader, Steve Rice joins Lamb as the other d-end. Rice will drop back to linebacker when the team shifts into a 3-4 alignment. Terry Hiatt (294 lbs) and Pat Noonan (280 lbs) fill out the defensive front, however, Justin Lamb’s brother, Landon Lamb will also see plenty of action along the “d” front and provide great depth.  The linebacking corps are talented and familiar to Titan fans.  Justin Masiak moves from part time fullback to fulltime linebacker to cover for Rice. Masiak joins returning veterans, Micheal Moe and Dan Roope who were a big part of the Titans defensive success in 2005.  Garza lists cornerback, Greg Lundell as a big off-season acquisition and should have plenty of opportunity to prove it in the wide open offenses of the Northern Conference.  Lundell joins linebacker-sized, TJ Pittman (5’7, 220 lbs) at the corner spot.  Projected starting safeties are expected to be a slimmed down Jeremiah Clement and the hard-hitting, Pat Rice, Steve Rice’s brother.  Entering the frey in the safety position will also be Kyle Pena, a fierce competitor who rivals rice in hitting and a nose for the ball.  With a unit containing brothers and returning veterans, this group is poised to, once again, be among the leagues best, keeping the Titans deeply in the thick of the hunt when playoff time rolls around in mid-June.  Projected Defensive Rank: 4th

 

 

COACHING AND INTANGIBLES:

 

What many don’t know is that this team finished the season with a certain amount of dis-unity among the ranks.  Dis-agreements with management and coaching may have marred what might have otherwise been an even more successful year in 2005.  Dave Garza brings an excellent mind for the game to the table as well as an excellent comprehension for the X’s and O’s part of the game.  He is a well-liked and respected player that may be just what this team needed to ascend to its full potential.  He has a great supporting cast of players and the advantage of a lot of the pre-season hype and talk coming out of Missoula and Hamilton that keeps the focus away from the Titans.  Watch out for this team as they may have more than enough talent and motivation to win the first ever RMFL AA title.

 

OVERALL RANKING:  2nd