THIS WILL FINALLY BE THE SEASON THE RHINOS FALL, BUT CHANCES ARE AS GOOD AS ANYONE’S OF ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCE

 

Team Preview by: Jared Neumeier

 

OGDEN – By all accounts, the glorious run of the long-time dominant semi-pro football team in the Rockies should be over.

 

Losing 10-12 “key” players to either transfer or retirement, the big Red Machine could be expected to run aground.

 

But… like a Phoenix rising from the ashes… the Rhino-Raiders should be back; and even better if you ask them.

 

If you ask anyone else, however, you may get a number of different opinions, speculations, theories and prognostications… with none of them 100% confident.  In fact, this may be the biggest mystery team of the season, going in.

 

A fatalist is going to say that they have lost too many key players, much of the talent remaining is aging and even the big hype players listed as joining the team will only be part time.

 

If you are an optimist (or a Rhino Fan), you would say that they have simply lost a little “dead weight”, cancerous influences and non-committed players.  The talent coming in is better, faster and more committed than what they lost.  You would say that this 6-time defending league champion will be BETTER.

 

So, leave it up to me to take the middle ground, or in the case of so much early season rainfall, perhaps the safe and dry “high” ground.  I’ll say the Rhino-Raiders will be beat by someone… but they have a solid shot at another RMFL title.

 

First, lets look at who was lost.

 

Gone are Norvel Young, Justin Oswald, Mike Pierce, Charles Kano, Manuel Gadlin, Fine Unga, Shane Dooley, Dave Comer, Clint Comer, Kenyatta Green, Liua Fonua and anyone by the name of Fiefia (which would be 4 if you are counting at home: Vaea, Walter, Amos and David).

 

Of course, if you as the Rhinos, the only ones of irreplaceable star power are Young and Oswald.  Even the better players like Unga, Liua and Vaea and Walter Fiefia were not committed enough to contribute to the team lately anyway.

 

Who the Rhino-Raiders feel they are gaining are Selu Alifipo (RB), David Stroshine (LB), Matt Stroshine (DB), Setema Gali (DL), Ben Jones (WR/CB),DeShawn Crockett (DB), Justin Walker (LB), Chris Carter (DB) and Nate Tuitagoloa (RB/DB).  According to the Rhinos, all committed and overall, a far greater addition than the sum total of any losses.

 

The Rhinos have also added a defensive coach in Everest Matagi. Matagi credited with aiding in the recruiting of some of the fine additions to the Ogden football squad.   This also frees up team GM, head coach and offensive star, quarterback Dave Stireman to focus on retooling his offense. Which may have lost the teams best receiver in Norvel Young, but the return of Damon Greenberry from a season of injury might off-set the loss plenty for the offensive minded Rhinos.

 

Further, Stireman is very high on new addition running back, Alifipo; hinting that with Alifipo, the general trend away from the pass to a more balanced run/pass offense will likely continue even to the extent that the Rhinos might simply become more of a running team anyway… which should keep opposing defenses guessing plenty… a scenario that should suit Stireman just fine.

 

KEY ADDITIONS:

 

Selu Alifipo – Running Back

David Stroshine – Linebacker

Matt Stroshine – Defensive Back

Setema Gali – Defensive Line

Ben Jones – Wide Receiver/Defensive Back

Justin Walker - Linebacker

DeShawn Crockett – Defensive Back

Chris Carter – Defensive Back

Nate Tuitagaloa – Running Back/Defensive Back

 

 

OFFENSE:

 

Apparently, in 1999, Sefu Alifipo tore up the gridiron for the 1999 UFL Champion, Wasatch Demons.  Head coach and quarterback, Dave Stireman speaks very highly of this running back that hasn’t laced it up on years; he may be the key to how well the Rhinos do on offense in 2006.  The Rhino offense will be returning 7 of 11 starters, however, and their offense was excellent in 2005 with no reason to expect much of a letdown in 2006. Even if Alifipo does not pan out as hoped, the Rhinos will still have Rashad Kennedy, who tore it up in the championship game on the roster, and Rob Morse.  In the Rhino standard slot back set, Ryan Scadden will be back to fill that role after mulling retirement in the off-season and the venerable, talented, Nick Fotu will be back at tight end.  With the departure of Young, “no problem” as Damon Greenberry brings his amazing skills and personality back to the lineup and will be paired up with the one of the league’s top overall athletes and talents in Trevor Bell at wide receiver.  These should be weapons enough if the Rhino-Raiders can keep them all healthy and playing in the rough and tumble AAA division.  A couple of changes are projected along the aging Ogden offensive line.  Returning for yet another season in the trenches will be Phil Sotomayor (6’3, 295), Eric Christensen (6’7, 325) and center, Todd Wheelwright (6’3, 330).   Although the Rhino-Raiders continue to list long-time starters, Travis Elliot and Carl Silva on the roster, they are projecting Ken Byrd (6’2, 300), and ex-Layton Longhorn, Nate Babtist (6’1, 330), who was injured much of 2005 as new starters for the Rhino front 5.   Of course, as usual, the Rhinos have a solid core of other back-ups, including Dave Baker and Eric Mullen, which seems to be as deep as ever in front of Stireman.  Stireman himself will be back for another season under center.  He says it WILL be his last and THIS time he means it.  This time, I believe him.  I think the Rhino offense could end up being the best in the RMFL IF the following happen.  First, the offensive line holds up.  Second, Alifipo turns out to be the stud the team thinks he will and 3rd, if Greenberry can shake off the injury and rust and return to his old game-breaking form.  Stireman will be Stireman. In his prime, he could beat you 3 different ways; arm, legs and brain.  Although now that he almost never tucks it and runs, his arm and mind will still be enough to give opposing defenses fits.  If his line continues to give him great time to throw, he will continue to put up impressive numbers… and big point totals.  Last season, however, along with an impressive 19 touchdown passes, Stireman accounted for a second worst total, 13 interceptions, possibly caused by added pressure from a difficult schedule, possibly by inconsistency in the receiver position… or maybe just a fluke.  Regardless, I am just going to guess that this unit will not be as good as it has been. I think we will quickly find out how much Stireman relied on Norvel Young and we will find out how the “experienced”, and talented offensive line will hold up against week after week of some seriously solid defensive lines.  As usual, so goes this offensive line, so goes Stireman , so goes the offense and so go the Rhinos.  Projected Offensive Rank: 5th .

 

DEFENSE:

 

There is no question in my mind that this years Ogden Rhino-Raider defense will be the biggest mystery going into the season.  The will have only one regular returning defensive lineman (Bill Nebeker), one returning linebacker (Levine Tupe) and two defensive backs (Jed Davies and Tony Wolfgramm).  Jay Tupe, who has been playing safety is expected to drop down to a linebacker position, so in effect, they are returning 5 starters, but as far as AAA division standards go, that’s a pretty good turnover.  Aha, you may ask, but WHO are they getting?  Along the defensive front, joining the long-time veteran Nebeker (6’5, 255) will be a host of ex-Wildcats. The Rhinos project the two best defensive lineman from the Wasatch Wildcats in Setema Gali (6’6, 280) and reigning South Division defensive MVP, Matt Taliulu (6’3, 270) along with Val Tiatia (6’1, 300).  There is no question that both Gali and Taliulu are top defensive linemen in the RMFL, however, in 2005 for the Wildcats, Gali only appeared in 4 games and Taliulu 5 (which was enough to get voted to the defensive MVP award which should tell you something!). Returning Rhino, Eric Eyre (6’1, 270), will also be able to play and should start in some games, as he did last season.  There is no telling how many games the two ex-Wildcat stars will make for the Rhino defense in 2006. If it is all of them, the Rhino defense should be a better unit even than last season’s #2 ranked team.  At linebacker, the teams second in tackles (behind Mike Pierce), Levine Tupe returns once again and will welcome, brother Jay Tupe who will help fill a hole left by the departure of Pierce. It will, however, be the welcome addition of another Wildcats star, top linebacker, Justin Walker, who lead the Wildcats in tackles in ’05.  It may be the addition, however of David Stroshine that may cause the most excitement… and curiosity.  First of all, listing 3 linebackers is an immediate change for the Rhinos who have run a base 5-2 defense for years. Now with Stroshine in the mix, projected to be a “strong safety”, who had a great career at Weber State and seemed headed for a promising NFL career with the Tennessee Titans sustained what was thought to be a “career-ending leg injury”.  He now appears to be risking it all, testing the rehabbed leg in RMFL competition in 2006. If he is able to play and returns to form, he makes for a difficult decision for Everest Matagi to make: sit a Tupe, who have been dedicated to the Rhinos for years? Justin Walker? Or one of the safeties, who have also been dedicated to the Rhinos for years.  Also, factoring into the front 7 mix and giving the team depth in the event of injury or absence will be returning veteran talents, Manu Taoealii, who can play defensive end or linebacker, Jake Phippen and Mike Mecham, both solid linebackers who have done it for the Rhinos for years.  Another ex-Wildcat, Sam Matagi, who played even more sparingly than Gali and Taliulu, could also be available on the defensive line front.  The Rhinos are hoping that this season, DeShawn Crockett is the answer at cornerback.  Crockett was expected to be with the team last season as well when they ended on relying on Jed Davies and Manuel Gadlin for most games, getting support as well from Trevor Bell and occasionally even Norvel Young.  The other cornerback would be another Wildcat addition, Matt Stroshine. Stroshine was a true star for the Wildcats as their primary return threat and regular in the defensive backfield, returning two interceptions (his only two) for touchdowns.  Jed Davies rotates over to safety to join the under-rated, Tony “lights out” Wolfgramm. These guys have worked together and should make a fine safety team; however, as the team has to decide on where to play David Stroshine, one or the other could become odd man out.  Of course, Trevor Bell, a standout collegiate defensive back, will also be available and should be expected to support the defensive cause.  If all of these guys play full time in all of the Rhinos games, this will be the best defense in the RMFL, bar none.  Once again, however, I’ll take the middle ground and expect enough uncertainty, part time support, etc. that the Rhinos will feel the losses to the Bears.  What did they finish in 2005??? Second in Defense. Okay…   Projected Defensive Rank: 2nd

 

COACHING AND INTANGIBLES:

 

Dave Stireman gets some coaching help. What may have helped even more is another solid player recruiter.  Regardless, with another semi-stacked roster of great players and two coaches that know their units, this team will once again be an imposing force in the RMFL.  There is, however, more than one reason why I’m not going to drop the #1 pre-ranking on the Rhino-Raiders again this season. First, is because (and I may be wrong) I don’t believe they will be quite as good as the Rhinos of old.  Second, and I am not wrong about this, EVERYONE around them continues to improve.  Both the Wolverines and Nemesis have had some serious key player additions.  Although I don’t expect the Rhinos to lose to any team except Cache Valley or maybe Madison, I would not be shocked if it happened this season (i.e. the Nemesis, Heat of Wolverines pull off the upset).  Still there is not one game they play that I would bet any serious money against the defending champions. Suffice to say,  that with any luck, an era of true parity may be beginning to unfold in the RMFL.  This is still the team to beat, no doubt, but there may be just enough of a chink in the armor to finally get it done.  This is a not only a playoff team and a champion, they will be a fun team to watch all season.

 

OVERALL RANKING:  2nd