GREAT FALLS GLADIATORS MAY BE A TEAM OF DESTINY AS THEY TAKE ANOTHER STEP TOWARDS THE TOP OF THE RMFL’S AA IN 2007

Team preview by: Jared Neumeier

GREAT FALLS – The first time I ever saw a team from Great Falls was 1999. The Great Falls “Rangers” came down to Idaho Falls and we were able to hold on for a 22-18 win after giving up a couple of late touchdowns.

But what was most memorable about that event to me, wasn’t the game, it was the first time I had ever seen an RMFL team arrive in a bus! Further, this was the most disciplined, unified team I had ever seen. Even though on the road, they had a lot more players than we had and their pre-game warm up was better and more organized. In short, I saw a glimpse of what Great Falls football can really be.

Fast forward now 8 years later.

Once again, you have a unified, disciplined excited team… only NOW… you can add DANGEROUS.

This was a team that when the game counted the most, in the playoffs, only lost by 10 to the Bitterroot Blaze… a team that only lost by 10, on the road, to the AA Champion Muddogs. It would be easy to make an argument that it wouldn’t take much improvement for this team to inch all the way up to the top in 2007.

The Gladiators had a very busy off-season between that 2006 first round play-off exit and the onset of 2007. No doubt, they lost some key players… Sterling Wynn, Reggie Jennings, Keon Pinckney and place-kicker, David Milodrogovich. But for every one loss, the team had two good pick ups. In fact, the Gladiators have had so many pick-ups, their roster has swelled to a never seen before in Great Falls, 56 players at press time! This team has all of the talent… and depth to make a serious title run in 2007.

For the Gladiators to do that, however, they need to find a way to parlay their offensive pick-ups and changes into something better than the second to last ranked offense and last ranked offensive line in the RMFL. All-purpose athlete, Brad Thurber, takes over the helm at quarterback and will look to distribute the football to an array of new talent behind a re-built offensive line. The “new talent” includes their closest rivals biggest offensive stars from 2006, tailback, Keith Deboo and wide receiver, Eddie Torrance (Sullivan). That combined with 3 new offensive line stars, including their own version of “the rock of Gibraltar”, “Rico” (no, not the penguin from the “Madagascar” animated movie… although he would be good too). Like a chain, an offensive line is only as strong as the “weakest link”… and the chain protecting the Gladiator passing game just got stronger.

With an improved offense and an array of new defensive talent and experience replacing long time Gladiator stars (Keon Pinckney and Reggie Jennings), the Gladiators do look to take the next step.

It will, however, be incumbent upon head coach Mike Morgan, newly acquired coach, Ben Roth… and the 4^th Gladiator opening day starting quarterback in 4 years, Brad Thurber, to make this turnaround complete in 2007.

I wouldn’t recommend that anyone take any bets that it won’t happen.

This team is dangerous… and hungry… and a history of scores to settle as the 2007 season is upon us.

KEY ADDITIONS:

Will Prescott - Linebacker

Eddie Torrance – Wide Receiver

Keith DeBoo – Running Back

Lee Dresch – Defensive Line

Steve Brown – Strong Safety

“Rico” – Offensive Line

Chris Pattee – Defensive line/Tight End

Joe Kline – Linebacker

Randy Standley – Wide Receiver/Defensive Back

Jason Riggs – Place Kicker

KEY LOSSES:

Reggie Jennings - Linebacker

Keon Pinckney - Linebacker

Sterling Wynn – Running Back

David Milodragovich – Place kicker

Robert Cook – Quarterback

OFFENSE:

Thirty-three (33) total yards of passing. Let that number sink in. Sounds like a pretty pathetic game, doesn’t it? Except that… for the Great Falls Gladiators’ offense, that was their SEASON TOTAL!! Yep, that’s right. They averaged passing for about 4 net yards a game. And the running game didn’t exactly “pick it up” as there were still six teams that rushed for more net yards than did the Sterling Wynn (Offensive MVP of the North Division) lead Gladiators. The Gladiators offense finished 11^th (of 12 teams) in offense last season, a hair better than the famously in-offensive, Glacier Knights. If this wasn’t a problem for this under-achieving unit for the off-season, what was? To compound matters, their all-star tailback, Wynn, will not be back in 2007! Okay, so that’s the bad news. Now for the good news. Hope springs eternal! They also lost their starting quarterback, Robert Cook, however, clearly Cook was more of a running threat than any kind of a passer. Of course, having the lowest rated offensive line in the AA… and, therefore, the entire RMFL, did not help matters. The Gladiator offensive line gave up 25 sacks in 8 games, an average of almost 4 per game. Now this stat is exacerbated by the fact that the Gladiators didn’t pass much. In fact, the Gladiators offensive line gave up a league leading 3.38 sacks every 15 times the quarterback dropped back to pass. Oh, sorry, we were supposed to be talking about the good news. Okay, here goes. The Gladiators have made A LOT of changes to their offense in the off-season. The only returning starters will be fullback, John Hughes, wide-receiver (Jermaine Saunders… moved to tight end), and offensive linemen, Jesse McGuire and Carlos Uresti. That’s it. Slated to take over the offense will be the athletic leader of the team, Brad Thurber. 3 years ago, Thurber took the management of the team over and brought it to prominence and respectability. He will now try to do it more specifically with the Gladiator offense. Thurber doesn’t have an array of quarterback experience behind him, but he fits the perfect mold of a tall, athletic, leader with the intelligence and patience the position requires. This will be a certain upgrade. Wynn is gone, however, the Gladiators picked up the Titans star tailback, Keith Deboo, in the off-season. Deboo is in competition with Gladiator veterans Yahreen Collins (primarily played defense in 2006) and Josh Mosley (6 rushes, 22 yards in ’06). The primary tailback (likely to be Deboo) will work with the veteran Hughes and there shouldn’t be any rushing drop-off, even without Wynn. Because… the offensive line has GOT to be better. With only McGuire (5’11, 260) and Uresti (6’4, 270) returning, the Gladiators have certainly upgraded their biggest 2006 weakness. Particularly a man named … simply “Rico”. Rico is a 6’4”, 340 pound man mountain the Gladiators have never had before at the offensive line, but they are also high on newcomers, Jeff Parrish (5’11, 240) and Keith Gibbs. They like their offensive line depth, as well with Clint Larsen, Shelby Iverson (2006 starter), Max Bassman and Justin Wishin also available. Their leading receiver last season, Jermaine Saunders, returns. Saunders caught 5 passes for 66 yards to lead the team and moves to tight end. At 6’3”, 220 pounds, Saunders has the size to help with the blocking as well as the target that Thurber can pick up for key first down pick ups. An array of new additions will be competing for the Gladiators wide receiver jobs. They include, Tony Estep, Randy Standly, Eddie Torrance, Lonnie Johnson, Jared McDuffie and Hanif Flood. Who are these guys? Good question. One of them you might know as Eddie Sullivan… now known as Eddie Torrance. Sullivan was the second leading receiver in the AA division last season for the Helena Titans, catching 28 passes for more than 500 yards and 6 touchdowns. Randy Standley, from local Cascade High School, seems to have really impressed the team with his talent and work ethic and seems to have the inside track for one of the spots. If any of the others beats out Torrance (Sullivan) for the other, they must be REALLY good or, at least, a lot more dedicated to the offense (Torrance/Sullivan lives in Bozeman and will only be able to attend weekend practices). If Torrance is out there… it doesn’t matter who is on the other side, the defense will have to adjust… opening up the rest of the Gladiator offense. I’m ready to rank this offense a bit better than last season, still, they will have to do it on the field to show that this unit has caught up with their talented defense. For if they do improve enough, this will be a team going deep into the AA playoffs. The Gladiators did lose their talented place-kicker “Milo” (David Milodragovich) from last season, but they are confident that replacement, 6’3”, 210 pound, Jason Riggs has the leg, and talent to be just as dangerous a weapon. Projected Offensive Ranking: 9^th.

DEFENSE:

As bad as the Gladiator offense was in 2006, that’s how GOOD the defense was. And lets keep in mind that this is a defense that was OFTEN put in tough positions on the football field. Without much help from the offense, this was a 3^rd ranked defense that often had their proverbial “backs to the wall”… and still kept opponents out of the end zone. This is a defense that, in the first round of the RMFL playoffs last season, their first ever playoff appearance as the Great Falls Gladiators, they held the Bitterroot Blaze to only 10 points. The 2006 Gladiator defense was ranked 3^rd overall; 3^rd against the pass and 4^th against the run. They were tied for 2^nd with 32 sacks and were just great… for a team often put in a tough spot. With the very hopeful improvement of the Gladiator offense, this is a defensive unit that is quite capable of becoming the best defense in the AA division. There are, however, some off-season losses we need to analyze before crowning them defensive kings of anything. We are primarily talking about their third and 4^th leading tacklers from 2006, linebackers Reggie Jennings (36 tackles, 1 sack) and Keon Pinckney (31-1/2 tackles, 6 sacks). These are big time players, for which there really are no great replacements. Aside from the 2006 AA Defensive MVP, Mike Rhode (53 tackles, 11 sacks, 1 interception, 1 touchdown, 1 safety), they were the biggest part of this great defense. Of course, Rhode is back, after having a career year and starting with a linebacker of that caliber bodes well as the team fills in the vacated holes around him. Along the defensive line, Brett Stensrude (6’2, 240) returns along side of Dave Moore (6’0, 260). Moore was third in the team in sacks with 4-1/2 (behind Rhode 11, and Pinckney 6). Joining Moore and Stensrude will be a couple of players the Gladiators are VERY excited to get: Former Ball State linebacker, Joe Kline (6’0, 210) and will attack from the defensive end position and Lee Dresch (6’0, 230), formerly of MSU Northern will get a lot of play at defensive tackle. “Rico” may also see time at defensive tackle where his 340 pound frame will prove particularly valuable in short yardage and goal line situations. Also, former Titan, Chris Pattee, may figure in on the defensive line, probably at defensive end during the season. Coach Mike Morgan likes not only that talent of Kline and Dresch, but can’t say enough about their “work ethic” and how that affects a defense that is built around hard work and discipline. Along with the AA Defensive MVP, Rhode, replacing the departed stars, Jennings and Pinckney, will be a new “star” and an old star. Former University of Georgia linebacker, Will Prescott comes on to the team and will hold down one spot while former Gladiator all-star, and “strongest man” competitor, Mike Pease will move into the middle linebacker position from the defensive line. The teams second leading tackler, David Craig (40 tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions) is also back and should play plenty too as the Gladiators find themselves with an incredible amount of defensive talent and depth. In the secondary, Demond Orr returns at cornerback and Eric McGowan returns at safety. Both players hope to improve on their 1 interception from 2006 numbers. In fact, even with their defensive strengths, the Gladiators were only able to come up with 7 interceptions all season… and definitely want to get more ball hawkish than that. Two newcomers report to the Gladiator secondary. Replacing Brad Thurber, who has moved to full time offense, at safety will be Steve Brown. Brown is described as “a pure linebacker in a strong safety’s body” and “hits anything that moves”. Newcomer, and unknown, Chris Crochet, will report to the weak side corner position. Hanif Flood, James McGriff, Aaron Bradley and, on occasion, Thurber, may also see some time in the Gladiators secondary as they prepare to contend for a title. This defense is top notch and with an improved offense, will be even better. They have plugged the holes of those dearly departed quite well and the Gladiators will be very difficult to move on. Their lack of size along the front 4, however, is a concern against any bigger offensive lines they may see. Projected Defensive Ranking: 3^rd .

INTANGIBLES/COACHING:

Every year the Gladiators get better. Credit that to the consistency of leadership within the team. Head coach, Mike Morgan, comes back year after year to guide the football decisions and Brad Thurber manages the operations of the team with quality and integrity. Each year, the Gladiators take another step. Two years ago it was two wins. Last season it was a playoff birth… this season it will be a playoff victory… next year… I sense a great deal of excitement in Gladiator-ville this season. This is a team that still has a lot of players from the difficult days in Great Falls and they all know now… they have a REALLY good team. GM Thurber, cannot say enough about the addition to the coaching staff of Ben Roth. Roth joins the team from Michigan after playing Running back for Northwood College. Roth used to play for the Gladiators when the team first formed and is described as a “very valuable addition to the coaching staff”. They believe his intensity, along with head coach, Mike Morgan’s experience and leadership will be all the difference they need to make their players perform “at the highest level”. They have the talent and…now even the depth to be one of the top teams not only in the AA, but the entire RMFL. IF, and that, in fact is the question, the Gladiator offense can make good strides, they will be in the final 4 at the end. If they make GREAT strides, an RMFL AA Championship awaits.

OVERALL RANKING: 4^th