MUSTANGS ‘LOCKED AND LOADED’ AND READY TO GALLOP BACK INTO CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION IN 2007

 

IDAHO FALLS –  If you had never looked at a single stat all season last year, and, after the season was over, I described to you a successful team (going 6-3) that finished 2nd in the league in offense, but last in defense, who would you guess?

 

Now, I KNOW you would say “Lionz”, so don’t even deny it.

 

But, no… it was the Idaho Falls Mustangs.

 

The Mustangs have not exactly always been known for having the best defense, but they have NEVER had the worst defense, in fact, its usually at or near the top of the RMFL… well, according to the AAA stat patrol, they did.

 

Now I know that by the end of the season, the Matadors had pretty much the worst everything and had they actually played the last game against Pocatello, that would have put the Mustangs into 9th place (in yard allowed), but the clear truth was that the Mustangs had some difficulties giving up yards.  But alas, they were actually the 5th best defense with regards to giving up points… probably the better barometer of a bend but not break style defense.

 

However, in the teams’ final two games, versus the Lionz and Predators, they gave up both… and that is the taste that has been left in their mouth all off-season.

 

Back for the 2007 season will be that same explosive offense with the best offensive line in the league… only improved.  Back will be a quality veteran quarterback (Donavan Ard) with experienced, explosive, receivers (Scott Brown, Brandon Reed, Todd Johnson) he has worked with for his third season now.  And back will be rushing champion, Travis Boden.

 

Defensively, the Mustangs have added proven talent and depth and will very unlikely be giving up many yards… or points in 2007.

 

In short, what you have is a legitimate contender.

 

The Mustangs, however, must count in their player losses, two-way athlete and original Mustang, Sean Powell… However, they get to count Powell in their coaching gains as he will be the head coach for the team this season and he brings with him a wealth of experience in the Semi-pro football game and, if anyone does, should know how to prepare his team to win against any opponent.

 

It will be difficult for any of the other 8 AAA teams to keep up with the “arms race” in northern Utah (between Rhino-Raiders and Cache Valley Bears), however, if any team is equipped and ready to do so, it will be these Idaho Falls Mustangs.

 

KEY ADDITIONS:

 

Tony Cade – Offensive Line

Cade Hall – Linebacker

Chris Brown – Wide Receiver

Roy Withers – Defensive Line

Irven Hill – Linebacker

Aaron Blakely  - Linebacker

Dylan Cooper – Defensive Back

Kraig Ward – Defensive Line

 

KEY LOSSES:

 

Austin Shawver – Linebacker

Matt Chidester – Defensive Line

Dave Taylor – Linebacker

Sean Powell – Defensive Back/Wide Receiver

 

OFFENSE:

 

This Idaho Falls offense is going to be scary.  First of all, the Mustangs were ranked 2nd in offense in the AAA in 2006.  Their 1701 rushing yards was almost 500 yards better than the next team (Madison – 1248).  Their 5th ranked passing game was certainly effective, if not dangerous and their offensive line, was once again, #1 in the RMFL.  Since last season, the ONLY changes for the Mustangs will be to replace one offensive lineman and switch out their fullback… so… why all the hype?  Part of it is that, unlike most of the teams in the RMFL, they haven’t changed much.. and lets face it, when you are the 2nd ranked team of 10, do you need to change much?  Further, the #1 ranked offensive team from 2006, the Eastern Idaho Lionz, will be playing without their MVP quarterback… all things being equal, shouldn’t that pretty much get you to #1?  It just might.  Injured for much of last season, Mustang star receiver/running back/back-up quarterback and basso for the team choir, Scott Brown, is healthy.  Lining up on the outside of the Mustangs offensive formation, Brown gets… and should get, as much respect from opposing defensive backs as does former RMFL fastest man, Brandon Reed. Last season, Reed lead the team with 34 receptions for 632 yards and 11 touchdowns.  Missing several games, Brown still had 31 receptions for 546 yards and 2 touchdowns.  They Mustangs also added former Matador star, Chris Brown.  This helps ease the loss of retired, Sean Powell, who steps out of the pads and into the job of full time Mustang head coach, particularly offensive guru.  Todd Johnson returns as tight end and I think that with getting Brown back full time, his openings in the middle will just get bigger.  Donavan Ard returns for his 3rd season as a Mustang quarterback and looks to make it his best.  Last season Ard passed for 1,236 yards, including 15 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions for a 98.13 QB efficiency rating.  Ard also rushed 22 times for 165 yards, so has mobility and can’t be counted on to stay in one spot.  OF course, this offense keys around star tailback, Travis Boden.  Boden lead the AAA in rushing last season with 920 yards on 155 attempts and 7 touchdowns.  He helped make the offensive line #1 and his offensive line helped him become number one.  He’ll have a new running mate it looks like as the Mustangs may be running star linebacker, Jeb Harrison out of the Fullback spot in ’07.  Harrison, who was second on the team in tackles in ’06 with 30 on his way to an all-star selection, has played some fullback in the past and at 6’0’, 230 pounds will be an incredible load in front of Boden.  Harrison is one of the hardest open field hitters in the game and will punish any linebacker that really wants to fill the hole Boden is headed for.  The #1 ranked offensive line probably just got better.  They will return 4 key starters in Tyson Poulson (5’11, 280), Ryan Lingenfelder (6’3, 290), Rye McAffee (6’4, 260) and Vince Barzee (6’2, 280).  Last season, a host of other players rotated out of the 5th spot, this year that will be manned full time by newcomer, Tony Cade (6’1, 285).  According to the Mustangs, Cade will be a big upgrade from last season and will absolutely shore up what has become the best offensive line in the RMFL.  Chris Arellano returns to do the place-kicking. Arellano had a solid, but not spectacular 2006, hitting 10 of 13 extra points and 3 of  3 field goals, with his longest being only 30 yards.  All in all, this offense is stacked.  The best offensive line, a great receiving group, a bruising fullback, an experienced quarterback and… Travis Boden.  Barring any key injuries, this should be the best offense in the AAA in 2007.  Projected Offensive Ranking: 1st .

 

DEFENSE:  

 

So… how about that Mustang D?  With what I feel will be not only a #1 ranked offense, but an offense that is absolutely capable of eating a lot of clock and conducting many significant long, clock-eating drives, it will only make a good defense… better.  With two all-star caliber, immediate starters coming over from the Lionz, the LAST ranked, that’s right, you heard it right, LAST ranked Mustang defense from 2006 will be A LOT better.  How much better? Time can only tell.  They are off to a good start, however, simply with the addition of a couple of the Eastern Idaho Lionz best defensive players, defensive end, Roy Withers and linebacker, Irven Hill.  The Mustangs are also quite pleased with a couple of other fine defensive pick-ups, Strong Safety, Dylan Cooper, who Powell describes as “will be an all-star every year” and another familiar name, linebacker Cade Hall (6’0, 225).  Hall is the brother of long time Mustang star, Ryan Hall, who I used to play with back in the day. After serving a constitutionally mandated suspension for failing to get a free release from Lionz management, Withers will join a defensive line that will include the longest currently playing Mustang, Scott Worthington at the other defensive end.  Worthington joined the Mustangs in 1998 and had one of his best years last year with 18 tackles and 5 sacks to lead the team.  At defensive tackle will be a couple of man mountains in Aaron Toone (6’2, 320) and Josh Swatsenbarg (5’11, 340). Both Toone and Swatsenbarg were with the team last year and are looking for a much more productive 2007.  Irven Hill will join the Mustangs best linebacker, all-star from 2006, Jeb Harrison (6’0, 230) playing Middle backer and Cade Hall on the weak side.  The Mustangs list Harrison as a two way player (also at fullback, see offense), however, he has become known as a defensive player and if something gives later in the season, it will probably be at fullback, as the Mustangs do have other options there and they CLEARLY need to improve on defense.  The Mustangs are also excited to list the following options at defensive line: Trevor Wight, Clint Williams, Dennis Rhinhart, Ryan Young, Cody Hudson (original Mustang), Kraig Ward, James Mason and Vince Barzee.  At linebacker depth, they still have Jason Lawson (another long-time Mustang).  In the Defensive secondary, the Mustangs are glad to have former RMFL fastest man, Josh Roth back full time at corner back.  Roth did not play as much in ’06 and didn’t get any interceptions and hopes to turn that around… a lot.  He will join returning starter, Koby Spencer. Spencer lead the Mustangs with 5 interceptions in 2006 and those two are bolstered with the knowledge that star receiver, Brandon Reed will also support… when needed.  When Reed and Roth are playing, the Mustangs can claim two of perhaps the three fastest players in the league.  At safety, Cooper comes on the team and will join 2006 all-star, Justin Weaver.  Weaver has been with the Mustangs since 1999 and had his best season ever last year, recording 52 tackles to lead the team and finish third in the AAA.  He only had 1 interception, however, and I am sure would like to do a little more of that. I think the Mustangs defense has mad a big jump this off-season, but I just can’t move them from 10th down too low. I think they will need to get better pressure on the quarterback and better pass coverage, particularly in the middle zones.  I think they will need their safeties to get more interceptions and less tackles and you will see a dramatic improvement (only 2 of their 2nd in the RMFL total of 19 came from the safety position).  The pick-ups, particularly Hill, Withers and Cooper, look to help this under-rated unit make a difference.    Projected Defensive Ranking: 6th .

 

COACHING AND INTANGIBLES:

 

By Mustang standards, 2006 was not a good year.  Although they finished with a very respectable 6-3 record, they did not finish very well at all.  After getting off to a 6-2 start, they were summarily hammered by Madison 50-33 in the final game of the regular season and then embarrassed 40-14 by Pocatello in round one of the playoffs… both in Idaho Falls.  Being out-scored 90-47 over two games has had to have an affect on the team over the off-season.  Especially the part about giving up 90 points in two games.  Long time original Mustang, Sean Powell, takes over the coaching duties after suffering a near debilitating injury in the Boise game early last season and I have never met anyone that HATES losing like Sean Powell.  Powell is a master strategist and a real student and lover of the sport.  He commands a lot of respect among the players and I think will not only make a difference on offense, but defense as well.  Early reports are that the Mustangs are “loading up” big time… and not just on a couple of Madison players. I think that this team loaded up where they needed to and stood pat where little change was needed.  The Mustangs will be a lot more “in the mix” in 2007 and they WILL be around after the first round of the playoffs… perhaps even playing on July 7th  .

 

OVERALL RANKING:  3rd