RHINO-RAIDERS DON’T MISS A BEAT; MUCH OF THE SAME CAST OF CHARACTERS RETURNS IN 2007 TO DEFEND THEIR RMFL TITLE FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE SEASON

 

Team Preview by: Jared Neumeier

 

OGDEN – When I write these pre-season previews for our fine teams, it is important to note that the most vocal audience of these previews (i.e. the GM’s) can be classified in one of three ways.

 

1. Those that want to be ranked very high

2. Those that want to be ranked very low

3. Those that don’t give a rat’s bottom because they know it doesn’t affect their playoff qualifications none the least.

 

 The Rhino-Raiders clearly and unmistakably fall into category number 1.

 

In fact, they don’t just want to be highly ranked, they want to be #1.

 

In fact, if they are not pre-ranked #1, they let the poor, innocent sports writer absolutely “have it”.

 

Of course, this sounds a little amusing, but that is not the point.  The point is that the Rhino-Raiders have not lost a league game since before the Ipod and they want some fricken credit.  Of course we do try to give it to them, since most teams would blush at a 2nd overall ranking, but not these Rhinos.

 

They have been #1 so long, I don’t think they would know what to do the morning after if they actually lost a league game… I don’t think most of us would.

 

However, in this man’s RMFL, you don’t get to carry over your past record.  Like any league, each season starts afresh and everyone 0-0 to start and last season’s champion is mathematically capable of being this season’s chump.

 

From my analysis, there are going to be two teams that have no glaring weaknesses to speak of, the Rhino-Raiders are one of them.

 

They are back with a great offensive line and field general behind it.  That same field general has another awesome array of weapons to attack each opponent.   They Rhino defense that wreaked all kinds of havoc on opposing offenses all of last season seems to be back completely in tact… with even more depth support.

 

The Rhinos absolutely HATE the #2 ranking and I’ll likely hear about it and how terrible of an analyst/sports writer I am; but if you were a Rhino, would you rather be pre-ranked #2 and finish #1… or vise versa?

 

Here’s to probably the greatest championship team the Rockies will ever see… as they have reigned on high… if they should happen to fall… let them fall softly.

 

 

KEY ADDITIONS:

 

Justin DeFour – Wide Receiver

Travis Brower – Offensive Line

Justin Oswald – Running Back/Defensive End

Beau Enslow – Running Back

 

KEY LOSSES:

 

Todd Wheelwright – Offensive Line

Rashad Kennedy – Running Back

Nick Fotu – Tight End

Trevor Bell – Wide Receiver

 

 OFFENSE:

 

There once was a day when you would talk about the Rhino-Raiders and all you would talk about is their great offense.  That day is no longer today.  Absolutely, their offense is still VERY good, one of the tops in the RMFL.  Their offensive line is also VERY good, one of the tops in the RMFL. Their quarterback, Dave Stireman is very good, one of the tops in the RMFL.  And, of course, wide receiver, Damon Greenberry is very good, perhaps THE top in the RMFL.  However, even with all the quality players, its still no longer the offense that makes opposing teams quake the most.  And that is a good thing for this offense.  With the emergence of the most dangerous, sack-happy defense ever seen in the league, there is no longer quite the preparation focus for teams on stopping the Rhino offense… which will just make them tougher.  Dave Stireman returns, again, after his annual sparring match with the “R” word (Retirement) for his 9th season of semi-pro football.  Of course, he brings with him more than a great right arm and a wealth of experience, he brings with him a “Coach on the field” and several key players that would be more likely to hang them up too, once Stireman walks away for good.  Perhaps mostly, he brings with him a tried and true offensive system that no one runs like he can.  Coming off perhaps his best season in the RMFL (or UFL perhaps), Stireman set a record for touchdown passes in a season last year with 30, while throwing only 13 interceptions.  In 2005, he also threw 13 interceptions, but only 19 touchdowns. And in 2004, he only threw 18 touchdown passes against 10 interceptions.  Each season, his yards have increased (1593 to 1830 to 2240).  SO, one might argue that he is actually getting better.  Stireman will have a former backfield mate with him in Justin Oswald.   Oswald is a dangerous, punishing running back with deceptive speed.  He returns to the Rhinos after a year with the Cache Valley bears where he was named an all-star.   Oswald rushed for 537 yards on 108 carries and 8 touchdowns with the Bears and his presence in the running game was sorely needed by the Rhinos.  Familiar, Ryan Scadden will line up as the Rhino’s primary H-back in their familiar one-back formation.  Scadden caught 8 balls for 101 yards in 2006 and is looking to play a bigger role in 2007.  At tight end, Nick Fotu has finally sailed away, replaced full-time (hopefully) by K.C. McQueen.  McQueen is bigger than Fotu (if that’s possible) with nice soft hands and should prove to be a more reliable weapon.  Record-setting Damon Greenberry is expected to be back from what looked like a career-ending leg injury in the all-star game last year.  Greenberry set new records for yardage (1163) and touchdowns (18) and is looking to build off the greatest season ever by a receiver in RMFL history.  His running mate, however, Trevor Bell, announced his retirement (although, according to Stireman, may yet play in another game or two for the Rhinos this season), which opens up the other side for newly acquired, Justin DeFour.  Like Oswald, DeFour played last season for the Cache Valley Bears, but unlike Oswald, DeFour was relegated to the #3 receiver role behind former Rhino, Norvel Young and the RMFL’s “Fastest Man”, Anthony Stewart; only catching 9 passes for 132 yards and 1 touchdown for the Bears.  He’ll be no #3 for the Rhino’s, however, and Stireman is quite pleased to have him on board.  He will also have long time Rhino receiver, James Owens at his disposal as well as Ben Jones, who was the Rhino’s leading receiver after game 1 in 2007 before succumbing to injury ending his season.  Once again, the offensive line will be stacked.  Returning will be Phil Sotomayor (6’3, 295) who faced his own conflict with the “R” word in the off-season, as well as big Eric Christiansen (6’7, 325), Nate Babtist (6’1, 330) and Eric Mullen (6’0, 290).  To help round out perhaps the biggest offensive line in the RMFL, and replacing the departed Todd Wheelwright who confronted retirement and gave in, will be big Travis Brower (6’5, 310), formerly of the University of Utah.    Finally, Rodney Frojker, will be back again to do the place-kicking for the Rhinos.  Frokjer, probably the most understated, undermentioned and underrated kickers in the game, was good on 38 of 42 extra points last season and 3 of 4 field goals, with one good from 46 yards.  He’s been a consistent and dependable scorer for the highest scoring team in the area. The Rhino offensive line yielded only 7 sacks last season to lead the league; if not for a less than stellar rushing game (only a 3.9 yard per carry average), they would be holding the #1 offensive line title.  The hope is that Oswald, or perhaps new acquisition, Beau Enslow (Snow College) can change all that.  I think the top four offenses (Cache Valley, Idaho Falls, Eastern Idaho and the Rhinos) will all be pretty close in offensive yards output.  Any one of the 4 could end up with the #1 offense.  The only concern I have with pre-ranking the Rhino’s lower is that because of the lack of practice time this team partakes, Stireman needs to develop confidence in receivers on the field before he throws to them much.  Last years great season was a follow up on the fact that he had a great rapport with both Greenberry and Bell… and he pretty much didn’t throw the ball to anyone else.  With Bell (mostly) gone, he’ll have to get that unspoken confidence in another receiver… like DeFour, or Jones or Owens.  I think Stireman probably runs as well now as he did 5 years ago, its just that he is far less likely to do so.  Last season the Rhinos had the 3rd ranked offense (7th rush, 2nd pass), wearing the biggest target in the league and with teams keying on certain Rhino players more than others might hamstring this offense a little more than the others… It will be harder to duplicate last seasons success .  Projected Offensive Rank: 4th .

 

DEFENSE:

 

It seemed to be a bit of a bail out when decision time came at the end of the RMFL Championship game last year and a game MVP had to be named.  Yes, Rashad Kennedy did have another great Championship rushing the football, but the way the Rhino front 7 (and sometimes more with a safety blitz) just exploded into the Madison backfield racking up … what 12 sacks, you could not… not recognize them for winning that game, so a co-MVP, naming the defense just HAD to happen.  You couldn’t just specify any one… or two…they were all great.  And that is the defense that the Rhino-Raiders return to the field in 2007.  With an amazing 48 quarterback sacks during the regular season in 2006, they set a league record… by a lot, however fell short to the Cache Valley Bears defense for the overall #1 ranking in the league.  I expect NOTHING to change from last season.  Back will be defensive Guru and master defensive recruiter, Everest Matagi and his host of reknown stars.  Most of these guys are still in their semi-pro football prime and there are basicly NO changes to last season’s phenomenal group.   Defensive Line: Setema Gali (6’6, 280), Matt Taliulu (6’3, 270; 3 sacks in 2006), Val Tiatia (6’1, 300) and Tracy Ita (6’5, 280).  You could have a long argument with Cache Valley Bears faithful about who has the best defensive front between the two and never resolve it.  The fact is that EVERY RMFL team would gladly take either unit. These are the best groups in the RMFL, bar none.  Of course, the Rhino’s play a lot of 5 down sets and Justin Oswald proved to be particularly dangerous on the defensive line as well as the offensive backfield.  Linebackers, Jake Phippen (33 tackles, 7 sacks in 2006), Levine Tupe (41-1/2 tackles) and the defensive MVP of the south division, Justin Walker are absolutely amazing.  Walker lead the AAA with 10 sacks from the linebacker position. He also recorded 39 total tackles and had two interceptions. He was simply dominating.  There is no drop off in the secondary either.  Jared Harward (3 interceptions, 2 returned for touchdowns in 2006) and Matt Stroshine (6 interceptions in 2006) return at the cornerback spots.  Long-time Rhino, Jay Tupe (31 tackles, 2-1/2 sacks in 2006)  and equally hard-hitting, David Stroshine (26 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception in 2006) return to patrol the secondary.  Jay Tupe had the critical fumbled sack return for a touchdown that turned the championship game around last July.  There is not much more that you can say about this defense.  Key back ups include defensive back, Jed Davies, defensive lineman, Eric  Eyre, Defensive lineman, Sean Matagi, linebacker, Esi Lautaimi, Defensive back, Chris Matagi, Defensive lineman, Tali Taumoepeau and safety, Fainga Vakapuna.  They would be #1 hands down except that there is the issue of the Bears defense who ended up ranked number #1 last season with 450 less yards given up than the Rhinos.  I can’t rank them #1, but there is a clear and precipitous drop off between the Rhino’s and whoever would be the #3 defense, that is for certain.   .  Projected Defensive Rank: 2nd

 

COACHING AND INTANGIBLES:

 

When writing these reviews, it is easy to fall into the trap of writing that ALL of the “intangibles” work against the Rhino-Raiders, since just about EVERYTHING else works for them.  They certainly can’t lack confidence and they certainly have one of, if not the best recruiting machine in the RMFL.  It seems that no matter who leaves the team, some other great players sucks right into his spot..  And with an entire great defense back and a number of extremely talented depth players, saying this defense will be great is a slam dunk.  Of course, the offense will be explosive as well.  As long as you have Dave Stireman and at least one Damon Greenberry, you will score some points.  There is some question about whether Greenberry will have the same speed, but I doubt any defensive backs will buy into a “Slow down” theory.  Likely, he’ll draw plenty of double coverage, opening up other options.  No, the Rhinos have great coaching in Stireman engineering the offense and Matagi engineering the defense.  And even though you might argue that with the “Streak” (of consecutive league wins) there is pressure to keep it up, I don’t think so.  I think that these Rhino-Raiders have proved it and proved it and they have NOTHING more to prove to anyone.  They win… because they don’t know how to do anything else.  Once again, I’ll project that the sweet taste of victory will finally elude them for at least a game in 2006, but it has nothing to do with any loss of talent on this squad and more with the upgrades of a couple of nearby competitors… and, of course, the immutable Law of Gravity…. What goes up… does eventually come down, doesn’t it?

 

OVERALL RANKING: 2nd