Team Preview by: Jesse Houdeshell (Commentary by Ed Cerise; as indicated)
Offensive Outlook:
Second year Head Coach Jesse Houdeshell
along with co-offensive coordinator Jared
Sweesy are excited about the changes and
improvements they have made to their ever progressive offense. With the addition of a few key players we are
definitely excited about both our running game and passing game. Ben Landrian (6-2
230) is coming off an off-season surgery; we have new-comer Jared Burks (6-4 240) to fill the void.
With his division I experience, rocket arm and quick feet, we can't wait to see
him turn it on come game-time. Also at 240 lbs. with a 4.5 second 40, he will
be a load to bring down.
We also have the addition of fantastic receivers in Jeremy Pregitzer (6-2 200), Josh Bodrero (5-9 170) and Jeremy Shafer (6-1 215)
to go along with returners Josh Vallaro (6-3 220) and Brad Cook (5-10 180) to help us
spread out our offense.
A veteran offensive line in Mike Smith
(6-5 285), Evan Cornia (6-4 285), Kit Carney
(6-3 285) and Jake Skeen (6-1 250), with the help
of newcomer Joe Dolton (6-1 250) will not only provide
great pass protection, but they have all been hitting the gym and are looking
to annihilate some DL and LB'rs in the Running game.
They lead the way for a multiple threat of talent in the back field with returners Tyrel Hoagland (6-2 215) who was 6Th in the league
rushing as a full-back. He is even bigger and faster this year as he will
share the HB duties with the ever progressive Tony Nunez (5-10 175), and New comers Ryan Verwey (6-0 210), and Chris Floyd (5-11 225) to add a
dynamic and diverse bunch of guys to make our run game even better than last
year.
Look for a high speed and fun offense that is a hybrid of the west coast
offense mixed with good 'ol smash mouth football. Our
goal is to maximize the players we have to spread the field and to tire out
defenses with fresh legs and original and unpredictable play-calling.
Cerises Comments: Looking at the Bulldawgs on paper you would think you
had full bore college team. They have to
have the largest Quarterbacks in the league with two around 240lbs? Speaking of QBs,
as I have seen in this league for many years, teams that have a quality QB have
always done well. This team is good with
the Landrian at the helm, but adding Jared Burks who
has college experience and this team just jumped up a notch. Granted, Burks has yet to take a snap in the
RMFL, but with the offensive improving and returning most of their players how
can you not like the Bulldawgs. This
team offense is going to be very tough for opposing defenses to stop. After ranking 7th last season in
offense look for this team to break out and be one of the top offenses in AA
this season.
Defensive Outlook:
For some on paper, one would think that our defense is just average or middle of the road. But to ask any team that played the Bulldawgs last year and they will tell you they were in the fight of their lives as far as a hard hitting and aggressive defense was concerned. All yards were earned last season and that has not changed.
Team Captain Dario Azevedo
(5-11 250) is more excited now than ever. "We knew what the
problems were last year, and with the joint efforts of Coach Sermon and with Coach
Howdy taking over the D-line, we were able to recruit some new guys (Terrence Johnson (5-9 185), Calvin Armstead
(5-10 230)) and move some guys around (Craig Gause (6-3 200), Lonnie Edwards (5-10
160)) and are now more disciplined and prepared and having more fun
than I have in all my years in the league."
We have more defensive linemen to rotate this year which they have been working
1 on 1 with Coach Houdeshell
to learn the fundamentals of working with the linebackers to
effectively stop the run, and if those hats "pop-up" QB's look out because they are hungry for those
sacks. (Norm Robinson (6-0 260),
Joe Dolton (6-1 250) and Evan Cornia (6-4 285))
are showing the coaching staff that they are in it to win it with
impressive practices and phenomenal work ethic, with a sense of team unity that
is second to none.
Coach Houdeshell has stated time and time again
how impressed he is with the camaraderie and sense of family that the entire
defense is becoming. I have never heard a defense communicate like you
boys do this year. Even in my college days I never saw a solid unit that
supports and helps each other both on and off the field. It is refreshing
to see a defense that is competing so vigorously for a starting spot,
and yet helping each other both on and off the field to execute and prepare for
the next opponent."
The addition of Bill Sermon
as defensive coordinator has added a wealth of knowledge of defenses in
his first year in 18yrs out of pads and cleats. He has put together some fantastic
packages and schemes that can keep even the most seasoned QB's
second guessing themselves.
Cerises Comments: The Bulldawgs seem to have made a lot of positive
changes to their program all around from coaching to player positioning to
acquiring new players to improve their depth.
Defensively they ranked 8th last season and as Coach Houdeshell state prior the games they did lose were close
ones. At 4-4 last season they barely
missed the playoffs, I dont expect the Bulldawgs to be satisfied at all unless
they are playing for the championship.
This is a team that is moving up and will be in the playoffs, while they
are in a tough Central division they will be one of the better teams in AA. As the only team in the Central Division to
not have to travel to
OVERALL RANKING: 3rd
