Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

[R. Rich]

Assassins Prepare For Second Season
By: Staff


The Erie Assassins hope to rebound from a very difficult first season, one which saw the team go 3-15. Offensively, the team struggled mightily, as QBs Byron Leftwich and Jake Plummer both had lackluster seasons and couldn't get things going. The team also lacked firepower in the passing game, as leading receiver Brandon Lloyd had just one receiving TD.

To correct this, the Assassins made the bold move to trade valuable backup Plummer to the L.A. Playas for the Playas' 2nd round rookie draft pick and for WR Lee Evans, a quick young receiver known for running good routes and having good hands. The Assassins hope Evans will bring a vertical presence to their passing game to offset Kelley Washington, more of a possession type receiver, and Lloyd, who will be moved to the slot receiver position. The team will also use more 3 receiver sets as a result of the trade. They also expect big things out of TE Ben Troupe, who had a solid first year. Troupe finished w/ a team high 2 TDs, something the team plans on expanding, as the addition of Evans should open up the middle of the field more for Troupe.

Running back Julius Jones can, if healthy, become an impact player for the Assassins. The team got some insurance in the drafting of Marion Barber, and expect him to become a good backup for Jones.

Defensively, the Assassins have not ruled out some changes to the lineup. Sources say the team is planning to get more out of pass rusher Derrick Burgess, a backup and situational player last year. Burgess may be moved into the starting lineup, which could mean LDE Randy Starks could become a backup, as the team was very happy w/ the performance of RDE Anthony Weaver. The main concern for the Assassins was the run defense, worst in the BZFL. To address this, the Assassins worked out another trade w/ the Playas, bringing massive NT Ted Washington in to compete w/ Lional Dalton for the starting job. Team sources say that the Assassins may also look to drafting a stud NT for more competition, possibly in the first round. The linebackers are set, w/ Derrick Johnson, Jonathan Vilma, Nick Barnett, and Karlos Dansby ready to wreak havoc on offenses. In the secondary, the Assassins made another bold move, trading away starting CB Quentin Jammer and promoting nickel back Nathan Vasher to the starting position opposite Dunta Robinson. The team feels Vasher made tremendous strides last year, and that he will help give Erie a very good secondary. Which leads us to the safeties. SS Bob Sanders was impressive last year until injury curtailed him a bit. Expect Sanders and Bryan Scott to battle it out in training camp for the starting job. The FS position will be manned by Sean Taylor, who had a solid year and continues to get even better.

The special teams are okay w/ Brad Maynard being one of the more reliable punters in the leauge. The team must deal w/ the injury to K David Akers, so look for a free agent to be signed as a stop gap measure until Akers is ready to go.

Due to the trades that were made early in the postseason, the Assassins now have 3 picks in the second round of the rookie draft, giving them 4 of the first 36 picks in the draft. There has been a lot of speculation as to whether or not the team will draft franchise LT prospect D'Brickashaw Ferguson or trade down to get more picks. The team has met w/ Ferguson and evaluated him on a few occasions. They may be prepared to stand pat w/ the #2 pick and take him, if the Canadian Radiation Kings do select Reggie Bush w/ the #1 overall pick, that is. Ferguson would be incredible insurance for the Assassins, as veteran Jonathan Ogden is getting older and many say is in the twilight of a fantastic career.

There is plenty of drama leading up to the draft. The Assassins have plenty of young talent, but also need to add some firepower offensively and must get deeper in some areas. It should be interesting.

[Canadian'eh!]

if the Canadian Radiation Kings do select Reggie Bush w/ the #1 overall pick, that is...

yup...

[R. Rich]

Assassins Make Roster Cuts
By: Staff


The Erie Assassins made some cuts to get down to the 35 man limit for protecting players. There were a few surprises, but not many earth shattering ones. Here's the list:

LB Jason Babin
WR Kelley Washington
FB Alan Ricard
LB Napoleon Harris
WR Bethel Johnson
LB Dexter Coakley
CB Andre Woolfolk
DE Michael Haynes
OT Makoa Freitas
CB Lenny Walls
LB Gerald Hayes
FB Jonathan Wells
DT Donnell Washington
LB Darrell McClover
TE Todd Yoder
FB Moran Norris


Some of the players cut, such as McClover, Norris, Johnson, and Hayes, were contributors on the Assassins' special teams units, so the team will need to make moves to fill some holes there. Washington had a decent year, but the trade to acquire Lee Evans seems to signal a move to have a more open, long range passing attack, which will require more speedy deep threats. Washington was a solid possession receiver, but the team will need more scoring punch and the ability to score from anywhere on the field, something Washington could not provide. Defensively, the releasing of Woolfolk and Walls now forces the Assassins to be even more aggressive in getting players to add depth to their secondary. They have good quality in their projected starters (FS Sean Taylor, SS Bob Sanders, CBs Dunta Robinson and Nathan Vasher), but will need to add some quality depth to ensure their pass defense, ranked 6th in the BZFL last year, continues to improve.

The Assassins are reported to be focusing very hard on their strategy for the upcoming rookie draft.

[R. Rich]

Assassins Preparing For Drafts
By: Staff

The Erie Assassins are in the midst of getting their draft board together for the upcoming free agent and rookie drafts. Due to the season ending injury to starting C Matt Birk, the Assassins are going to look to add a quality veteran to fill in until Birk is ready again. Executive VP/General Manager Kevin Colbert said, "Losing Matt was a tremendous blow. Our offensive line was a very stable unit last season, and now we've lost our leader there. This is going to be a tough spot for us to fill."

The team did add veteran guard Cosey Coleman recently in a trade that involved backup RT Shane Olivea going to the Bushwhackers. When asked about that trade and whether or not it made the drafting of Virginia's standout OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson even more likely, Colbert said, "Getting Cosey here adds even more depth for us. We lost a good backup tackle in Shane, but we plan to move Vernon Carey to fill that void and Coleman will compete for a starting position w/ incumbents Chester Pitts and Kendyl Jacox. Either way, we've added depth to the interior while not losing a whole lot outside." Carey is a viable right tackle who should be a quality backup to rising start Bryant McKinnie. Left tackle Jonathan Ogden is in the twilight of a fantastic career, so look for the Assassins to draft Ferguson in the first, and also for them to go after a decent backup for the time being until Ferguson is ready to step in.

Defensively, the Assassins addressed their need for a run stuffer up front by trading to acquire Ted Washington, but they could use a big run stuffer to back him up. Jimmy Kennedy and Lional Dalton are decent, but are not dominant. The ends look to be solid, w/ last year's 5th round pick Chris Canty joining a solid rotation that includes incumbents Randy Starks and Anthony Weaver and pass rush specialist Derrick Burgess. The linebacker unit is a strength of the team and features some good young players in starting outside 'backers Karlos Dansby and Derrick Johnson, the 2nd overall pick in last year's rookie draft. They are led by the tough inside duo of Jonathan Vilma and last year's team MVP Nick Barnett. The big issue is depth behind these guys. Outside, they have James Harrison, a vastly underrated player who could easily start for other teams, but inside is where depth is badly needed. The Assassins released Gerald Hayes, but may look to re-sign him in free agency if there are no big offers. Special teams player Darrell McClover and veteran Dexter Coakley were also released, and there may not be an effort to re-sign either player. Like the LBs, the secondary has great starting talent in starting corners Dunta Robinson and Nathan Vasher plus strong safety Bob Sanders and free safety Sean Taylor, but need depth behind them. Right now, they have Bryan Scott as a backup safety, but nothing more. Look for the Assassins to use a free agent pick on a nickel corner, then use the draft to pick up one or two more defensive backs.

The team has had a few players in for interviews leading up to the rookie draft, most notably OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson. It's no secret that many in the organization have been targeting Ferguson for quite some time, and reportedly, nothing in his interviews has changed their minds. Rumors have swirled recently about the Assassins possibly trading down, as they were impressed by a few players they had in for interviews. Team president R. Rich has said of trade down rumors, "Don't belive that hype. We're staying w/ the 2nd overall pick and getting the top guy on our board, unless we receive a ridiculous offer from some team that we can't afford to pass on. By ridiculous, I'd mean something like swapping first round picks, picking up a 2nd, a first next year, and an additional pick as well. I don't see anyone making such an offer, so look for us to stand pat."

[R. Rich]

Erie Assassins Draft Report: Mid-Draft Recap
By: Editor
</p>The Erie Assassins have completed the first half of their rookie draft, and are on their way to a very nice overall draft. Here’s the rundown so far:


Round 1, Pick #2: Mario Williams, DE from N.C. State

Round 2, Pick #2 (22 overall): Winston Justice, OT from USC
Round 2, Pick #7 (27): Chad Jackson, WR from Florida
Round 2, Pick #16 (36): Antonio Cromartie, CB from Florida State

Round 3, Pick 2 (42): Max Jean-Gilles, OG from Georgia

Round 4, Pick 2 (62): Gabe Watson, DT from Michigan




First Round Pick: Super Mario
The choice of Williams was a bit surprising to some, seeing how much VP/GM Kevin Colbert and Director of Player Personnel Phil Savage really liked Virginia’s stud tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, but drafting Williams also made more sense. The Assassins have two very good bookend tackles on the roster in Jonathan Ogden and Bryant McKinnie, but needed to upgrade the talent on the defensive line, where they have Anthony Weaver and pass rusher Derrick Burgess, but after that have last year’s starter @ LDE Randy Starks, who started strong but trailed off badly and last year’s 5th round pick Chris Canty, who they feel will develop into a valuable player but still needs the time to develop. Bringing in “Super Mario” now gives them an impact player, one who will probably occupy the LDE spot and wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines.

Second Round Pick: Justice Is Served
One of the toughest decisions made by the powers that be @ 7 Assassins Plaza was to pass on all world tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and draft a pass rusher first. By doing so, they knew they’d be forced to look @ drafting a guy for depth that probably would be a project that would need time to develop. Never in their wildest dreams did they figure on the 2nd best tackle available, USC’s Winston Justice, being there when their first of three picks in round 2 came up. When they saw Justice on the board, they wasted no time in making him an Assassin. In Justice, they get a guy who has the versatility to play either left tackle or right tackle (where I’m betting he’ll end up) and contribute immediately. Just like w/ Ferguson, I believe that getting Justice now gives Erie the ability to move the very talented Bryant McKinnie over from the right side to the left side when the time comes to replace Ogden, who is clearly in the twilight of a fantastic career. That still leaves the Assassins w/ two very talented bookends.

Second Round Pick: Action Jackson
The one thing Assassins’ Offensive Coordinator Ken O’Keefe has said is that he is going to try to get the offense to be more like his offenses were @ Iowa, where they use multiple sets and can come @ you in different ways. This will make it tougher for teams to prepare for Erie. One key element was the move to acquire WR Lee Evans (in the Jake Plummer trade w/ the Playas). Since then, Erie has added veterans Corey Bradford, Devery Henderson, and Troy Walters also. They expanded on that by drafting Florida’s playmaking wideout Chad Jackson w/ their 2nd round 2 pick. Jackson has the size/speed dimension that teams covet and also has good hands and exceptional leaping ability. Most draft experts feel that Jackson will be what many of his Gator predecessors have not been: a big time receiver who can duplicate his collegiate success in the pros. Jackson should team w/ Evans, Bradford, and Brandon Lloyd to give the Assassins the downfield passing game they lacked in year one.

Second Round Pick: Cromartie’s Big Risk, Big Reward Potential
After gutting the secondary through a series of trades (Quentin Jammer) and cuts (Andre Woolfolk, Lenny Walls), the Assassins knew they needed to bring playmaking ability to the secondary. In free agency, they added Fakhir Brown and Kenny Wright for depth, but they still wanted to bring in a guy who could be a difference maker. In 2nd round pick Antonio Cromartie, they may have found their guy. Cromartie has great size (6-2 ½, 208) and speed (4.44), and has great athleticism. He also has a tall frame w/ long arms and despite that, is very fluid in his movements. The down side is that Cromartie missed the 2005 season due to a knee injury, but his performance @ the combine this year answered many questions about his durability. Still, you have to wonder what having that year off has done to his skills. Personally, I think the Assassins may have gotten one of the true steals of this draft, as he’s got first round talent.

Third Round Pick: Road Grader To The Max
The Assassins are always looking to get better along the offensive line, and to that end, they decided they needed to draft massive Georgia guard Max Jean-Gilles to provide depth. Jean-Gilles does have the talent to land a starting job, but w/ Cosey Coleman, Chester Pitts, Kendyl Jacox, and Artis Hicks on board, the team does not need to rush his development. Jean-Gilles brings plenty of size (6-3 ¾, 355) to the table, and has a huge wingspan. He’s quick off the snap and very powerful in terms of run blocking. He is also an accomplished pass blocker as well. He will need to work in his conditioning so that he can get to the second level and punish defenders, but that will come in time. Getting him in the third was good insurance for the interior offensive line.

Fourth Round Pick: Watson, Come Here! We Need You!
The biggest flaw in Al Golden’s defense last year was the horrendous run defense. The team mentioned that they were going to address it this offseason, and they have, by acquiring mammoth veteran Ted Washington in a trade w/ the Playas and now by drafting Michigan’s run stuffer Gabe Watson. Like w/ third round pick Max Jean-Gilles, the Assassins’ depth (backups include Lional Dalton and Jimmy Kennedy) should allow Watson to gradually work his way into the lineup. A huge guy @ 6-3 ½ and 339lbs, Watson has the ability to become the next Ted Washington and has looked dominant when he applies himself. The biggest knock on him going into the draft was that he takes too many plays off and isn’t consistent enough. A big part of that is conditioning, and he’ll get plenty of that from the Erie coaches. Watson is very coachable and is willing to work towards getting better. I think he’ll be groomed to eventually replace Big Ted as the starting nose tackle.



So there it is. I think the Assassins did a tremendous job of not only filling holes on the team, but filling them w/ very talented players. Many of these guys had first round or second round grades, and to get all of them was a coup. This was a strong start to the draft by the Erie front office.

We’ll return w/ a review of the second half of the draft and give out grades once the draft is complete.

[R. Rich]

2nd Half Draft Report

Erie Adds Depth Where It's Needed
By: Editor



Here's how the second half of the draft went for the Assassins:


Round 5, Pick #2 (82): Maurice Stovall, WR from Notre Dame

Round 6, Pick #2 (102): Alan Zemaitis, CB from Penn State

Round 7, Pick #2 (122): Calvin Lowry, S from Penn State

Round 8, Pick #2 (142): Kevin Boothe, G from Cornell</u>


Fifth Round Pick: Stovall To Lend A Hand....Or Two(?)
Hoping to get even more depth for the receiving unit, the Assassins made Notre Dame's Maurice Stovall their choice in the fifth round. Stovall has good size and is a very good receiver, plus he is coming off a very good year for the Irish. He has been compared to Larry Fitzgerald in terms of the way he plays, but only time will tell if he can elevate his game to Fitzgerald's level in the pros. Stovall should work well w/ Lee Evans, Brandon Lloyd, Corey Bradford, and second round pick Chad Jackson to give Erie a strong passing game.

Sixth Round Pick: Much Needed Secondary Depth From A to Z
When the Assassins saw Alan Zemaitis still on the board @ the top of the sixth round and w/ the team still needing depth in the secondary, they wasted no time in drafting him. Zemaitis brings good size ( 6'1" 1/4, 194), technique, instincts, toughness (good open field tackler), and leaping ability to Erie and should help provide the depth they sorely need. A nice value pick for the Assassins.

Seventh Round Pick: Lowry To Bring Many Happy Returns?
Sixth round pick Zemaitis' teammate, S Calvin Lowry, was a surprise pick in that second rounder Chad Jackson is a guy who can possibly bring the team a home run threat as a kick/punt returner. Lowry does have plenty of experience returning punts, but doesn't bring the explosion and shiftiness that you'd like to see in a return guy. That said, Lowry is also valuable as depth in the secondary. He has shown good centerfield skills as a deep safety and is also pretty good in run support. I think ultimately, Lowry's most value will come on special teams, but on coverage teams.

Eight Round Pick: Sleeper Boothe To Get His Chance To Add Depth To OL
One of the real sleepers of this draft, Cornell guard Kevin Boothe was happy to hear his name called by the Assassins. Boothe was considered to be one of the top sleepers in the draft, but saw his stock slip a bit after a lackluster effort @ the Senior Bowl (especially against speed rushers). A "project", Boothe does have the size (6-4, 316), long arms, quickness off the snap, and strength to develop into a quality backup for the interior line. He also has the versatility to help out @ tackle as well, but should be better suited for guard.



So, to sum up the entire draft, here's my grades for each pick and my overall grade:

Williams: A
He should provide the pass rush and impact plays the defensive line needs. Is he the next Julius Peppers? Only time will tell, but he has the potential to be that good.

Justice: B+
A great pick in the 2nd, as he was the next best tackle prospect to D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Justice has the athleticism and skill to become an elite pro tackle. We'll see if he can make it happen. If so, this was a tremendous pick for Erie.

Jackson: B
Jackson was far and away one of the best of a weak WR class this year. Other than Santonio Holmes, I'd say he was the best. If he can do what few Gator receivers seem able to do-transfer their collegiate success over to the pros, the the Assassins could have an offense that can really challenge teams.

Cromartie: B-
The only reason he gets the minus grade is for the injury that kept him out of football last year. Other than that, he's got it all: size, speed, coverage skills, and playmaking ability. If the injury is a thing of the past, the Assassins got a steal.

Jean-Gilles: B
They needed a massive road grader @ guard, and they got one. Other than Davin Joseph, I think he was the best guard in the draft. He should work his way into the starting lineup @ some point, probably sooner than later.

Watson: B
They BADLY needed a big run stuffer to anchor the line @ NT. Watson should more than fill that bill.

Stovall: C+
Getting a very good possession receiver, especially in the fifth round, was a nice move. He should give them a reliable target over the middle for years.

Zemaitis: C

Zemaitis was a great cover corner for Penn State, where he played off of receivers quite a bit (similar to a cover 2 scheme). The question is can he play man coverage well enough @ the next level?</b>
Lowry: C-
I don't dislike Lowry, but I like Zemaitis more, so Lowry's grade is a bit lower. Special teams is where he should do well.

Boothe: C-
Boothe was a sleeper that lost steam after the Senior Bowl, but should provide pretty decent depth for the OL.


Overall Grade: C+

[R. Rich]

<font size="4">Assassins' Season 2 Preview: Erie Looks To Improve On Tough Debut Season</font size>
<font size="3">By: Editor</font size>




Assassins' Executive Vice President/General Manager Kevin Colbert and Director of Player Personnel Phil Savage were busy this offseason trying to upgrade the team's talent base all around, as both the offense and defense finished last in the BZFL statistically. The defense had some bright spots, such as a pass defense ranked 6th in yards allowed, but was the worst in the league in rushing yards allowed. To correct that, they brought in veteran NT Ted Washington from the LA Playas. Washington is a mammoth run stuffer who had an effective season last year for the Playas. Erie is hoping that w/ Washington anchoring the middle, they will be much tougher to run against. The ends should do well this year. Look for Anthony Weaver to move from RE to LE, while pass rush specialist Derrick Burgess will occupy the RE spot. The Assassins could see a big increase in sacks from the defensive line this year. The team should have good depth behind the starters from ends Chris Canty, one of two 5th round steals in last year's rookie draft, and Randy Starks, plus tackles Jimmy Kennedy and Lional Dalton.

The linebackers, the strength of this unit last year, should be more stable @ LOLB w/ Derrick Johnson taking over. Inside, the duo of LILB Jonathan Vilma and RILB Nick Barnett, last year's team MVP, is tough to beat. Both have very good instincts and tackle well. Plus, they are good in pass coverage. Karlos Dansby, who was one of the top pass rushers in the league w/ 13 sacks last year, was a pleasant surprise, as his play allowed the team to move Barnett inside, where he excelled teamed w/ Vilma. This is a young and talented group that should only get better. James Harrison, who could probably start for many teams, provides depth as does Nate Webster, Sedrick Hodge, Brandon Moore, and Scott Shanle.

Defensive coordinator Al Golden really expects his secondary to take charge this season. LCB Dunta Robinson has already established a reputation as a hard hitting corner who is solid in run support while also being a good pass defender. Opposite him will be Nathan Vasher, who showed flashes last year and will be expected to provide more big plays and turnovers this year. The strength of this unit is the back line, the safeties. SS Bob Sanders played well enough to take the starting job away from Bryan Scott last season. Sanders is aggressive, hard hitting, and flies all over the field. An injury late in the year forced him out, but word is that Sanders is healthy and ready to go. The deep safety, FS Sean Taylor, is another firece hitter who also had nice range in pass coverage. This group should be among the best in the BZFL this year. Reserves include corners Fakhir Brown and Kenny Wright and safeties Thomas Davis, one of last year's two first round picks, and Scott.

Offensively, the team is greatly affected by the loss of C Matt Birk, the respected leader of the offensive line. He will be replaced by free agent acquisition Alex Stepanovich, w/ Cory Withrow as the backup who can do okay in spot duty. The line also was bolstered by the addition of LG Cosey Coleman, who is projected as the starter over last year's starter Chester Pitts. Veteran Jonathan Ogden, on the decline a bit but still among the top tackles in the league, mans the LT spot. The right side of the line was very sound last year and returns intact, w/ RG Kendyl Jacox, who many considered the team's most consistent lineman last season, and RT Bryant McKinnie, a star on the rise who should only get better. The Assassins have very good depth on the line w/ tackles Vernon Carey and Todd Herremans and guards Artis Hicks, Kendall Simmons, and Pitts.

There was a shakup @ the QB position, as Jake Plummer was traded to the Playas. That puts even more pressure on starter Byron Leftwich, who struggled mightily last year. Charlie Batch was signed as a backup. He is a reliable short term option, but not much more. To help Leftwich out, the Assassins worked hard to upgrade the receiving corps, adding Lee Evans via trade and signing free agents Corey Bradford, Devery Henderson, and Troy Walters. Evans and Bradford should team w/ last year's leading receiver, Brandon Lloyd, to give the Assassins a nice trio. Clarence Moore, whose height is a plus in short yardage situations, leads the reserves. Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe has said that Erie will try to use more multiple sets this year, more along the line of what O'Keefe was used to as offensive coordinator @ the University of Iowa. "Last year's offense was, to a certain degree, stripped down so that we could play to our strengths last year and utilize the running game," O'Keefe said. "This year, w/ the additions to the passing game, we hope to challenge teams more down the field. We also like the versatility they give us, as we can use more 3 and 4 receiver sets. We also intend to get more out of our tight ends this year." Last year, TE Ben Troupe was a reliable short yardage target, but the Assassins want Troupe to become more of a vertical threat this year. They also like the flexibility that backup Desmond Clark provides. Expect to see Erie use the double TE set a bit more this year, just to keep defenses guessing. The 2 TE sets should also help the running game more. If stater Julius Jones can remain healthy, the Assassins have one of the most dynamic runners in the game. Last year's 5th round pick, Marion Barber, will back up Jones and offers more of a between the tackles runner than Jones, who is more effective bouncing plays outside and getting into the backfield. The two of them make a nice 1-2 punch. T.J. Duckett was also brought in to provide a tough short yardage and goal line threat. Duckett may also see some duty @ fullback.

Special teams should get a boost this year also. Erie added kicker Adam Vinatieri in free agency to provide insurance due to David Akers' injury. Punter Brad Maynard has proven to be a good cold weather kicker. Veteran Rob Davis, slowing w/ age but still among the best in the league, returns as the long snapper.The return game will be led by Antonio Chatman, who will handle both the kick and punt return duties for the Assassins.

This team has quite an uphill battle to fight, but I do believe that due to the offseason moves they've made, they are much more prepared for that fight. I still think there's too much that needs to be done for a grand turnaround, but I can see the Assassins winning 8 or 9 games this year.

[R. Rich]

Assassins Announce Starting Lineup For 2nd Season

By: Staff


Here's the starting lineups going into the season for this year's <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Erie</st1:City></st1:place> Assassins:


OFFENSE

QB: Byron Leftwich
RB: Julius Jones
WR: Lee Evans
WR: Corey Bradford
WR: Brandon Lloyd
TE: Ben Troupe
LT: Jonathan Ogden
LG: Cosey Coleman
C: Alex Stepanovich
RG: Kendyl Jacox
RT: Bryant McKinnie

DEFENSE

LDE: Anthony Weaver
NT: Ted Washington
RDE: Derrick Burgess
LOLB: Derrick Johnson
LILB: Jonathan Vilma
RILB: Nick Barnett
ROLB: Karlos Dansby
LCB: Dunta Robinson
RCB: Nathan Vasher
SS: Bob Sanders
FS: Sean Taylor

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Adam Vinatieri
P: Brad Maynard
LS: Rob Davis
KR/PR: Antonio Chatman

[R. Rich]

Pre-Season Wrapup Edition

Game 1: Erie 6, LA Aztecs 0
Assassins unveil new passing game, w/ mixed results
By: Staff



In their preseason opener, the Erie Assassins took to the air as QB Byron Leftwich threw for 273 yards and had a 91.7 passer rating. Leftwich completed 24 of 35 passes and spread the ball around, as he hit 7 different receivers in the contest. TE Ben Troupe led the way w/ 6 catches for 48 yards, RB Julius Jones added 5 catches for 24 yards and receivers Brandon Lloyd, the Assassins' top receiver last year, and free agent acquisition Corey Bradford gave the team some ability to throw deep. Lloyd caught 4 for 62 yards and Bradford also had 4 for a game high 72 yards. Overall, assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe was pleased that the players were picking up the system, but there were still concerns. "Our red zone offense really struggled, and we'll have to work on that," O'Keefe said. "Not being able to get any points from a 4th and goal @ the 1 yard line really concerns us, and there was another occasion where we had to settle for a FG in the same circumstance. We still have a ways to go."

Defensively, the Assassins limited the Aztecs to just 158 yards of offense, but still struggled against the run as Corey Dillon rushed for 115 yards on 25 carries. "We got better as the game unfolded," defensive coordinator Al Golden said, "but we still have to do much better stuffing the run. We gave up nearly 100 yards in the first half to Dillon w/ most of them (71 yards) coming in the 2nd quarter. We did bounce back in the 2nd half, as he finished w/ just 19 yards on 10 carries then and, overall, our 3rd down defense did a good job (the Aztecs were 1 of 12 on 3rd downs). I'm also not very happy w/ our lack of turnovers. We didn't get a single sack, and I'm expecting much more out of our pass rush this year. The shutout was nice and all, but the overall effort must improve if we're to take the step of becoming a contender in this league."

The scoring for the game consisted of 2 FGs from free agent acquisition Adam Vinatieri, a 34 yarder followed by an 18 yarder.



Game 2: Norsemen 41, Erie 3
Same Old Problems Do Assassins In
By: Staff



The early results on this year's Assassins don't look much different from last year's team, as Norsemen RB Warrick Dunn ran for 172 yards and 2 TDs on Erie, leading the Norsemen to a big win @ Cleveland Stadium.

The Assassins' defense was dominated by the Norsemen all day as QB Chris Simms had an outstanding performance, going 21 of 27 for 218 yards and 2 TDs w/ 1INT for a passer rating of 109.6 on the day. There were few bright spots in this one for the Assassins. The defense did get sacks from Karlos Dansby and Derrick Burgess, the only 2 sacks of the preseason for the team. They also got pressures from Burgess and DT Jimmy Kennedy.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz said of the game, "This was a huge step backward for us. Our offense, which seemed to be heading in the right direction after last week, regressed badly. We haven't been able to get our running game going and the passing game has been spotty @ best. These are things that must end quickly, as we're about to head into the regular season."

Offensively, the Assassins were awful, as Leftwich completed just 7 of 15 passes for 69 yards for a 60.1 passer rating. Julius Jones was unable to get the running game going either, finishing w/ just 39 yards on just 10 carries. Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe said, "We've got a lot of work to do here. Our running game has disappeared on us, and we've got to get back to that. Last year, Julius was running very hard and before he got hurt, he was looking like the best back in the league. This year, we've just got to find a way to spring him so he can do what he does best. The line has made some mistakes early on and taken some pretty bad penalties. These will get corrected." If they aren't corrected, the Assassins might not improve on last year's 3 wins.

The Assassins' next action will be their home opener against the Philadelphia Bushwhackers.

[R. Rich]

Erie Falls In Home Opener, 37-14
Bushwhackers Dominate Erie As Same Old Problems Exist
By: Staff



Assassins head coach Kirk Ferentz was @ a loss for words after watching his team get humiliated in their opener by Philadelphia. "This was a total shock to all of us. It really was," Ferentz said. "We prepared well for this game, and we thought our guys would come out much better than this. I'm stunned @ the way this one turned out."

Philly RB Willie Parker ran for 114 yards on 21 carries for a 5.4 average and scored a TD. After addressing the run defense w/ the addition of Ted Washington, the Assassins were not supposed to be so porous this year. Last year's run defense gave up an average of 160 yards per game. In the opener, Philly ran for 151 yards on 32 carries. In addition, the Assassins' revamped secondary was torched by QB Marc Bulger, who completed 20 of 26 passes for 277 yards and 3TDs in the game for a 149 passer rating. The Assassins' pass rush was virtually nonexistent, finishing w/ just 1 sack (from Derrick Burgess) and 0 pressures all game. Defensive coordinator Al Golden called this game, "A pathetic performance. There's no way this group of players should play this badly on defense. There's just way too much talent for this team to look like this. The staff went over the matchups before the game, and we felt pretty confident. I just can't believe this."

Offensively, the team again could not get their running game going, just as in the preseason. Julius Jones had just 41 yards on 16 carries (a horrible 2.6 yard per rush average) and scored a TD in the game. The passing game also struggled as Byron Leftwich completed 21 of 34 passes for 183 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs on the day for a 61.3 passer rating. Leftwich did spread the ball around to 8 different receivers, but still made mistakes (the 2 INTs and a fumble) and didn't appear as confident as he did in his first preseason outing. Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe said, "We've got to get something established so that Byron can get his confidence back. We do have the ability to get our deep game going, but we also need to get Julius running the way he did last year to balance it out." Ferentz added, "Our offensive line has got to get back to where they are busting those holes open for the running game. We're looking to guys like (RT) Bryant McKinnie, (RG) Kendyl Jacox, and (LT) Jonathan Ogden to rally the troops for us." The team lost free agent pickup Alex Stepanovich due to injury also, which was a huge blow as Stepanovich was acquired to fill in for injured starter Matt Birk, who is on IR. "For the immediate future, Cory Withrow is going to have to step in and carry the load for us. We may look into signing another player for depth purposes, or we may look to our own roster to solve the depth issue @ center," Ferentz said. This could mean moving someone over to center for a short time. A likely candidate could be reserve guard Kendall Simmons, who did some work @ center in camp this year.

Erie's next game will be against another division foe: New York, who also won on opening week. Ferentz said that for right now, "the main thing is for us to come out focused and ready to go next week. We thought we were ready, but found out we weren't. This team has the ability to be a playoff contender, if we go out and work hard enough to realize it. Week 1 was a setback, and it's behind us now. We're going full speed ahead @ preparing for our game against New York."

[R. Rich]

Assassins Wrapup: Weeks 2-4<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
By: Staff <o:p></o:p>
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WEEK 2: OFFENSIVE WOES CONTINUE IN 23-7 LOSS<o:p></o:p>
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After the game, head coach Kirk Ferentz addressed the media, and was displeased in his lack of offensive output. “If we’re going to turn the corner and become a contender, we must get a better performance out of our guys on offense,” Ferentz said. “(QB) Byron (Leftwich) just had an awful game, and he knows he can do better than this.”<o:p></o:p>
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Leftwich’s numbers were dreadful, as he went 7 of 17 for just 56 yards, 0 TDs and an INT while being sacked 3 times. He finished the game w/ a 25.6 QB rating. “I have no excuses for that effort today,” Leftwich said afterward. “Guys were working hard to get open, and I just didn’t do my best to find them and get them the ball. I can’t even put this one on the line. Sure, I got hit a few times and even brought down, but I also need to read the field better and give our receivers a chance to show what they can do. This one’s all on me.”<o:p></o:p>
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Not entirely. Starting running back Julius Jones had another average effort, gaining just 59 yards on 16 carries (a measly 3.7 yards per rush average) and backup Marion Barber didn’t fare much better, rushing 11 times for 39 yards (3.5 yards per rush). Neither runner was able to find the end zone. “We’ve got to find our niche in the running game and fast,” Ferentz said. “Last year, Julius got off to a great start. We just have to get back to being more physical up front and opening those rush lanes for him.”<o:p></o:p>
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Defensively, the Assassins did a better job against the pass, as Nathan Vasher gave the Assassins their only score of the game on a 49 yard INT return. The defense kept Quicksilver QB Josh McCown to 15 of 32 for 174 yards and 2 TDs, but 3 INTs and 3 sacks, giving him a 45.6 QB rating. “I think we’re taking steps to improve our coverage, and for that, I have to thank our defensive coordinator Al Golden,” Ferentz noted. “He has worked tirelessly to get the best personnel out there and to get them playing together. We still have some work to do in our run defense (<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on">New York</st1:State> ran 33 times for 182 yards) and on third downs (<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State> converted 8 of 15, which helped them control the clock for over 36 minutes), so we know we have a way to go here.”<o:p></o:p>
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On the injury front, only guard Cosey Coleman suffered any kind of injury, and he is not expected to miss any playing time because of his injury.

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[R. Rich]

WEEK 3: NORSEMEN DEFENSE LEADS THE WAY; ASSASSINS FALL 19-9<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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Despite another solid effort from the secondary, the Assassins dropped another tough one on the road. Four fumbles, two each by QB Byron Leftwich and RB Julius Jones, proved to be very costly, and the offense again could not get going to provide support in this game.<o:p></o:p>
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Of the offensive struggles, Ferentz said “The Norsemen shut down our running game (Jones could only muster up 34 yards on 20 carries in the game, a 1.7 yard per rush average). From there, we were forced to throw too much. To his credit though, Byron hung in there and did his best to keep us in the game. We had breakdowns around the red zone that just killed our chances to get a win.”<o:p></o:p>
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Defensively, the Assassins got a much better effort from the run defense (limited the Norsemen to 123 yards on 34 carries, a 3.6 average) and the secondary performed well again (Chris Simms completed just 12 of 26 passes for 160 yards, no TDs and threw 2 INTs, both to CB Nathan Vasher; he was also sacked 4 times and had a 34.1 QB rating). “I like the intensity of our defense today,” Ferentz said. “Since that debacle in the first game, they’ve worked very hard to get things turned around. We’re not quite where we want to be defensively, but I think we’re on our way to getting there.” DE Derrick Burgess led the way w/ an 8 tackle, 4 sack, 3 stuff, 1 forced fumble performance.

[R. Rich]

WEEK 4: ASSASSINS RUSH TO FIRST WIN OF THE YEAR, DEFEAT <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">PITTSBURGH</st1:place></st1:City> 17-7<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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RB Julius Jones was able to get going and the pass rush got after QB Trent Green enough to help the Assassins notch their first win of the season. Jones ran 20 times for 106 yards and WR Lee Evans, the speedy playmaker the Assassins traded away QB Jake Plummer for, finally stepped up big w/ a 5 catch, 105 yard, 1 TD performance. “We finally got a spark from our offense, and the defense did a nice job of pressuring the quarterback and keeping them out of the end zone,” Assassins head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Guys like (TE) Ben Troupe (5 catches, 42 yards), (WR) Corey Bradford (3 catches, 27 yards), and (WR) Brandon Lloyd (4 catches, 82 yards) worked extremely hard to get our offense going. (QB) Byron Leftwich had an okay day too (22 of 43 for 297 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs for 61.9 rating), but this should be just the beginning. The more comfortable Byron gets w/ the new wrinkles to our offense and w/ our new players, the better he will become.”<o:p></o:p>
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Defensively, the Assassins gave up a ton of yards to Green (25 of 42 for 359 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT for an 85.3 rating), but, except for a 6 yard TD throw to Jabar Gaffney in the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> quarter, kept Pittsburgh out of the end zone and kept them to a 4 of 15 showing on 3<SUP>rd</SUP> down and an 0 for 2 showing on 4<SUP>th</SUP> down. Bryan Scott, last year’s starter @ SS, filled in for injured starter Bob Sanders and had a nice game, w/ 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and an INT. Derrick Burgess had another solid effort rushing the passer finishing w/ 3 sacks to go along w/ 5 tackles and 1 stuff. The Assassins also shut down the Fighting Shih Tzus’ running game, as Kevin Jones ran for 59 yards on 11 carries (21 of those came on one play). Still, after seeing Green pick apart the secondary and two of their receivers have 100 yard games (Donald Driver caught 7 passes for 123 yards; Joe Jurevicius caught 5 for 112 yards), Ferentz said, “Our guys did well to keep Pittsburgh out of the end zone, but we have to clamp down on the big passing plays. They had 5 different receivers catch passes in this game, and 3 of them had a long catch of 19 or more yards. This just won’t do, and I’m sure (defensive coordinator) Al (Golden) will get them to work on that as we prepare to go to <st1:place w:st="on">New England</st1:place> for next week.”<o:p></o:p>
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The Assassins had no injuries in this game, so they will be @ full strength for next week’s game @ New England.<o:p></o:p>

[R. Rich]

WEEK 5: DEFENSE, JONES LEAD THE WAY AS ASSASSINS TOP WOOKIES 17-10

The Assassins' defense limited New England to just 196 yards of offense, while the offense overcame a sluggish start and a 10-3 defecit @ the end of the 3rd quarter w/ a 14-0 4th quarter to get their 2nd consecutive win. RB Julius Jones led the way for the offense, rushing 21 times for 92 yards and a TD. QB Byron Leftwich completed 11 of 15 passes for 137 yards and a TD w/ 1 INT and a 95.7 passer rating. WR Brandon Lloyd was the top target, catching 5 passes for 80 yards. Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Ken O' Keefe said of the game, "We were happy to get our running game going, and we were pleased w/ our performance on third downs (8 of 15). Byron is making some good progress, and we feel that our guys are really starting to get the system down here."

Defensive coordinator Al Golden praised the overall effort of his unit. "These guys have had a rough go of it to start the year, but they just keep hanging in there," he said. "We kept New England to a 2 of 13 on third downs and 0 for 1 on fourth down. They had a bit of success running on us (Tiki Barber rushed for 83 yards and a TD on 14 carries while Thomas Jones added 47 yards on 15 carries), but when it counted and they needed to sustain drives, we were able to shut them down. It wasn't a pretty, stat-filled effort for the unit, but they played extremely well as a team and gave our offense the opportunity they needed to get us the win late." New England's last drive was thwarted by a game-clinching INT by SS Bob Sanders.

The Assassins were fortunate to once again have no injuries from this contest.

[R. Rich]

GAME 6: RAMPAGE USE STRONG START, HUGE TURNOVER TO EARN 28-18 VICTORY

Rampage QB Drew Bledsoe threw 2 TD passes, a 20 yarder to TE Alge Crumpler and a 44 yarer to WR Marvin Harrison, and CB Darrent Williams intercepted a Byron Leftwich pass and returned it 67 yards for a TD to give Rochester a 21-7 lead @ halftime. The Assassins were never able to generate the offense needed to mount a comeback, going 5 of 14 on third downs and rushing for ony 73 yards as a team. In comparison, game MVP Rudi Johnson was able to rush for 79 yards on 21 carries for the Rampage. Erie RB Julius Jones was only able to gain 40 yards on 19 carries, a subpar 2.1 yard per rush average. Head coach Kirk Ferentz said of the game, "This was another game that we could've possibly won w/ a little more production offensively. You have to give Rochester credit: their defense kept us out of this game and they were able to just maintain things from start to finish."

The defense tried hard, but could not come up w/ a game breaking play to assist the offense. They were able to keep Rochester to a 4 of 12 showing on third down and did force one turnover, an INT from CB Nathan Vasher, but Bledsoe had a 107.6 passer rating, completing 13 of 24 passes for 220 yards and 3 TDs w/ just 1 INT. His strong play in the first half proved enough to help his team come out w/ the win.

The Assassins' defense suffered a tough loss w/ the injury to DE Anthony Weaver, who will miss the next 4 weeks. He will be replaced in the lineup by DE Chris Canty, who filled in well w/ 3 tackles and a sack.

[R. Rich]

GAME 7: HOME LOSING STREAK CONTINUES AS ASSASSINS LOSE TO JERSEY 19-10

Game MVP Chris Brown rushed for 107 yards on 24 carries, leading a strong ground attack that helped the defending BZFL champions come out w/ a 33:16 to 26:44 edge in time of possession in the game. As a team the Jags rushed for 169 carries on 37 carries while Erie had just 91 yards on 32 carries. Jags' RB Ricky Williams had 28 yards and the Jags' only TD on only 6 carries while Assassin Julius Jones led Erie w/ only 65 yards on 20 carries. The passing game didn't fare much better, as QB Byron Leftwich had a 74.5 passer rating, going 10 for 23 for 120 yards and a TD. Assassins' head coach Kirk Ferentz was upset that his team still hasn't won a game @ home this season, saying, "I know we'd better get something going here. We haven't won a game in front of our home crowd, one of the best in the league despite our performances. They deserve better and we will improve. Bet on it."

Defensively, FS Sean Taylor got an INT and league sack leader Derrick Burgess added another sack to his total, but in general, the Assassins still cannot get the big play from the defense. "We've had our moments when we look good, but then we have breakdowns that you just can't explain," LB Jonathan Vilma, who led the game w/ 12 tackles and added 1 stuff, 1 fumble recovery, and 3 forced fumbles, said. "The consistency is what we need. We have to be able to turn it on and leave it on." The Assassins were able to come up big defensively on third downs, giving up only 4 of 12. They also limited big play QB Carson Palmer to a game where he completed 18 of 21 passes, but for just 171 yards, no TDs and the INT by Taylor, good for just an 80.8 passer rating.

One positive was that once again, the Assassins had no injuries and will now welcome back free agent C Alex Stepanovich, who missed the last 7 games due to injury.

[R. Rich]

GAME 8: ASSASSINS WIN CLOSE BATTLE OVER REJECTS BY A 20-17 SCORE

Erie ran out to a 17-0 lead by halftime as QB Byron Leftwich, the game's MVP, thew 2 TD passes, one to WR Troy Walter and one to TE Ben Troupe. For the game, Leftwich was 21 of 26 for 193 yards, 2 TDs and no INTs for a strong 123.2 passer rating. The running game was sluggish again, as backup RB Marion Barber finished as the team's leading rusher w/ 51 yards on 17 carries while starter Julius Jones added 42 more on 13 rushes. Troupe was the leading receiver w/ 6 catches for 46 yards and a TD.

The game was won when Rejects' kicker Mike Nugent missed a 29 yard FG w/ 1:32 remaining in the 4th quarter. Assassins' kicker Adam Vinatieri made a 42 yard FG w/ 7:23 remaining in the game for what would be the game winning points.

Defensively, the Assassins were strong, allowing the Rejects to keep the ball for only 22:49 of the game compared to Erie's 37:11. They also forced 2 turnovers: fumbles recovered by LB Derrick Johnson and DE Chris Canty. Canty, in his 2nd start due to the injury to Anthony Weaver, finished w/ 2 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble to go w/ his fumble recovery. Defensive coordinator Al Golden said of his effort, "Chris is showing why we went after him in the 5th round of last year's rookie draft. I was lucky enough to coach him in college, so I knew already what he can bring to a defense. We're very lucky to have this kind of depth." Perhaps the biggest stat for the Erie defense was the 11 sacks they racked up against the Rejects. LB Karlos Dansby, the team's leader in sacks last season, had a strong effort, leading the team w/ 3 sacks. DT Randy Starks and BZFL sack leader Derrick Burgess added 2 sacks each.

Erie was again fortunate to not have any injuries in this game.

[R. Rich]

GAME 9: DEUCES WIN IN OVERTIME 27-24<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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The Erie Assassins overcame another sluggish start, as they were down 17-7 w/ 7 minutes remaining in the second half, and forced overtime when QB Byron Leftwich hit WR Lee Evans w/ a 6 yard TD pass w/ just 15 seconds remaining in regulation. From there, both teams traded scoreless possessions until <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kansas City</st1:place></st1:City> kicker Jason Elam hit the 33 yard game winner w/ 1:47 remaining in the overtime period. <o:p></o:p>
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Leftwich led an effective, balanced <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Erie</st1:City></st1:place> offense, as he completed 17 of 31 passes for 289 yards and 3 TDs w/ no INTs, a 118.9 passer rating. Evans caught 4 for 74 yards and 2 TDs while Brandon Lloyd had 2 for 66 yards and the other score. TE Ben Troupe continues to have a solid outing this year, as he caught 4 for 45 yards and WR Corey Bradford added another 3 catches for 73 yards, as Leftwich was able to connect w/ 7 different receivers on the game. On the ground, backup RB Marion Barber finished the game w/ 106 yards on 15 rushes while starter Julius Jones added another 94 yards on 26 carries.<o:p></o:p>
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Defensively, the Assassins got sacks from CB Dunta Robinson, LB Karlos Dansby, and DE Derrick Burgess. CB Nathan Vasher, the league’s leader in INTs, got a big one in overtime, but the Assassins were not able to capitalize on it. LB Derrick Johnson led the team w/ 11 tackles. The run defense struggled, as KC’s RB Edgerrin James ran for 147 yards on 32 carries and scored a TD. The pass defense fared a bit better, limiting the effectiveness of QB Eli Manning, who was 23 of 44 for 277 yards, 2 TDs and an INT, a 77.6 passer rating for the game. It was James’ running that did <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City> in down the stretch, as head coach Kirk Ferentz noted afterward. “We just were not able to keep Edgerrin from taking the game over,” Ferentz said. “We did a good job of containing their passing game, forcing them to be a bit more one dimensional, but we just didn’t do enough to stop the run.” <o:p></o:p>
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The only injury in the game was to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City>’s starting LG Cosey Coleman, who is not expected to miss any time because of it. <o:p></o:p>

[R. Rich]

GAME 10: <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">NEW YORK</st1:place></st1:State> COMPLETES SEASON SWEEP, WIN 30-14<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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After last week’s tough overtime loss to <st1:City w:st="on">Kansas City</st1:City>, the Assassins looked like a team that was spent, as <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State> raced out to a 20-0 halftime lead and then cruised to the win. Daunte Culpepper completed 18 of 20 passes for 255 yards and a TD (a stunning 135.4 passer rating for the day) to lead the Quicksilvers to the victory. <o:p></o:p>
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Offensively, the Assassins got an efficient yet ineffective game from QB Byron Leftwich, who was 12 of 19 for 156 yards and a TD for a 106.5 passer rating on the day. Backup Charlie Batch added 3 of 4 for 20 yards and a score as well. Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe said of the performance, “We had some good points, but not nearly enough of them. We need more of a downfield threat out of guys like Brandon Lloyd, Troy Walters, Devery Henderson, and Lee Evans. We’re getting better, in terms of limiting the turnovers, but now we need to get aggressive in racking up the yards and the points. We now know we have the capability to do so, it’s just a matter of working hard and finishing the task @ hand.” RB Julius Jones continues to struggle behind a disappointing offensive line, as he ran for just 53 yards on 20 carries. Backup Marion Barber added 30 yards on 9 carries. “Our running game has struggled for most of the year,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “We have to get a better push from our line. It’s been tough bringing in new guys and losing our leader in Matt Birk, but these are the guys we have, and they know they all need to step it up.”<o:p></o:p>
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The Assassins’ defense did well to keep <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New York</st1:place></st1:State> to a 1 of 12 showing on third downs, even though the pass rush was limited to only 2 sacks, one each from CB Dunta Robinson (being used effectively as a blitzer this season) and LB Karlos Dansby, whose play has been improving in recent weeks. Defensive coordinator Al Golden said, “Well, we’ve been tampering w/ the lineup lately, switching from the 3-4 scheme to a more traditional 4-3 in an attempt to use more formations to create more confusion for the opponents. We’ve had a small degree of success w/ working in the 4-3, and we’re evaluating whether or not we’ll keep working it on or stay w/ the 3-4.” The fact that the Quicksilvers had fewer rushing yards as a team (31 total, on 31 carries) than Jones had by himself has to be a positive for a run defense that, while slightly improved from last year’s abysmal effort, is still in the bottom 5 in the league.<o:p></o:p>
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On the injury front, the Assassins came out of this game unscathed once more. <o:p></o:p>

[R. Rich]

GAME 11: REJECTS RUN AWAY W/ VICTORY BY 27-6 SCORE

Behind a fantastic game from MVP LaDanian Tomlinson, who ran for 161 yards and 3 TDs on 32 carries, the Rochester Rejects evened the score w/ Erie, who beat Rochester weeks ago by a 20-17 score.

Rochester, thanks to Tomlinson's efforts, was able to control the clock in the rematch, keeping the ball for 37:27 to Erie's 22:33. They did turn the ball over twice while Erie had none, but the Assassins' lack of production offensively (159 passing yards, 48 rushing yards) did them in.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz commented, "This was just an ugly game for us. We had no production from the offense and the defense just had no answer for Tomlinson. After getting to w/in a game of 500, we've now lost 3 in a row. We look very much like last year's Assassins: no run defense and an offense that isn't getting things done in clutch moments. We need to seriously consider changing things up a bit on both sides of the ball."

Ferentz may be alluding to the team's use of the 3-4 defense, which has struggled mightily in the past 2 years to stop teams from running the ball. The Assassins have won 3 of 5 games where they have used a 4-3 defensive front while they have lost all 6 games w/ the 3-4 scheme.

Of course, Ferentz could be talking about personnel changes as well. Free agent guard Cosey Coleman has not upgraded the interior line as they had hoped, plus last year's surprise standout, Kendyl Jacox, has been largely ineffective @ right guard. Alex Stepanovich, the free agent brought in to ease the loss of starting center Matt Birk (injured reserve), has had injury problems of his own, and hasn't been very impressive even when healthy. Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe said of the line concerns, "We've been monitoring the line issues all season. Our interior guys have had a tough go of it, but @ this point in the year, we've got to hope that they'll work harder and get better so that we can find some more running room." Sounds a lot like there's going to be some spots open up front in the offseason. The Assassins have solid depth, but could use an upgrade in terms of starters.

The Erie offense was largely ineffective, as Julius Jones rushed for just 36 yards on 20 carries. Byron Leftwich, who added 9 yards on 5 rushes, threw for 153 yards, connecting on just 11 of 26 throws for a meager 61.9 passer rating. Lee Evans caught 3 for 57 yards, a 19 yard per catch average, and TE Ben Troupe had a team high 4 catches for 58 yards.

Defensively, the pass rush was able to get 3 sacks, 2 from LB Karlos Dansby and 1 from CB Dunta Robinson. They also kept Rochester to a 4 of 11 showing on 3rd downs. Still, there's room for improvement, as the ground game was shredded for 175 yards by the Rejects. Defensive coordinator Al Golden said, "Well, the big guys up front know they have to do a better job of clogging the rush lanes so that our LBs can get in there and make plays. That's just not happening w/ any consistency now. We don't plan to do much tinkering w/ the lineup the rest of the way, so these guys just have to toughen up. We'll work harder to get this fixed."

There were no injuries reported for this game.

[R. Rich]

ASSASSINS REPORT: TIME FOR A CHANGE?<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
BY: EDITOR

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The Erie Assassins looked like a team that was on their way to becoming competitive @ the end of the first half of the season, winning 3 of 5 after an awful 0-3 start to get their halftime record to 3-5, just a game below the 500 mark. Since then, they’re in a freefall, losing 3 straight games, including this week’s pathetic 21 point blowout to the Rochester Rejects, the same Rejects team that <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City> beat 20-17 back in week 8 due to a fantastic defensive effort which saw the Assassins register 11 sacks in the game. This week? That vaunted <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City> pass rush could manage just 2 from LB Karlos Dansby, who is starting to come around after a horrible start to the season, and another from CB Dunta Robinson, also having a solid year. The run defense that kept the Rejects to 78 yards the first time around? Well, they gave up 175 yards on 40 carries, w/ game MVP LaDanian Tomlinson rushing for 161 yards and 3 TDs on 32 carries. Basically, they were shredded. Again. Same old, same old for a team that came into the year focused on repairing their run defense. Well, they’re certainly not as horrific as last year, when they gave up over 160 yards per game on the ground. This year, they’re keeping their opponents to a mere 129.6 yards per game. Hey, I guess that’s progress. Last year’s run D was dead last; this year’s run D is the 6<SUP>th</SUP> worst in the league. Impressive.
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Offensively, they have improved, especially in the passing game. The Assassins’ front office worked hard this offseason to provide Byron Leftwich w/ the weapons he needed to become more effective and to justify being kept when the team traded away Jake Plummer, yeah, the same Jake Plummer who is the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> rated passer in the league this season on a first place Playas team! Still, they have seen results, as Leftwich is actually rated this year (12<SUP>th</SUP> in the league w/ an 82.7 passer rating) and he’s doing a better job of taking care of the ball (only 7 INTs so far this year to 12 TDs). Lee Evans was the player acquired in the trade, and his stats are solid, but not spectacular: 31 catches (3<SUP>rd</SUP> best on the team after TE Ben Troupe and WR Brandon Lloyd) for 493 yards (2<SUP>nd</SUP> best on the team to Lloyd), a 15.9 yard per catch average (best on team; 8<SUP>th</SUP> best in BZFL) and 3 TDs (tied w/ Troupe for team lead). The major problem is up front; the offensive line. Yeah, the Assassins were conscious of building a solid line @ the outset, as evident by the drafting of tackles Jonathan Ogden and Bryant McKinnie plus C Matt Birk. But, they weren’t as astute in stocking the team w/ interior linemen, and that is what is killing them now. Starting guards Cosey Coleman and Kendyl Jacox have been average @ best. This is surprising in Jacox’ case, as he was one of <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City>’s top linemen last year. But, his play has dropped off tremendously and Coleman, a free agent acquisition brought in to upgrade from last year’s starter Chester Pitts, has not set the league on fire, either.
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When the front office learned of the loss of Birk for the season because of injury, they attempted to replace him in free agency w/ journeyman Alex Stepanovich, who has struggled to stay healthy and has been no better than average when healthy. I believe that this offseason, the interior line should be a high priority for the team, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go after a pair of guards in free agency as an upgrade to what they have now. Or, maybe even another offseason trade, as they did to acquire Evans to aid the pass offense last year. Either way (or both?), the Assassins need to upgrade their interior line if they want to succeed. I’m sure RB Julius Jones, who could be having a great year but is struggling due to the woeful blocking, would welcome a few better guards and head coach Kirk Ferentz, who was Bill Belichick’s offensive line coach once upon a time, should know better than to try to get by w/ this collection of so-so blockers.
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And now, on to the Assassins’ defense. If ever there were a group of underachievers, this would be it. A team w/ this much talent should not be 3-8 going down the stretch. A defense that boasts stars like CB Nathan Vasher, currently leading the league in INTs, Derrick Burgess, 2<SUP>nd</SUP> in the league in sacks, Jonathan Vilma, among the top 10 in the league in tackles, and other stalwarts like Karlos Dansby, Bob Sanders, Sean Taylor, and Dunta Robinson should not be as awful as they’ve been. Last year’s pass defense was one of the best in the league and was sorely hampered by a run defense that was the worst in the league. This year, the pass D is solid again (3<SUP>rd</SUP> in the league in pass yards allowed) and is getting an all star year out of Vasher in terms of turnovers. Yet, the addition of mammoth run stuffer Ted Washington has done little to stop the team from allowing tons of rushing yards. From 20<SUP>th</SUP> to 15<SUP>th</SUP> in the league is nothing to write home about. Trust me.
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What’s the problem? I believe a lot of it is the 3-4 scheme the team stubbornly adheres to. Ferentz had little to no experience using it, but owner/team president R. Rich likes it, as he played in the 3-4 back in college. Big deal. This is the big time, man. You need to run what works for you, and that 3-4 doesn’t work. Period. When the team won 3 out of 5 to salvage something of the season and get to a game w/in 500, they did so by experimenting w/ a 4-3 front, putting last year’s starter @ LDE, Randy Starks, in as the other DT alongside big Ted. The results? Well, they weren’t great, but they won 3 of 5. In fact, they used that 4-3 in the 3 games they won against the 3-4 in the 5 they lost. Now, they have lost 3 straight since then, including the first 2 w/ that 4-3 scheme, but I do think they play better w/ that 4-3 than w/ the 3-4. I guess the 3-2 record they have using the 4-3 as opposed to the 0-6 record using the 3-4 kinda makes my argument for me, huh? My suggestion would be to stick w/ the 4-3 for this year, then look to upgrade @ DT in free agency for next year. Spend the bucks to bring in one or two big guys who will really stuff the run and force teams to deal w/ a secondary that is as good as there is in the league.
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I think if the Assassins put their attention into upgrading their interior OL and DL this offseason, you will see them perform to the level of their talent, which is certainly much better than this record shows. Now, will Ferentz be able to get the front office, which I feel is a very solid office, to make these moves? Only time will tell, but I know they have been working towards being in the thick of a title chase by Year 3. That’s just around the corner, folks, so they’re going to need to do something now. Doing what they’ve been doing, they have zero chance of any kind of title, be it this year, next year, or beyond.
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[R. Rich]

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GAME 12: ASSASSINS GET PIMP SLAPPED, LOSE LEFTWICH FOR SEASON IN 31-10 DEFEAT <o:p></o:p>
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Trent Dilfer had a game for the ages, completing 23 of 35 passes for 371 yards, 4 TDs and only 1 INT for a 127.2 passer rating, leading the Pennsylvania Pimps to victory. WR Chad Johnson was the game’s MVP, catching 8 passes for 154 yards and 3 TDs. Steve Smith led the Pimps in both receptions (9) and yards (173) to aid in the win.
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Assassins head coach Kirk Ferentz said of the game, “Our pass defense was horrible today. We weren’t able to generate much of a pass rush today (0 sacks, 4 pressures), and it allowed Dilfer to carve up our secondary. (LB) Karlos Dansby left the game due to injury, and it really affected our pass rush. We rely on both Karlos and (DE) Derrick (Burgess) to provide the heat from the weak side, so w/ Karlos out, they were able to key on Derrick more.” Offensively, the Assassins suffered a huge loss, as QB Byron Leftwich was knocked out of the game and will miss the rest of the season. Backup Charlie Batch gave a solid though not spectacular performance in relief (14 of 24 for 149 yards, 1 TD and 0 INTs for a 90.5 passer rating), but more is needed from the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City> passing game. “We have to find a way to get our guys more involved, and to do so earlier in the games,” Ferentz said. “We’ve been pathetic in terms of first half scoring all season. W/ the weapons we now have @ receiver and TE, there’s no excuse for this.”
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Defensively, the Assassins were able to limit the Pimps to just 57 yards rushing as a team, w/ Jamal Lewis getting 58 yards on 19 carries (a 3.1 yard avg). It was the pass rush and pass defense that didn’t play well though. “We stunk today in terms of stopping the pass,” defensive coordinator Al Golden said. “Only 4 pressures and no sacks isn’t going to work. We can’t seriously hope to beat anyone w/ a pass rush like that. From what the trainers have told us, we don’t expect Karlos to miss any time due to his injury, so that’s a plus. Now, we’ve just got to get after the quarterback better. That’s the key to helping out our secondary: pressure.”
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The injury to Leftwich will keep him out for the remainder of the season. This means Batch will finish the year as the starter.

[R. Rich]

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GAME 13: BARBER RUMBLES, ASSASSINS’ OFFENSE STUMBLES AS WOOKIES GET PAYBACK 31-16<o:p></o:p>
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The New England Wookies got a measure of revenge @ RICH Stadium, as they defeated the Assassins in the rematch due to a solid effort from Tiki Barber, one of the league’s top rushers. Barber ran 19 times for 175 yards and a 75 yard TD, which put the Wookies up for good w/ 7:55 remaining in the 4<SUP>th</SUP> quarter.
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Offensively, the Assassins again struggled, as they were unable to score any points in the first quarter, falling behind 7-0 after Barber caught an 8 yard score from New England QB Alex Smith. After Smith hit WR Plaxico Burress for a 30 yard score to put the Wookies ahead by 14, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City> got going. K Adam Vinatieri hit a 21 yard FG, then the Assassins got a defensive TD from LB Derrick Johnson, who returned a fumble 49 yards for a score. Vinatieri added a 20 yard FG to get the team to w/ in a point @ 14-13, but the Wookies were able to get a 44 yard FG from Mike Vanderjagt, in large part due to a 34 yard kick return from Darren Sproles and a huge 28 yard Smith throw to Amani Toomer, who would add a 17 yard TD reception in the 4<SUP>th</SUP> quarter to seal the deal for New England.
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For the Assassins, Julius Jones ran for 89 yards on 21 carries (a 4.2 yard avg) while backup Marion Barber added 37 more on 13 carries (2.8 avg). But, it was the passing game that stalled again, as QB Charlie Batch had a 15 of 21 showing for just 101 yards, no TDs and an INT, a 61.8 passer rating for the game. After the game, Batch said, “This one was on me. I just couldn’t get the offense going. The Wookies did a great job of clamping down on (WR) Lee Evans, so I had to go to our other options. It was tough, but I know I should’ve played much better than this.” Head coach Kirk Ferentz said of the game, “Charlie is being pretty hard on himself, but this was a team loss. Too many mistakes (3 turnovers), not enough toughness up front, and some questionable moves by us in terms of coaching. We just flat out stunk it up today, and our fans deserve better.”
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The defense was able to get to the quarterback this week, getting 4 sacks (one each from Jonathan Vilma, Derrick Johnson, Dunta Robinson, and Sean Taylor) and another pressure (Derrick Burgess), but they also gave up 221 rushing yards to the Wookies, one of their worst performances of the season. “We just need to develop some consistency on defense,” defensive coordinator Al Golden said. “We have times where we defend the run very well, then we come back and play like this. Same thing in the secondary. We shut down a team one week, then give up tons of yards the next week. We know the talent is here, but the effort needs to be there every week. That’s what we’ll focus on from here on out.”
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<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City>’s only injury in the game was to starting LG Cosey Coleman, but he is not expected to miss any playing time because of it.

[R. Rich]

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GAME 14: AZTECS DESTROY <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">ERIE</st1:place></st1:City>, USE BALANCE AND BALL CONTROL TO GET WIN IN 30-0 BLOWOUT<o:p></o:p>
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The freefall of the Assassins continued, as the 12-2 Los Angeles Aztecs, in first place in the conference and having the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> best record in the league, shut out <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City>, their first shutout loss of the season.
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The Aztecs were able to control the clock all game, having the ball for an amazing 40:22 compared to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City>’s paltry 19:38. LA converted 8 of their 15 first downs, compared to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City>’s 1 for 10 showing (the Assassins also were 0-1 on 4<SUP>th</SUP> down). Aztec QB Kurt Warner had a good game, going 16 of 20 for 224 yards and a TD for a 130 passer rating. Warner used a variety of receivers, as 8 different players caught passes in the game. Frank Gore, the game’s MVP, caught Warner’s lone TD pass and added 37 yards and another TD on the ground.
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Assassins head coach Kirk Ferentz said, “This was about as bad as we’ve ever played. There was no phase of the game where we can say we did well. They outcoached us, and their players outplayed ours. Outside of coming away w/ no more injuries, there’s really nothing positive I can say about this. I’m disgusted @ how we performed today.”
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[R. Rich]

GAME 15: ASSASSINS BUSHWHACKED AGAIN 42-6<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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The Erie Assassins, coming off an embarrassing shutout loss in their home finale against the LA Aztecs last week, started their 2 game road stint to end the season in similar fashion, as the defense faltered and the offense failed to show as <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Philadelphia</st1:place></st1:City> completed their season sweep. DeShaun Foster ran for 108 yards and 2 TDs and had 45 receiving yards and another TD to lead the charge for Philly. The Assassins did get a couple turnovers off INTs, w/ Nathan Vasher taking one 50 yards to set up an Adam Vinatieri 36 yard FG in the last few seconds of the first half to close the gap to 14-6. From there, Philly would score 3 TDs in the 3<SUP>rd</SUP> quarter to put the game away.<o:p></o:p>
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Head coach Kirk Ferentz said of the team’s poor showing, “Offensively, we just cannot get going in the passing game. W/out that, there’s no balance and teams can do what they’ve been doing: keying on our running game. Julius Jones had a nice 46 yard run, but only got 20 more yards the rest of the game. We need to do some things differently up front and also need to get better balance so that we can better utilize his talents.”<o:p></o:p>
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Up front is where many of the Assassins’ problems lie, as the team was penalized 5 times in the game w/ 3 of them being on the offensive line, including 2 on C Alex Stepanovich. “The penalties are still killing this team,” Ferentz said. “I think in terms of pass protection, we have improved some, but we still have too many lapses in concentration by our guys and we are really struggling to open good holes for Julius and Marion (Barber).” For the game, the Assassins did average 4.3 yards per rush (29 carries for 125 yards), but they could not sustain any drives and neither Barber (6 carries, 32 yards) nor Jones (17 carries, 66 yards) could get going. Backup QB Charlie Batch continues to perform poorly since taking over for the injured Leftwich, going 10 of 25 for a measly 63 yards and throwing 2 INTs for a 14.6 passer rating. <o:p></o:p>
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Defensively, the Assassins were able to get 3 sacks (1 each from LB Karlos Dansby and safeties Bryan Scott and Sean Taylor) to go w/ the 2 INTs, but could not come up w/ any big plays on 3<SUP>rd</SUP> downs (Phily converted 5 of 9) and could not keep the Bushwhackers from controlling the clock, as they had a huge advantage in time of possession (35:59 to 24:01). FS Sean Taylor did turn in one of his best performances of the season, w/ a team high 10 tackles, 1 sack, and an INT, but it was too little, too late for the Assassins.<o:p></o:p>
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[R. Rich]

GAME 16: ASSASSINS FINISH UP W/ ANOTHER BLOWOUT LOSS; <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">ATLANTA</st1:place></st1:City> WINS 44-12<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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A strong performance by star LB Jonathan Vilma (12 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 INTs, and a safety) was wasted as <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City> completed their second half swoon by being crushed in the Georgia Dome by the Screaming Vikings. Game MVP Shaun Alexander ran for 181 yards and 2 TDs on just 16 carries (a whopping 11.3 yard average), paving the way for the 9-7 Screaming Vikings.<o:p></o:p>
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This was a sloppy win, as both teams combined for 16 penalties (7 from the Assassins) and 6 turnovers (5 from the Screaming Vikings). <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Atlanta</st1:place></st1:City>’s ability to control the clock (39:54 to 20:06) and run the ball (273 yards rushing) was the difference. <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City> head coach Kirk Ferentz knew his team was in for a tough game, “We knew this team could run the ball well and they have some explosive players game as well. We went into this game knowing that we had to pressure the QB to have any chance to win. We got some pressure (5 sacks total, including Vilma’s 3), but not nearly enough. Consistency is something we just don’t have. It’s frustrating, because we know we have a team capable of competing. The talent is here. We just all have to do a better job, coaches and players.”<o:p></o:p>
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The Assassins finish the season @ 3-13, matching last year’s win total. The major issue is the second half slide this year, as the Assassins were 3-5 @ the halfway point and looking slightly improved. Since then, they’ve lost starting QB Byron Leftwich to injury, continued to struggle running the ball, and lost every game in the second half of the season. “Going 0 for the second half of the year stinks,” Ferentz said, “especially since we were close to getting to the competitive level we’re striving for. We were 3-5 halfway through, w/ a couple of those losses close enough that we could’ve won w/ the proper adjustments. From there, we just tanked. I’m the head coach, so I take full responsibility for this. We just need to get stronger in a few areas, and that’s what I’ll get to work on w/ (Executive VP/GM) Kevin (Colbert) and (Director of Player Personnel) Phil (Savage) immediately.” <o:p></o:p>

[R. Rich]

Major Changes For Erie? Count On It!
By: Editor


There has been quite a stir from 7 Assassins Plaza in recent days. Since the end of the season, another lackluster 3 win season that is, there have been plenty of rumors floating around about the Assassins' coaching situation. W/ team owner/president R. Rich announcing a press conference for Tuesday, some of these rumors may be confirmed sooner rather than later. There has been talk of the firing of head coach Kirk Ferentz and having him replaced by someone outside of the organization, meaning Ferentz' assistants are also on the hot seat now. Another big rumor out there is that defensive coordinator Al Golden may be the odd man out and his 3-4 defense may follow him. It is said that Golden may leave to go back to the college ranks as a head coach (perhaps Temple?). Assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe is also under a lot of scrutiny as some believe that Ferentz' only shot @ keeping his job may involve having to fire his good friend. Plenty of drama here leading up to tomorrow's press conference.

On the personnel side, sources tell me that the Erie Assassins were in negotiations to acquire a star QB to replace the oft-injured and underachieving Byron Leftwich, but that the talks broke down due to injury concerns and salary cap issues. It would appear that the Assassins are looking to go in a different direction and feel that Leftwich isn't the guy to take them there. I've also heard that the Assassins are seriously considering trading away their first round pick in the rookie draft (2nd overall......again) in a pick/player type deal. If this happens, look for Erie to go after OL and/or DL help.

I think w/ the moves they made last offseason, and w/ the nice 1-2 puch they get from RBs Julius Jones and Marion Barber, the Assassins are okay in the skill positions. Well, they do have to resolve the QB issue, meaning, they'll need to decide if Leftwich is their QB or if they need to trade for or draft his replacement. And, they may decide to upgrade @ TE also, where Desmond Clark is a fine, but neglected receiving TE. Starter Ben Troupe had a fine year (45 catches, 435 yards, 3 TDs), but the team needs to get more out of the position. My opinion on this is that they could stand pat w/ Troupe and Clark, but they should devise schemes to get both of them out there @ the same time to create mismatches. We thought O'Keefe would do more of that this year, but that didn't happen.

Whatever happens, they know they need much more offensive output than what they've gotten. Only 14 receiving TDs all season and, even worse, only 2 rushing TDs? Those stats are pathetic. Jones (916 yards, 2 TDs) and Barber (442 yards) are both capable of leading a rushing attack that can control the clock and help the defense to rest. A huge move to aid this should be the acquisition of a stud guard or two, be it by trade or free agency. I did like the move to sign FB Ovie Mughelli before the deadline. He's a tough young kid who is an improving blocker. He could be the lead blocker the Assassins lacked all season. I'm sure the RBs appreciated the signing; now get those guys a line that will open holes. The return of Birk from IR will help, but quality guards are badly needed. I expect @ least one of the guards on the roster to be cut this offseason.

Defensively, the Assassins could use another quality corner to help shut down the multiple WR sets they see so often. Vasher and Robinson are good starters, but they need a solid nickel back also. The organization is high on 2nd round pick Antonio Cromartie, but he's young and will need time to develop. They need a guy who is ready to go. Even more than that, the Assassins need a massive run stuffer up front. Whether they decide to continue running the 3-4 or if they do switch to a 4-3, they still need to bulk up their line. Veteran Ted Washington showed signs of wear and tear, and backups Jimmy Kennedy, Randy Starks, and Lional Dalton were nothing special. Other than those moves, all the defense needs is better depth. The LB corps is young and talented. In fact, LB Nick Barnett, the team's MVP last season, is rumored to be on the trading block. The Assassins could use Barnett, a fine young inside LB, to address talent issues up front or in the secondary.

The press conference tomorrow may shed some light on the direction this team plans to go in, or it could be more lip service from the Erie execs. Only time will tell, but a lot of people in this organization (coaches, players, and even the execs) should be concerned, not just for the team, but for their jobs as well.

[R. Rich]

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Erie Assassins owner/team president R. Rich addressed a few issues Tuesday in regard to the status of the team. Here’s a few highlights:
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On whether or not there will be a new head coach:
“I met w/ (VP/GM) Kevin Colbert and (Director of Player Personnel) Phil Savage to discuss just that issue. Although we had another awful finish to the season, we still feel that Kirk is the right man for the job. We were successful in upgrading our passing game last offseason by adding Lee Evans, Troy Walters, Devery Henderson, and Corey Bradford. Now, we have to be just as successful in bolstering our offensive and defensive lines this offseason. Phil and Kevin are committed to doing just that. Now, that said, Kirk knows that if there is no progress from this year to our next year, I will re-visit this decision.”
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About the possibility of changes in the coaching staff:
“One of the hot ticket issues for us is the 3-4 defense. It’s a defense I’m familiar w/ from my playing days and one I strongly believe in. Bringing the 3-4 to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Erie</st1:place></st1:City> was one of my goals when I acquired the Assassins. Now, we have struggled in that scheme, as we failed to win one game this year using the 3-4 as our base defense. We plan to continue using the 3-4 and we’ll also incorporate other fronts, such as the 4-3, the 46, and others, into our defensive game plan. Coaching wise, there will be a change, as Al Golden, our defensive coordinator for the first two seasons, has resigned to take the head coaching job @ Temple. This is no surprise, as <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Temple</st1:place></st1:City> expressed interest in him and he was known to want a college coaching job. We will conduct a search to replace Al w/ the best possible candidate, but whoever we hire will be someone w/ experience coaching the 3-4.”
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On the QB issue:
“It was reported that we attempted to trade for another QB here. That is correct. We feel that Byron’s injury will take more time for him to recover from than we originally thought, and we will work hard to bring in someone that will help lead our offense. A major issue for this team was, once again, our inability to score points. We know that by upgrading the offensive line, that will help, but we will also look to get stronger @ QB and we will try to utilize our personnel better. We were able to sign Ovie Mughelli, a good young FB who we feel will be a terrific lead blocker for our combo of Julius Jones and Marion Barber. That’s a step, but we will be taking more steps to get things corrected this offseason.”<o:p> </o:p>
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On possible draft strategies:
“C’mon now, you don’t expect me to tell you what we’re doing w/ our draft pick now, do you? Right now, we’re looking @ who we feel will be available w/ the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> overall pick and trying to determine which player will be the best fit for our team. Once we’ve done that, we’ll work on other situations, such as trading down-where to move down to, and who to take? We’ll also make a list of which players we think will be available if we do move down. Generally speaking, we’ll look to add talent to this team no matter which direction we take in the draft. We want to come out of this draft w/ as few holes as possible.”
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On possible cuts:
“We are going through our roster and the other BZFL rosters to see what our options are. Once we’ve properly evaluated things, we’ll make public our cut list. That may take some time.”
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So, to sum up R. Rich’s comments:
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*Kirk Ferentz stays, albeit on a short leash.
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*Al Golden is out, and the search is on for a new defensive coordinator, one who will continue to use the 3-4 defense.
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*The Assassins will, more than likely, be led by someone other than Byron Leftwich @ QB.
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*No decisions have been made yet on roster moves or trades, but the organization is keeping all options open.
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Sounds like the fun has just begun for the executives @ 7 Assassins Plaza. There’s a lot of work to be done to get this team past the 3 win mark. Can they do it? I believe they can, but it will take a strong commitment and a lot of work. I do think it’s good that they haven’t jumped to any decisions just yet. They need to make sure they are doing things properly and that the Assassins will show the improvement next year that everyone thought we’d see this year. Ferentz knows he’s on the hot seat; it’s his move.

[SABURZFAN]

On possible draft strategies:
“C’mon now, you don’t expect me to tell you what we’re doing w/ our draft pick now, do you?


YES!!!!!!!! :mad: since i'm drafting behind you,i need to know these things.if you don't tell me,i'll beat it out of you when i see you in vegas. :biggrin:

[R. Rich]

Assassins Add New Coach, Make Changes To Upgrade Defense<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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The Erie Assassins have decided on a coach to replace Al Golden as the new defensive coordinator. Rex Ryan, son of defensive guru Buddy Ryan, will take over as the new coach. “Rex brings a good knowledge of the game and a fresh perspective to the team,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “We’re pleased to have him on our staff.”
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Ryan has some more weapons to work w/ as well, as the team engineered a pair of trades designed to improve the defense, ranked last in the BZFL last season in large part due to a woeful run defense (the pass defense was ranked 8<SUP>th</SUP> in the league while the run defense was the 2<SUP>nd</SUP> worst in the league). The first trade the team made was w/ Easton, sending young LB Derrick Johnson along w/ the team’s 3<SUP>rd</SUP> and 6<SUP>th</SUP> round picks in this year’s rookie draft in exchange for NT Jamal Williams and Easton’s 7<SUP>th</SUP> round rookie pick. Williams brings a fierce run defender to a team badly needing one. “It’s nice to get started by adding, arguably, the best nose tackle in the game today in Williams to our squad,” Ryan said. “We’re sure he’ll help improve our run defense and may even help out some in the pass rush, which we intend to revamp a bit here.”
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To aid in that revamping, the Assassins made another trade, sending their 2<SUP>nd</SUP> round pick in the rookie draft to former champion Jersey in exchange for veteran LB Joey Porter. “We’re going to ask a lot out of Joey,” Ryan said. “He’s a hard nosed player and a leader, which we’re going to need. We expect him to take the lead of this defense, and aid us in pass coverage as well as the run defense.” When asked about the possibility of Porter factoring in the pass rush, Ryan said, “That goes w/out saying. He’s as tough a player as there is out there, and is relentless in pursuing quarterbacks. He’ll get his chances to go after them here, that’s for sure.”
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Team owner/president R. Rich is pleased w/ the moves so far. “A lot of people did a lot of talking of our need to get out of the 3-4 scheme,” he said. “I simply said to our guys that maybe we should do all we can to properly staff the team so that we can successfully run the 3-4, which we feel we’ve done here by adding a great run stuffer and a playmaker off the edge, both of whom add veteran experience and have been successful in playing the 3-4 scheme before.” Executive Vice President/General Manager Kevin Colbert, who was in large part responsible for the moves, added, “We are now confident that we can be a good 3-4 defense w/ these moves. Porter and Williams will upgrade two areas of our defense that badly need upgrading, and we’re glad to bring them aboard.”