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!]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

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]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

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]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

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]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

<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]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

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]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

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]

Kirk Ferentz Press Conference: Week 1

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]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

Assassins Wrapup: Weeks 2-4<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><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]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

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]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

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]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

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]

Re: Dossier: The Erie Assassins Magazine

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.