SCORPIONS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE OVERALL IMPROVEMENT… RIGHT INTO THE THICK OF THE RMFL AA TITLE CHASE

Team Preview by: Jared Neumeier

GRAND JUNCTION – After getting blown out twice by the Wasatch Wildcats, losing their starting quarterback and team GM, the Scorpions hit rock bottom last year when the players found out they didn’t actually have a home game against the Utah Wolverines… that it was, in fact, “Cancelled due to lack of refs”.

Often what goes on behind the scenes, or better yet, what ISN’T going on behind the scenes of a semi-pro football franchise is a mystery to its players.

There were a lot of mysteries for the 2005 Scorpion players… mysteries that set them back one full year in their development.

The team’s wide receiver, Mike Christensen, eventually had to take over leadership of the team at not only quarterback, but as team GM.

The result? The Scorpions finished the 2005 season with respectability and class… and some pretty good talent, to boot!

Although they finished the 2005 season with a 1-7 record, their point differential against what would be this years AA competition (Muddogs, Vipers, Morgan and Bear River) was a meager –9 in those 4 games, including a win over the Vipers. Besides getting blown out by Wasatch and to a certain degree by the Nemesis, they competed well to a 12-6 loss to the playoff bound, Utah Blitz. And THAT in a season of turmoil and recovering.

What can this team do in a season when they have had the experience of the first year and an entire off-season to get ready? I predict a solid season and a play-off appearance for the Scorpions.

The Scorpions have also gone out and got some solid coaches in. Jack Harmon takes over as the team’s head coach and will be assisted by Terry Martinez (Defense), Tony Teacher and Bill Logsdon. The team has been able to schedule at least two home games in the city of Grand Junction and has passed every litmus test of a successful franchise heading into the 2006 season.

Christensen will continue on as the teams quarterback and has a slew of talent surrounding him as well as a very solid offensive line. Even with all of the distractions and problems, the Scorpions still finished 9th in offense last season behind Christensen’s leadership and some great talent in Jeff Dotson and Scott Walston. The defense, which wasn’t too bad, either, finishing a respectable 16th (ahead of AA teams, Snake River, Bear River, Morgan and Glacier), looks to improve as well as most of the new talent being brought in will be defensive help.

The Scorpions seem to be on course to follow the same path as Montana’s Great Falls, having had to recover from negative PR left in their local community by the previous semi-pro franchise; they have also had to endure a first year made harder by a GM that pulled a disappearing act early in the season. With all of those distractions removed, the Scorpions look to establish themselves and continue to progress up the ranks of the RMFL and in a parity stricken Mountain Conference, have their fate in their own hands.

KEY ADDITIONS:

Nick Martinez – Linebacker

Ben Lopez – Defensive End/Center

Garrett Chaffee – Safety

Richard Walton – Offensive Line

Mike Mavros – Wide Receiver

OFFENSE:

I’m not sure where Mike Christensen got the idea that he could roll over from wide receiver to quarterback and actually expect to succeed… but he was right. Christensen finally took over last season after original starter, Zane Newitt was injured in the Morgan game. Paul Logsden replaced Newitt initially and completed 5 passes, 2 of those to the opposing team. Then multi-talent, Scott Walston tried his hand against the Blitz; did okay, completed 4 of 16 passes, including two big ones to Christensen. But when Christensen took over in the Muddog game, he responded by passing for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns in a losing effort. In the next game they beat the Vipers before being stymied by the Nemesis defense. With all that experience behind him, Christensen comes into 2006 with a lot more of the advantages going this way. All-star tailback, Jeff Dottson returns to the tailback spot behind Christensen. Dottson finished the season ranked 11th of all RMFL rushers playing one less game and brings true break-away speed to the backfield. Multi-threat, Scott Walston finds a home at fullback, putting the teams two biggest home run threats in the backfield, a truly explosive situation for Scorpion opponents to face. Don Moran is expected to take over at tight end for what will likely be a run first offense and newcomer, Garrett Chaffee brings his speed and versatility to the receiving position, teaming up with newly promoted starter, Adam Gonzales. Mike Mavros, should expect plenty of playing time as well with Chaffee also playing defense. The offensive line gets a make-over, and they needed it. Ranked 19th last year after yielding 22 sacks (in only 7 games) and only supporting the explosive Scorpion rushing game to the tune of about 3 yards a carry on the ground. Although 22 sacks doesn’t seem like too much, consider the Scorpions passed far fewer times than any other team. In the off-season, the Scorpions lost, however, all-star lineman, Micah Mobley and the only returning starters are Jeremiah Griffith and Matt Schafer, the heir apparent to the leadership of the offensive line, a true anchor. Scorpions hope that the additions of Richard Walton, Benson Broyles and Ben Lopez at center will help key the offensive line to greater success as a unit in 2006. Also, figuring in, will be Cody Jack who gives the line more depth and flexibility. This unit is definitely not ready for AAA competition, however, I believe they will be quite successful at the AA level. Enough questions about how the new offensive line will perform, however, to rate the offense any higher. Projected Offensive Rank: 4th

DEFENSE:

Honestly, this defense was not all that bad in 2006. Inconsistent would be a much better term. They gave up a lot to Wasatch, but ½ of those points were defense and special teams scores. They gave up 30+ to the Muddogs, but held the Vipers to 3. They held the Blitz to 12 on the road, but gave up more than that to the Devil Dogs. This does prove that this defense is very capable of playing very well, however, they are also capable of lapsing themselves into losing a game they should win. The key in 2006 will be to keep the unit focused… and playing to their full potential. If they do, they are a playoff team. The only apparent holdover from 2006 on the defensive line is Rudi Nailor and Matt Schafer. Nailor was second in the team in tackles and sacks and even picked up an interception along the way. He will be teamed up with Ben Lopez who will play a little two-way ball, Matt Schafer, returning as well as a two-way player, recorded 18-1/2 tackles as the teams 9th leading tackler and Benson Broyles. Hiram Reyez also will see time along the defensive front, particularly with a couple of guys seeing action on both sides of the line. Two good linebackers get supplemented by another as Zen Callihan, the team’s leading tackler in ’05 and Eric Easterbrook, the team’s 4th leading tackler in ’05 get joined by Nick Martinez who the Scorpions are very excited about adding. With this group, the Scorpion front 7 will be one of the best. All-around Scorpion athletes, JT Armendariz and Scott Waltston headline the Scorpion secondary; Armendariz is a cornerback and Walston’s speed and hitting will play strong safety. They will be teamed with newcomer at cornerback, Cody Topai, who the team refers to as their “shutdown corner”. They are also very high on new addition free safety, Garrett “Ball Hawk” Chaffee who will be playing wide receiver as well.. Also, factoring in for the defense, Josh Pittsinger will see plenty of reps at linebacker and Adam Jetter, a starter from 2005 will also see action at both linebacker and strong safety. On paper, I have to like this defense a bit, I’m a little troubled though by the number of two-way players and last season’s performance which keeps me from granting a higher pre-season ranking. Projected Rank: 6th

INTANGIBLES AND COACHING:

Once again the Scorpions walk into this part of the equation with an automatic plus; teams that have to come and play the Scorpions have a little travel to do first. Of course the Scorpions have to travel to each of their road games, however, with that expectation already built in, they have more opportunity to devise, coordinate and implement a system to get players to road games with better regularity. They do have much of their early games at home, except for a long early trip to Twin Falls, Idaho. That game could be a real key to the overall momentum of this team. They could conceivably win all of their early home games; a win in Twin Falls would set them up as the latest and greatest AA team to beat. A loss in Twin Falls would instill some doubt that they are just another average AA team that can win at home, but not on the road. Not exactly the best psyche job going into the end of the season where they finish with 3 road games. I still like this as a real turnaround team a this level and since I’m rolling the dice on this whole AA ranking, I’d roll them into the play-offs.

OVERALL RANKING: 4th