Post by David on Feb 20, 2017 22:44:05 GMT -8
All Aboard.
That was the slogan the Spokane Empire used for their inaugural season as members of the Indoor Football League. It was more than just a catchy slogan that fit in with the new train-themed logo that Spokane introduced, replacing the former identity of a 10-year old franchise. It was a call for the former Spokane Shock fans to take a chance on a new league. It was a call for the players to step on board and come together as a team. Its destination: Title Town – the United Bowl Championship.
What happened? The Empire took the indoor football world by storm, finishing first in the Intense Conference. It won the Intense Conference Championship, becoming the first franchise in three seasons not named the Nebraska Danger to play in the United Bowl. It had the makings of first seasons of the previous Spokane team, reaching the championship game in its first year in a new league.
Unfortunately for the Empire, they fell to the juggernaut – the then five-time defending United Bowl Champions.
In their second season, the Empire have a new slogan: “Guard the Yard.” With an Intense Conference that’s looking to be tougher this season, the Empire will have to Guard the Yard of their Intense Conference title, accomplishing their goal of getting back to the United Bowl and slay the dragon known as the six-time defending champion Sioux Falls Storm. If they accomplish the task, Spokane can become the first team not named Sioux Falls to win the United Bowl title, a task that hasn’t been done since the Billings Outlaws in 2010. It won’t be an easy task, but if any team can be prepared for the task, the 2017 Spokane Empire has the capability of accomplishing their goal.
Spokane’s leadership is in great hands with Head Coach Adam Shackleford, who returned to Spokane last season after coaching the Tri-Cities Fever from 2010-2015. Under his leadership, the Empire finished the regular season with a 12-4 record, including an impressive 5 game win streak where his team scored over 75 points twice. Although the Empire fell just short in winning a United Bowl Championship, there’s reason for optimism in 2017. He’s been here before—twice in fact; he lead the Shock to consecutive ArenaCup Championships in 2008 and 2009, winning the latter, and made back-to-back United Bowl appearances with the Fever in 2011 and 2012.
Head Coach Adam Shackleford looks to get Spokane back to the United Bowl (image credit: Jesse Tinsley / The Spokesman-Review)
Defensive Coordinator Ameer Ismail departs Spokane after one season, taking the Head Coaching job for the Bloomington Edge of the CIF. Assistant Head Coach and Head of Player Development Cleveland Pratt returns for his second season with the Empire, his eighth overall as a member of Shackleford’s staff. Although not listed on the team’s website, Pratt is a potential candidate to replace Ismail as defensive coordinator. He previously served as the Fever’s defensive coordinator from 2013-2014. If Pratt is not the primary defensive coordinator, the other likely option could be first year assistant coach Marquise Liverpool, who played under Shackleford as defensive back with Tri-Cities in 2012.
The Empire’s offense will see plenty of returning starters in 2017 along with some new faces. One important position that will remain solidified is at quarterback, where Charles Dowdell returns to helm the Empire’s fifth ranked offense. Last season, Dowdell started all 16 regular season games, completing 61.9% of his passes and throwing for 2,738 yards. His 63 touchdown passes was tied with Green Bay Blizzard QB Matt Behrendt for the most in the IFL, earning Second Team All-IFL honors. His dual-threat ability also made it tough for opposing defenses, ranking second on the Empire with 442 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns.
Dowdell also led the IFL with 21 interceptions, 9 of which came over the final four weeks of the regular season. Coach Shackleford attributed the rise in turnovers over the final four games due to Dowdell feeling the need to do more than he needed to as a result of RB Trevor Kennedy’s season ending leg injury. With Kennedy back in the lineup, and some excellent depth at the running back position, Dowdell should feel more relaxed this season.
Aaron Aiken, Dowdell's backup QB in 2016, signed with the Colorado Crush in the offseason. Replacing him is rookie QB Aaron Wilmer. A graduate of Delaware Valley University, Wilmer amassed a 34-9 record as starter, including two NCAA Division III Playoff appearances and a trip to the MAC Championship. He recently spent time as a member of the CFL's BC Lions.
The Empire's running back position is stocked with experience, depth, and explosive playmakers, led by Trevor Kennedy, the 2016 IFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Kennedy, listed as the team’s “offensive specialist,” looks to pick up where he left off after his rookie campaign ended due to injury. He finished the season rushing for 720 yards and a league leading 28 rushing touchdowns. He also contributed in Spokane’s passing game, hauling in 35 passes for 273 yards and 9 touchdowns.
IFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Trevor Kennedy (image credit: Dan Byers Photography)
Joining him in the backfield is ex-Fever RB Rob Brown, who signed with Spokane during the off season. Brown, the twin brother of Empire DB Robert Brown, rushed for 332 yards and 7 touchdowns with Tri-Cities. Brown is another versatile threat in the Empire’s passing game, tallying 314 reception yards and 2 touchdowns last season. Additionally, Spokane also signed RB Mulku Kalokoh, who last played with the Bemidji (Minnesota) Axemen in 2015, rushing for 500 yards and 11 touchdowns. Expect to see Kalokoh as the Empire’s primary kick returner, as he earned the 2015 IFL Special Teams Player of the Year award by leading the league with 991 kick return yards and 5 touchdowns. Kennedy (525 return yards, 1 TD) and Brown (688 yards, 4 TDs) are also capable of returning kicks if needed, presenting Spokane with multiple options on special teams.
Spokane’s wide receiving corps will return two of their four starting wide receivers. Returning will be nine year veteran Carl Sims (71 receptions, 822 yards, 20 TDs) and WR Samuel Charles (41 receptions, 456 yards, 13 TDs). Sims, who suffered a broken wrist at the end of the regular season, was recently re-activated from the team’s injury list while Charles was placed on Short Term IR.
Among those departing from last year's squad are JJ Hayes (62 receptions, 685 yards, 12 TDs) and Justin Helwege (23 receptions, 249 yards, 6 TDs). According to the Spokesman-Review, Hayes is currently pursuing a career in law enforcement and was placed on the Refuse to Report list, while Helwege has reportedly retired due to injuries.
The Empire did make a splash in free agency, signing WR Dejuan Miller. Last season with Tri-Cities, Miller ranked second leading receiver, recording 53 receptions for a career high 657 yards and 12 touchdowns. Since joining the Fever in 2013, Miller has amassed 171 career receptions for 1,841 yards and 30 TDs. Listed at 6’5’’, Miller could be a tremendous addition to the Empire, allowing for more opportunities downfield and in the red zone.
Spokane also added a tremendous veteran presence with Bryan Pray, the IFL’s career leader in receiving yards (4,967). The eighth year receiver spent the 2016 season with the Iowa Barnstormers, making 54 receptions for 769 yards and 12 touchdowns and earning Second Team All-IFL honors. Between Pray and Sims alone, they have 17 combined years of IFL experience and nearly 10,000 total receiving yards.
Also in the mix is rookie WR Devonn Brown, who recently spent time in training camp with the CFL's BC Lions. Although listed at 5'9'', Brown is known for his speed, amassing 906 yards and 8 touchdowns in two seasons at Lamar University. In addition to his receiving skills, Brown was a capable returner, bringing back 26 kicks for 449 yards.
The biggest changes to the Empire’s offense will be the offensive line, with Kyle Fischer as the team’s only active holdover from 2016. Dave Lefotu was placed on the Other League Exempt list, pursuing opportunities in the AFL with Tampa Bay, while fan favorite Michael Boyefio was released. Mike Trice, a mid-season signing, was still on the team’s injured list.
The team was active in free agency, signing veteran linemen Bill Vavau, Deveric Gallington, and James Atoe. Vavau and Atoe both played with the Colorado Crush last season, but Atoe was placed on the exempt list as he pursues an opportunity with the expansion Washington Valor of the AFL. Gallington, an experienced vet who previously played with the Spokane Shock from 2014-2015 and the Portland Steel last year, begins the season on the Refuse to Report list, creating ample opportunities for rookie newcomers Darren Pinnock and Jonah Austin. While both provide valuable depth, they could create competition in camp for starting time.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, the Empire’s defense will look relatively the same, especially in the defensive backfield and at linebacker.
The defensive secondary is highlighted by All-IFL First Teamer Robert Brown, who led the Empire with 104 total tackles and 7 interceptions. Also returning are Tyree Robinson (80 total tackles, 6 INTs), Lorenzo White Jr. (30 total tackles, 2 INTs), and Adrian James (10 total tackles, 3 INTs). The team lost veteran DB Josh Ferguson (56 total tackles, 4 INTs), who retired during the off season.
The Empire padded the defensive backfield depth with the signing of free agents Norris Wrenn III and Stephen Godbolt. Wrenn recorded 33 total tackles and a team high 12 pass breakups as a member of the Billings Wolves. Godbolt, another ex-Fever player, made 54 total tackles and recorded 3 interceptions and 6 pass breakups last season. Rookie John Hardy-Tuliau, who played with the AFL’s Los Angeles KISS and the CFL’s BC Lions, looks to contribute in a reserve role.
The linebacker corps will once again be led by veteran Nick Haag. Last season, Haag was the heartbeat of an Empire team that ranked third in total defense and points allowed (44.3 points/game). He ranked second on the team with 101 total tackles (78 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries, earning Second Team All-IFL honors. Re-joining him is longtime teammate and friend Pasquale Vacchio (91 total tackles), a key component in Spokane’s fourth ranked pass defense in which he snagged 3 interceptions and broke up 9 passes. Serving as backup is rookie LB Andrew Jackson, a former sixth round pick by the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts.
Spokane Empire LB Nick Haag (image credit: Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
The Empire’s defensive line had the biggest shakeup of all. Benjamin Perry, the team’s sack leader with 9.0 sacks, is gone, along with D.J Yendrey (1.5 sacks) and Brett Bowers (33 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks). Only Toby Jackson (24 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks) returns for 2017, but he won't be the only defensive lineman with experience. He'll be joined IFL veteran J.D. Griggs, who spent the past two seasons as a member of the Colorado Ice/Crush organization. Last season, Griggs played in 9 games with the Crush, registering 3.5 sacks, 23 total tackles, and 8 tackles for loss. Spokane also signed Harold Love III, a large bodied arena/indoor veteran who had two stints with the Fever, the AFL’s Portland Thunder, and the CIF’s Dodge City Law. Jackson, Griggs, and Love will be tremendous mentors to rookie Junior Alexis, who played the bulk of his college career at Portland State University.
As for the seemingly rotating door at kicker, Spokane does have a kicker listed on the active roster. Last season, the Empire went through six different kickers before settling on Pat Clarke, who converted 5 of 12 field goal and 13 of 21 extra points. Clarke was released in January and his space has not been filled at the time of this preview. Look for the Empire to sign a kicker just before their regular season opener against the Green Bay Blizzard.
Speaking of the regular season schedule, Spokane will have a more favorable schedule this year, especially concerning its bye weeks. Last season, Spokane had all three of its bye weeks in the Month of March, resulting in 14 consecutive weeks of games to finish the season, and the fatigue clearly caught up with Empire players towards the end of the season. After their opener at home versus Green Bay, Spokane will hit the road for three straight weeks before returning home to face the expansion Salt Lake Screaming Eagles on March 24.
The Intense Conference could be much tighter this season. The Colorado Crush, who finished 3-13 in 2016, look to bounce back from the injury bug that plagued the team from getting off to a good start. The Nebraska Danger also look to contend this season, especially with more continuity at quarterback. Meanwhile, two new teams will be joining the Intense Conference, one of which is an old rival from Spokane’s AFL days. The Salt Lake Screaming Eagles are a question mark in terms of how they’ll play this season, but the team to keep an eye on will be the Arizona Rattlers. The Rattlers will be largely a team of new faces, but Head Coach Kevin Guy knows how to get the most out of his players. Arizona may not look the same as the Rattler teams of the past, but they’re expected to still be a tough, competitive team.
Spokane to get back to the United Bowl Championship in 2017 (image credit: Indoor Football League / GoIFL.com)
With increased competition in the Intense Conference, and some tough road tests in Sioux Falls and Wichita Falls, Spokane is still the likely favorite to get back to win the Intense Conference crown. It won’t be an easy run, but this team is loaded with talent and fueled with the fire of getting back to the United Bowl.
In the words of Nick Haag, “You have to slay the dragon to get the ‘chip.”
It’s going to be an interesting five months, which the Empire will have to start with by Guarding the Yard. Only then, will they get the chance to slay the dragon.
-DKH
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