The Graveyard’s Back in Business
Jack Bedell
Saturday March 3, 2007
Two years ago, the VooDoo’s season ended much earlier than expected when the squad lost a heartbreaker in Orlando in the final week to miss the playoffs. Plagued by bouts of inconsistency and facing three very tough divisional rivals in Georgia, Orlando, and Tampa Bay, that year’s club headed into the off-season disappointed, but hungry. Unfortunately, before they could do anything about it, Katrina hit the entire region like an atomic bomb, and the rest, as they say, is history.
After a year’s hiatus, however, the VooDoo are back under coach Mile Neu with a fresh roster of returning veterans, free agents, and AFL rookies looking to jump into the Southern Division mix.
WHO TO WATCH
Offense
As we all know, the AFL is a quarterback-driven league, and to head into the 2007 campaign the VooDoo follow one of the best in league history, 14-year vet Andy Kelly. Don’t be fooled by the statistics Kelly posted at the beginning of 2006 with the Brigade. Kelly’s performance for the Blaze at the end of the season is much more indicative of his abilities. With less than a week of practice with the team, Kelly led the Blaze to a 4-1 record and a playoff appearance in his time there, and after seeing him in person at practice early this week, I have no reason to believe he can’t do the same for the VooDoo.
Kelly will be throwing the ball to a group of receivers featuring former Georgia Force speedster Tyronne Jones and returning gamebreaker ‘Ques Rumph (once he’s off IR, that is). He’ll also have at his disposal an AFL rookie with a serious NFL/XFL/CFL resume in Darnell McDonald. Look for big production in the red zone from this tall, physical receiver.
Fullback Dan Curran, the Gravedigger, makes his return after stepping away from the game for a couple of seasons as well. The last time Curran wore a VooDoo uniform, he was a league-leading rusher and a definite impact player. With the rule changes allowing free substitution, Curran should be et to rumble behind legitimate offensive linemen.
Defense
In the past, the VooDoo’s team identity came from hard-hitting, game-changing defense. Under new Defensive Coordinator Jeff Russell, this squad shouldn’t be any different.
Up front, the defensive line will be led by former-VooDoo and Predator sackmaster Henry Taylor. Taylor ensures that opposing teams will have to get rid of the ball quickly, or pay dearly. He’ll be joined by returning vet Mike Landry and Wilky Bazile.
Tremaine Neal also returns to man the box at Linebacker. Neal is a tall, rangy player capable of great pass defense. He also doubles as a quality receiver on offense if need be.
The defensive backfield will be led by former-Force DB Chris Brown who has established himself as one of the premier ball hawks in the AFL. Brown will be flanked capably by free-agent pick-up Kelvin Hunter. Both Brown and Hunter should provide enough sticky coverage to get Taylor and Landry well into the backfield with pressure. How the less experienced members of the secondary perform, however, will be the key to the team holding its own in a tough division.
INTANGIBLES
Coach Neu and his staff are top-notch men and teachers, and the VooDoo organization is solid from owner Tom Benson down to the guys who put out snacks in the press box, so there’s no doubt the team will be competitive from an organizational standpoint.
There’s also the matter of a rabid fan base. In 2004 and 2005, there was no louder venue in the AFL than the New Orleans Arena. The Graveyard was always filled to capacity with football-savvy fans who knew when to bring the noise. This season, the team’s headed toward selling 14,000 season tickets by the home opener, so you can bet there will be a serious home-field advantage for the VooDoo.
PROSPECTUS
The Southern Division is strong across the board, and there are no easy wins on the VooDoo’s schedule, but I fully expect this team, under these coaches, to win more than they lose. How many more? Give me a month into the season to see how the new rule changes shake out, and I’ll be ready to put my neck on the line.
Jack Bedell was an inaugural season ticket holder for the af2's Lafayette Roughnecks and the AFL's New Orleans VooDoo. He's been a fan of the league since he first saw Browning Nagle heaving touchdowns for the Buffalo Destroyers. Jack's married to a lovely wife, Beth, and has two sons, Jack and Samuel Eli. He works as an associate professor of creative writing at Southeastern Louisiana University.
