Southern Division Preview
Adam Markowitz
Wednesday January 25, 2006
Enter the Georgia Force, 2005 Southern Division winner. I sat and watched all last season, as the Force plowed through team after team, becoming the first team ever to run their record to 9-0 at home after soundly defeating the Tampa Bay Storm 62-46 in the first round of the playoffs. All decked out in my Predator attire, I happily took the eight hour drive up I-75 to witness what I assumed would be a return trip to the Arena Bowl for the black and red. However, as Orlando QB Joe Hamilton's last gasp 2-point conversion throw fell harmlessly to the turf, clinching Georgia's first Arena Bowl birth and a perfect 10-0 record at home, I could only think of how much times had changed in this division. Only one thought came to my mind upon seeing "Viva Las Vegas" in blue and white on the Jumbo-Tron: "Is this the start of a new dynasty in the AFL?"
This sets the scene for the 2006 season. Will it be Georgia, looking to continue its home successes, repeating as Southern Division champions? Will Orlando and Tampa return to their old dominant forms and bring the Southern Division Crown back to the old guard? Will Kansas City's hunger for an Arena Football team spark the Brigade to the class of the South? Or will a revamped Austin team, committed to success sneak past them all to the top? These teams all have an incredible desire to be champions, and it should make for an entertaining 2006 campaign.
Georgia Force
11-5, Southern Division and National Conference Champions (2005)
The city of Atlanta is certainly behind their Force 110%. Though Georgia will struggle to match their perfect home record and 11-5 mark from a year ago, this team certainly has to be considered the front-runner in the division again in 2006. QB Matt Nagy returns to lead the Force, armed with most of his weapons still in tact from last year's offense. Though speedster, Troy Bergeron has departed, a veteran offensive line should give Nagy plenty of time to find OS Chris Jackson and WR/LB Derek Lee. Some questions will arise on the defensive side of the ball, as replacing Kevin Gaines at the defensive specialist position will not come easily. DS Nate Coggins must step up for Georgia's defense to even think about duplicating the 46.5 points per game allowed from last season, good enough for second best in the league.
2006 Projection: 11-5, 1st place in the South
Tampa Bay Storm
10-6, #4 seed in the National Conference (2005)
Could it be possible that an offense that averaged 58 points per game at home improved in the off-season? Free agency acquisition, WR/DB Bobby Sippio would certainly like to believe so. QB Shane Stafford returns for the Storm, following a career year of over 4,500 yards passing and almost a 6-1 TD to INT ratio. Between Sippio and returning receivers Lawrence Samuels and Freddie Solomon, points certainly won't be at a shortage this year in Tampa. The defense features a veteran line and one of the best DS tandems in the league in veterans Jonathan Ordway and Tremain Jones. If there's one thing that will never change for the Storm, it is head coach, Tim Marcum's desire to win by any means necessary, and anything less than a trip to Las Vegas in June won't be good enough for the Storm.
2006 Projection: 10-6, 2nd place in the South
Austin Wranglers
6-10, 5th place in the Southern Division (2005)
Certainly the most improved team in the South this off-season, the Austin Wranglers enter the 2006 campaign thinking that this is the year they bust into the playoffs. There are no quarterback controversies this year in Austin, as QB John Fitzgerald earned himself the starting job after posting 72 TDs and a shade under 4,000 yards passing after starting last season on the bench behind Bobby Pesavento. His favorite targets return from last season. Offensive specialist Darrin Chiaverini and All-Rookie WR/DB Kevin Nickerson join the newly-added WR/DB Sedrick Robinson from Columbus. Perhaps the most notable changes are in the Wrangler secondary, where veterans Damon Mason and Donvitus Franklin will surely improve a defense that allowed 55.8 points per game last season. This will be the year the Wranglers crack the playoffs.
2006 Projection: 8-8, 3rd place in the South
Orlando Predators
10-6, #3 seed in the National Conference (2005)
Orlando had as bad of an off-season as any other team in the Arena Football League. Amongst the departures in the off-season include OL/DL EJ Burt, DS Reggie Doster, WR/LB Cory Fleming, WR/DB Michael Brown, WR/LB Justin Skaggs, DS Johnnie Harris, OL/DL Buck Gurley, and QB Chris Sanders, not to mention defensive coordinator, Bret Munsey (now Philadelphia's head coach). To replace these veterans, the Predators are counting on veteran line play, aided by the addition of OL/DL Henry Taylor from Nashville, and another outstanding year by perennial All-Arena DS Kenny McEntyre. "Super" Joe Hamilton must stay healthy for the Predators to have any hopes of competing in the South, and he must find another receiver to counter the loss of Fleming's 96 receptions. Look for OS Jimmy Fryzel to have a big year for the Predators if they have any hope of improving on last year's 50 points per game. This team will go as far as their defense carries it, and I just see too many question marks for this team to be that successful.
2006 Projection: 7-9, 4th place in the South
Kansas City Brigade
1st season
Along with the Utah Blaze, the Kansas City Brigade will open up shop this weekend. Carrying over several members from the New Orleans VooDoo franchise, the Brigade will hope that veteran QB Andy Kelly can get the Brigade to the playoffs in just their inaugural campaign. Free agent, OS Steve Smith will surely be Kelly's main target this season. The Brigade boast one of the league's youngest teams, with five rookies and five second year players taking the field on opening day. Kansas City's desire for an Arena Football team will make it one of the most difficult places to play football all season, but in the end, it's just not going to be enough to see the Brigade through in a very difficult division.
2006 Projection: 5-11, 5th place in the South
Adam Markowitz is an accountant living in Orlando. Adam is an old school AFLer, having followed the AFL since 1991. He attended or covered well over 200 games, including 17 ArenaBowls. Adam worked for the Arena Football League for two years as a columnist and historian before retiring in 2017 when the 50-yard indoor war left the Sunshine State. Adam still muses about the AFL on ArenaFan from time to time, and you can follow him on Twitter @adammarkowitzea.
