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The Season
Admirals 4, The rest 6
By: RossMFor an explanation of the shovel rating system, head here.
by RossM (with small comments by TonV)
Ok it's the end of the season and time for the annual evaluation of the Admirals performance. The evaluation takes in each individual position and attempts to give you an idea of where I think the Admirals are going next year. Of course with a 95% turnover in rosters annually it is difficult to predict what will happen next year, but we should have an idea on how Bart Andrus runs his squad.
Overall Results
Well we finished 4-6, losing only once in the ArenA. However our road form was atrocious as we went 0-5 when playing in other stadiums. What was in the end most depressing about the away form was that we were in four of the games until the end. Only in Berlin were we completely blown away. The teams attitude in these away games made them look uninspired, and compared to the intensity they showed against Barcelona in Amsterdam they were just not playing up to the standards that they set for themselves
Best Performance
Without a shadow of a doubt, the home game against Barcelona was a thing of beauty. The Defensive Line stepped it up and the offense clicked. Turnovers appeared when they were needed and the crowd did a great job of disrupting the Dragons Offense.
TonV: Couldn't agree more.
Worst Performance
Its really a tossup, away in Berlin or away in Scotland, but in the end I'm opting for away in Frankfurt a game we came so close to winning but didn't, because in the first half we delivered up 30 minutes of the most inept football I've ever seen. And then when we were given the chance to come back, the QB failed on 4th down as we didn't use the last timeout. Frustrating as heck watching, and that is why this gets worst performance of the year award.
TonV: I will go for Scotland. The most inept offensive display ever, against a team that was hardly any better!
Quarterback
Spergon Wynn took almost all the snaps this year, which is probably just as well as Sean Keenan looked to be pretty slow reacting in his very limited work. Wynn biggest problem all year was his accuracy. He was doing a pretty good job of making the right reads and sitting patiently in the pocket waiting for the receivers to get open. He possibly didn't make enough use of the safety valves or throwing the ball away to avoid sacks but that is picking nits. In the end in inaccuracy was what killed us, but that is something can work on when he is back in the USA and I fully expect that Wynn will hang around as the 3rd quarterback in Cleveland. If we take the away game in Scotland out of his rating he gets a four shovel rating, but the Shocker in Scotland downgrades the whole position to a three.
TonV: I agree. Not a bad qb, not a great qb. Does the job.
Running Back
A double header monster at running back provided us with steady production from the running game all year. Both Clarence Williams and Spencer George had 100 yard rushing games. Neither was able to claim the number one position on their own and neither seemed to get involved in the passing game all that much. Most of my problems with the running game this season were to do with the play calling. We seemed to have very few running plays, and especially the delay over Left Guard was over used in almost every game. When Andrus ran the Offense in Dusseldorf he had a bigger back in Pepe Pearson for this type of game, but has to adapt the running game to suit his talents. Statistically the Spencer George had the better season, but this is honours shared and if they hope to stick in the NFL they must improve their contributions in the passing game. A good Three Shovel Rating.
TonV: Same here. Did their jobs, without any great moments.
Wide Receiver
We were more explosive at Wide Receiver than any other team in the league. However they struggled to catch deep balls all year long and they were not consistent at getting open at times leading to more Quarterback sacks. Chris Coleman led the league in receiving yards and when he got the ball in space always looked dangerous for taking the ball the rest of the way. He received able support from O'Connor and Harris. Special Mention must go to Japanese National WR Nobutaka Horie who played every down as if he was in the Superbowl, and a potent threat from the National Spot on offense. This group merits a Four Shovel Year.
TonV: Interesting... Apart from Coleman I'd rate this lot a 2. Coleman raises the unit up to 3 shovels in my eyes.
Tight End
Tight ends were a pretty mixed bag this year, especially when both Tight Ends went down in the game against the Fire and we had to rebuild the position. No Tight End really stood out, unlike last year with Frank Leatherwood starring at the position. This may explain in part the ineffectiveness of the offense on Third Down as in this league the TEs have always been very important in moving the chains. Look at James Whallen of the Claymores for an example of what the Tight End contributes to an offense. I can only give the Tight Ends a two shovel rating for a position that has delivered so little this year.
TonV: Indeed.
Offensive Line
The big guys up front. Well is was a pretty mixed year for the big boys. They took a long time to get themselves sorted out at the beginning of the year. As the year went on they gave Wynn more and more time to throw the ball, although they did look confused by Blitz packages all year. Whilst the defensive line was causing sacks the Offensive Line were giving them up even faster, a total of 40 sacks surrendered during the season. The running game fared batter, especially as we tended to get behind early in games and have to throw the ball more than possibly the offense would like. The discipline on the offensive line was diabolical in the early going as they game away penalty after penalty, but it did pick up as the season went on. The offense goes as the Line goes really and the offense played well at times and other times not. A three Shovel Rating is sufficient.
TonV: 3 shovels, but bordering on a 2, partially because of the penalty fever.
Defensive Line
The Beast of the Team this year. Roshaun Matthews led the league in sacks and together with Matt Sweeney formed one of the best pairs of pass rushing defensive ends that we have ever had with the Admirals. Racking up a total of 38 sacks was great output from the pass rush and went a long way to keeping us in a number of games. Who will ever forget the sack on Jarius Jackson of Barcelona when the ball came loose and was returned for the deciding TD. The run defense was not so good, but our defensive schemem really needs the Linebackers to make the tackles so not too much blame attached to the Defensive Line. They've earned their 5 shovel rating and I'd take them all back next year, if only Jon Kirksey was retiring.
TonV: Great lot, but especially against Berlin did not manage to pressure always. I'll give them a high 4 shovels.
Linebacker
Steady in Pass Coverage, just not making enough tackles after the catch or in the running game. Epps and Rice both had two interceptions on the outside. I don't know if it was the linebackers or the scheme but opposition Tight Ends were often having big days against us and that is the responsibility of the Linebackers. The poor overall showing of the defense can be traced in part to the need for the Linebackers to help out with the decimated secondary. At home with the crowds backing they were fairly effective, but away from home where the opposing QB could adjust the play to punish the Admirals playcalling they were always in trouble. Overall two shovels.
TonV: Ditto.
Secondary
Decimated by injury all season long. They were at times reduced to having four players who could step on the field and they did their best. Only against Barcelona and Berlin were they really exposed, and the addition of Kory Blackwell in midseason did go some way to redressing the situation regarding the secondary's talent drop off ( due to injuries ). The secondary with the constantly changing cast never established a rhythm and it showed all season. Insufficient talent to play a man to man, but insufficient practise to use the zone meant that we were always in trouble. The guys stuck at it well but that in the end is not enough. Ranking 2 shovels for effort.
TonV: I concur.
Returns
Competent stuff in both units although the Kick off return for a TD for Frankurt in Frankfurt was really the straw that broke the Admirals back. A couple of fumbles by Clarence Williams hurt us but that improved as the season went on. We just never seemed to have the man to go all the way. Something would always stop the returns that looked promising. An adequate job, 3 Shovels.
TonV: I'll go to 4 shovels actually, especially the coverage on punts was usually excellent.
Punting
Jason Maslecki averaged 40 yards a punt, but his hangtime was not as good as it could have been. Hangtime is important to let the coverage guys get down the field and make the tackle. The same thing could be said of the kick offs taken by Justin Skinner. Still the punting was at least effective, 4 Shovels.
TonV: Because of the fast coverage guys, the hangtimes didn't matter so much. Still, I'll only go as far as 3 shovels.
Field Goal Kicking
One blocked field goal due to a bad hold, a game winner at the end of overtime, and a missed extra point. Justin Skinner missed all the long range efforts he tried and was replaced by Diliberto in the crucial 30-40 yard range. Its really a shame that Diliberto managed to miss an extra point against Frankfurt as that spoiled his otherwise perfect season. Silvio has worked hard at his game over the years and is now ranked alongside Rob Hart as the most dangerous National Kicker in NFLE. A total of 4 shovels here is based on Silvio's nerve.
TonV: Sorry, for me, one OT game winner doesn't cut it. Diliberto and Skinner have missed too many field goals (and an extra point) to merit more than 2 shovels in my eyes.
Coaching
The playcalling on offense was variable. At home it was frequently good verging on the brilliant, even using Williams on a half back option pass. However away from home the play calling seemed to be stuck in a rut at times with the same sequence of plays being used repeatedly. You also have to question how the coaches were motivating the team given that they were totally ready for Barcelona in Amsterdam but never hit those heights against the other teams. The game plan against Barcelona ion that game was brilliant as well, using the blitz to deny Jackson the chance to rip our weak secondary to pieces. Some good moments for Bart to build on,but I think he'll be disappointed with the overall results delivered by this team. 3 Shovels.
TonV: Benefit of the doubt and inexperience as a headcoach. 3 shovels from me as well.
Summary
It could have been worse, but I think had our secondary stayed healthy we had a shot at the World Bowl. Barcelona has been the team of the year, but the Admirals in the Arena would have been the biggest test that the Dragon's could have faced. Well see next year how Andrus adjusts to running the Admirals with a year's experience under his belt as it is no surprise that the two coaches who returned from last year are in the World Bowl.