2013 Arena Football Season Kickoff - Central Division Preview

We have already taken a look at the Western Division in the National Conference, now its time to look at the Central Division.

Central Division
-Only three teams this year with the departure of Kansas City, but still bodes for good competition.

Chicago Rush
-Amid a new ownership group, the Rush will look to get back to the familiar environment of the playoffs. 2012 was the first time in team history that there was no post season, this year they will try to avoid consecutive losing seasons.

What I Like
-The defensive backs:

1. Vic Hall - Easily is one of the best and most versatile defensive backs in the AFL.
2. Joe Phinisee - Was arguably the best defensive back in Cleveland, very good pick up for the Rush.
3. Jorrick Calvin - Returns to Chicago after having a solid season.
4. Semaj Moody - Stays in Chicago and returns as one of the leaders in tackles from 2012.

-Anthony Hoke comes over to headline the defensive line.

-J.J. Payne as the fullback, proved in 2012 that he is in the top group of fullbacks in arena football.

-Kelvin Morris at the jack linebacker. Originally left for Orlando, but was brought back via a trade. Morris is one of the better jacks in the League and is a staple to this defense.

-Wide Receivers:

1. Rodney Wright - Chicago's second best offseason acuistion. Wright comes from San Jose and brings veteran leadership to this team.
2. Reggie Gray - The Rush's best play maker of the last two seasons returns. Gray is an elite receiver and is also a feared return man.
3. Nate Forse - Comes from Orlando. Tends to be overlooked, but is a very reliable receiver.

What I Don't Like
-The QB situation. Carson Coffman who is in his second season, but has played very little or Zach Frazier who is a rookie out of Conneticuit. Both candidates lack experience and the chemistry with this group of receivers. The Rush are capable of a playoff run, but their QB could hold them back.

-Not enough depth on the offensive line.

Key Games on the Schedule
-Open vs. Iowa

-Division games: Week 1 vs. Iowa, Week 3 @ San Antonio, Week 6 @ Iowa, Week 13 vs. San Antonio

-Week 15 bye

Iowa Barnstormers
-The Barnstormers could be a darkhorse in the Central Division and maybe in the National Conference in 2013.

What I Like
-Jason Simpson - One of the best defensive backs in arena football, had an outstanding 2012 that got passed over because of Iowa's struggles. This year should be just as good, but will have more responsibility with younger and new members in the secondary.

-The defensive line

1. Rodney Gnat - Returning leader on the Barnstormer D-Line. Gnat is a solid pass rusher and a force to be recken with. 
2. Mike Lewis -  A sneaky good pick up for Iowa. Recorded 23 sacks in his last two seasons with utah.

-Iowa also boast a great Jack-Mack linebacker combination of John Mohring(Jack) Darnell Carter(Mack). These two finished 2012 in the top 3 in tackles and each contributed in interceptions and sacks. This tandem provides Iowa with a healthy linebacking core.

-JJ Raterink - Has grown into a leader and has also become a top quarterback. Raterink is mobile as a runner and an even more efficent passer. The right man to lead this team.

-The receiving core

1. Collin Taylor - Returns and will have to step up in the abscence of Jesse Schmidt, but the connection with Raterink is already established.
2. Darius Reynolds - Comes from division-rival Chicago. Reyonds is a young player who has a lot of upside and will get his chance this season.
3. Marco Thomas - In the same role as Taylor.

What I don't Like
-The lack of experience in the secondary. A lot of new faces surround Jason Simpson, whether this will hurt Simpson or Simpson will help this is to be determined.

-This offensive line is extremely young, with no one having more than one year of AFL experience.

-NO Jesse Schmidt. This man had 172 receptions for 2,218 yards, and 58 touchdowns in 2012. Last i checked he is a free agent, doesn't make any sense how he is not on any roster, let alone on this one. 

Key Games on the schedule
-Open @ Chicago-Division games: Week 1 @ chicago, Week 6 vs. Chicago, Week 7 @ San Antonio, Week 15 vs. San Antonio

-Week 16 bye

-Back-to-back division games weeks 6 and 7.

San Antonio Talons
-The Talons look for repeat success from the 2012 regular season, but would like to go farther in the playoffs in 2013.

What I Like
-The Talon secondary:

1. Carlton Brown - Brought in coming off a career year with Utah.
2. Justin Hannah - A solid defensive back that is coming from division-rival Chicago.
3. Andre Jones - An experienced corner that is a good fit, coming from San Jose.
4. Fred Shaw - The only Talon returning to the secondary for this year, but led the team with eight interceptions in 2012.

-The bolstered defensive line. San Antonio lured in two more from San Jose in free agency, the reigning defensive player of the year in Joe Sykes and Tim McGill. These two choose to take their talents to the Alamo and should create the most feared defensive line in the Central.

-The linebacking core of Jamar Ransom at the Jack and Victor Degrate at the Mack. Both a returning starters and make a dominate middle of this defense.

-Moqut Ruffins has become one of the better offensive lineman in arena football, great center piece to have.

-The quarterback situation. Despite losing Garcia to San Jose, fitting after all the players they took, they aquired John Dutton and brought Rohan Davey back to the AFL. Another future hall-of-famer as your starter, with a vertan back-up is always the ideal quarterback situation.

-The wide receivers

1. Dwayne Eley Jr. - One of the fastest receivers in the League who is versatile as a ball carrier will fit nicely in the offense and the return game. 
2. Burl Toler - Solid reciever who chose to stay in dark blue and black in 2013.
3. Jomo Wilson - Returns as the leading receiver and is just a physical freak. One of the top ten wideouts in arena football.
4. Rob Quiroga - Also is a mainstay on this roster. Quiroga is a great possesion receiver and should get plenty of opportunity this year without having to battle Jason Willis or Derek Lee for passes. 

-At first, I thought this team was going to be in for a long year, but I love the acquisitions they made to replace all their holes from free agency.

What I Don't Like
- The loss of Chad "Tank" Cook. Losing the second-best fullback in the League is never a positive thing.

-I have nothing else to not like about this team, fantastic job in re-tooling their roster with talent and veteran prescence.

Key Games on the Schedule
-Open vs. San Jose

-Division games: Week 3 vs. Chicago, Week 7 vs. Iowa, Week 13 @ Chicago, Week 15 @ Iowa

-Three game road trip (weeks 4-6)
-Week 2 bye                                                                                                                                                                 Predicted Order of Finish

1. San Antonio
2. Iowa
3. Chicago

-The Talons have done a fantastic job in retooling their team and look capable of winning the central again in 2013 and could once again challenge the heavy-weights of the west in the National Conference.
-The Barnstormers could be the dark horse of 2013. Don't be surprsied if we see this team in August.
-Chicago looks like a playoff team and his the franchise pedigree of a winner. This year's team has one major hole and that's at the quarterback position. They won't be a walkover, but someone has to be at the bottom and in arena football, no quarterback usually means no playoffs.