2008 QB Rundown

AFL.com
Nathan Boudreaux
01/14/2008

By Nathan Boudreaux -- Football is the ultimate team sport. But, in the Arena Football League with only eight guys on each side of the field, one player – especially the quarterback – can make the difference between a 6-10 record and a 10-6 mark.

There are a number of familiar faces still under center heading into 2008, including Dallas’ Clint Dolezel, Colorado’s John Dutton, Philadelphia’s Tony Graziani and San Jose’s Mark Grieb.

But, a handful of veteran quarterbacks, including Sherdrick Bonner (Arizona to Chicago) and Raymond Philyaw (Kansas City to Cleveland) changed teams this off-season and will look to make an impact wearing a different color jersey. Another veteran, John Fitzgerald, returns to the AFL with the Brigade this season after shedding his helmet and shoulder pads for a headset and clipboard as head coach of the af2 Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz last year.

And don’t forget about the League’s newest young guns in Sonny Cumbie (Los Angeles), Brett Dietz (Tampa Bay) and Chris Greisen (Georgia).

With AFL training camps set to open in less than a month, here’s a look at each AFL team and their probable starting quarterback along with the other signal-callers on the roster heading into ’08:

Arizona: Lang Campbell – Coming off solid first-year with Austin Wranglers will have to adjust to new scheme and group of receivers although having AFL Offensive Player of the Year WR Siaha Burley should help with that transition (Other QBs on roster: Jeff Smoker, Jordan Palmer)

Chicago: Sherdrick Bonner – Fourteen-year AFL veteran playing first season away from Arizona but inherits a championship caliber club including WR Damian Harrell (Other QBs on roster: Russ Michna)

Cleveland: Raymond Philyaw – Inked a free agent deal with the Gladiators in the off-season and brings consistency and leadership to a club in desperate need of a turnaround (Other QBs on roster: Jason Fife)

Colorado: John Dutton – Has posted solid numbers since joining the Crush but will be without his top receiver (Harrell) this season (Other QBs on roster: Brandon Kirsch)

Columbus: Matt Nagy – Has played in two of the last three ArenaBowls with the Force and Destroyers but will have a new group of receivers to throw to in ‘08 (Other QBs on roster: Brian Jones)

Dallas: Clint Dolezel – One of the League’s top competitors and a sure bet AFL Hall of Famer hoping to shake off playoff jinx in ‘08 (Other QBs on roster: Chris Sanders)

Georgia: Chris Greisen – Set AFL record with 117 touchdowns as a first-year starter in ‘07 but lost two of his top three receivers to free agency and will also have to cope with the loss of offensive coordinator Steve Thonn (Other QBs on roster: Tom Arth)

Grand Rapids: Adrian McPherson – Currently No.1 on the depth chart but new head coach Steve Thonn is high on MacPherson, who backed up Greisen in Georgia last season and knows the new offensive scheme (Other QBs on roster: James MacPherson)

Kansas City: John Fitzgerald – Brings veteran leadership to the Brigade but hasn’t played football since the ’06 season with the Austin Wranglers (Other QBs on roster: Travis Cole, Matt Kohn)

Los Angeles: Sonny Cumbie – Up-and-coming star who tossed a career-high 83 TDs against just 13 INTs in his sophomore season last year (Other QBs on roster: Andy Collins, Tim Hicks)

New Orleans: Steve Bellisari – First-year starter for the VooDoo after showing promise (47 TDs, 12 INTs) down the stretch last year (Other QBs on roster: Stan Hill, Danny Wimprine)

New York: Aaron Garcia – Looks to stay healthy for the first time in two years with hopes of leading New York back to the playoffs (Other QBs on roster: Rohan Davey, Ryan Vena)

Orlando: Shane Stafford – Had somewhat of a down season for the Preds last year but still managed to toss 76 TDs passes (Other QBs on roster: Jake Eaton)

Philadelphia: Tony Graziani – Veteran signal-caller who should benefit from the addition of WR Chris Jackson (Other QBs on roster: Matt D’Orazio)

San Jose: Mark Grieb – The most consistent and reliable QB in the League connected on 70.9 percent of his passes last season and led the ‘Cats to their third ArenaBowl championship in six seasons (Other QBs on roster: Scott Rislov)

Tampa Bay: Brett Dietz – Co-Rookie of the Year winner looks to build on a solid first-year performance – 2,395 yards with 47 TDs (Other QBs on roster: Stoney Case)

Utah: Joe Germaine – One of four QBs to throw from more than 100 TDs in ’07 but will have to find a new go-to receiver with the loss of Siaha Burley (Other QBs on roster: Jason Gesser, Royal Gill)



News & Notes

Speaking of Quarterbacks

The Philadelphia Soul this off-season signed former Rush quarterback Matt D'Orazio to backup Graziani. D’Orazio, who led the Rush to the ArenaBowl championship in 2006, was released by Chicago when the Rush signed Bonner this off-season. D’Orazio, 31, is also recovering from off-season back surgery, but should be ready for training camp in February.

Although listed as a backup, don’t be surprised to see D’Orazio take a few snaps for the Soul this season in their goal-line package. Even with a bum back, D’Orazio is a threat to run the ball in the red zone, where he’s rushed for 30 touchdowns over the last three seasons.

The Soul brought in the veteran D’Orazio because the club was looking to add a backup quarterback with starting experience in case something happened to Graziani. Over the last two seasons, Graziani has missed a total of eight games with various injuries and Philadelphia has won just one of those contests (1-7) without their starter in the lineup.

Rattlers-Soul Make Trade

The Arizona Rattlers and Philadelphia Soul executed a trade last week which sent OL Jonathan Ingram from the Soul to the Rattlers for WR Chris Horn. Horn is a three-year AFL veteran (all with the Rattlers), but hasn’t played in the League since 2003. He spent the last four seasons in the NFL most recently with the Carolina Panthers.

“Unfortunately, we could not come to an agreement to bring Chris Horn back to the Rattlers,” Arizona head coach Kevin Guy said in a statement.

But, the Soul is working on a deal to ink Horn, who would be a nice compliment to free agent WR Chris Jackson and returnee WR Larry Brackins. In three AFL seasons, Horn caught 181 passes for 2,232 yards and 51 TDs with the Rattlers – including an improbable Hail Mary touchdown pass off the end zone rebound net to beat Carolina in the 2002 playoffs.

Ingram, who has NFL experience at both center and guard, has a chance to start right away in Arizona. In Philadelphia, he was slated to backup Mike Mabry at center and Phil Bogle at guard.


Truluck Returns to AFL with Force

Former star defensive end R-Kal Truluck will be back in the AFL in 2008. Truluck, who was selected by the Georgia Force in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2007 AFL Dispersal Draft, was a member of the AFL’s Detroit Fury from 2001-02, where he collared 48.5 tackles, 17.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss in 26 games.

He was named AFL Rookie of the Year in ’01 and followed his rookie performance by earning AFL Lineman of the Year honors in his second season. Following his 2002 campaign, he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs and spent the next four seasons in the NFL with Kansas City, Green Bay and Arizona.

“With the new rule changes taking place this season, we believe that applying pressure to the quarterback will be more vital than ever before in the AFL,” Force director of football operations Jim Kubiak said. “With the addition of Truluck, we now have three All-Arena performers on our defensive line and believe we have assembled one of the best pass rush units in the league.”

Truluck is a game-changing type defensive end cut in the same mold as former Orlando Predators DE Greg White. Both are speed rushers who can beat most offensive linemen off the edge. But, age may be a factor for the Force front three as Truluck (33) is the youngest of the passing rushing trio - Jermaine Smith (35) and Ernest Allen (34).

I wouldn't be surprised to see old Force QB James MacPherson become the starter in Grand rapids. I've seen Adrian McPherson many times and while a gifted athlete, he's a horrible AFL QB...that is if you consider completing most of your passes to the other teams DB's a bad thing, which I do.