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Date Posted: 18:12:21 04/08/04 Thu
Author: John (Fargo Freeze)
Author Host/IP: 216.40.231.196
Subject: Fargo 2005 Season Preview

Fargo Freezewire -- The Draft is over and training camp has been run. The 2005 FIFL season opens for Fargo in a way it has never done before; coming off a winning season. If Freeze GM John Murphy thought that the pressure was on last season when the team just missed the playoffs, trying to improve on the 2004 season will be akin to turning coal into diamond this season. So far, under Murphy's tenure, the youth movement sputtered at first, but picked up steam in the second season. The movement continues this season, starting with the draft where 3 picks cracked the roster and left 2 vets -- the TE Scott Wojcik retirement left an open roster slot -- looking for work on the free agent bench. Should the Freeze produce this season and end with a winning record, then the front office should feel confident in their team since its one of the youngest teams in the FIFL.

Due to this relative youth, most of the roster remains the same as last season. Lets take a quick look at the changes for 2005.

QB: As expected, Kurt Warner will retain his position as starter. Warner threw a lot of crossing routes and outs in camp, looking to improve his accuracy. He jokingly told his QB coach that he spent his off season at the track; the gag being that it was a neighborhood high school running track working on speed and agility drills to try and cut down on the time he spends on his back.

RB: Clinton Childs had a good camp, he's looking put lay down his elusive first 1000 yard rushing season. If he can stay healthy and play all 14 games, this is a realistic goal. Backups Grant and Clark will remain in Childs' shadow for another season.

WR: is where most of the Offensive team movement happened, with both of the WR picks from this years draft signing. "AJ Street is big," WR Coach Rice proclaimed, "and his hands look like they have stick em on them." This player has a lot of potential as does Dialleo Burks. The most shocking aspect of this years WR corps is the outright release of last seasons top receiver Brandon Burnside. The 1,052 receiving yards he pulled in must have taken its toll, because he came into the pre camp drills having lost not only a step, but in fact two. Replacing Burnside in the WR1 slot this season will be his understudy from last season, Alfonzo Browning. A late trade brought Doug DeGroot from Lincoln to maintain some veteran presence in the WR corps. Puryear and Jordan will also get more looks this season. And standout prospect Adrian Jarrell will get another season to mature in the 5 slot. "Our young wideouts look to provide us a strong base for years to come here in Fargo." said GM Murphy.

TE: With the surprise retirement of Scott Wojcik, the acquisition of Pierre Goode back in 2004's Week 6 appears to have been nearly prescient. While still a development project, waiting in Tyrone Westmoreland's wings, Goode is already as good a blocker as Westmoreland. He may not be the receiving stud Westmoreland is, but "his routes are pretty tight," says Rice.

OL: is where Fargo is hoping stability will pay bigger dividends in 2005, a younger starting group you are unlikely to find, but with no changes to the personnel, they are hoping to gel and provide better protection for their star QB Warner.

C: Brian Van Hook anchors the line again this season while Cuba looks on as his squire.

G: Youngsters Rix and Bevil will continue their stints as starters and Wilke Bazile won't be on the bench much as he continues to spell the starters and Willie Wyatt is a couple of black metal plates away from being the best lineman in the league someday.

T: Veteran Jerry Leano will hold on to the outside spot for another season while Alex Sepulveda mirrors him on the other side. Battle and Burnett need only a little more seasoning to be ready to fill in for Leano

K: Marco Morales has been a solid performer for Fargo in his short time as a starter.

P: James Thomas had a mildly disappointing 2004, but not enough to shake the teams confidence in him, report Freeze special teams coaches. "We worked Jimmy hard on hittin' the coffin corner" explained returns coach Buckey Hall, "we need to take the pressure off the return defenders and, last season, too many bounces went the other way."

DL: other than the release of DE Jarrod Tippens to make roster space for draft picks, the defensive line will be status quo.

LB: Probably the weakest link on this defense, with the only shining star Jason Jones who will retain his star status. Rookie Roosevelt Nix will take the place of aging veteran LB Rob Carroll in the middle, who was released after camp.

S & CB: more status quo here, the defensive hopes are pinned on the improvements of players over last season rather than through draft picks.

The Freeze look to take the next step this season, that is to get into the playoffs. With their youth comes some inexperience, and this season is going to be a pivotal one for this team. History hasn't been kind and they play in arguably the most competitive division and conference in the league. There is a long road to travel for the '05 Freeze, and much hope from the fans that they will continue their winning ways.

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