Storm Exercise Ten Rookie Options

On Monday, the Tampa Bay Storm announced that they exercised ten players’ rookie options for the 2017 season: quarterback Pete Thomas, defensive backs Qua Cox, Dallas Jackson and Trey Wolfe, defensive linemen Monte Lewis and Torrey Davis, offensive linemen John Brown, Justin McCray and J.J. Unga, and kicker Delbert Alvarado.

Among the most pertinent is  Thomas, the third quarterback on the Storm’s roster. Thomas spent last season sharing time with Nathan Stanley for the LA KISS, completing 56.6% of his passes for 2,086 yards, 43 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Thomas saw the bulk of his action in the middle of the season, starting Weeks 8-13, and starting the final two regular season games.

Thomas, seen as more of a mobile quarterback (with fourteen carries for two touchdowns, enters a competition with veteran Randy Hippeard and Warren Smith, who spent time with the Spokane Shock.

Working from the inside out, the three offensive lineman sightings are just as key, as the Storm gave up nineteen sacks in the 2016 campaign, partially creating the quarterback carousel thanks to injuries and poor performance. Head coach Ron James will hope to get this unit working much more efficiently to improve upon a 2-14 season.

Here is an overall rundown of each player who had their option exercised:

• Cox (5’11”, 190 lbs., Jackson State) enters his second season with the Storm. Cox started in three games for the Storm during his rookie season (eight overall appearances), recording 19.0 tackles and a pass breakup.  He began his professional career in 2014 when he signed with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League when as an undrafted rookie free agent.
• Jackson (5’10”, 190 lbs.) joins the Storm for his first full season.  Jackson saw limited action on the field after he joined the team in 2016. The Palmetto, FL, native played collegiately at Jacksonville University, earning All-Pioneer Football League honorable mention for his performance in his senior season. That year, he tallied 47.0 tackles, four tackles for loss, five interceptions, and three pass breakups.
• Wolfe (5’11”, 193 lbs.) enters his second season in the AFL and first with the Storm.  Wolfe was Thomas’ teammate with the L.A. KISS in 2016, starting in his only appearance.  The former Fort Valley State Wildcat began his professional career with as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014 before moving to the Washington Redskins‘ practice squad. He stayed with the Redskins through part of 2015.

• Lewis (6’4″, 265 lbs., Jacksonville State) enters his first season with the Storm and third in the AFL.  The Abbeville, AL, native started six games for the Orlando Predators in 2016 (ten appearances overall), recording 7.0 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and two blocked kicks.  He began his professional career in 2012 with the Washington Redskins, and he also spent time with the Ottawa REDBLACKS of the Canadian Football League.

• Davis (6’3″, 320 lbs., Jacksonville State) enters his second season with the Storm.  The former Armwood High School (Seffner, FL) standout appeared in one game with the Storm last season.  The Seffner native began his collegiate career at the University of Florida before transferring to Jacksonville State.

• Brown (6’1″, 285 lbs., Valdosta State) begins his second season with the Storm.  He started at fullback in eight games for the Storm in 2016 (nine appearances overall).  The Lakeland, FL, native rushed 10 times for 21 yards and two touchdowns, and caught two passes for eight yards.

• McCray (6’3″, 315 lbs.) enters his first season with the Storm after spending his rookie year with the Orlando Predators.  The former UCF Knight started 14 games for Orlando, seeing action on the offensive line and at fullback.  McCray rushed twice for four yards and caught four passes for 30 yards.

• Unga (6’6″, 320 lbs., Midwestern State) enters his first season with the Storm and second in the AFL.  He started in three games on the offensive line with the KISS in 2016 (four overall appearances).  Unga began his professional career in 2013 as an undrafted rookie free agent with the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League, and also spent time with the Buffalo Bills.

• Alvarado (5’11”, 205 lbs.) enters his second season with the Storm.  The Robinson H.S. (Tampa, FL) standout appeared in 10 games for the Storm in 2016, converting 49-of-55 extra point attempts.  The Tampa native played four seasons at South Florida, converting 97.8% of his extra point attempts, the best percentage in school history.

Tampa Bay Continues Quarterback Carousel After Dispersal Draft

After a dismal 2-14 season, and a wild offseason that saw them survive while many other franchises left, the Tampa Bay Storm picked up the pieces and started on the path to rebuilding for 2017 thanks to their selections in the dispersal draft held on Oct. 14.

Players from the Jacksonville Sharks, Los Angeles KISS, Orlando Predators, and Portland Steel were available for selection in the 10-round draft, and the Storm had two minutes to select each pick.

The Storm and Washington Valor dominated the first round, combining for the first six picks of the draft thanks to a trade. The Storm took advantage and selected two pivots of what would be eight players on the night, Randy Hippeard and Pete Thomas.

The duo join Jason Boltus and Warren Smith on the current roster, with Boltus as the only quarterback remaining from the 2016 season.

Boltus, who couldn’t start the season because of prior job commitments, did make 11 appearances in ’16, completing 55.2% of his passes for 2652 yards, 42 TD and 14 interceptions. His 86.1 passer rating was second on the team (Adam Kennedy finished with an 86.5), and it was second worst among quarterbacks with a minimum of 10 games played.

With Hippeard and Thomas, the Storm not only bring experience, but better arms for the job. Hippeard was among both MVP and Offensive Player of the Year considerations before going down with an ACL injury late in the season. However, his 121.4 QB rating and 247.3 yards per game were still fourth best overall in the league, and his eight interceptions were second fewest among qualifying quarterbacks.

Although Thomas split time under center with Nathan Stanley for Los Angeles, he still threw for more yards, more touchdowns, and fewer interceptions than Boltus throughout the season, and also finished with a quarterback rating over 100.

With four quarterbacks now currently on the roster, it appears that Boltus would be the odd man out unless he can surprise come training camp. However, it is worth consideration that yet another quarterback controversy could start in Tampa Bay.

Hippeard, while calm and cool in the pocket, has been injury prone during his time in Orlando, as he has not played close to a full season in three years. Thomas, meanwhile, has more mobility than Hippeard and could be a dual threat, Thomas did have issues breaking into the starting job out west last season.

It may be only the offseason, and training camp may be months away, but this is already one position battle to keep an eye on before the 2017 season officially kicks off. Nevertheless, the Storm have made strides in settling what was the biggest negative last year, reiterating Team President Derrick Brooks‘ statement that “we’re looking forward to the 2017 season.”

The Valiant Valor

The Arena Football League‘s newest team, the Washington Valor, took advantage of the league’s dispersal draft to lay the foundation for their roster. With the Los Angeles KISS, Orlando Predators, Portland Steel, and Jacksonville Sharks all leaving or folding, the remaining five teams picked players from those teams. Washington had the first five picks in the first round, and the draft continued until every team passed on a selection.

Washington addressed the most important position in football with the first overall pick, when they picked former Sharks quarterback Tommy Grady. Widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the AFL in recent memory, Grady led the Sharks to the American Conference Championship last season. Grady completed 68 percent of his passes, while throwing for 94 touchdowns, and leading the league in passing yards with 4,495.

Grady threw seven interceptions, one of the lowest totals in the entire league. After taking offensive lineman Moqut Ruffins with their second pick, Washington picked up a weapon for Grady to throw to. The Valor selected former Predators wide receiver Greg Carr with their third overall pick. Carr caught 83 passes for 1,146 yards and 28 touchdowns, and he averaged 13.8 yards per catch.

Carr was the Predators second best wide receiver all season behind dynamic wide out Brandon Thompkins. After trading their next two picks to the Tampa Bay Storm, Washington had the sixth pick, which they used to take a backup for Grady. The Valor chose former KISS quarterback Nathan Stanley, who only managed to play 11 games due to injury. He completed 58% of his passes for 2,057 yards and 41 touchdowns.

The Valor had a rather interesting pick in round seven, when they selected former Predators quarterback Bernard Morris, who just announced his retirement from the league.

After Washington and the four other teams drafting passed on a selection in round ten, the draft was over. The Valor did their job, which was to lay the foundation for their roster. They have two quarterbacks who started last year, including one of the best in the league in Grady.

They also got one of the better wide receivers in the league in Carr. Washington will be ready to compete in 2017, and that’s because these picks will prove to be beneficial when the time comes.

Los Angeles KISS 2016 Season in Review

The Los Angeles KISS came into this season with high hopes, after they drastically improved their roster in the offseason. Los Angeles was coming off of a disappointing 4-14 season the year before, and they were hungry for a breakout season. LA set themselves up for success in the offseason, when they hired a new head coach and brought in a new quarterback with loads of experience. Los Angeles hired Omarr Smith to replace Bob McMillen and become the second head coach in KISS franchise history.

Smith came in with quite the resume, as he was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame before the coming over to Los Angeles to coach the KISS. Smith left the San Jose SaberCats, and he brought quarterback Nathan Stanley over with him. Stanley was the proven quarterback that the KISS had been searching for ever since they became a part of the Arena Football League. The KISS had a chance to make a statement to the league that they were for real in their opening game, when they took on the Jacksonville Sharks, who lost in the ArenaBowl in 2015.

Los Angeles stifled Jacksonville and quarterback Tommy Grady, as they defeated the Sharks 64-39. The KISS were brought back down to Earth in their second game of the season, when the Arizona Rattlers came to the Honda Center. Arizona mutilated the KISS 69-28, as Nick Davila absolutely shredded the KISS defense. The KISS would go on to win two of their next four games, and pretty much every one of those games came with a positive result. LA came so close to defeating the Orlando Predators at the Amway Center, but they ended up losing 43-41.

In their next road game against Arizona, disaster struck the KISS. Nathan Stanley was hit hard against the boards, and he was ultimately placed on the IR. With Stanley sidelined for many weeks, Pete Thomas was thrust into the starting role.

The KISS hit a rough patch in the middle of the season, as they wound losing three of four games, with the one win coming against the lowly Portland Steel. LA bounced back by blowing out the Tampa Bay Storm twice, as they held the worst team in the league to under 30 points in both games.

LA didn’t finish strong, as they finished the season with back-to-back losses to the Jacksonville Sharks and the Steel. They finished with a 7-9 record, which was the best record in franchise history. The KISS were set to host the Cleveland Gladiators in the opening round of the playoffs.

LA had the lead late in the game, but they let the lead slip away. After allowing an Arvell Nelson touchdown, the ball bounced off the net, which turned into a Gladiators touchdown. LA would end up losing 56-52.

Despite the disappointing loss, the KISS are coming off their best season in franchise history, which is definitely a bright spot.

Pete Thomas was impressive in his first season, as he threw for 2,086 yards and 43 touchdowns. Nathan Stanley wound up having very similar statistics, as he threw for 2,057 yards and 41 touchdowns. Donovan Morgan was the top target for both quarterbacks, as he performed at his highest level in his final season.

Morgan caught 113 passes for 1,462 yards and 41 touchdowns. Fredrick Obi was the heart and soul of the defense, as he led the team in tackles (91.5), and in interceptions (5). LA will look to build off of what they accomplished this season when they take the field next year.