1958 Season Preview

1958 Season Preview 

1958 Schedule
Intriguing/Event Games
W1 - BUF VS OTT - Season Opener - McCallister Cup Rematch
W1 - BOS VS WOR - Braddock Vs. Bishop
W1 - LOU VS LI - Thunder Stadium Opening Game
W1 - LDN VS IND - Western Fair Stadium Opening Game - Canada Day Game
W2 - BOS VS BUF - 4th of July Game
W6 - Rivalry Week
W10 - BUF VS LOU - Labour Day Game
W10 - IND VS PRO - Labour Day Game

Power Rankings 
* = designates new captains or captain changes

1 - Ottawa Royals
1957 Record: 7-3-2
1957 Result: Lost McCallister Cup
While some may be frustrated to see the Purple and Gold Kingdom at the top of the power rankings again, there is a level of respect for the ability of this club to maintain its success. The offence still remains the best in the league led by QB Jean Matieau, RB Alexei Volkov, WR Chester Bennett, and WR Mackenzie Jones. However, what really pushes the team to the top is the improvements on defence. They were able to add DL Robert Garrison and DL Charles Hoover to help DL Olaf Viktorsson, they brought back S Lester Greer, and added rookie LB Douglas MacDougall in the draft. While they still aren’t Long Island, they have a stronger defence to back up the offence which was still able to get them to the McCallister Cup last season. Look for the Royals to be the frontrunners for the East Division crown this season. 

Captains
C - QB Jean Matieau
A - DL Olaf Viktorsson
A - DB Uzzia Hayes* 

2 - Long Island Raiders 
1957 Record: 6-5-1
1957 Result: Lost Division Final
Long Island had a very disappointing season last year. The defence that everyone expected to dominate the league, could not figure it out all year. The chemistry issues were holding the team back and then injuries only added to the mess. LB Rusty McVee blamed himself for some of the communication issues as he was more focused on himself than the team and was not in tune with the leadership. Hopefully, with this season, the defence can find a rhythm and live up to their potential. On offence, the Raiders might finally have their superstar RB in 2nd overall pick Dareion Fields. Fields is quick and elusive and will be a great weapon for the squad. However, a lot of eyes will be on QB Lyle Painter, who has to take that next step to truly lead this team. Painter has been solid in his first 3 seasons but has still lacked that game-changing level that you would expect from a former 1st overall pick. If the issues get cleared up, the Raiders will be tough to stop. 

Captains
C - DL Vernon Spears
A - LB Elijah Goldwater
A - WR Robert Lang 

3 - London Tigers
1957 Record: 4-8
1957 Result: Missed Playoffs
The Tigers have high expectations again, but it is deserved with the growth and the additions that the Tigers made this offseason. The big name was QB Riley Kiernan. The former Athletic had his career-worst season in 1957 which ended with an injury. Worcester was not a fan of the ups and downs and traded him to London. Kiernan is looking for redemption this season after a very rough year, however, you can’t count on him being the starter, as HC Clifford Jacobson is leaning towards starting QB Christian Stewart for their week 1 game against Indiana. Jacobson has said that Kiernan will see the field at the very least, but they want him to get used to the new offence before throwing him into the fire. The Tigers also added on the O-line with Kiernan’s Worcester teammate in OL Magnus Gunnersson which gives them one of the league’s best offensive lines. The rest of the team is still very much the same which should work really well for chemistry and give the Tigers a great all-around team. If they can remain consistent, the Tigers are as big a threat to the Raiders in the West. 

Captains
C - LB Aengus Lynch
A - QB Christian Stewart
A - WR Wilbert Benjamin 

4 - Boston Independents
1957 Record: 5-6-1
1957 Result: Lost Division Semi-Final
Boston is a completely different team this season, and it starts with their prized possession in QB Nathaniel Braddock. It will be Braddock’s rookie year and mistakes will happen, but he is still one of the most complete QB’s coming into his first season. The Independents also added a lot around their young QB. Bringing back OL Randy McFadden and DB Lester Murphy, adding WR Joseph Barry to shore up the WR core, and grabbing S Drew Porter for their safety spot. With the additions and the success the team had last season, it could be back to contention for the Independents this season. They certainly will be exciting to watch this season with Braddock under centre and the other additions for the team.  

Captains
C - LB Brent Harper*
A - OL Andrew Furrson
A - WR Ellis Lindholm* 

5 - Buffalo Blue Wings
1957 Record: 10-2
1957 Result: Won McCallister Cup
If you are expecting the Blue Wings to replicate their spectacular 1957 season, you might be disappointed with this season. As much as Buffalo kept most of the team together, they are getting older. The majority of their core is reaching into their 30s and will certainly start to really show signs of decline. Players like RB Arthur Conner (33), DL Sean Bowen (32), DB Louie White (33), DB Dylan Alston (34), and QB Angelo Medina (33), will all likely take a step down from where they were last year and the many years before. However, Buffalo will still remain a playoff contender this season. Despite their age, the chemistry worked well and if that can be maintained Buffalo could still have a strong year.  

Captains
C - DL Sean Bowen
A - S Frazier Brooks
A - RB Arthur Conner

6 - Providence Gold Stars
1957 Record: 9-3
1957 Result: Lost Division Final
Providence runs into a similar problem to Buffalo; they are getting older, especially on defence. The secondary is all over the age of 31 and will be much slower this season and the LB core hasn’t quite been as strong in recent years. The offence isn’t as bad with 1957 MVP, QB Connor O’Rourke and a pair of young WRs in Sammy Moss and Cedric Peterson. However, WR Peter Brooks and RB Élisée Marchal are showing age and it will likely fall onto RB Johnnie Stafford and the young receivers to make up for it. Not only that, but the Gold Stars O-line is going to be a bit patchy with a pair of rookies in OL Varo Giovanni and OL Nicholas Waller starting out of the gate. Providence could once again be pretty good, but could also be equally as bad. They are about on par with Buffalo as a general wildcard this season.  

Captains
C - DB Lee Wolfe
A - QB Connor O’Rourke
A - WR Peter Brooks 

7 - Worcester Athletics
1957 Record: 7-5
1957 Result: Lost Division Semi-Final
Worcester walks away with what most are saying as one of the worst offseasons in league history. Trading their franchise QB and a young LB piece, losing their OL star in Gunnersson, and still not improving the depth behind DB Alexander Bradley. Worcester has a lot of questions to answer out of the gate. A big one will be if rookie QB Gene Bishop can take over for Kiernan in the offence. The WR core and RB are pretty solid with the team, but the O-line could spill a lot of trouble for a young QB. Worcester could be just as good as last year, but they could also fall right to the bottom if things go wrong. 

Captains
C - LB Scotty Williams
A - WR Clyde McIntosh
A - QB Andrew Glover*

8 - Montreal Rouge
1957 Record: 2-8-2
1957 Result: Missed Playoffs
Montreal may finally show some improvement this season. QB Stanislav Ovechkin enters his second year under centre and will have some better weapons to work with. WR Nathan Green will join the team behind veteran WR Ray Lopez and second-year WR Derek Cross. RB Scott-Mallard White will look to break free behind a stronger O-line this season as well. The offence as a whole has improved a lot, now the Defence is a bit rough. While DB Quentin Xavier and DB Jontray Cox will be solid in the secondary, the front 7 leave much to be desired. The DL at least adds some young talent to hopefully improve over time with DL Xander Devereaux being acquired via trade and DL Dexter Barbarcos being picked in the first round. Teams will likely still be able to run a lot against Montreal, but their offence should be able to at least put up a fight. 

Captains
C - QB Stanislav Ovechikin
A - OL Eugésippe Chalifoux
A - DB Quentin Xavier 

9 - Louisville Thunder
1957 Record: 3-9
1957 Result: Missed Playoffs
The Thunder made some strong improvements this offseason. The most notable being the surprise addition of LB Silas O’Brien. While O’Brien is only under contract for this next season, but he’ll be getting a #1 role in the Thunder defence which may help their case in keeping him around come next season. The youth will be the major focus of this team. Rookie DB Jayden Mills and second-year S Johnny Berger will hope to make a statement on the back end this season while RB Stavros Black will get more touches this season. However, most of the fans are excited to see last year’s #1 pick QB Leonidas Dumont, take over the starting job this season. He showed lots of promise in the final two weeks of last season, getting a huge win over the Raiders in Louisville. Louisville will be fun to follow, but they’re still a long way from being a playoff competitor. 

Captains
C - OL Aaron Spears
A - K Thomas McFadden
A - DB Jesse Scott 

10 - Indiana Victors
1957 Record: 4-8
1957 Result: Missed Playoffs
The Victors plan to go all-in through the expansion draft is not looking too good at the moment. Many of the players they drafted are heading into the end of their careers and will begin to really show a decline this season. Most notably QB Duane Logan, RB Laurent Brazeau, and DB Ollie Guy. The list might have also included DB Lester Murphy and WR Joseph Barry as well had they not been moved to Boston. With Logan getting older, QB Caldwell Higgins III could find himself starting some games this season after coming over in the Boston trade. It’s likely going to be a long season for the Victors, but they will have #4 overall pick RB Rodney Clark to watch this season to see what he can do for the future of the team.  

Captains
C - QB Duane Logan
A - RB Laurent Brazeau
A - DL William Sanderson* 

Wallflowers' Predictions
WEST
Long Island 10-2 y
London 8-4 x
Buffalo 6-6 x
Louisville 3-9
Indiana 1-11

EAST
Ottawa 9-3 y
Providence 7-5 x
Boston 6-6 x
Worcester 5-7
Montreal 3-9

Playoffs
WDSF - London over Buffalo 
EDSF - Boston over Providence

WDF - Long Island over London
EDF - Ottawa over Boston

McCallister Cup - Ottawa over Long Island