1971 Season Preview

Preseason Power Rankings

1 - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
1970 Record: 7-5 (2nd Central)
1970 Result: Lost Semi-Finals
Head Coach: Ted McMahon (7th Season)
Starting QB: Louis Vaughn
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: RB Max Tracy
Rookie to Watch: WR Edward Washington

After back-to-back Semi-Final appearances, the Pittsburgh Blacksmiths went out and added one of the best running backs in football, Max Tracy. The rest of the team remains mostly intact, with plenty of younger players continuing to improve, like DB Zed McLaughlin, DL Arthur Bradshaw, and OL Jean Baptiste Francois. With Head Coach, Ted McMahon, still at the helm and QB Louis Vaughn undercentre, it looks like the Blacksmiths are aiming to continue their trend towards the Cup and look very much like the lead contender heading into the season. 

Captains:
C - QB Louis Vaughn
A - OL Erik Nelson
A - LB Quinn Masters*

2 - Minnesota Serpents
1970 Record: 10-2 (1st West)
1970 Result: Lost Quater-Finals
Head Coach: Soni Dionne (3rd Season)
Starting QB: Martin Keller
Offensive Scheme: Run Heavy
Defensive Scheme: 3-3-3-2
Biggest Acquisition: TE Bobby Clark
Rookie to Watch: LB Earl Featherstonhaugh

The Serpents proved that they were not a one-hit-wonder after improving on their 1969 campaign with a league-best 10-2 record. The overall strategy remains the same for the Serpents, who will look to RB Tyler Kuhn and RB Hugo Hughes to be the workhorses of the offence. While defensively they will hope their strong secondary can continue to make it tough for teams to throw the ball against them with their 3-3-3-2 defence. Scouts are expecting a big jump out of DB Austin Sherebernikoff and S Gérard LaCroix as up-and-coming stars in the strong secondary. With Minnesota being one of the teams to make the least significant changes, many expect similar results during the regular season, but a big test will come in the postseason as the team is yet to get past the first round.

Captains:
C - OL Elias McCarren
A - DL Albert Sullivan
A - WR Evan Clanton

3 - Boston Independents
1970 Record: 6-6 (4th East)
1970 Result: Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Kenneth Chaney (3rd Season)
Starting QB: Nathaniel Braddock
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: DL Wayne Baxton
Rookie to Watch: DL Joseph Kerr

It is make-or-break time for the current Boston core. QB Nathaniel Braddock is now 35 and doesn’t have all day to wait for his team to catch up. Luckily for him, Boston went out and made a big splash in bringing home DL Wayne Baxton. Baxton has been a dominant presence on the Mariners’ D-line his whole career, and Boston is hoping for more of the same from the veteran. They also hope he can help to develop DL Joseph Kerr into a solid starter to round out a much-improved front 7. Offensively, Braddock still has great support from RB Reggie Whitehead, but he did lose WR Felix Fontaine. Braddock hopes that the younger targets in WR Al Allmendinger and WR Tyreek Flores can continue to improve and that WR Edward Webb can step into the biggest role he has had in his career. The pressure is on in Boston, but that fire can be a great motivator, exemplified by the Baxton trade, so the expectations are high.

Captains:
C - QB Nathaniel Braddock
A - S Ernie Osborne
A - DL Bjorn Sigmarsson*

4 - Long Island Raiders
1970 Record: 9-3 (1st East)
1970 Result: Won McCallister Cup
Head Coach: Levi Bray (2nd Season)
Starting QB: Ivan Sanchez
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: S Garet deVale
Rookie to Watch: DB Levi Woodrow

The Raiders were on no one’s radar last season as potential McCallister Cup contenders. Especially, when they were ranked 13th in the preseason power rankings in 1970. This season, they are not going to be so quickly dismissed. QB Ivan Sanchez proved he could handle the starting job, earning him a new contract. He’s still got some solid weapons, despite RB Dareion Fields’ retirement, in RBs Scott Norton and WRs Larry Mossholder and Frank Drysdale. Defensively, the veterans remain the stars in LB William Washington II, DB Rutherford Winters, and the newly acquired S Garet deVale. The Raiders will hope that some younger stars like DL Dallas Breaker, LB Callum Owen, and DB Ross Conroy start to step up this year. Overall, the Raiders should still be a force under HC Levi Bray, so expect them to contend for the top of the East Division.

Captains:
C - LB William Washington II
A - DB Rutherford Winters
A - WR Larry Mossholder*

5 - Louisville Thunder
1970 Record: 7-5 (4th Central)
1970 Result: Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Lou Granger (2nd Season)
Starting QB: Buck Murphy
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-3-2
Biggest Acquisition: DL Lucas Kipling
Rookie to Watch: OL Donovan Hodgekins

The Thunder are easily the biggest wildcards heading into the season. They showed a massive improvement after their disastrous 0-12 season in 1969. They’ve got plenty of talent behind the star WR duo of Casey Coleman and Lloyd Lane, a scary D-line anchored by Aaron Henderson and Lucas Kipling, and an up-and-coming LB core led by Le’Darius Wynn and last year’s #1 pick, Ricky Wildgoose. However, QB Buck Murphy has been the biggest question mark about this team. He is an aggressive passer, which works well when he hits his mark, but it also means a lot of misses and Murphy has been easily the most intercepted QB in the league since he took the starting job for the Thunder. If Murphy can make more good happen than bad, the Thunder are in great shape to contend this season.

Captains:
C - WR Casey Coleman
A - LB Le’Darius Wynn
A - S Tom McDougall

6 - Vancouver Wolves
1970 Record: 8-4 (2nd West)
1970 Result: Lost McCallister Cup
Head Coach: Johnnie Dawson (2nd Season in NAAF)
Starting QB: Kevin Westwood
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: QB Mike Key
Rookie to Watch: DB Apollo Duckworth

The Wolves put the rest of the NAAF on watch after their run to the McCallister Cup in their first season despite having some significant injuries. The talented team proved that they could dance with the big dogs of the NAAF. The team didn’t change much this offseason, exemplified by their biggest new addition being their backup QB. Some may say that is a concern, but Vancouver has a very talented squad with the likes of star QB Kevin Westwood, WR Keshawn Johnston, and LB Shawn Anderson very much keeping the team in contention this season. As mentioned before Vancouver had several key injuries last season, the biggest, of course, to DL Rashawn Sutherland. Sutherland has returned to the playing field at training camp and looks as dangerous as ever. If he can stay healthy, expect Vancouver to be even better this season.

Captains:
C - QB Kevin Westwood
A - WR Keshawn Johnston
A - DL Jared Kendall

7 - Ottawa Royals
1970 Record: 7-5 (3rd East)
1970 Result: Lost Quarter-Finals
Head Coach: Jean Matieau (4th Season)
Starting QB: Drake Young
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: RB Richard Morin
Rookie to Watch: WR Charles Toothacre

The Royals had a lot of hype heading into the season last year, after their return to the McCallister Cup in 1969, however, injury troubles and inconsistent play led to the team barely sneaking into the postseason. The Royals will be hoping that they can stay healthy this season, especially stars DL Bernhard Hartmann and DB Sergio Alvarez, who both missed time last season. If they do remain healthy, the Royals will be as strong a contender as any team in the league. The aforementioned Hartmann and Alvarez lead a scary defence with plenty of other pieces like S Marc Bellecourt and DB Jerome Caldwell. Offensively, QB Drake Young will look to regain some confidence in getting the Royals’ offence going this season along with RB Corbyn Knight and WR Marshall Leonard. However, another hurdle the Royals may face is a few younger faces in the receiving core in Matthew de la Cruz and rookie Charles Toothacre, who will both look to prove themselves this season. If Ottawa stays healthy, they are certainly a contender for the cup.

Captains:
C - WR Marshall Leonard
A - LB Sam Wheeler
A - DL Bernhard Hartmann

8 - Providence Gold Stars
1970 Record: 8-4 (2nd East)
1970 Result: Lost Quarter-Finals
Head Coach: Tommie Warner (2nd Season)
Starting QB: Red King*
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: OL Emil Jennings
Rookie to Watch: QB Red King

The Gold Stars’ rebuild was a bit ahead of schedule last season with the team exceeding expectations by going 8-4. This offseason, the team looked to improve the rest of the team by bringing in some key free agents, like All-Star OL, Emil Jennings, and DB Corey Ross to improve weak positions. They have plenty of youth on the rise like WR Justin Palmer, RB Ronnie Byers, and DB Michael Cope. However, the two biggest x-factors on the team will be QB Red King and TE Kairos Knight. Red King made his debut in the playoffs last season after QB Landon Ross went down during the team’s Quarter-Final match with the Blacksmiths. King played well in the loss, and now the 1970 2nd overall pick will get his chance to be the leader of this team. Knight on the other hand is a complete wild card. His play at Western New York was revolutionary for the tight end position, but the question will be if the Gold Stars will utilize him the right way. Providence showed they had a good foundation last season, but they will be relying on their young centrepieces to really take a step forward this season. King has the upside, but he is still technically a rookie and will have to prove himself this season.

Captains:
C - LB Victor Falkensteig
A - WR Owen Paisley
A - S Tom Parrish

9 - Buffalo Blue Wings
1970 Record: 8-4 (1st Central)
1970 Result: Lost Quarter-Finals
Head Coach: Maurice Evanson (8th Season)
Starting QB: Charles Lemieux
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: S Eric Willis
Rookie to Watch: S Levi Brickshaw

The Blue Wings’ dominance took a step back last season, if you want a call an 8-4 season a step back. However, the team that has dominated the league in recent years, isn’t looking as sharp as it once did. Eventually, every dynasty faces the foe that is age, and Buffalo’s time seems to be starting now. DL William Sanderson elected to retire leaving a hole for the Blue Wings on the D-line, the entire starting secondary is now in their 30s, along with LB Dallas Dillard, and LB Randall Lambert who is just one year off from 30. Offensively, the team still has some youth, QB Charles Lemieux is still in his prime by QB standards, and they have a bright new offensive heartbeat in RB Jasper Dickerson, and some WRs like Tracy Driscoll and Jimmy Jack who can still play. Age will play a factor this season for the Blue Wings. The question will be if it will be injuries or a decline in skill that might be their Achilles heel. However, if they stay healthy and composed, the Blue Wings are still dangerous.

Captains:
C - QB Charles Lemieux
A - DB Dean Hawkins
A - WR Jimmy Jack*

10 - Indiana Victors
1970 Record: 7-5 (3rd Central)
1970 Result: Lost Semi-Finals
Head Coach: Urick Wilkins (3rd Season)
Starting QB: Tom Applewhite
Offensive Scheme: Pass Heavy
Defensive Scheme: 3-4-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: RB Jimmy Golden
Rookie to Watch: WR Lew Wallendowski

Many viewed last season as Indiana’s last real shot at contending. Now, that may not be completely true as the team did see a rise in some young talent last season in WR Jake Abbredezzi and DL Eugene Case. However, the team’s biggest weakness last season, a lack of consistency in the run game, was one issue that still remains a question. 33-year-old RB, Jimmy Golden, who was benched in Buffalo last season, was the best solution the Victors had. Now, Golden is probably a Hall of Famer, but he’s not the same guy he used to be and may not be much of an upgrade over what the team had previously. Overall, Indiana still has a solid team with DB Neville Falkner, a solid LB Core with Marshall Langenbrunner and Terrence Patton, and WR Ed Edwards. So, you cannot count the team out of contention, but they certainly have a tall task with just how competitive the Central is getting.

Captains:
C - OL Viktor Stahl
A - LB Terrence Patton
A - DB Neville Falkner*

11 - Winnipeg Falcons
1970 Record: 5-6-1 (3rd West)
1970 Result: Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Jay Nielson (2nd Season in NAAF)
Starting QB: Emerson Thompson
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: DB Lawrence Ralph
Rookie to Watch: S Vernon Redgate

The Falcons struggled out of the gate last season, but they made a surprising push for the postseason, going 4-1-1 over their last 6 games. This season, the expectations are going to be a bit higher for a relatively young team. Especially, when they have added an experienced veteran in DB Lawrence Ralph, as well as their first-round draft pick, S Vernon Redgate, and a plethora of solid depth pieces to build out the roster. QB Emerson Thompson had a tough start to last season but had picked it up in the second half. The team is going to hope that the trend will continue upward for their young QB, but they still have lots of talent around him to help in RB Joe Rivers and WR Terry Upshaw. Overall, Winnipeg has a good foundation, and last year proved they could fight for a playoff spot, so don’t be surprised if they are in the running for the postseason this year.

Captains:
C - LB Claude Clarke
A - RB Joe Rivers
A - WR Terry Upshaw

12 - Halifax Mariners
1970 Record: 4-8 (6th East)
1970 Result: Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Ben McMillan (4th Season)
Starting QB: Lyle Painter
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: RB George Seahorse
Rookie to Watch: DB Jack Treadaway

The Mariners look to be heading into another season with low expectations. With the trade of DL Wayne Baxton to Boston, and then the team’s move up to #1 to take QB Todd Sparrow, it appears that the rebuild has begun. However, Halifax still has a decent amount of talent to still be a competitive team in the backend of the standings. QB Lyle Painter remains the starting QB, allowing Sparrow to watch and learn this season. WRs Shane Steadman and Jav Kerrigan are still going to be the top targets for Painter, with a new face in the backfield in RB George Seahorse. Defensively, they absolutely going to be weaker in the front 7 without Baxton, but they do have some younger faces that could start to make their mark in LB Frederic Macnamara and DB Jack Treadaway. Expect this season to be more of a developmental one for the Mariners as they begin to retool their roster.

Captains:
C - DL Pat Butler
A - DB Joe Robinson
A - QB Lyle Painter

13 - Montreal Rouge
1970 Record: 4-8 (5th East)
1970 Result: Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Malachi Knowles (1st Season)
Starting QB: Gene Bishop
Offensive Scheme: Balanced
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: S Mathieu Cazenave
Rookie to Watch: RB Bo Frazier

This offseason was a reset for the Rouge, who have failed to meet expectations over the last several seasons. New GM Jon Neal and HC Malachi Knowles are hoping to right the ship and get Montreal back into contention. While the turnaround won’t happen overnight, the Rouge do have a good start with plenty of young talent on the rise. They just drafted RB Bo Frazier and WR Antonio Villaneuva in the first round. Both players have been projected to have high ceilings. DB Jean Paul du Pont, LB Jean-Christophe Bain, and LB Willie Stetson are all looking to take steps forward this season. Not to mention, they also added a top safety in Mathieu Cazenave to replace the departed S Garet deVale. Overall, Montreal’s got a lot of upside on the roster, however, they have the biggest question mark at QB. Gene Bishop has shown a lot of decline over the last several seasons, which has been a big contributor to the struggles. Montreal has added QB Magnus Torrensen to potentially support the position if Bishop struggles, but they may even look to last year’s 6th overall pick, QB Nathan Houle for the future.

Captains:
C - OL Mathieu Roy
A - WR Taylor Karis
A - DB Lamar Brown*

14 - Edmonton Rangers
1970 Record: 5-7 (4th West)
1970 Result: Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Pat Gilliam (2nd Season in NAAF)
Starting QB: Blair Collins
Offensive Scheme: Run Heavy
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: DB Chris Berrymore
Rookie to Watch: WR Stanley McClendon

The Rangers faced a bit of injury trouble last season, as well as managing an aging roster. Despite adding some younger pieces through the draft and free agency, Edmonton remains the oldest roster in the league. While they showed some fight in a 5-7 campaign last season, they are going to be hard-pressed to return to that form this season. QB Blair Collins is now 38, and suffered injuries last season, they saw the departure of one of their bright spots on offence in WR Alex Browne Sr. heading to London, and plenty of other players like LB Herb Landry entering the final years of their careers. Edmonton has been a good team for a long time, so they will find ways to win games, but their ceiling isn’t going to be very high. Expect something similar to how the Steelheads have played over the last couple of seasons behind QB Todd Baker.

Captains:
C - QB Blair Collins
A - LB Herb Landry
A - OL Charles Creighton

15 - London Tigers
1970 Record: 2-9-1 (6th Central)
1970 Result: Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Aengus Lynch (1st Season)
Starting QB: Tyrion Gainsborough*
Offensive Scheme: Conservative
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: OL Shane Willis
Rookie to Watch: DB Victor Vratislav

The London Tigers didn’t have a lot of expectations going into last season, however, they still managed to fall short of a low bar, going 2-9-1. After going backwards, they made a change at coach, bringing on Hall of Fame LB Aengus Lynch. Lynch, along with GM Joseph Johnson, set out to revamp the Tigers as they continue their rebuild. As many of the younger players continue to develop the team added a pair of core pieces in OL Shane Willis and WR Alex Browne Sr. who will both play pivotal roles this season. They also added a more consistent option at QB, signing QB Tyrion Gainsborough. Gainsborough’s lone season as a starter was a 10-2 campaign with the Royals in 1968. He played well and was great at managing the offence, something the Tigers needed desperately last season. Overall, the most pressure this season is going to be on RB Jeremy Royal. Royal showed flashes of excellence with a dominant game early last season, but he never regained that strong footing. So, the team will be looking to him to really take a step forward.

Captains:
C - DL Mo Kahn*
A - QB Tyrion Gainsborough*
A - LB Everett Lynch

16 - Toronto Steelheads
1970 Record: 5-7 (5th Central)
1970 Result: Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Phillip Little (1st Season)
Starting QB: David Simmons*
Offensive Scheme: Conservative
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: WR Felix Fontaine
Rookie to Watch: DL Mason Russland

In one offseason, the Steelheads went throw more changes than they have had in all the years since joining the NAAF. New GM Reginald McMahon took over with a plan and completely reimagined the Steelheads’ direction. In is a new QB in David Simmons, who has had some chances to start since being taken 10th overall by the Thunder in 1967, but has yet to get a true opportunity. WR Felix Fontaine and DB Santino Arriola are both key acquisitions to build out the depth of the team. Out is superstar, RB Max Tracy, and in is a set of RBs looking to prove themselves, especially RB Shannon West, who struggled in his early years in Indiana. Now, many of the moves and players are excited and a step up for the team, but they are still a long shot from being a contender. HC Phillip Little is at the helm for the first time in his career and much of the roster is made up of young and unproven players. So, Toronto is still expected to sit near the back of the pecking order.

Captains:
C - DL Johnathan Ellison*
A - S Charles Clerk*
A - QB David Simmons*

17 - Calgary Predators
1970 Record: 1-11 (6th West)
1970 Result: Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Travis Hobson (2nd Season in NAAF)
Starting QB: Jesse Essex
Offensive Scheme: Wild West
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: DB Oliver Langstrom
Rookie to Watch: RB Rocco Peaks

The Predators looked to take full advantage of the free agents they had available upon officially joining the NAAF. They focused on speed for their Wild West offence, adding WR Carter Henderson, WR Shay Hopkins and a pair of mobile QBs in Emmitt Jackson and Travis Jackson. They also didn’t shy away from adding veteran depth, signing former 1st overall pick, DB Oliver Langstrom. The Preds are certainly going to be an improved team, especially if they remain healthy. However, there could be a battle at QB. The team has named QB Jesse Essex as their starter, who was their starter last season before injury. While Essex got the team their lone win of the season, the passing game was not there with Essex. Emmitt Jackson has shown in practice that he can sling it, but hasn’t quite gotten the offence down. If Jackson can figure out the offence, he might be right in line to take the job from Essex. In the end, regardless of who starts, Calgary doesn’t have high expectations, but they certainly can improve on a 1-win season from last year.

Captains:
C - DL Chris Barrett
A - RB John Drexel
A - LB Junior Abbott

18 - Regina Wheat Kings
1970 Record: 3-9 (5th West)
1970 Result: Missed Playoffs
Head Coach: Wayne Combs (2nd Season in NAAF)
Starting QB: Stanley Evans*
Offensive Scheme: Conservative
Defensive Scheme: 4-3-2-2
Biggest Acquisition: DB Lauri Hayha
Rookie to Watch: DL Butcher Callahan

Regina surprised many with their 3 wins last season with many seeing them as a potential winless team. However, despite the above-expected performance from last season, the Wheat Kings enter the 1971 campaign with still a weak roster on paper. There have been some improvements with DL Butcher Callahan and OL Charles Hyland being added in the draft, both proving themselves in training camp, as well as some solid depth in DB Lauri Hayha and RB Joseph Cook. Of course, the biggest improvement is likely at QB with Saskatoon native, Stanley Evans, coming over from Vancouver to take on the starting job. Evans was solid in the action he got with the Wolves last season, but maybe left something to be desired in his McCallister Cup appearance following QB Kevin Westwood’s injury. QB Matt Fletcher and last year’s starter, QB Rusty Lamb, will also be vying for playing time if Evans does struggle. RB Deion Chapman and WR Nick Spalding will hope to continue to create on offence while LB Brett Pride and DL Pete Gingers will continue to lead the defence. Overall, Regina has improved, but so has the rest of the league, and the team is still far enough behind to make it tough this season.

Captains:
C - LB Brett Pride
A - DL Pete Gingers
A - OL Hugh Johnson*

Wally’s Prediction

WEST
(1) Minnesota - 11-3
(4) Vancouver - 9-5
Winnipeg - 7-7
Edmonton - 5-9
Calgary - 3-11
Regina - 2-12

CENTRAL
(3) Pittsburgh - 10-4
(7) Buffalo - 8-6
(8) Louisville - 8-6
Indiana - 7-7
London - 6-8
Toronto - 5-9

EAST
(2) Boston - 10-4
(5) Long Island - 9-5
(6) Ottawa - 9-5
Providence - 8-6
Montreal - 6-8
Halifax - 4-10

Playoffs

QF
(1) MIN over (8) LOU
(2) BOS over (7) BUF
(6) OTT over (3) PIT
(4) VAN over (5) LI

SF
(1) MIN over (6) OTT
(2) BOS over (4) VAN

53rd McCallister Cup - Providence, RI

(2) BOS over (1) MIN