2048 TRAINING CAMP TOURNXCSOUTHMemphis 13-3
Atlanta 12-4
Tampa Bay 8-8
Carolina 3-13
ATLANTA DOMINATORSOWNER: Hammond (3rd season)
UNDER CAP: 1,630,238
LAST SEASON: 15-1 (Division Champ/7× XFL Champ)
RUN OFFENSE: 1st
PASS OFFENSE: 3rd
TOTAL OFFENSE: 2nd
RUN DEFENSE: 8th
PASS DEFENSE: 2nd
TOTAL DEFENSE: 2nd
TURNOVER MARGIN: +5
ADDITIONS:
QB Brandon Williams (PRI) -
QB Alan Wyatt (PIT) -
WR Daniel Stukes (TBY) 373 yds rec/2 TD
SLB Guy Brown (SEA) 50 tack/1 sack/2 kd/1 int
CB Dale Wilson (ZEZ) 36 tack/12 kd
SUBTRACTIONS:
QB Alvin Johnson (RET) 5,036 yards/48 TD/20 int
WR Peter Chappell (LAC) 1,260 yds rush/188 yds rec/15 TD
WR Terrance McConkey (BRO) 984 yds rec/5 TD
WR Moises Emmanuel (TBY) 15 yds rec
WR Bert Leslie (FA) 46 yds rush
C Robert Epps (LAC) 16 games/0 starts
LDE Richard Kelleher (FA) 27 tack/16 sacks/4 kd/2 int
RDE John Cooke (RET) -
CB Scott Zane (RET) 4 tack/2 kd/1 int
DRAFT PICKS:
1.10 WR Tyler Cruz
1.23 WR Craig May
BREAKDOWN:
Offensively, they lost their starting QB to retirement, traded away ALLPRO WR Chappell plus allowed their 2nd leading receiver to walk via free agency. In addition, they lost 2 depth WR & their backup Center from last seasons 2nd ranked offense. They brought in 2 QBs who didn't play a snap last season despite both QBs having at least 91 starts in the XFL. They also added 3 WRs, 1 via free agency and 2 were drafted in the 1st round of the draft.
Defensively, they lost their 2nd leading pass rusher along with depth at DE & CB from last seasons 2nd ranked defense. They added a LB & CB via free agency so the defense returns mostly intact.
PREDICTION: 12-4
Atlanta has won 7 straight XFL Titles but this feels like the year that streak finally ends as they look to find a QB of the future. Make no mistake, Atlanta will still be a good team and should easily make the postseason but they have taken a small step back towards the pack in the NXC.
MEMPHIS MANIACSOWNER: Legendruthless (9th season)
UNDER CAP: 174,523,037
LAST SEASON: 13-3 (2nd place/Wildcard)
RUN OFFENSE: 7th
PASS OFFENSE: 7th
TOTAL OFFENSE: 7th
RUN DEFENSE: 10th
PASS DEFENSE: 5th
TOTAL DEFENSE: 4th
TURNOVER MARGIN: +9
ADDITIONS:
LG George Sanderson (LAC) -
DT Paul Matthews (OAK) -
SUBTRACTIONS:
WR Jerome Pond (DAK) 732 tds rush/308 yds rec/5 TD
WR Jorge Prevatte (WAS) 507 yds rec/9 TD
LG David Duncan (RET) 15 games/1 starts
RG Harlan Schuler (WAS) 16 games/16 starts
RG Alexander Hartzell (WAS) 16 games/1 starts
RT Patrick Michael (RET) 16 games/0 starts
LDE William Sapp (FA) 2 hurries
LDE Jeffrey Albright (FA) 2 sacks
DT Tony Jackson (NYE) 2 sacks
CB Edwin Doan (FA) 65/6/24/1
CB Wesley Rolon (DAK) -
CB Edgar Spillman (FA) 2 tack
DRAFT PICKS:
2.10 WR Richard Davis
3.21 QB Robert Pereiera
3.27 CB Scott Turner
4.20 CB Clifford Tisdale
4.27 LT Roland Ellis
4.30 C Leroy Jeffrey
5.19 WR Erik Thomas
5.24 WR Robert Jarret
5.27 WR Christopher Bates
5.29 LT William Hillis
6.8 RB Richard Horton
6.20 MLB William Estrella
6.32 WLB Jay West
7.19 TE George Fennell
BREAKDOWN:
Offensively, they lost 2 WRs that accounted for their 4th & 7th best receivers plus their leafing rusher. They also lost 4 OL which played a combined 63 games including 18 starts from their 7th ranked offense. They only added a depth OL in free agency but used 10 of their 14 draft picks on offense including 6 playmakers (4 WR/1 RB/1 TE), 3 OL & a QB. Despite having 14 draft picks, they had no pick in the 1st round with their first pick being a WR taken 42nd overall.
Defensively, they lost 3 DL & 3 DB including 1 starter in the secondary from last seasons 4th ranked defense. They added a depth DT in free agency plus used 4 draft picks on 2 LBs & 2 DBs.
PREDICTION: 13-3
Memphis has played bridesmaid to Atlanta's bride the past 7 seasons despite winning 2 division Titles in the past 7 seasons. Memphis returns enough of their core compared to Atlanta and wins the South.
CAROLINA COBRASOWNER: DrHayHurst (7th season)
UNDER CAP: 60,551,118
LAST SEASON: 1-15 (4th place)
RUN OFFENSE: 32nd
PASS OFFENSE: 32nd
TOTAL OFFENSE: 32nd
RUN DEFENSE: 32nd
PASS DEFENSE: 30th
TOTAL DEFENSE: 31st
TURNOVER MARGIN: -1
ADDITIONS:
WR Paul Clinton (IND) 21 yds rec
WR John Sellers (PNX) 1,137 yds rec/8 TD
RG Sam Freeman (HOU) 15 games/9 starts
LDE Christopher Howland (HOU) 1 sack
RDE Jamaal Dixon (BUF) -
SLB Elmer Severs (ZEZ) 62 tack/6 sack/4 kd/1 int
CB Mark Goss (DAK) 60 tack/18 kd/2 int
CB Joshua Chavez (PNX) 53 tack/35 kd/7 int
SUBTRACTIONS:
RB Travis Barlowe (RET) 7 yds rec
RB Bob Martin (FA) 44 yds rush/41 yds rec
WR David Cartwright (TBY) 39 yds rush/200 yds rec
WR Robert Pasillas (PHI) 307 yds rec/2 TD
WR Francis Justice (VAN) 53 yds rush/103 yds rec
LT Peter Hernandez (FA) 16 games/15 starts
LT Ryan Salter (FA) 15 games/8 starts
DT Dwanye Martinez (FA) 49 tack/4 sacks
DT Scott Johnson (FA) 1 sack
MLB Lamar Pratt (FA) 28 tack/3 kd
CB Charles Elsass (BUF) 92 tack/28 kd
CB Brian Ullman (FA) 8 tack/5 kd/1 int
CB Otis Pierson (FA) -
SS Richard Hodgson (FA) 121 tack/6 kd
FS Joseph Stanford (RET) 42 tack/5 kd
P Milton Lewis (FA) 75 punts/3,566 yds/22 inside 20
DRAFT PICKS:
3.3 DT Walter Hughes
4.2 MLB Clint Moore
6.3 CB Arthur Joseph
BREAKDOWN:
Offensively, they lost 5 playmakers (2 RB/3 WR) & 2 OL from last seasons 32nd ranked offense including their 2nd leading receiver and a starter on the OL. They added 2 WRs and 1 OL including the 10th leading receiver in the league.
Defensively, they lost 2 DL, 1 LB & 5 DBs from last seasons 32nd ranked defense including a starter on the DL & 2 starters from the secondary. They signed 2 DL, 1 LB & 2 DBs including starters at LB & 2 in the secondary. They also added 1 DL, 1 LB & 1 DB via the draft in the 3rd, 4th & 6th rounds.
PREDICTION: 3-13
Carolina hit rock bottom last season as they had their worst record (1-15) in francise history. The good news is that it can't get any worse as the team begins the long upward climb back to contention. The team should improve on offense this season as they double or triple last years win total.
TAMPA BAY FIREBALLSOWNER: Action-Jackson (3rd season)
UNDER CAP: 150,170,132
LAST SEASON: 6-10 (3rd place)
RUN OFFENSE: 25th
PASS OFFENSE: 11th
TOTAL OFFENSE: 15th
RUN DEFENSE: 17th
PASS DEFENSE: 22nd
TOTAL DEFENSE: 22nd
TURNOVER MARGIN: -12
ADDITIONS:
FB Daniel Hughes (PIT) 36 yds rush/55 yds rec/1 TD
WR Claude Crawford (NEC) 151 yds rush/351 yds rec/
WR David Cartwright (CAR) 39 yds rush/200 yds rec
WR Moises Emmanuel (ATL) 15 yds rec
RT Jack Russell (ORG) 16 games/16 starts
P Derek Grimes (BRO) 125 punts/5,823 yds/46 inside 20
CB Billy Powell (PNX) 8 tack
CB Michael Shrader (ORG) 29 tack/1 sack/2 kd/1 int
SS Elmer Amezcua (ORG) 6 tack/1 sack
SUBTRACTIONS:
FB Edward Connor (HOU) 2 yds rush/25 yds rec
WR Daniel Stukes (ATL) 373 yds rec/2 TD
WR Jerry Jennings (FA) -
WR Cary Brewster (FA) 33 yds rush/9 yds rec/1 TD
WR Ralph Kawamura (FA) 13 yds rush/36 yds rec
WR Jeffrey Hunter (FA) 94 yds rush/18 yds rec/1 TD
LT Charles Linder (DAK) 14 games/7 starts
LG Clarence Whitaker (RET) 16 games/7 starts
LG John Duncan (MIA) 2 games/0 starts
RT Aaron Bryant (RET) 14 games/14 starts
RT Willie Bledsoe (DAK) 15 games/2 starts
DT Sydney Nair (DAK) 21 tack/8 hurries
DT Edward Goldberg (RET) 2 sacks
CB Randolph Griffin (FA) 67 tack/22 kd
CB Eugene Park (FA) 39 tack/13 kd
CB Jason Cox (FA) 71 tack/9 kd
CB Rick Basham (PHI) 64 tack/5 kd/2 int
CB James Morrison (KCY) 6 tack
CB James Atkins (FA) 27 tack/4 kd
CB John Kilian (FA) 53 tack/2 sacks/12 kd
CB Mike Lush (FA) 41 tack/1 sack/9 kd
FS Stephen Smith (RET) 13 tack/5 sacks
P Christopher Mendez (DAK) 120 punts/5,605 yds/54 inside 20
DRAFT PICKS:
1.11 CB Garrett Holt
2.13 SS Tommy Martinez
3.12 CB Cedric Penaloza
4.11 FS Clarence Feldt
5.13 CB Jim Cohan
6.12 FB Jerry Jensen
7.11 CB Phillip Stthomas
BREAKDOWN:
Offensively, they lost 6 playmakers (1 FB/5 WR) & 5 OL from last seasons 15th ranked offense but only 1 OL was a starter as the rest were all depth players. They added 1 FB, 3 WR & 1 OL in the off-season including a starter on the OL plus they drafted another FB in the 6th round.
Defensively, they lost 2 DL & 9 DBs from last seasons 22nd ranked defense including 4 starters (1 DL/3 DB). They added 3 DBs in free agency plus drafted 6 more DBs including their first 5 picks in the first 5 rounds.
PREDICTION: 8-8
It's season 3 under the current ownership and after a surprising 10 win season in year 1, they took a step back winning just 6 games in year 2. They return the majority of starters from last years 15th ranked offense and really focused on improving last seasons 22nd ranked defense in the draft. If the defense improves then they should win close to half their games and finish somewhere between 6-10 & 10-6.