ESPN AFL

Los Angeles Avengers
Los Angeles is a model organization in terms of structure, marketing and community involvement. Owner Casey Wasserman bought the team at the age of 24 as the youngest owner ever in pro sports and the Avengers are now in their eighth season. Although they are coming off a disappointing 5-11 season, they have been in the playoffs four of the last five seasons and won the Western Division Championship in 2005. They are recognized as one of the most innovative and aggressive organizations in the AFL.

Coaches/Front Office
Head coach Ed Hodgkiss, who has a 43-45 record as he starts his sixth season at Los Angeles, is a brilliant offensive strategist. His right hand man is Brent Winter, who wears several coaching and personnel hats, while defensive coordinator Mike Wilpolt has head coaching and playing experience in the AFL. Director of football operations Jason McKay handles all contracts and player acquisitions. This is a well run front office.

Key Players
As an AFL rookie, QB Sonny Cumbie started 12 games and made the most of them, throwing for 3,241 yards and 59 TDs with only 10 interceptions and a QB rating of 105.2. He led the NCAA in passing at Texas Tech in 2004 season, throwing for 4,742 yards. If his pass protection holds up, he will have a big 2007 season. WR/DB Kevin Ingram is one of the best all-around performers in the AFL. He posted 111 receptions for 1,354 yards and 32 TDs last season while also grabbing five interceptions on defense. He also returns kicks. He is tough, competitive and the go-to guy on this offense. FB/LB Lonnie Ford is one of the all-time tough guys in this league and does a lot of the offensive dirty work. He had 44 rushes and 10 TDs in 2006 on an offense that likes to run the ball at the goal line and recorded 26.5 tackles and 3.5 sacks on defense. OL/DL Silas Demary is a former AFL lineman of the year. His best year was 2005 (13.5 sacks) but in 2006 he only recorded three sacks, five tackles for loss and 18 overall tackles. DB Damen Wheeler anchors the secondary and is coming off a 2006 season where he recorded 70 tackles, three interceptions and had 19 passes broken up. He is an interesting player who is always around the ball. PK Remy Hamilton is one of the great, veteran kickers in AFL history. He was the league's Kicker of the Year in 2005 and 2006, and he has great accuracy and consistency and nobody handles pressure better.

Other Key Players
WR Antoine Burns averages 19.3 yards per kickoff return and is a young athlete with good size. DB Tod McBride played six seasons in the NFL and is now in his first in the AFL. He is big and physical. WR Rob Turner will compete in the nickel package.

Player To Watch
OL Greg Krause is a free agent acquisition from Orlando. He has good feet and movement skills and is expected to improve a poor pass blocking offensive line. Krause's No. 1 job will be to protect Cumbie.

Outlook
Although last season's 5-11 record was a bitter disappointment for an organization that sets high standards in a very competitive sports market, the Avengers may have found their QB of the future to build around. They lost a couple of key playmakers on offense (WR Tony Locke and WR/LB Greg Hopkins), but they still have Ingram and this is a creative offense that will put up a lot of points. Still, they must improve their pass protection for their young QB, as they gave up 31 sacks a year ago. Defensively, they will be solid and aggressive, but do they have a good enough pass rush? The Avengers are in a balanced division and will be better than they were a year ago.

Scouts, Inc., watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.