Dallas looks poised for another title run
Dallas was simply dominating last year and could be just as good this season.
Dallas Desperados
They are coming off one of the most dominating regular seasons in AFL history, finishing with a 13-3 record before losing to Orlando in the National Conference championship game. They led the AFL in scoring (58.1 points per game) and scoring defense (44.1 points per game). They also led the league in turnover margin with an outstanding plus-16. It is a team with great veteran leadership, but they are also not afraid to make bold moves and turn over the roster.
Coaches/Front Office
Will McClay was the 2006 AFL coach of the year and enters his third season as head coach for the Desperados. He runs both the offense and defense and has a really good feel for the indoor game. Running the front office and the day-to-day operations as president, GM and CEO is Jerry Jones Jr. (son of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones).
Key Players
QB Clint Dolezel threw for 4,623 yards and 105 TDs in 2006, while posting a QB rating or 122.0 and throwing 11 interceptions. He is an AFL veteran with an excellent arm, but he has to break in new receivers. WR/DB Will Pettis is arguably one of the best players in the AFL with great versatility. Offensively, he posted 1,256 yards along with 26 TDs in 2006 and he also had over a thousand yards in kickoff returns. Defensively, he had 40 tackles and six interceptions and his concentration in 2007 will likely be on defense. WR/LB Bobby Perry is a ballhawk in the secondary and recorded 50 tackles and three interceptions in 2006. WR/DB Jermaine Jones was the leading tackler for the Desperados in 2006 with 99.5 tackles and eight interceptions. He is a combination of great range and instincts. OL/DL Colston Weatherington was first team All-AFL in 2006 and is expected to give Dallas pass rush production off the edge.
Other Key Players
FB/LB Duke Pettijohn was All-Ironman and while he's an excellent short yardage rusher, he will likely concentrate on defense in 2007 as a speed rusher. OL/DL Devin Wyman is tall (6-feet-8), rangy and should provide good pass protection for Dolezel.
Player To Watch
WR Marcus Nash is a much-heralded veteran free agent from Las Vegas and is being counted on to fill a huge hole at the position left bare by free agent defections, namely WR Terrill Shaw. Nash had 1,317 yards and 28 TDs in 2006 and is a veteran scoring machine who knows the indoor game.
Outlook
This was the most dominating team in the AFL during the regular season. They have a good blend of veteran leadership and young athletes (20 new players in 2007 and 16 returning players). They will have an improved secondary and are deep enough at FB/LB to dictate good matchups, but they must find a kicker, which is a huge concern. There are also question marks at wide receiver, partly because of free agent losses and partly because their best two-way players may be forced to concentrate on defense. However, this is still a loaded roster and Dallas will be tough to beat.
Scouts, Inc., watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.
