ESPN AFL

Chicago Rush
After compiling a mediocre 7-9 regular season record a year ago, the Chicago Rush rode a playoff hot streak right to an ArenaBowl victory over Orlando. They enter their sixth season in the AFL, after coming into the league in 2002 as an expansion team. This is an organization that has made the playoffs in every season and with almost their complete roster returning they will try to be the first team in a decade to repeat as ArenaBowl champions.

Coaches/Front Office
Mike Hohensee, entering his 13th season as an AFL head coach, remains the only head coach that the Rush have had. Entering 2007, Hohensee has 95 victories, nine playoff appearances, and five division titles to his credit. He is considered an offensive mastermind. Other assistants include Walt Housman (assistant head coach/defensive coordinator), Brian Schwartze (director of player personnel/DB coach) and Ryan Leonard (WR coach). In addition, ex-Bears legendary head coach Mike Ditka is a co-owner in the franchise, but he lets the coaches do their jobs and stays out of day to day operations.

Key Players
QB Matt D'Orazio had a breakout season in 2006, throwing for 3,552 yards with 63 TDs and only five interceptions. In addition, he also rushed for 162 yards and 10 TDs and posted a streak during the regular season where he threw 231 consecutive passes without an interception. He has size, a strong arm, toughness and a natural ability to read defenses. After being waived by Tampa Bay in 2006, WR Bobby Sippio hooked on with the Rush for their final five regular season games and their amazing playoff run. He showed great flashes of talent for the Rush, hauling in 38 receptions for 654 yards and 17 TDs. Combining what he did for Tampa Bay and Chicago, he tallied 93 receptions for 1,320 yards, and 35 TDs. With better chemistry with D'Orazio, he should have a huge season in 2007. DB Jeremy Unertl is the rock of this defense, recording 74.5 tackles in 2006, along with eight interceptions and 12 passes broken up. He was voted the team MVP. He has experience in the NFL and NFL Europe, but he has found his niche in the AFL as an instinctive ball hawk. DL E.J. Burt played for the Philadelphia Soul in 2006 and comes to Chicago as a much-heralded free agent with a reputation for being a sack artist. He is very durable and will add stability to the Rush in the trenches. FB/LB Bob McMillen is an aging warrior who still plays at an unbelievably high level as he enters his 12th season in the AFL. He has 74 rushing TDs in his career, and nobody is tougher and better in goal-line situations.

Other Key Players
WRs DeJuan Alfonzo, Etu Molden, Woody Dantzler give D'Orazio plenty of options to throw to this season. DB Dennison Robinson had 71.0 tackles and five interceptions in 2006 and was great in the playoffs. And Curtis Eason and John Moyer are dependable on both the offensive and defensive line.

Players To Watch
WR Ahmad Merritt, WR Kevin Kasper and OL Marques Sullivan are three players with solid NFL experience trying to make the transition to the AFL. If they get comfortable with the indoor game, a good roster just got better.

Outlook
This is a team that took off a year ago in the playoffs and they hope to maintain that momentum in 2007. They return their championship roster almost totally intact and they have a great blend of veteran players, young athletes and some very interesting first-year AFL players with a lot of NFL experience. This is a team that handles pressure well, knows how to win on the road and has an excellent coaching staff. The passing game should be deep and explosive and the tandem of D'Orazio to Sippio could be lethal. This is a team that has a chance to repeat as ArenaBowl champions.

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