ESPN AFL

Originally Published: February 25, 2008

Rampage look to rebound with a new coach and more playmakers

The QB battle between Adrian McPherson and James MacPherson is closer than you think.

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By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.
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This franchise dates all the way back to the AFL's first game in 1987. Over the years, this team has been the Washington Commandos, Detroit Drive, Massachusetts Marauders and now the Grand Rapids Rampage. They have struggled in the past several seasons after winning the AFL Championship in 2001, and they are trying to get back to being a playoff-caliber team. They have local ownership from Dan DeVos and they are very community-oriented, but they are in a small market, which always presents challenges.

Coaches and front office

Steve Thonn is the new coach and director of football operations. He comes to Grand Rapids with high expectations because of the success he had while running Georgia's offense the past three seasons. He is considered a great playcaller and a tremendous QB developer, but he will have his hands full with the Rampage. Ron Selesky runs the defense and oversees player personnel, Darrin Kenney coaches both lines, and Paul Reinke handles special teams and linebackers. This is an enthusiastic staff, and they will work hard.

Key players

QB Adrian McPherson -- He has tremendous athletic talent and can make every throw in the AFL, but his decision-making and tendency to make mistakes limit him from becoming an elite QB. He had decent stats in 2006, throwing for 3,193 yards and 51 touchdowns. However, he also threw 14 interceptions and seemed to make his coaches nervous. His mobility is the best in the league at his position; he is the ultimate scrambler. In 2007, he had 360 yards and nine rushing TDs.

QB James MacPherson -- He was a backup behind Chris Griesen last year in Georgia and had virtually no production. But he knows Thonn's offense, and the coach has confidence he will make good decisions. He played in the AFL2 in 2006 and will challenge McPherson for the starting job.

DB Ahmad Hawkins -- He came to the Rampage in the dispersal draft from Nashville, and he is a big upgrade on this defense. He posted 71.5 tackles with 13 interceptions and was a first-team, All-AFL performer last year. He is a ball hawk with good range and coverage skills.

DB Chuck Wesley -- He led the Rampage defense last year with 88 tackles and had three interceptions. Wesley and Hawkins should work well together.

WR Kenny Higgins -- He was on the All-AFL rookie team in 2007 out of Nashville and caught 95 passes for 1,440 yards and 25 TDs. He is expected to have a huge year as the go-to guy.

FB Chris Ryan -- He is a 300-pound, short-yardage specialist who tallied 22 TDs last year and has 89 rushing TDs in eight seasons.

DB William Haith -- He was New Orleans' leading tackler in 2007 with 66.5 tackles and four interceptions.

DL Rahim Abdullah -- He was taken by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 1999 NFL draft and also spent six years in the CFL. His good pass-rush skills should help as he tries to make the switch to the AFL.

OL Marcus Keys -- He was a second-team, All-AFL performer in 2007. He came over from Georgia and is an excellent edge protector with good feet and range.

Players to keep an eye on

LB John Mohring -- He is only 23 years old and was an All-AFL2 player for the Alabama Steeldogs in 2007. He has great speed and athletic ability, and should develop into a quality pass-rusher. As a senior at Georgia Southern University, he had 93 tackles and 14 tackles for loss.

DB Tanner Varner -- Varner was an All-AFL2 player in 2007, recording nine interceptions and 20 pass breakups. He combines good range and size, which gives him a chance to be an excellent ball hawk.

Outlook

Thonn might be the most exciting change the Rampage have going for them heading into the season. He is widely acclaimed for running the most explosive offense in the league. He spent the past three season with Georgia, and he has a reputation as a great playcaller and for developing QBs, helping them take their games to new levels. However, he is in the most competitive division in the AFL, and right now, he just doesn't seem to have enough talent to be competitive every week. He has two QBs to develop, and he lost his best big-play player, WR/RS Timon Marshall.

It does not look like Grand Rapids' passing attack has enough weapons. The defense also was last in the league in points given up last year, which puts additional pressure on the offense to outscore opponents. The Rampage have made some moves to upgrade the defense, but they must develop more difference makers on both sides of the ball to be consistent winners.