Predicted Finish: Third
Pancakes and maple syrup is out. Baby back ribs are in. Vancouver’s cosmopolitan skyline is no more. Say hello to Graceland.
Along with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Underdogs, formerly the Mountees and the Clan, have arrived in Memphis, and except for a few loyal Canadian fans who prefer 11-man football, few seem to care. And for Underdog running back Ahman Green, it’s a welcome change.
“Oh man, I can eat ribs again,” he said. “And my paycheck will be larger. I’m definitely happy with the change.”
For the Underdogs, a happier, and healthier Green, who claims Memphis barbecue isn’t as good as the stuff he grew up with in Omaha, Nebraska, is the key to their season. After four years of pass-happy football with constant man-in-motions, the Underdogs decided to transform themselves into a ground control team.
“What can I say, Canadians love passing,” Coach Robert Yap said. “They like any sport with constant movement, like hockey and curling. But now that we’re in Memphis, we want to appeal to the locals.”
To win over a local population lukewarm to an FFL team, especially one that has never reached the playoffs, that has the longest streak without a playoff history and has changed their names more often then Prince, Yap completely revamped his organization. Gone are talented but sullen receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Eric Moulds. Instead, Yap spent a lot to bring in running back Jamal Anderson and hope he can bulldoze people like he did three years ago. To stress ball control, the Underdogs brought in Ed McCaffrey and Germane Crowell to join Jerry Rice in the most veteran and sure-handed receiving corp in the league.
The receivers aren’t fast, but they will be asked to help out the Underdogs’ monstrous backfield. Along with Green and Anderson, the Underdogs will unleash quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who was virtually unstoppable on the ground and in the air, in an option offense.
“Culpepper can do everything so well,” Yap said. “We want to utilize all his talents.”
But Green will be the main guy in the Underdogs’ new scheme, and that’s what has Yap both excited and fretful. After gaining the starting job a third of the way into the season, Green rushed for 10 touchdowns. So impressed was Yap that he handed Green a $5 million a year contract to be their featured back in their new offense.
Unfortunately, Green is also injury-prone since his college days as a sometimes-starter at Nebraska. Worse, Green has been fighting a slight groin injury this preseason. Green stresses that he’ll be ready for the season opener, but Yap wants to take every precaution.
And if Green goes, so goes the Underdogs. Anderson has yet to return to form after major surgery three years ago. He highly effective, but he’s no longer a franchise back. And their second team is perilously thin.
“I would be lying if I said I’m not worried,” Yap said. “So I guess I’m not worried. What was it that that bank commercial said? The biggest risk is the one you don’t take. Well, it was a big risk to invest so much money in Green, but we really feel we have one of the best young backs in the league.”
And Green seems confident in his ability to carry this team.
“Hey, this is my team now,” he said. “New city, new threads, new fans, new everything. I have a chance to make history. And I think I can.”
Ahman Green
Projected Starters
QB Daunte Culpepper
RB Ahman Green
RB Jamal Anderson
WR Ed McCaffrey
WR Germane Crowell
WR Jerry Rice
K Jason Elam
D Redksins
ST Bengals
Scouting Report
"Coaches spend more time preparing for them then anyone else. With Culpepper, you're facing three good running backs and a great quarterback at once...Just make sure your secondary doesn't blow any assignments against them. Use your safeties to cheat up on their backfield because their receivers can't stretch the field... Once they get in the red zone, with those tall receivers, they'll have no trouble scoring. But they'll have tons of problems getting there. This is the slowest team I've seen in a while...They said they're commit to the ground game, but I'll believe it when I see it. Yap loves an air show.