Arizona selects Akiem Hicks

ARIZONA SELECTS AKIEM HICKS

Arizona selects Akiem Hicks with the 11th pick in the TFL Draft

2014 Arizona Air Raid

Owner: Scott Wilken

Head Coach : Johnny Footballhero (of Nada Surf fame)

Offensive Coordinator: Uncle Rico (of Napoleon Dynamite fame)

Defensive Coordinator: Terry Tate (Office Linebacker)

Home: Midtown Phoenix, Arizona

Favorite Pro Team: Chicago Bears

The Arizona Air Raid start their 6^th season in the Tradition Football looking to get back to championship form.  The 2012 Tradition Bowl Champions went into 2013 thinking they had a chance to defend their title, but finished a very disappointing 8-8 and missed the playoffs by one game. Head Coach Johnny Footballhero hopes to overcome a number of key NFL injuries to get his team back on track in 2014, with an eye on a big improvement in 2015.

                          

Strength

As has become custom the past few years, the strength of this team is on defense, particularly the pass rush. Jared Allen (5/12/*1) and Olivier Vernon (4/12/*1) bring the heat from Defensive End, while OLB Tamba Hali (6/12/*3) can get to the quarterback on blitzes. ACL injuries derailed the 2013 seasons for DT Geno Atkins (5/6) and OLB Von Miller (6/7), but they still bring pressure when needed. The Air Raid boast the best secondary in team history with CB Patrick Peterson, CB Vontae Davis, and S TJ Ward all receiving 6s, while Nickel CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie got a 5.

There are still a number of stars on offense, including WRs Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, TE Jason Witten, and HB Matt Forte, but...

Weakness

...the mediocre Air Raid offensive line isn't doing anyone any favors this year. Four 4s and a 5 are all the Air Raid big uglies could muster. If that were the only problem, things might not be as bad, but new starting QB Colin Kaepernick and his 58.4% completion percentage isn't going to scare anybody. And former starter Matt Schaub isn't much help, either. The stellar receiving corps is going to get lonely this season, with not much need for opposing teams to cover them.

2014 Draft Needs

Some serious swings and misses on offensive linemen in past drafts (Danny Watkins in the 4th round, Rodger Saffold instead of Trent Williams in the 2nd round, cutting Mackenzy Bernadeau after just one year) left this team in need of O-line youth. But GM/Owner Scott Wilken swears this time (THIS TIME!) he's going to take the best player available regardless of position, so anyone and everyone are on the Air Raid's board this year.

Projection

It will be interesting to see if a strong running game and outstanding defense can overcome bad quarterbacking and a mediocre offensive line. Lovie Smith has been brought in as a consultant this year, as he took a team with that same description to the Super Bowl. So there's hope. But with another brutal schedule, another 8-8 season is probably realistic this year, with an outside shot at the playoffs. The team is hoping 2015 will be better, with four of the first 40 picks in 2015, fully healed ACLs, and a resurgent Colin Kaepernick.