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Retirements

No official retirements.

Notable Departures

Head Coach Joseph Reid and the Thrashers parted ways in the offseason after 3 years in the position and another 9 years with the organization. Although there was a lot of speculation due to the showing put up by the team in the Super Bowl, it seems the decision was mutual. Coach Reid joined the Independence Pirates as a Linebackers Coach, so it appears he isn't hanging up his hat yet.

The Coaches' Carousel

Charles Gough was promoted from Assistant Head Coach / Running Backs Coach to Head Coach after Joe Reid's departure. Coach Gough is a young, offensive-minded coach but will switch the defense to a 4-3 with a heavy man-to-man coverage scheme (which owner Timothy Thompson favors).

The OC and DC remain the same to ease the transition for Coach Gough.

In Gough's place at RB Coach, Thomas Lowry joins the organization, coming from Atlanta as a former TE Coach.

Early Free Agency

Chris Shaver DE (from Battle Creek) - Shaver is an 8 year veteran who has had a history of injuries, but seems healthy going into year 9. Shaver will work the left side as a primary pass rushing threat to couple with Cherrito and Odinson on the other side.

Everett Silverman DT (from Charlotte) - The big man has had a spotty career, but he's primarily a stop-gap for a thin defensive line this season. He'll pick up plenty of opportunities along the season but is not expected to be a primary focus.

2032 Draft

The Thrashers knew that this draft would be suboptimal based on the talent pool and the positioning of their picks; however, they were intrigued with some of the value they picked up.

(Rd 1; 31) Muhammad Boudreaux- Purdue, RB/WR, 6'1" 215lbs.
Boudreaux was never a homerun hitter, nor is he a bruiser, but at Purdue he offered burst and consistency. The running game faltered last season, so this was seen as a major need for the team. Boudreaux has fumbled one time in his college career; plus, he can catch out of the backfield which the team leans heavily on. He can also add in the return game as well.

(Rd 4; 31) Jasper "Tank" McGillicuddy- Texas A&M, OT, 6'4" 307lbs.
McGillicuddy has the frame to be a lineman force, but he lacks serious development in pass blocking schemes. However, he's perfect for the running game and exceptionally strong. He's not expected to be an every-down starter in any case.

(Rd 5; 31) Taurus Sitzpinkler- Texas, DT, 6'3" 283lbs
Taurus is a depth-add to the defense but may not make the round of roster cuts if there are better free agents. He's strong and quick off the lien but only adds an angle to run defense. He's an inferior tackler and cannot rush the passer.

(Rd 6; 31) Ignacio "Iggy" Skittle Gardner-Webb, WR/RB 6'1" 196lbs.
Iggy Skittle is a jack-of-all-trades talent, but he looks like he could add as another camp body to push others for a roster spot. Most likely, he'll be cut.

2032 Training Camp

"We started from the bottom, now we're here...?" --Reporter Newsman, Thrashers Beat Reporter

1st rounder Muhammad Boudreaux (+2) continues to impress through camp with his sure-handedness and ball-carrying skills. He's also quite the pass catcher. He continues to drop weight, making him a little lighter on his feet, and his quickness and burst is elite. Boudreaux will have many opportunities this preseason to earn his 1st round price tag.

Tank McGillicuddy (+2) also rose through the ranks at camp and will be a nice back-up given his 4th round status. He'll never be an elite pass blocker but his run-blocking has been exceptional.

Taurus Sitzpinkler (-1) might have the best name in Football Moguls, but he's not the best player. The team has already added in additional depth at defensive tackle after the draft and that does not bode well for that guy.

Iggy Skittle (+1) was not a bust, but it's hard to find a place for him on this roster when all is said and done. He's a poor man's Alvin Dillon (who himself is a poor man's running back). Skittle does have some great ball-carrier potential, but it's just not likely his career will amount to much in Little Rock.

Late Free Agency

Arthur Farmer DT (from Charlotte) will help fill the middle some this season. He's a strong pass rusher with decent burst for a big man. He's never really panned out, but depth is helpful in these lean times.

Lawrence Arledge MLB (from Seattle) was brought in to pad the depth here.at MLB. It might be unnecessary since the scheme has switched to a 4-3 and the team has stalwarts, John Rambo and Captain Rodgers, leading the way.

Pre-Season Report

The Thrashers went 3-1 during the preseason for what it's worth, but it was more about evaluating the talent the team has acquired. Coach Gough's possession offensive is a work in progress. QB John Spartan seems fine within the system so far, and the team seems dedicated to improve the lackluster run game that struggled so much last year. The defense has had ups and downs, but produced 9 sacks and 4 interceptions over the preseason, so the heavy man-2-man defense is paying off in many respects.

Player-wise, Muhammad Boudreaux continues to develop as a running back and receiver. He might be the most talented of both groups on the roster. If only he had 90+ speed, he might be another Clarence Sorensen (one can dream). For now, he'll be the 1-2 punch with long-time back David Lusher who's proving he still has some gas in the tank.

Defensively, free agent LE Chris Shaver added 4 sacks during the preseason while DT Everett Silverman contributed 10 tackles and a recovered fumble as well. It's good to see some production out of the moves made by the team this offseason.

Roster Cuts

There were several roster cuts, including rookie DT Taurus Sitzpinkler, WR Michael Holmes, OL Allen Lawrence, and DE Javier Villagos. In addition, the team parted ways with long-time running back George Erwin. He rushed for 3400 yards, but also tallied 3000 yards receiving, and had 73 TDs over 5 seasons. He helped bring in 2 league championships as well. Thrasher fans distinctly remember the season he scored 29 total TDs in 2027.

Quarterly Report

Current Record: 3-1

The Thrashers began the regular season on a three game road trip that netted wins in Boston, Cincinnati, and London, but the boys must have been sleeping to lose to the Real Kayfabe for their home opener. The team is now awake to say the least. Let's look back at some noteworthy moments from the first four games.

QB Play
John Spartan looks lost in Coach Gough's Possession style offense putting up statistcally some of the worst numbers of his career. Some might be scheme and an unfamiliar playbook, but some of it on Mr. Spartan's wildly inaccurate throws, which is very atypical of the player. Spartan only has 914 yards with 6 TDs and 9 (count 'em, NINE) Interceptions to start the season. He's completing just shy of 65% as well. Spartan has spread the ball around to 11 different receivers this season, but something isn't clicking. The expectation is that Spartan will adapt as he always has, and at 30 years old, Spartan should be playing for many years to come.

The Running Game
When promoting Coach Gough, the expectation from Owner Timothy Thompson was to get a running game going again, and Coach Gough certainly excels in that regard. Rookie Muhammad Boudreaux has impressed with 291 yards, with a 5.6 ypc, and two rushing TDs, while longtime RB, David Lusher serves as a great rushing and receiving option as always. Lusher has 244 rushing yards at 5.5 ypc but has also wrangled in 29 receptions for an additional 223 yards. The team ranks 1st in yards per carry and 2nd for yards rushing so far, and it seems like the team could very well roster two 1000 yard rushers this season.

Receiving-We can't catch a cold
(See Spartan, John)
RB David Lusher is the leading receiver and then it's TE John Creasy. There's not a lot to like, unfortunately. WR Dutch Schaefer is currently concussed on top of it all.

Defense
Up front, the DE duo of Shaver and Cheritto has paid off. Shaver made a splash in the pre-season and he's kept at it, acquiring 6 sacks in 4 games. Cherrito has 5 sacks himself and a crazy 20 QB Hurries already. The LB corps is fairing decently, and the secondary looks pretty stout as well. Although CB Rocky Balboa took a step back during camp this year, he's playing decently; however, that shifted Alonzo Harris to the CB1, and he's already cropped up 3 Interceptions and 4 Knockdowns. Nat Romanov still continues to impress in her second season, knocking down 11 passes.

End of Regular Season Report

The Arkansas Thrashers will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Tensions have been brewing behind the scenes as QB John Spartan and rookie Head Coach Charles Gough are no longer seeing eye-to-eye. Owner and General Manager Timothy Thompson has not made a public statement but acknowledged in a press conference that organizational expectations are not being met. Thinly veiled, but major changes could be coming to the Thrashers by next season.