Quarterly ReportCurrent 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 PlayJohn 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 GameWhen 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.
DefenseUp 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.