With pre season just around the corner, i'd like to take the time to introduce the new Hound Dogs that the team has brought on either through Free Agency or the Draft. Most of the new guys are offensive players.

#6 Larry Howe QB 3rd season, 6'2", 220 lbs out of West Virginia
He played in Oakland last season as a back up. He has a chance to compete with Tom Vroman for the starting job here but currently he is the back up. In limited action in 2018 he was 28/46 for 428 yards, 5 touchdowns and 1 pick.

#23 David Hull RB 3rd season 5'11" 216 out of California
He has played for the Falcons the last 2 seasons. He has good attributes but his blocking lacks. Hopefully the can hold on to the football.

#33 Dennis Shellenberger 5th season, 5;10" 217 out of Miami, Florida
Dude is fast. May return kicks. I think he will contribute more than what he takes away from the Hound Dogs offense and special teams.

Memphis picked up 4 TE's in the off season.
#44 Daniel Bush 3rd season 5'10" 216 USC
#80 Dean Corso R 5th Round, 6'4" 254 Tennessee State
#89 David Bynoe R 3rd Round, 6'2 251 Northern Colorado
#47 Daniel Perry 6th Season 5'11 226 Montana

How good these 4 play in Pre season will determine how many TE's the Hound Dogs will have on the final roster.

There are your offensive newcomers, now on to defense.

#75 Steve Skiles DT 6'2, 299, Northwestern
He played for Buffalo last season, had 6 sacks, 33 tackles. He will help beef up the defensive front.

#95 James Clift RDE 6'2 241 3rd season
This FA guy looks to make the team.

Well, there are your new Hound Dogs, I hope they got what we need to get into the playoffs.

HOUND DOGS START SEASON IN INDY

The Dogs were in Indy to start 2019. They looked good at times and sluggish at times. They only gained 295 total yards but won the game,

The QB situation is undecided, as both QB's didn't throw too much. Vroman 6/14 170 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT. Howe 6/11 64 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT.
Who played better? We can't decide. Howe will get the start next week as the team faces his old team Oakland. After that game the starting QB hopefully will be decided or who's to say they won't run QB platoon?

Prosser caught 2/86 with 2 TD's, Nathan Hoadley caught 3/76 with 1 TD.

Running, 7 players gave it a go with Hull 8/20, Bush 6/18, Rutherford 9/17, Adams 3/16, Wymore 6/4, Ahern 1/3, Shellenberger, the highly thought of back, didn't do anything to impress with 5 carries for a yard.

On defense, CB John Hamilton led with 8 tackles, Philip Kaminsky had 2 sacks, and Mark Boothby, back off the IR, had a sack. George Mc Donald and the ruthless Robert Ashbury were not a factor playing in their new positions. Maybe that will change because the Dogs need those two to play big every week.

Oakland next in the Elvis Aaron Presley Memorial Dome. Come on out and see your Hound Dogs!!!

HOUND DOGS HOME OPENER

The Raiders were in town for the Dogs home opener of the season and were treated poorly by the hosts in a 36-0 practice game.

New QB Larry Howe got the start against his old team and i'm sure it wasn't what he was looking for. He went 2/6 for 35 yards, 1 TD, 1 Interception. Maybe it was the jitters or the unfamiliarity with the plays called. Tom Vroman looked good in the backup spot, 12/17 for 240 yards, 3 TD, No picks.

Robert Prosser, Rookie TE Dean Corso, Nathan Hoadley, and Stephen Rutherford all caught TD passes. The running game was nothing to talk about, so I won't.

Larry Sylvester, and John Hamilton led in tackling with 4 each. But DT William Cooper was a beast with 3 sacks. LB Kaminski had 2, Delao had 2. The defense made 10 sacks on the Oakland QB's.

John Hamilton and Bryan Lucas had picks for the Dogs.

The next game is in Pittsburgh.

MEMPHIS GETS A GOOD LOOK AT LARRY HOWE

Larry Howe, brought in from Oakland via Free Agency to back up Vroman got a good chance to show the Coaches what he can do last night in Pittsburgh in the Dogs 34-16 pre season win.
Howe went 11/24 for 315 yards, 3 TD, 1 interception. He played the first 3 quarters then Vroman relieved him. Vroman took over the offense in clock drain mode so he never attempted a pass.

"Larry did very well for us today, it will be nice to have a competent back up in case" said Vroman. "There is a slight drop off between him and I but not enough to keep us from competing every game".

Vroman must not be aware of the quarterback slot in the depth chart has only been penciled in and he is not the for sure starter for opening day.

Howe hit Souders 2/88 with a TD, Hoadley 3/81 with a TD, and Vu once for 7 yards and a TD.

The Hound Dogs tested their RB's as there is going to have to be a cut or two at that position. Hull will be staying he was 7/48 with a TD, Bush was 8/45, Rutherford 9/39, Perry 2/24, Shellenberger is on the cusp of being cut or traded. He just hasn't played as well as his attributes would suggest. We will have more news on the RB situation within the week.

On D, Larry Brashear led with 7 tackles. The Memphis D sacked Steeler QB 6 times. Cooper, Saxon, Elvin Brown, Ehmann, Mc Donald, and Clift were the ones responsible for gobbling up the QB. Thank Elvis' Statue at EAP Memorial Stadium that none of the Steelers were seriously hurt or killed in the defensive manhunt.

The Dogs have one more game and will need to cut 7 or so players to get ready for the season opener.

HOUND DOGS FEND OFF INVADING VIKINGS

Our feared foes of the North, the Minnesota Vikings were in Memphis to start 2019 off in a climate controlled, state of the art dome. They play in a dome as well? Well, that may not have been a factor in their 34-9 failed effort in the Elvis Dome. They had 4 turnovers, 8 penalties, and allowed 7 sacks and that there is the recipe for a loss. Well enough about the Vikings.

The Dogs Vroman made the player of the week list with his 12/21 for 316 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT. and 121.53 QB rating. Congrats to Tom on that. He found Souders 5/187 and 2 TD's, the TE Ahern 5/78. Johnson and Vu had TD's as well. Nathan Hoadley, the dangerous WR didn't make any catches.

In the running game, the opposing defense was stout. Adams 10/26, Rutherford 15/10, and Hull 9/3. We hope to get more production out of these 3 players.

On defense, there were 2 big time players making big plays. Lucas had 2 picks and George Mc Donald had 3 sacks. Robert Ashbury led the team with tackles with 9. Gerald Johnson, Boothby, Clift, and Elvin Brown all had QB sacks. The quickness of those last 3 names is paying off with sacks.

We stay at home next week and take on Detroit who won at home against Green Bay last week 8-3. I haven't looked at the box score from the game but it looks like it was a no TD game. So the Memphis offense may be tested by the Lions.

HOUND DOGS FEND OFF THE LIONS

Another feared foe of the North was in town for week 2. This time the Detroit Lions were in Elvis Dome and the Dogs were not good hosts. The game was a blowout, 54-6. Nathan Hoadley made the players of the week list with his 3 TD game. Congrats to Nathan, we hope to see a lot more of this type of play from him.

Memphis' offense ran up 718 total yards, 319 on the ground and 399 passing. The only thing is we had 3 picks and a couple of fumbles. Vroman's line ended up 19/31 for 408 yards, 4 TD, 3 picks and a 105.24 quarterback rating. He got the ball to Hoadley 4 times for 163 yards, 3 TD. Vu caught 4 for 61 and a TD.

Stephen Rutherford ran the ball well 16/204 yards and 1 TD. Adams pounded the ball 11/69 yards. His move to FB is going as well as we could ask. Hull was 14/46 with 2 TD's.

On the other side of the ball, Larry Sylvester and Gerald Johnson led with 5 tackles each. Elvin Brown, Emmanual Delao had 2 sacks a piece. Boothby and Ashbury each had a sack as well. The Memphis D leads the league in sacks after 2 weeks. Once the Lions got behind and needed to pass, the defensive front really got after it and made a bad situation for the Lions even worse.
Larry Brashear and Kaminski had picks, Larry had 2.

The game was won at cost though as Rutherford is questionable, Mc Donald is probable, and Skiles is Questionable for next weeks game up in Cleveland. The team is playing really well and we look to be able to go up there and compete and possibly sneak out of Cleveland with the Browns wondering what happened. It is the Dog fight of the Week.

Back in 2017 the fans of both these dog mascot teams made a trophy and it's called the "Dog Bone Award", Cleveland has had it since they came into Memphis and took it. Memphis has a chance to return the favor and get the bone back where it belongs, in our backyard.

HOUND DOGS TAKE THE "DOG BONE" FROM BROWNS

The Memphis Hound Dogs found themselves in a dog fight with the Browns last night in Cleveland. It was the first time in the 2019 season that the Dogs have had to deal with any pressure from an opposition and the team came through with a 21-17 win!

The Browns held the Hounds to 1 touchdown while scoring two. The difference in the score was from a safety on a strange pass play that ended up a fumble from Cleveland QB Workman, and from K Burgess who was 4/5.

The Hound Dogs played more of a possession type game, especially in the second half. The team did it without their top back, Rutherford. Hull and Adams did what they had to do. The Hound Dog offense had 36 minutes possession of the ball.

Vroman went 17/31 for 253 yards, 1 TD. No mistakes from him this game. Hull did the majority of the running 15/80. Souders was the leading WR with 5/115 and the only Memphis TD.

On defense John Johnson led the team with 6 tackles. The team wasn't able to pressure Workman or get to him much. Larry Brashear had the only sack. Robert Ashbury forced a fumble. We hope the guy he his will be okay.

The game had a toll. C Hake hurt his foot and is possibly out for a couple weeks. The injury is day to day.

The Hound Dogs now take on the Baltimore Ravens.

MEMPHIS BLOWS PAST BALTIMORE

The 0-3 Ravens were in town to face the Hound Dogs before 82,265 fans in the dome. Memphis put up 41 points in the first half to the Ravens 14 and the 2nd half was no scores, end result 41-14.

Memphis put up *** yards on offense, 78 rush, 377 pass.

Tom Vroman went 18/34 for 377 yards. In doing so he earned a spot on the players of the week for the league. Congrats on that Tom. He threw the ball to 9 different Dogs. Souders caught 2/143 and 2 TD's. Nathan Hoadley 3/35 1 TD. Johnathan Johnson 1/28 with touchdown, and David Hull 1/7 touchdown.

Running the ball, Rutherford was back in action but had only a 10 carry, 38 yard day.

On D, Ernest Moore played well, 7 tackles to lead the team. DT William Cooper had a pick, as did Moore and Larry Sylvester.
The Dogs were able to get to the Baltimore QB, Boothby, Erhmann, Saxon, McDonald, and the quick Elvin Brown all got a sack.

Next up is 1-3 Tampa Bay. A division rival that the Dogs must prep for and come out and get it done. The Hound Dogs are in 1st place alone at 4-0. Charlotte and Atlanta are both 3-1.

BUCS CHIP AWAY BUT COME UP SHORT

Division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in Memphis last night trying to knock off the Hound Dogs. They couldn't punch the ball into the end zone for 6, having to settle for 4 field goals and a 24-12 defeat.

They had a chance. They were up 3-0 to start the ballgame. Then Rutherford had a TD run, and Hoadley had a TD reception to put the Dogs up 14-3.

Tampa went to work, chipping away a 44 yard FG.......14-6. A 38 yarder........14-9. A 47 yarder.........14-12. At that point, Memphis had seen enough. They tightened up the d, created a couple of turnovers, and put up 10 more points, just to be safe. When all that was said and done, Memphis wins 24-12. It wasn't the most impressive game but it wasn't bad. The Dogs gave the ball away on turnovers not once. There is a lot to be said in accomplishing that.

The Offense put up 329 yards, 139 running and 190 passing.

Tom Vroman played well 14/25 for 227 yards and a TD pass. No picks. Stephen Rutherford led the ground game 12/52 with a TD. Hull ran well too 6/34. Nathan Hoadley was a dual purpose WR. He caught 3/65 and a TD, then ran 3/15.

On defense Robert Ashbury, John Hamilton, Street, and William Cooper all had 6 tackles. Brashear and Hamilton had interceptions. I'm not sure at this time if Ashbury hurt anyone. If so, we send out our condolences......if he didn't hurt any of the Bucs, we play again. J. Johnson and Larry Sylvester each caused fumbles.

Since we are on the subject of big hits and mean players, we here in Memphis are pretty impressed with the DE that the Bucs have, Larry Coker. I don't know if the last name is some kind of reference to the great Lawrence Taylor or not but the dude is pretty mean. He got to Vroman 3 times.

Next up is the Bangles. They are 3-2 so far through the season.

FIGHTING LIKE CATS AND DOGS

Cincinnati was in town to play the Dogs and it was one **** of a battle. The Dogs prevailed 16-10 and walk away with out much damage, but now the Hound Dogs know not to mess around with the cats. The game was undecided right up to the last play and the last second, with WR Clifford running down the sideline with the football.

Tom Vroman played well, he made a couple mistakes but they didn't cost the game. He went 16/30 for 242 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception. Hull caught 5/77 yards out of the backfield. Johnson caught 3/56 and the big TE Ahern caught 4/44 with a TD.

On the ground, Stephen Rutherford teamed up with Hull to put up over 100 yards. Rutherford was 12/68 and Hull went 11/54. FB Adams, playing injured ran strong too. Perry didn't have the success of the other RB's but all in all the Dogs ran tough.

On D, Brashear and Moore led with 6 tackles a piece. Saxon got to the QB twice, both times late in the ballgame and they were much needed big plays. George Mc Donald got a sack as well. Gerald Johnson recovered 2 fumbles, one of them a game winning play.

The Dogs now move to 6-0 with Charlotte up next at 4-2. We don't know what to expect from them...Do they play in the Mudpit still? Or are they in a nice warm bubble bath? We know they have the #1 overall pick as QB. Elvin Brown, George Mc Donald, William Cooper, and Robert Asbury have been awaiting the chance to introduce themselves. Come to think of it, the Dogs do know what to expect. A well prepared team that plays hard every down. The Dogs need to be prepared as well.

"We just need to go out there and play Memphis Hound Dog Football" said Vroman. "Set the tone early, take the crowd out of the game and make them adjust to what were doing." he added. "If we can do that, I like our chances".