Well, the 2018 training camp has completed, and much has happened since the team's playoff loss to eventual champion LA Xtreme.

Five of nine position coaches were replaced during the offseason, and there were rumors of talks with David Sprague to take the reigns and replace Head Coach John Forrest. Sprague eventually signed with the Anteaters as their Offensive Coordinator.

Player acquisitions were fairly low, with only TE Jeffery Curry signing as a free agent. Curry is seen as a fairly fast set of hands, but his blacking skills are questionable. He only seems to have an outside chance at making a team that puts so much emphasis on running.

It doesn't appear the draft will change the faces in the locker room much either. Charlotte is hoping 1st round pick Jorge Langston will fill the gap at LG. WR Richard Griner is a pure burner, and the team hopes this 2nd round pick will find success. Only RDE Aaron Green stands out among the remainder of draft picks who may even hold spots on the final roster.

BUT... There IS one HUGE story coming out of training camp. Stanley Thomasson has reportedly put in the offseason reps, and believes he is in a position to challenge Patrick Spinner for the starting QB job. Thomasson was a 13th round pick in the initial league draft, with Spinner being picked two rounds later.

Into the pre-season we go, and we'll see how it all shakes out. Here's to an effective and injury free pre-season for all.

Well, on a night when fans' eyes were on the QB battle, it was Patrick Spinner making the biggest statement.
Although he only completed 9 passes on 17 attempts, four of them went into the endzone. He finished with a QB rating of 137.87.
Stanley Thomasson had a respectable start, going 12/21 with two TD's, and a 98.91 QB rating, but will need to step up to the plate if he wishes to complete his goal of taking the starting job.
The running game is lagging a bit still, which could be expected due to the changes on the O-line.
After giving up a 6 play, 72 yard touchdown drive to start the game, the Warthog D found it's magic, forcing three fumbles, and picking off two INT's. They also added two safeties to the tally, while holding the AFC champion Red Dragons to only one more score in the waning moments of the game.
After this performance, it's expected that the 'Hogs will spend the remainder of the preseason weighing their younger players' development.

In a game it seemed the offense forgot what regular season football was all about, The Warthogs once again saw the importance of Eddie Cruise.
With the team barely holding a 17-10 lead going into the fourth quarter, and momentum clearly on Irvine's side, the game went into Cruise Control.
Unlike it's automotive counterpart, the Warthog version of cruise control is not smooth and comfortable, especially for the opposing team.
In his first action since being injured in last season's playoffs, Eddie took a bit to warm up, getting his first sack midway through the 3rd quarter.
He then started the final stanza with his second sack of the game/year... which turned into his first forced fumble of the year... which became his first fumble recovery of the year... which, 24 yards later... turned into the first TD of his career.
At the 4:41 mark, Cruise forced another fumble, which led to an Adalberto Lee rushing TD on the next play.
When not picking the Anteater QB up from the ground, Eddie continued to give third year QB Jimmy Goodman nightmare material, harassing him for eight additional hurries.
Next week, the leaderless Dolphins come to town. Let's hope the offense can avoid a "trap game", and use the occasion to get back to Warthog Football.

To quote the great novel, "It was the best of times, It was the worst of times".

It was truly a tale of two Charlotte teams, as, for yet another week, it seemed the 'Hog Defense was playing less against the opponent, and more against their own inept offense.

Three Sacks, 12 Hurries, and two forced fumbles for Eddie Cruise... 20 of 42, three sacks, and an INT for Stanley Thomasson.

11 Sacks total by the Defense for -91 yards... 5 fumbles, 3 charged pass drops (Although many more could have been called drops) by the Offensive (in more ways than one) players.

Things need to change with a road game next week against powerful rival Memphis. The Dogs are coming off their first loss of the season, and will surely be amped up for this one.

The team is amped. No one more than MLB Robert Asbury who is tired of all the press coverage Eddie Cruise is getting. Asbury thinks he is the best MLB in the division, he doesn't have the stats or the Hollywood name that Cruise has but he has all the heart and some.

Cruise Control - 24 tackles, 9 sacks, 32 hurries, 4 forced fumbles and a TD

Asbury - 24 tackles, 4 sacks, 14 hurries, 0 forced fumbles

As the media descends on this matchup, Memphis players are getting bombarded by questions about how Asbury can legitimately compare himself to Eddie Cruise or say that he is better than him?

As expected, the bulletin board material is coming out in full force this week, as the divisional rival Hound Dogs prepare to host the 'Hogs on their blue suede turf.

The Memphis coach recently told the media, "Asbury thinks he is the best MLB in the division, he doesn't have the stats or the Hollywood name that Cruise has but he has all the heart and some".

Let's look at the stats.
Asbury- 4 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, and 14 hurries.
Cruise- 9 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, and 32 hurries.

Those numbers lead this reporter to ask the question, "did Robert miss a couple games or something?"

When asked, Defensive Coordinator Tracy Culpepper said, "Their guy has some good stats, but our guy's just better. In fact, I'd put our DE's above their guy as well."

Well, the gauntlet has been thrown. But who are the DE's the coach referred to?

LDE Angel Counts comes into the game with 9 sacks, and 16 hurries. RDE Brandon Winner, 8 sacks, 19 hurries.

Yes, you read that correct. Three players accounted for 26 sacks in just five games. The remainder of the team accrued another 11, making a team total of 37 sacks, or 7.4 per game.

No doubt both sides' QB's should be wearing a little extra padding this week.

A bad loss for the Warthogs tonight allowed the Hounds back into the division lead.

No one really can call it a surprise though, as the offense continues to fail. It seemed the two defenses played about even throughout the game, yet the difference seemed to be in the play of the offenses. In that case, the home team won, hands down, and deserved the win.

The pre-game hype turned out to be a non-issue. With two hurries on an otherwise blank stat sheet, Ash was buried. His counterpart, Eddie Cruise, managed nine tackles, two forced fumbles, and two pressures in the loss.

Just as after last season's playoff exit, there is mumbling in the locker room about doubts in the offensive play calling. There is no doubt as to the talent on the Warthog roster, yet there are serous philosophical differences between the owner (who prefers a traditional approach), and the league assigned coaching staff (West Coast offense), who have held on after last season, despite numerous other coaching staff changes.

The week 7 injury report has come out, and it's bad news for the Warthogs and their fans.

Patrick Spinner, and starting RG Graig Regalado, (The 'hog's first ever draft pick in this league), appear to be out until near the end of the season.

If you're not familiar with the name "Graig Regalado", there's good reason. Offensive linemen mainly get noticed when they mess up. In 1737 plays over a season and a half, the stone wall that is Regalado has only been beat for two sacks, and has only three penalties for 21 yards.

With the loss of the team's starting QB, and it's first draft pick ever, it would be easy to see the team concede the remainder of the season.

"Not so", says Head Coach Jon Forrest, "We thought through training camp that Stanley Thomasson could develop into a starter. We're going to put our faith into his hands, and let him show us whether he's an MFL QB or not."

Coach then added, in an obvious challenge to his team, "It's not like the offense has won games for us this season anyway... We all know the D is the heart of the team. Even more so now."

So, Charlotte fans, the drama is upon us. Can Stanley Thomasson live up to his preseason claims? Can the O-line step up to cover for one of their fallen? Can the Defense continue to keep a weak offense on the right side of the scoreboard?

Check in tomorrow, after the Atlanta game, to see if we have any hint of an answer.

As fans came into The Mudpit this evening, no one really knew what to expect. Injuries to key players, and the owner's public criticism of the coaching staff had many worried.
If someone would have told those same fans that Eddie Cruise would be held to only 2 tackles, 4 hurries, and ZERO sacks, it's likely the local suicide prevention lines would be over-run with calls.
Fate had a different plan than anyone foresaw, it seems.
Eugene Boss took control with nine tackles, while Angel Counts, brought into the spotlight last week, made it count as he tallied three sacks to go to the lead in league sacks. It's rumored the running joke in the locker room after the game was... "Eddie who?".
The biggest surprise however, was the play of Stanley Thomasson. Stanley started the game going 4 of 4, with TWO TD's in those first four passes. He fell of a bit after that, ending the half at 9 of 12, 206 yards, and 3 TD's.
Stanley was very vocal coming into camp, about wanting the starting job, but after sub-par play in the preseason, was relinquished to the number 2 position. It seems maybe he knows that the injury of starter Patrick Spinner may be his last chance. If not to become the Warthog starter, to impress another coach.
Thomasson cooled off in the second half, but it was too late for Atlanta. The 'Hog defense went to work, and the Falcons' eight 2nd half possessions ended in five punts, two FG's, and a failed 4th down conversion.
Next up, the Vince Wilforks, a once promising team that seems to have a problem closing teams out. Their point differential after five games is a mere -24 pts, or 4.8 per game. This has the makings of a potential "trap game", with the rival blue dogs coming to the pit the following week.
We'll see if Jonathan Forrest can keep the team focused.