20110422: Presentation of the 2011 senior team
Receivers
Former Dutch national team WR/PR Jeroen Wiebes returns after 1 year away from football, and will surely fight for a starting spot here. Young and talented Benedict Gärtner figures to continue to see a lot of playing time. 2ndyear man Magnus Vadla proved to be an able blocker in 2010, and will have the opportunity to prove he can catch the ball more frequently in 2011. Aleksander S. Pettersen will not play in 2011, and will be replaced by Wiebes at the Y-receiver spot. Skage Skrunes scored his first touchdown in last year’s champ’ship game, and is eager to get more in 2011. He will fight with Gärtner for playing time at the X-receiver. Promising rookies Asbjørn Lindland and André Solvang will see the field. Lindland could in fact challenge for a starting spot as early as mid-season.
Former Dutch national team WR/PR Jeroen Wiebes returns after 1 year away from football, and will surely fight for a starting spot here. Young and talented Benedict Gärtner figures to continue to see a lot of playing time. 2ndyear man Magnus Vadla proved to be an able blocker in 2010, and will have the opportunity to prove he can catch the ball more frequently in 2011. Aleksander S. Pettersen will not play in 2011, and will be replaced by Wiebes at the Y-receiver spot. Skage Skrunes scored his first touchdown in last year’s champ’ship game, and is eager to get more in 2011. He will fight with Gärtner for playing time at the X-receiver. Promising rookies Asbjørn Lindland and André Solvang will see the field. Lindland could in fact challenge for a starting spot as early as mid-season.
Offensive Line
Gone are 335-pound veteran Jonny Solberg and 326-pound 2010-rookie Sven Nedrebø. Converted defensive lineman Eivind Amdal will now be the big man of the offensive line, but in essence this is a lighter and more manouverable offensive line. Ironman Bjørn Erik Poppe Thorsen exemplifies this, having gone from 300 pounds in 2010 to 265 pounds in 2011. C Henning Andersen returns to anchor the middle of the OL. Rookies Håkon Halvorsen, Ole Johnny Stokstad, Jaran Fløisvik, Øyvind S. Taranger and Ahmed Omar Ali Abdi will have to develop quickly to make the offensive line a solid group. Several of the rookies have looked very impressive in the preseason, and depth is certainly no longer an issue in this unit.
Gone are 335-pound veteran Jonny Solberg and 326-pound 2010-rookie Sven Nedrebø. Converted defensive lineman Eivind Amdal will now be the big man of the offensive line, but in essence this is a lighter and more manouverable offensive line. Ironman Bjørn Erik Poppe Thorsen exemplifies this, having gone from 300 pounds in 2010 to 265 pounds in 2011. C Henning Andersen returns to anchor the middle of the OL. Rookies Håkon Halvorsen, Ole Johnny Stokstad, Jaran Fløisvik, Øyvind S. Taranger and Ahmed Omar Ali Abdi will have to develop quickly to make the offensive line a solid group. Several of the rookies have looked very impressive in the preseason, and depth is certainly no longer an issue in this unit.
Defensive Line
DE Jarle Vangsnes returns, and is now one of the more experienced guys in the unit. Bjørn Erik Poppe Thorsen plays both ways, and his aggression is needed here. Swedish rookie Joel Galmor seems more experienced than he is. With his size and attitude, he could be a very important asset for the Show defense. Karl Eivind Larsen switches from the OL to join this group and has at times impressed the coaching staff. Youngster Jon Erik de Vries will also contribute here.
DE Jarle Vangsnes returns, and is now one of the more experienced guys in the unit. Bjørn Erik Poppe Thorsen plays both ways, and his aggression is needed here. Swedish rookie Joel Galmor seems more experienced than he is. With his size and attitude, he could be a very important asset for the Show defense. Karl Eivind Larsen switches from the OL to join this group and has at times impressed the coaching staff. Youngster Jon Erik de Vries will also contribute here.
Linebackers
Ole Petter Ølberg, Thor-Atle Kolberg and Inge Bodsberg return to make this a unit that the team feels very good about. The mix of strength and quickness is not too shabby for a Norwegian team. A player who was new to the position in 2010 also returns: Morten J. Valentinsen has been steadily improving, adding depth to the position. Exciting rookies Eric Baden and Tor Erik Pettersen will also see playing time at linebacker.
Ole Petter Ølberg, Thor-Atle Kolberg and Inge Bodsberg return to make this a unit that the team feels very good about. The mix of strength and quickness is not too shabby for a Norwegian team. A player who was new to the position in 2010 also returns: Morten J. Valentinsen has been steadily improving, adding depth to the position. Exciting rookies Eric Baden and Tor Erik Pettersen will also see playing time at linebacker.
Defensive Backs
There will be lots of changes in the secondary, as Sivert Duvsete, Erik Luo and Alexander R. Kristiansen all are gone. They are replaced by Truls Ødegaard (returning from Canada), rookies Christian Andreassen, David W. Knox, Kristian Gjeruldsen, Pål Herman Haferkamp and veteran Raymond Rød. Rød is expected to switch from linebacker to DB to provide veteran leadership to the unit. The great athleticism of several of the rookies, Rød’s solid skills and Ødegaard’s experience should mean this is a decent unit despite losing some quality 2010 contributors.
There will be lots of changes in the secondary, as Sivert Duvsete, Erik Luo and Alexander R. Kristiansen all are gone. They are replaced by Truls Ødegaard (returning from Canada), rookies Christian Andreassen, David W. Knox, Kristian Gjeruldsen, Pål Herman Haferkamp and veteran Raymond Rød. Rød is expected to switch from linebacker to DB to provide veteran leadership to the unit. The great athleticism of several of the rookies, Rød’s solid skills and Ødegaard’s experience should mean this is a decent unit despite losing some quality 2010 contributors.
Special Teams
Pål Dannevig will handle the punting. Kicking duties could be split between Dannevig, Simon Olsen, Asbjørn Lindland and Benedict Gärtner, who are all capable. In the return game, Jeroen Wiebes is a very solid option, but others, like Simon Bruset, could end up doing the majority of the returns. The focus will be on getting the best blockers and tacklers on the field on all special teams, making sure that there’s plenty of effort, hustle and heart in all parts of the gameplay in 2011.
Quarterbacks
Pål Dannevig returns for his 3rd season as the AFC Show starting quarterback. Dannevig, a tall and athletic passer, is well known for his football smarts. He can throw the ball with accuracy and get the job done on the ground with his legs too. Inge Bodsberg, a former national team QB, backs up Dannevig. Bodsberg will however concentrate on being a Linebacker. The third QB in 2009 and 2010, Joakim Sellevoll, is no longer playing. Newcomer Diego Miranda, a Colombian, figures to compete with Bodsberg for the backup gig.
Pål Dannevig returns for his 3rd season as the AFC Show starting quarterback. Dannevig, a tall and athletic passer, is well known for his football smarts. He can throw the ball with accuracy and get the job done on the ground with his legs too. Inge Bodsberg, a former national team QB, backs up Dannevig. Bodsberg will however concentrate on being a Linebacker. The third QB in 2009 and 2010, Joakim Sellevoll, is no longer playing. Newcomer Diego Miranda, a Colombian, figures to compete with Bodsberg for the backup gig.
Runningbacks
Simon Olsen brings a very good blend of power and speed, and will be counted on in the ground game once again. Last year saw Simon Bruset switch from wideout to runningback and make a major impact. Bruset will continue to feature as a speedy and elusive RB. Show will try to have both Bruset and Olsen on the field as much as possible. Desmond Baden, a former sprinter, should see playing time to spell Bruset. Rookie Tor Erik Pettersen may see playing time too.
Simon Olsen brings a very good blend of power and speed, and will be counted on in the ground game once again. Last year saw Simon Bruset switch from wideout to runningback and make a major impact. Bruset will continue to feature as a speedy and elusive RB. Show will try to have both Bruset and Olsen on the field as much as possible. Desmond Baden, a former sprinter, should see playing time to spell Bruset. Rookie Tor Erik Pettersen may see playing time too.