1/27/2010
Matt Custer

Looking towards the start of the 2010 season in Harrisburg, there are many returning faces that are being looked to for leadership roles.  These players bring not only experience with the Harrisburg franchise to the starting lineup as the season opens at home in March, but also they bring experience of playing a completely different style of football, a quicker, faster, more precise game.  Some of these players played integral roles in the past, but many of them had play go unnoticed even though they had some stellar years on both sides of the ball.

Back to anchor the defense this year will be Tony Tereska, a converted lineman that could see some time at the linebacker position to make way for the emerging talent of Brian Sanks.  Sanks, a tackle, came in part way through the 2009 season and made an immediate impact pressuring the quarterback.  In the four games he played, he averaged over a sack a game and with some strong offseason workouts, he is ready to become a fixture in opposing backfields.  Fully recovered from an off season injury, Will Hines will also roam the middle of the field dividing his time between blitzing the quarterback and hunting down ball carriers to tackle if they make it past the line of scrimmage.  After these two lines of defense, it doesn’t get any easier as opponents have to deal with the Sargent himself, Marcus Sargent, along with ball hawking Archie Smith, Jr.

On the offensive side of the ball this year, Shayne Milligan will look to add some consistency to the QB spot.  Towards the end of the season, Milligan found himself with the job and continued to become a motivational leader of the offense that has made strides towards a successful upcoming season.  To protect him as he drops back, he will look to Nyere Aumaitre, a former Bobcat from the University of Ohio, and Daryl Watson, from Cheyney University to protect his blindside.  With this added time and confidence, Milligan will look to find potential new targets spread wide or to check down to Mr. Reliable, Eugene Goodman out of the backfield.

Coach Robinson has expressed his excitement to have this many pivotal roles back for the 2010 season as the Stampede makes its run for the championship.  The second ranked defense still looks to be the focal point to keep the team competitive in most games, but some new weapons on offense should help to put points on the board and a few more W’s in the win column.