Southwick Football Association Roster for World Bowl XXI
Major CoachesHead Coach: Jack Russell (48 y.o.)
Although he is not the premier voice in Southwick football, Russell brings two things to the table: efficiency and energy. Russell is a very high-energy coach and often pushes his players past the point of exhaustion. However, he is also available to give advice to players, so they like him. He is able to keep morale high and he knows how to build team spirit. Russell is aggressive tactically. He does not directly call plays, but he does influence in important situations, like fourth downs. Russell also favors playing a small but quick team, as can be seen by the Southwick roster. He is not under much pressure for this tournament since it is the first international play for the Southwick team, so he has wiggle room to work with. The SFA supports his style of play and understands that it will probably take awhile for it to come to fruition.
Offensive Coordinator: Daniel Hughes (41 y.o.)
Relatively young compared to members of opposing coaching staffs, but comparatively old on the Southwick staff, Daniel Hughes runs a throwback style with a twist. Hughes’ offense is known as the “Quintuple Option”, which combines classical flexbone ground-and-pound football with passing options. Hughes is conservative tactically and sometimes feuds with Russell over calls in tight situations, but they are good friends off of the field.
Defensive Coordinator: Ryan Washington (50 y.o.)
Washington was a candidate for the head coaching job and is respected as one of the best defensive minds in Southwick football. Seeing as Russell is focused on offensive tactics, Washington will have virtually autonomy on how he runs the defense. He is conservative as well, but focuses on keeping his players in tip-top shape. His players aren’t as big as those on other teams, but they are faster and in some cases, stronger.
Special Teams Coordinator: Earl Hall (39 y.o.)
Special teams is usually frowned upon in Southwick football, so it was hard for the team to find a coordinator. Hall comes from a football background in the universities of Southwick, but he is fairly unproven. This is his chance to make it on the big stage, but if he messes up, he will likely never get this chance again. His units are disciplined, but are prone to giving up good field position thanks to athletic limitations.
Rest of the Coaching Staff:Steve Hall, Quarterbacks Coach, 39 y.o.
Anthony Hicks, Running Backs Coach, 42 y.o.
Gary Cox, Receivers Coach, 36 y.o.
Billy White, Offensive Line Coach, 50 y.o.
John Smith, Defensive Line Coach, 48 y.o.
Daniel Baker, Linebackers Coach, 46 y.o.
George Edwards, Defensive Backs Coach, 39 y.o.
Nick Duncan, Strength & Conditioning Coach, 34 y.o.
Alan Dunn, Athletic Trainer, 35 y.o.
Stadium: Norton Field, Southwick, Southwick (38,000 capacity)Norton Field is not the largest field in Southwick, but it is located in the capital, so it seemed like a logical choice for home games. Southwick (the district) has the best infrastructure available to support visiting fans, including its state-of-the-art monorail system that goes all around the city. The stadium actually has a monorail station inside, making it very easy to get to games. Named after the Norton neighborhood of Southwick, the field is quaint but large enough to for Southwick crowds. It may seem small to visiting fans, but it is the average size for Southwick stadiums. Not many seats will be available for opposing fans thanks to local fans buying up most tickets, however, there will always be tickets available outside the stadium from scalpers, which is mostly legal in Southwick. The stadium is outdoors, so the weather may affect games as the tournament will fall right in the middle of the snow season. Crews will work to clear the stadium and most winds will be blocked out, but the playing surface may not be optimal.
Roleplay Permissions:My opponent, if they RP first, may do the following:
Choose my scorers: Yes, but please try to stay away from too many field goals. Southwick’s kicking unit is notoriously poor since the kickers are backups at various position, so the longest kick that the team will even think about kicking is 45 yards. If needed, feel free to RP missed PATs in order to make the score right.
Choose scoring events: Yes, but see above.
RP injuries to my players: Yes, but I will decide the severity and length. No killing or any major injuries please.
Godmod scoring events: No, but I will telegram you if I would like anything to be changed so we can talk about it. I am fine with pretty much anything within normal limits (i.e. no magic, etc).
Godmod injuries: No, see above note
Godmod other events: Yes, but nothing too out of the ordinary please.
Style Modifier: +2
Offensive Style:Southwick plays the “quintuple option”, a new formation pioneered by Daniel Hughes. The formation is a flexbone (fullback, two slotbacks, two flankers). The play almost always starts in the same way: the quarterback hikes the ball and has a read option with the fullback (the first option). The quarterback reads the defense and either hands the ball off or keeps it. Then the quarterback goes either left or right (the second option). This is another read that depends on blocking patterns. When the quarterback chooses which way to go, the trailing slotback runs into position to receive a pitch from the quarterback (the third option). The quarterback either pitches the ball or keeps it himself. Next, the quarterback has the option to pass the ball. He has two downfield receivers (the fourth option): a slotback who went out for a short pass, and the strong-side flanker who usually goes out for a medium to deep pass. If neither of these options are satisfactory, the quarterback can either run it, or throw it to the opposite side of the field to the weak-side flanker who runs a screen route (the fifth option). Because of the complex nature of the offense, all players must know exactly what to do on each play. If they do not, the offense will quickly break down. Quarterbacks are at a premium in Southwick and only the most intelligent players are considered for the position. Quarterbacks have to have very quick reactions, make good decisions, and have enough athletic ability to pass or run. Southwick rarely runs deep passes, so most Southwick quarterbacks are of the dual-threat variety. There is no such thing as a pocket passer from Southwick.
Because of the premium on game IQ and the speed at which the offense must be run, the Southwick offense is very small (weight-wise). Quarterbacks, slotbacks, and flankers are never above 195 pounds and fullbacks rarely weigh more than 200. Offensive linemen are rarely larger than 255 pounds. Because of this, the team may struggle against large defensive lines and blitzes. However, the added speed allows the offense to function and gives the offense big-play threats. Southwick may have a lot of plays that gain only a few yards, but they will also be able to score.
Quarterbacks#13 - Matthew Turner - QB - 6’4” - 175 - 25
Turner is the starting quarterback for the Southwick team and he is also a leader for this squad. Turner is very fast (he ran a 4.36 40-yard dash), but he is skinny and sometimes gets hurt. He is a fairly accurate passer in short yardage situations, but does not have much arm strength and his throws become wobbly down the field. He prefers to run the ball in the quintuple option, so there won’t be that many passing attempts. He has a high game IQ and knows how to run the offense. He is also the holder for the kicking unit.
#11 - Allan Wright - QB/P - 6’2” - 180 - 23
Wright is a little bit bigger and a little bit slower than Turner, but he still knows how to run the offense. He has had plenty of practice thanks to Turner’s injuries, and he has displayed a better throwing arm than Turner. If he gets into the game, the team will pass more often. Wright is also the team’s punter and he is pretty good, but not great. He does not handle pressure well and is susceptible to punt blocks. However, he does leave the team open for fake punts and trick plays because of his skillset.
Fullbacks#32 - Samuel Hall - FB - 6’0” - 210 - 22
Although he is smaller than most running backs, Hall is tough and plays like a bruiser. He isn’t afraid to get scrappy and can even block a little. Hall is no receiving threat, but he is pretty fast (4.45 40-yard dash). Hall is a workhorse for Southwick and he won’t have a high yards per attempt average, but he will take a lot of carries.
#30 - Gary Williams - FB - 5’10” - 198 - 22
Williams is smaller than Hall, but he is also faster. He is mostly used on third down and long situations where the team might need to pass. He has pretty good hands and he can block as well. He is not as good of a runner as Hall and he is rarely used in short yardage/goal line situations. Williams will expect to see a substantial number of snaps this year.
Slotbacks#45 - Carlos Moore - SB - 6’0” - 174 - 21
One of only three twenty-one year old starters in the Southwick offense, Moore is a phenom. He is fast, running 40 yards in about 4.38 seconds, surprisingly strong (he can bench about 290 pounds), and is tough, fighting through a broken leg in order to make the team. Moore is a pretty good receiver, but his real talent is on the swing. He is fast enough to hit the outside if he can get a good block and in the open field he is dynamite. He isn’t a very good runner in between the tackles because of his size, however, the offensive scheme rarely requires him to do so.
#35 - Michael Phillips - SB - 5’11” - 186 - 25
A better receiver than Moore, Phillips is not as good of a runner and is substantially slower. For this reason, Turner prefers to run the option towards Phillips so that Phillips will go out as a receiver. He is pretty tough, as are most Southwick players, but he is not big enough to run up the middle. In short-yardage situations, he is sometimes subbed out for Williams as another blocker.
#38 - Sean Brooks - SB - 6’0” - 178 - 23
Brooks is okay at everything but not special either. He is about as good of a runner as Phillips, and about as good of a receiver as Moore. He subs in when Moore or Phillips needs a rest, but will otherwise not see much action. There was some talk of trying to convert him to the defense, but it never panned out.
Flankers#81 - Paul Bailey - FL/PK/RS - 6’5” - 187 - 25
Bailey is a truly special player. He and Moore are the best players on the offense and arguably on the team. He has 46” vertical leap, making him a dominant player in the air, in addition to running the 40-yard dash in about 4.28 seconds. He is a a little bit skinny, but he is a big target thanks to his height. Bailey is an easy target to hit and will see most of the passes thrown downfield. Bailey is also the team’s placekicker and return specialist. As a kicker, he is accurate from within 35 yards, but his range stops at about 45 yards. He struggles in tough weather conditions, of which there are plenty in Southwick. He also has a bad habit for missing extra points. As a return specialist, Bailey is electric. He has big-play speed, but he sometimes makes poor decisions about touchbacks and taking the ball out of the endzone. We expect that he will score at least one return touchdown this bowl though. Bailey will be a make or break player for the team in this bowl.
#88 - Howard Flores - FL - 6’5” - 189 - 21
The second wheel in the Southwick air attack, Flores is a better blocker than Bailey. However, he is not as fast, although he is still pretty speedy, and does not have the hops that Bailey does. He usually runs the screen side and he has a few jukes up his sleeve. He is very useful in short-yardage situations as he can block off the outside, especially against smaller corners. Flores can also be used at defensive back in a pinch, however, the coaching staff hopes that that scenario will not play out.
#83 - Gerald Torres - FL - 6’3” - 183 - 24
Torres lost out on a starting gig because of Flores’ height advantage. Extremely fast (he runs a 4.34 40 yard-dash), Torres is often used a substitute to catch screen passes. He is not much of a blocker and doesn’t see much action near the goalline. The team also experimented with putting Torres at slotback to make use of his speed, but he is too big for that position. Torres has spotty hands and is not targeted downfield very often.
#84 - Tim Richardson - FL - 6’2” - 184 - 21
A solid fourth receiver, Richardson is only used in hail mary packages as a deep threat. He is fast and has pretty good hands, but struggles to gain separation from defensive backs. He does not have very many power moves or jukes and lacks the ability to take break tackles. A flanker with pretty good jumping ability, Richardson would be a good goal line target if it was not for Bailey and Flores.
Offensive Tackles#65 - Roger Lewis - OT - 6’4” - 259 - 22
Very small for a left tackle, Lewis struggles with bull rushes. However, he is surprisingly strong and he is very good at blocking speed rushers. He is very fast for an offensive tackle, running below 4.65. He is alright as a run blocker, but his real forte is at pass blocking. He is occasionally used as a blocker on special teams.
#62 - Bruce Jenkins - OT - 6’6” - 252 ‘ 25
The leader of the Southwick offensive line, Jenkins doesn’t make the mistakes that Lewis sometimes does. He rarely gets called for penalties and keeps a level head throughout the game. He is not quite as fast as Lewis, but he is still able to handle speed rushers. He is a better run blocker than Lewis, but he can be dispatched by large defensive ends with relative ease.
#64 - Louis Coleman - OT - 6’5” - 254 - 21
A project, Coleman has more raw talent than Lewis or Jenkins. However, he struggles with footwork and lacks the intangibles that Jenkins has. He is stronger than Lewis (43 reps at 225 pounds bench press) and is faster as well (4.55 second 40-yard dash). If he can get his mind behind the game, he could be a real force at offensive tackle. Otherwise, he will continue to sit on the bench because of his mental mistakes.
Offensive Guards#68 - Aaron Bell - OG - 6’4” - 252 - 24
A solid offensive guard, Bell is very mobile. He is good at moving on swing blocks to support outside runs. However, thanks to his relative lack of size, he struggles with inside run blocking. He is pretty strong, but he is no match for nose tackles or large defensive tackles. The optimal situation for him when he is blocking is an outside run, or being able to get to the second level to take on a linebacker.
#66 - Richard Stewart - OG - 6’4” - 252 - 21
Stewart is the starting right guard. He is stronger than Bell, meaning he can take on most defensive tackles, however, he is also slow (very slow compared to most Southwick players). Because of his lack of speed, he is not in the coaches’ favor and could be replaced at any time during the tournament.
#67 - Daniel Allen - OG - 6’4” - 250 - 22
Allen is a viable starter for Southwick. He is faster than Stewart, although not as strong. He is a good outside run blocker and has good footwork. He is a smart player and rarely gets called for fouls. The only reason that Stewart is starting in front of him is because Allen has been hampered by injuries recently, and the coaching staff wants to keep him healthy. He has also been known to line up in the backfield in short yardage situations as an extra blocker.
Center#52 - Doug White - C - 6’3” - 244 - 22
White shows all the marks of being a future leader for the Southwick team. He is intelligent, does not get in trouble, and plays smart on the field. He is smaller than most linebackers even, but this does not stop him from giving 110% on the field. His best attribute is how quick he gets off of the line. He doesn’t have the strength to match up with most linemen, but he can beat them into position and gain leverage that way.
#54 - Greg Collins - C - 6’3” - 247 - 22
Collins is mostly used as the long snapper on special teams units. He is a decent center, but nothing special, and is not expected to challenge White for playing time anytime soon. He is a pretty good long snapper and is one of the better special teams players on the team. He also plays on the kickoff teams and is pretty fast for a lineman.
Defensive StyleSouthwick defense is known for one tenet: intensity. Southwick runs a 4-3 defense, however, at least one linebacker is blitzing on all plays. Safeties play close to the line and sometimes sell out completely to stop any rush attempts. Cornerbacks are instructed to play bump-and-run defense. This means that they sometimes get beat deep, but they are a nuisance and often provoke opposing players into committing penalties.
Just like on offense, Southwick defenders are small compared to players from other teams. Defensive lineman are never above 260 pounds and linebackers are in the 230s. The smallest players, cornerbacks, sometimes hit 170 pounds. This allows defenders to be muscled out of the play at times, but it also gives the defenders the speed to disengage themselves from blocks and fill holes quickly. Southwick will give up most of its yards in the air.
Defensive Ends#93 - Robert Bennett - DE - 6’5” - 247 - 22
Bennett is a physical player prone to random outbursts of anger. He sometimes loses his head during the game and is kept on a short leash by the coaches. He is pretty quick and can be described as a speed rusher. He is able to hold down an offensive tackle, leaving a hole for a linebacker to blitz. He is also good at stopping outside runs, although he is not particularly effective against runs between the tackles.
#98 - Chris Anderson - DE - 6’5” - 251 - 23
A workout addict, Anderson is as strong as most defensive ends, even though he is smaller. Anderson has developed a unique conditioning paradigm with strength coach Nick Duncan, and is also involved in crossfit workouts throughout the country. Anderson is pretty fast and can get around most tackles, but also has a few moves that allow him to work his way in on the inside. Anderson is able to collapse against the run, and can even drop back in coverage on zone blitzes.
#91 - Jose Rogers - DE - 6’5” - 244 - 23
At 244 pounds, Rogers would be a linebacker on most other teams. If the team played a 3-4, there is definitely a chance he would play at rush linebacker. However, because of the formation used, he is mostly relegated to the bench. Rogers sometimes comes in as a fresh legs substitute for Bennett and will also come in if Bennett starts to lose his temper. Rogers is pretty quick, but he is little help against inside runs and often gets mauled by bigger linemen.
Defensive Tackles#99 - Steven Alexander - DT - 6’5” - 257 - 25
The biggest player on the team, Alexander plays with a drive unmatched by anyone else on the team. His brother was a promising football player as well, but he was tragically killed in an unsolved shooting a few years ago. Alexander plays for his brother’s memory and for his own future. He is strong and will fight for every inch on the line. He has trouble penetrating the pocket on the pass rush, but he is able to cause enough disruption to hurt the opposing team’s passing game.
#97 - Jason Williams - DT - 6’4” - 255 - 22
Williams is a borderline starter who will fight for playing time with Ralph Simmons. He is not as strong as Alexander and does not work as hard, but he shows some promise. Williams has started working out with Chris Anderson, and if he can reach the level of fitness that Anderson is at, he could be a real force in the middle. For now he will start, but who knows what will happen by the end of the tournament.
#94 - Ralph Simmons - DT - 6’4” - 253 - 24
As noted above, Simmons will receive a substantial amount of playing time. His future mainly depends on how motivated Williams can become, and how long he can sustain that motivation. Simmons is not amazing in any areas of his game, but he is no slouch. He is competent as a run stopper and can keep a blocker occupied.
Linebackers#56 - Nich James - LB - 6’2” - 234 - 24
James is a tackling machine at outside linebacker for Southwick. He has a nose for the ball and is rarely caught out to dry by fake handoffs. He is quick to the ball and can get around offensive linemen when blitzing. James is not used as a blitzer as often as his compatriot Jackson on the other side, so he is often required to drop into pass coverage on tight ends. He is an average covermen, but is prone to giving up the deep ball, especially since he rarely gets help from safeties.
#51 - Eric Ross - LB - 6’2” - 239 - 24
Slower than the other linebackers, Ross is still likely the fastest middle linebacker in the tournament thanks to his size, running a 4.6. Ross is easily blocked by offensive linemen and is sometimes ineffective against power backs. However, he has the speed to run with most fullbacks and tight ends and is good in pass coverage. Ross does not blitz very often.
#53 - Walter Jackson - LB - 6’3” - 232 - 24
Jackson is the primary rush linebacker for the Southwick defense. A physical specimen, Jackson runs the 40 yard dash in about 4.5 seconds. Jackson is also very strong and can take on centers with success. When facing offensive tackles, he usually tries to speed around them and get to the quarterback. Jackson often struggles against quicker and leaner offensive tackles who can match his pace. He is pretty good in coverage and has long arms that he uses to bat down passes at the line.
#58 - Carlos Butler - LB - 6’1” - 234 - 22
A prospect for the future, Butler is just along for the ride. He is the backup for James and Jackson at outside linebacker. Quick, Butler is a pretty good blitzer and there was some talk of him bulking up 15 pounds and becoming a defensive end. That withstanding, Butler will see some time on special teams and in goal line situations as a run stopper. He is not very good in pass defense, but coaches hope that he can improve in this aspect and possibly start in the next World Bowl.
#55 - Carlos Martinez - LB - 6’2” - 233 - 21
Martinez is a promising player at the middle linebacker position. This tournament he will probably play mostly on special teams, but the next few World Bowls may see him earn a spot in the starting eleven. Martinez needs to bulk up more or risk being tossed aside by blockers like a pinata, but the coaching staff likes his speed and the intangibles he has displayed, even at a young age. Martinez will be a leader on this team for years to come.
Cornerbacks#28 - Johnny Green - CB - 6’1” - 187 - 23
Johnny Green is a shutdown corner for Southwick. Standing out from the relatively senile Southwick secondary, Green is fast and physical. His specialty is the bump-and-run and he is good at frustrating opposing players and goading them into penalties. Green has the speed to track down running backs and could be a wide receiver with his hands. He is occasionally used in offensive sets on hail mary passes and is the replacement return specialist if Paul Bailey were to go down with an injury.
#25 - Brian Wood - CB - 6’2” - 177 - 24
A stark contrast from Green on the other side of the field, Wood will be picked on mercilessly by opposing quarterbacks. Inside ten yards he is fairly good, but beyond that he is a huge liability. Wood cannot keep up with fast receivers and, despite his height, is outjumped by taller ones. He does not provide any help in run support and usually forces the defensive coaches to run some sort of zone to support him. The coaches will be looking to replace Wood at the first chance that they can get.
#22 - Josh Sanders - CB - 6’1” - 172 - 22
Another tall guy, Sanders is also pretty small. He struggles to jam bigger receivers and gets pushed aside by run blockers. He has the raw speed that Wood lacks, but he is even worse technique wise and often gets called for pass interference penalties. Wood is almost exclusively used in nickel packages, and even then he has to split playing time with the backup safeties. The only reason why Sanders is on the team is because of his speed, and the lack of anyone to take his job.
Safeties#47 - Anthony Bell - SS - 6’2” - 193 - 25
Bell is another mediocre defensive back for Southwick. He is very poor in pass coverage and often chooses the wrong receiver to follow, leaving the deep man open. Bell is good at the line and often helps out in the box, but that is not what the team really needs him for. The coaches have asked Bell to work on his coverage, but it has gone nowhere. Bell may not be the starter by the end of the tournament.
#43 - Phillip Kelly - SS - 6’1” - 190 - 21
A young up-and-comer, Kelly is Bell’s replacement-in-waiting. The coaches currently think he is too inexperienced to start, but it will be interesting to see how much of watching Bell struggle will be needed to change their minds. Kelly is faster than Bell and better in pass coverage. A little bit smaller, he does not provide the physical presence that Bell does in the box, but he plays with a cooler head and makes fewer mistakes. Kelly will definitely play in some nickel situations.
#42 - Shawn Diaz - FS - 6’1” - 185 - 23
Diaz is a heavy-hitter who sells out to get the ball carrier, or whoever he thinks has it anyway. He is easily fooled by play action passes and pump fakes, but when he does hit the ball carrier, the result is devastating. Diaz forces many fumbles and is fast enough to pick them up and return them. He is poor in zone and man-to-man coverage, but he does have enough speed to cover some of his mistakes. Diaz will be a serviceable starter on the Southwick secondary.
#46 - Scott Adams - FS - 6’0” - 188 - 24
Adams was the presumed starter heading into training camp, but Diaz outworked him and took his job away. Adams has a reputation for being lazy, one that he argues is unfair but others say is completely earned. Adams sometimes struggles to get back in coverage, whether by physical limitation or lack of will. He is not much of a force at the line and in the Southwick system, pass coverage skills are important for free safeties. Unless he can prove to the coaches that he cares is able to ditch the lazy tag, it looks like he won’t be starting anytime soon.