{Numbers in braces are Approximate Value, other stats are labeled as appropriate.}
Beijing was, simply, the worst team in the WFL in Year I. It’s a long road out of the basement, but there is some hope in the offseason drafting of Ben Roethlisberger, who claimed the starting job in a heated preseason battle with Sammy Baugh and last year’s default QB, Mike Glennon. Big Ben has some weapons: a strong OL, Warrick Dunn and Cliff Battles at RB, and a trio of receivers that underperformed significantly in Year I. But they all need to contribute, and the defense needs to take a giant step forward just for the Red Stars to reach .500, let alone anything else.
Key Additions: QB Ben Roethlisberger {5} from IST; OL Corey Linsley {5} from DUB.
Key Departures: OL Evan Dietrich-Smith {4}, DE Michael Johnson {3}.
#Year I Leaders
Passing: Mike Glennon: 2828 yards, 15 TDs.
Rushing: Warrick Dunn: 1145 yards, 11 TDs.
Receiving: Bobby Mitchell: 76 receptions; Pierre Garcon, 793 yards, 5 TDs.
Blocking: Chris Samuels: 30 big holes.
Pressuring: Lee Roy Selmon: 7 sacks; Warren Sapp: 13 hurries.
Tackling: Perry Riley, Jr.: 113 tackles; L.R. Selmon; 15 stuffs.
Defending: Ronde Barber: 4 interceptions; Alterraun Verner: 21 deflections.
AV: L.R. Selmon {16}, A. Verner {14}, Derrick Brooks {14}, R. Barber {13}, W. Sapp {13}, C. Samuels {12}.
#Year I Award Winners
All-League: Derrick Brooks, Andrew DePaola, Alterraun Verner, Tress Way.
All-Pro’s: Ronde Barber, Warren Sapp, Lee Roy Selmon.
Defensive Player of the Week: Perry Riley, Jr.
#QB
Beijing spent much of Year I begging for someone–anyone–to take the starting position from Mike Glennon {6}. But Sammy Baugh {1} was downright bad and Eddie LeBaron {1} even worse, and Glennon kept on being, you know adequate enough. LeBaron is gone, Baugh looked strong in preseason, but the job was claimed–and claimed easily–by offseason acquisition Ben Roethlisberger {5}, who starts Year II as Beijing’s QB after being let go by Istanbul.
#RB / WR / TE
Warrick Dunn {9} was solid, amassing just over 1500 yards from scrimmage (1145 rushing with an average just under 5 yards per carry). Perhaps most intriguingly, Beijing experimented with a 3-back backfield towards the end of year, flanking Dunn with Cliff Battles {3} and Alfred Morris {1} and, for the most part, it was successful and looks to be a standard part of their offensive arsenal in Year II.
It was tried partially out of desperation: Bobby Mitchell {1}, Pierre Garcon {3}, and Art Monk {2} combined for the quietest 200 catches and 2200 yards you can imagine, only combining for 2 100 yard games all season. More is needed, for sure, from those three as well as Santana Moss {3}.
Andrew DePaola‘s {3} work on special teams earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl; he’ll continue to split the TE duties with Logan Paulsen {2}.
#OL
Chris Samuels may have been the Red Stars’ best offensive player in Year I. He returns, alongside Demar Dotson {6}, Patrick Omameh {6}, and a rejuvenated Mark May, with newcomer Corey Linsley {5} taking over at C. The surprising Chris Chester {6} Jon Runyan {2} and Garrett Gilkey look to be the primary reserves.
#DL
Warren Sapp and Lee Roy Selmon were standouts at DT and DE respectively, and they return along with Adrian Clayborn {2} and Gerald McCoy {6}. With Michael Bennett {3} and Dave Butz {1} coming off the bench, this should be a strong group.
#LB
Tackling machine Perry Riley, Jr. {7} is back, as is the dependable Derrick Brooks, but Beijing needs Wilbur Marshall {5} to step up at the other OLB position, and good work from Brian Orakpo and Richard Wood as reserves.
#DB
This group was a little hard to evaluate: the rest of the defense was so poor that they had inflated counting stats. Still, CBs Ronde Barber and Alterraun Verner were very strong in Year I, and the 2 safeties, Brandon Meriweather {9} and Ken Houston {3}, should be more than adequate. Darrell Green {4} returns as the nickle back, with Ryan Smith helping out at S when needed.
#ST
Tress Way {4} returns as the P and Mark Moseley will be handling the PK duties. Battles will be returning punts and will split the kickoff duties with Smith.