Bears News: Previewing the XFL: Seattle Sea Dragons |
In a typical year, the NFL season would end in two weeks, and football fans worldwide would need to wait seven months to see football again. Well, that is about to change as 2023 marks the first time there will be some form of football for 12 months straight.
What starts with the NFL is followed by the XFL and then the USFL, as that will take football fans into June. Remember the CFL season, which begins in May and goes until December, as even the most casual football fan will love 2023. Sticking with the XFL for a bit, their season is set to begin in three weeks and will take center stage after the Superbowl. This is the third attempt for the XFL after their initial effort in 2001 flopped and then having COVID take away the remainder of the 2020 season. Now that the XFL is back, expect things to be bigger and better than before, as eight franchises are set to take over the late winter months into the spring. Several changes come with a new reboot, and that shouldn't be a surprise. In comes new coaches, new logos, and of course, new teams, as it is out with the old and in with the new. Out are the Los Angeles Wildcats, New York Guardians, and Tampa Bay Vipers, as they had the lowest attendance in 2020. Replacing them are the Vegas Vipers, Orlando Guardians, and San Antonio Bramahs, while the rest of the five teams remain the same. One of those returning teams hails from the Northwest, where the Seattle Dragons, or Sea Dragons as they are called now, are preparing to take the field. Long-time NFL coach Jim Haslett will lead the Sea Dragons this season as he replaces Jim Zorn, who went 2-3 in his only go-around with Seattle. Haslett has a long history of NFL coaching experience, with most of it coming on the defensive side of the ball. Haslett also has six years of head coaching experience between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams, where he posted a 47-61 record. He also went 6-0 as a head coach in the UFL, so you can understand the choice to go with him. Along with him, Haslett is putting together a strong staff, including former Houston Roughnecks head coach June Jones, who will be the offensive coordinator this season. You also have Ron Zook calling the plays on defense, as this could be one of the most experienced staffs in the XFL. The Seattle roster has a lot to like, as they could be one of the four teams to make the postseason. Ben DiNucci will be battling it out for the starting QB job and will split training camp snaps with Steven Montaz. Looking at the rest of the Sea Dragons roster, you will notice a name very familiar to NFL fans Josh Gordon, who will be the go-to WR. From a talent side, Gordon was one of the most talented WRs of the past decade. His biggest issue was that he couldn't stay out of trouble and was pushed out of the league. Not ready to give up his dream, Gordon is back on the field this spring, hoping his time in the XFL can lead to another NFL shot. Defensively is where the Sea Dragons could be extra special as they have a ton of talented players, but most of them are unknowns at this point. On the defensive line, you have Treyvon Hester leading the way, and he brings six years of NFL experience with him. Behind the defensive line, you have a linebacker group led by former Cincinnati Bengal Jordan Evans as he is looking for an opportunity to play in the NFL again. Chris Jones, Antoine Brooks, and Alijah Holder are names to watch in the secondary this season, as the Sea Dragons have an excellent nucleus of players. The XFL is set to kick off on February 18 for week one of their 10-game regular season. Following the regular season slate, four teams will make the playoffs, with the Championship game happening two weeks after the conclusion of the regular season.
