Bears News: Previewing the XFL: Vegas Vipers |
As we continue to make our way through the XFL and preview the upcoming 2023 season, we come to the first of three new franchises this season. 2023 will see the XFL and the Spring football world welcome the Vegas Vipers to the stage as they will play their games at Cashman Field.
Vegas is replacing the Tampa Bay Vipers, who were part of the XFL in 2020 and struggled to win games, going 1-4 that season. Alone with a new city comes a new look as Vegas will ditch the bright green and yellow colors they had that season and will go to a more common Black and Red combo. Another new change for the Vipers will be at the helm where long-time Head coach Marc Trestman is no longer the coach of the franchise. Instead, a former NFL player and Hall of Famer Rod Woodson comes, as this will be his first professional coaching opportunity. Being a first-time head coach is challenging, but Woodson has put together a great staff to make things easier for him. After all, most head coaches either fail or succeed depending on the success of their assistants, so he is hoping the choices he made will lead to instant success. Running the offense will be Duane Taylor, as he will be the offensive coordinator this season. Former NFL star Chris Dishman will lead the way on defense as he is also one of the more inexperienced coaches in the XFL. What the Vipers may lack in overall coaching experience, they make up for in talent, as their roster has arguably some of the best talent across the board. Take the QB position, for example where they have two of the best QBs in the XFL. Spring Football veteran Luis Perez has the inside track to win the starting job right now, given his success in the spring. Since 2019, Perez has played for the Birmingham Iron (AAF), New York Guardians (XFL), Jousters (TSL), and New Jersey Generals (USFL). Perez also had a brief stint with the Philadelphia Eagles, so he has gotten a taste of the NFL. While participating in the spring leagues, Perez has thrown for more than 3000 yards with 17 TD and 8 INT, making him an obvious choice to be the favorite. However, the starting job won't come easy as former NFL QB Brett Hundley was recently signed by Vegas and will give Perez all he can handle. During his NFL career, Hundley bounced around but had the most success in 2017 when he went 3-7 with the Green Bay Packers filling in for Aaron Rodgers. Hundley has amassed 1900 yards passing in the NFL with 9 TD and 13 INT, so look for him to challenge Perez. Looking at the rest of the Vipers offense, you immediately notice some of the WRs, as they will play a crucial role in this team's success. Speedster Jeff Badet returns to a spring league and will be one of the go-to guys in the WR. The same can be said about Geronimo Allison, as he will look for a strong showing this spring to potentially land a contract on an NFL roster next season. Those two guys will be the top two options for Vegas, but they will not be alone, as Saheed Blacknall and Martavis Bryant will give the Vipers four legitimate WR targets this season. Throw in three-year NFL vet Brandon Dillon at TE, and Vegas has the potential to have one of the better passing attacks this season. The defensive side is another story for the Vipers, as they have many unknowns at each level. Guys like Robert Windsor and Destiny Vaeao will anchor the line of scrimmage, but apart from them, Vegas needs to figure out who they can count on. Looking at the LB position, you have 30-year-old Vic Beasley, who is the biggest name on the defensive side of the ball. Beasley was the eighth pick in the 2015 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons and has registered 37.5 career sacks in the NFL. He has the talent and potential to be the sack leader this season and could be on the verge of an NFL comeback. Safety Marwin Evans has some NFL experience and is expected to lead the secondary in 2023. With the XFL season less than three weeks away, fans will start getting familiar with many of these teams and players. Vegas may be one of the new kids on the block, but they are not a team to be taken lightly in 2023.
