QB Position

Since each team's final rosters are a ways off from being completed, I thought I'd focus on the new additions that are locks to start for the Soul in 2012 along with returning starters who'll look to contribute in a big way again for the upcoming season. I was going to have this segment posted yesterday, but I went to the Eagles game and that threw everything off. Today I'm focusing this post on one of if not the biggest free agent acquisitions for the Soul, Dan Raudabaugh:

• Raudabuagh attended the University of Miami of Ohio from '05-'09 where he earned the starting job as a redshirt freshman. He threw for 5,352 yards on 511 of 916 passing for the Redhawks. He had 24 touchdowns and 29 interceptions while throwing a 56% completion rate. The Redhawks never witnessed a winning season during Raudabaugh's tenure.
• Late in the 2010 AFL season Raudabaugh signed with the Dallas Vigilantes where he playing in their final two games. In the Vigilantes season finale against the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings Raudabaugh led his team to a 62-56 victory throwing 22 of 29 for 311 yards and 8 toucdowns with 1 interception.
• Raudabaugh was named the starting QB for the Dallas Vigilantes in 2011 where he turned a 3-13 team into an 11-7 wildcard qualifier. The Vigilantes lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Chicago Rush 54-51. 
• Here's Raudabaugh's stats for the 2011 regular season: 557 (Att) 360 (Cmp) 17 (Int) 64.6 (Pct.) 4741 (Yds) 90 (TD) 

Here's where Raudabaugh ranked in various 2011 passing categories:

Passing Avg. per game - 7th (263.4)

Pass Efficiency - 5th (118.3)

Pass Completion Percentage - 8th (64.6)

Passing Yards - 5th (4741)

Passing Touchdowns - Tied 6th (90)

Interceptions (Most) - Tied 6th (17)

• Raudabaugh outperformed Ryan Vena (The Soul's starting QB in 2011) in all six of these categories.
• The only category that Vena cracked the top 10 was for passing yards. His 3,840 yards thrown was good enough for 10th best in the league.
• Vena also threw the 3rd most interceptions in the league with a total of 22.
• Here's Vena's stats for the 2011 regular season: 448 (Att) 276 (Cmp) 22 (Int) 61.6 (Pct.) 3840 (Yds) 70 (TD)

What the Soul will miss most about Ryan Vena is his ability to run the ball in the redzone. Vena led all QBs with 20 rushing touchdowns on the year. Vena entered the 2011 season backing up Justin Allgood who lasted just four games with a 1-3 record as the Soul's starting QB. The Soul had signed Allgood away from the Tulsa Talons after the 2010 season where he led the AFL with 109 touchdown passes, but injuries and inconsistency resulted in Allgood's benching in favor of Vena. The Soul then traded Allgood back to Tulsa mid-season where he had played from '07-'10. 

Hopefully the Soul won't have a similar repeat in 2012 after signing a top AFL quarterback for the second consecutive year. Raudabaugh is a much younger than Allgood having only one full season under his belt as a starting QB in the AFL. The Soul failed last season in getting the veteran Allgood to click with the team, so now they will try their luck with the up and coming Raudabaugh. I would love to see Vena come back to the Soul as their backup, but it seems unlikely as two other QBs are already on the roster for 2012. Vena can play the QB position without a doubt. He's played in the AFL/AF2 since '02 and he's had previous success. His best years came while being a part of my hometown Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers from '07-'09. Vena had a 41-7 regular season record those three years as he led the Pioneers to ArenaCup VIII and X only to lose both. He was named ArenaCup VIII's MVP even though the Pioneers lost that game.

I'm encouraged with what Raudabugh's been showing in such a young career, but I'm also hesitant to be "all-in" with him as the Soul's starting QB of the future. As last year showed you never know how a QB will perform on a yearly basis in the AFL. Sure you have more consistent QBs than others, but signing a guy based on potential can be just as risky as signing him because of previous success with another team. I like Raudabaugh and I'm ready to see what he can do with this Soul offense and especially star WR Donovan Morgan. With what the Soul is giving up in Vena's running, they are more than making up in Raudabaugh's passing. In the end I feel the Raudabaugh signing was their best option moving forward and should ensure at least a couple more victories for the Soul in 2012. 

*Look out for Adam DiMichele if Raudabaugh struggles early in 2012. DiMichele led the Indoor Football League (IFL) last season in Passing Yards per game (270.6), Team Points per game (70.3), and Touchdowns (91). He went 235 of 427 passing (55% Completion Rate) and threw only 7 interceptions. DiMichile might prove to be a pleasant surprise for the Soul if given the opportunity.