LB Battle

The Soul have six linebackers currently in camp, three of them were on the Soul's roster last season. It's a lively group that looks to cement the defense with high motors. Current reports are saying that the line-backing group has been great so far in camp; I don't doubt it either.

Brandon Perkins, Melik Brown and Jerome Hayes all played for the Soul last season with Perkins performing the best by leading all linebackers on the team with 51.5 total tackles (42 solo and 19 assisted) and 5.5 sacks. The four-year veteran was also second on the team in sacks and tackles-for-loss (8.5) after playing and starting in 17 games last season for the Soul. Perkins looks to lead the corps again in 2012, but he'll be accompanied by some other great talents.

Hayes appeared in 15 games last season starting in 9 of those contests to prove his worth on the squad. He had 21 total tackles (16 solo and 10 assisted) along with 3 tackles-for-loss, 1 sack and 1 interception. Hayes caught on later in the season starting in 8 of the Soul's last 10 games; his best game came against the Cleveland Gladiators in the Soul's first 2011 match-up with the division rival as he racked up 5 total tackles (4 solo and 2 assisted) while recording a sack. He has proven his worth after just one season in the AFL and could very much help this team.

Brown only appeared in one game last season, but he made his presence felt by notching 3.5 total tackles (3 solo and 1 assisted) while recording a sack against the Gladiators in the second to last game of 2011. Given the opportunity to play more minutes Brown could very well surprise some people after being scarcely utilized in year one.

One of the bigger names to join the Soul this off-season was Joe Goosby of the Dallas Vigilantes. Goosby played and started in the Vigilantes first nine games last season and didn't appear again until the team's playoff game against the Chicago Rush due to injury. Despite playing just half a season, Goosby recorded 51 total tackles (43 solo and 16 assisted), 1 interception and 3 pass break-ups. He trailed Perkins by half a tackle last season after playing in eight fewer contests. Goosby has the potential to become the face of the line-backing core and it should be fun to watch those two battle for the top spot.

Fellow Vigilante teammate Dusty Bear also joined the Soul this off-season and brings that same kind of big play-making along with him. In 2010 he split time with the Tampa Bay Storm and the Alabama Vipers where he notched 20.5 total tackles (15 solo and 11 assisted) along with 2.5 sacks. He broke out in 2011 while in Dallas playing in 16 and starting 12 of those games for the Vigilantes. He instantly became one of the best pass rushers in the league after collecting 11 sacks and 43.5 total tackles (34 solo and 19 assisted). His 11 sacks was good enough to tie for second in the AFL and put him just 1.5 sacks behind 2011's leaders. Bear's intensity and fiery play brings more pass rushing abilities to a defensive unit that has more than plenty talent to go around.

Between the two former Vigilantes players, Goosby right now seems to be the more complete linebacker, but his lack of pass-rushing ability gives Bear an entirely different kind of value demonstrating the contrasting style of play between the two.

Currently on the Refused to Report list, Clifton Smith was on the Soul's championship team back in 2008. Playing both the FB and LB position, Smith brings more championship experience to roster that's expected to return to the ArenaBowl this season. He didn't play last season, but his familiarity with the team makes him valuable in that regard. In 2010 with the Chicago Rush, Smith recorded 24 total tackles (18 solo and 12 assisted), 4.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Although he only carried the ball 7 times for the Rush, with the Soul in 2008, Smith had 50 carries for 131 yards and 10 touchdowns. The biggest question will be how he responds to the game if he decides to show up to camp, but based on his 2010 production after not playing in 2009, I'm sure he has the ability to produce without skipping a beat.