Utah Blaze (8-8 in 2007, lost in 1st round to Los Angeles)
Click Here to Buy Mike Rose’ Arena Football Picks

At points in the 2007 season, it looked like legendary AFL Head Coach Danny White was set to take his Utah Blaze from expansion into a real contender in just two seasons. At other points, there were harsh reminders that the Blaze are just in their second season in the AFL. Regardless, this franchise appears to be headed in the right direction.

2007 Highlight: Week 13 of the 2007 season produced arguably the greatest game in the short history of the Blaze. The team traveled to Orlando, one of the most difficult places in the AFL to play. The turning point in the game was following a Preds touchdown with 1:52 remaining in the game. DL Chris Janek raced what would’ve been the tying PAT back for two points to give Utah a three point lead that they would never relinquish. Then OS Siaha Burley had 191 yards and 4 TDs in the winning effort, which basically assured the Blaze a spot in the playoffs.

2007 Lowlight: Just the week before the trip to Orlando, the Blaze hosted the lowly Las Vegas Gladiators. Utah ran out to a 21-0 lead and appeared to be cruising, but a Glads TD with 3:44 left in the 3rd quarter started a string of 16 straight points for Vegas to propel them back in the game. Steve Videtich kicked a FG with 36 seconds left to put Utah ahead by two, but Steve Azar kicked the winner at the buzzer for Las Vegas’ second and final win of the season.

Key acquisitions: DE’s EJ Burt (15 tackles, 6 sacks for Chicago in 2007) and Dwayne Missouri (14 tackles, 6 sacks for Philadelphia in 2007). For a team that has lacked a pass rush in their history, adding Burt and Missouri should provide the Blaze with a nice set of bookend rushers.

Key loss: WR Siaha Burley (166 catches, 2129 yards, 49 TDs in 2007). There’s just no replacing one of the best receivers in the AFL. Burley represented almost 40% of the total offensive yards for the Blaze last season and caught almost half of the touchdowns thrown by QB Joe Germaine.

2008 Preview: Replacing Burley is going to be the biggest problem this team faces in 2008. Utah has had one of the best offenses in the AFL the past two seasons, averaging 57.1 PPG in their history. WR JJ McKelvey may pick up some of the slack, but between losing Burley to free agency and Orshawnte Bryant to a season ending injury in training camp, an offense that looked to be the strength of the team could struggle at times if Germaine doesn’t find a new favorite target in a hurry.

2008 will be a success if… the Blaze can figure out how to stop anybody… for as good as the offense has been, the defense has been just as bad. The Blaze gave up an average of 57.4 PPG the past two seasons, and is the reason the team has never advanced past the first round of the playoffs.

The Blaze could struggle at times this season if the defense doesn’t step it up. However, if there’s a coach out there that can will a team to the postseason by himself, it’s Danny White. Despite all the defensive problems, if the Blaze aren’t playing in the playoffs, it will be quite the surprise.

Prediction: 7-9, 3rd place Western Division

CLICK HERE FOR WINNING ARENA FOOTBALL BETTING PICKS & ODDS