NFL
When the Vegas Vipers hit the field in 2023, they will be a part of the next installment of pro football in sin city. Led by Hall of Famer Rod Woodson who is both the head coach and general manager of the franchise, he and his staff have put together an exciting roster of very good NFL talent and some promising names from both the USFL and AAF. Let’s take a look at the team poised to bring a football title to Vegas.
Woodson has high NFL-level talent all over the field. This roster will be propelled by guys like Brett Hundley, Vic Beasley, Martavis Bryant, and Geronimo Allison. Offensively, Woodson’s team is stacked. One of the best QB rooms in the league, Hundley is joined by stout and athletic Jalan McClendon and fan favorite Luis Perez.
Hundley who is one of the best if not the best duel threat QB in the league brings tremendous talent and experience with him to Vegas. The UCLA QB is credited for being a part of UCLA emergence under Jim L. Mora in the 2010s and he played in various offensive systems in the NFL. A decent arm with an ability to make off-schedule plays and big runs, expect a shotgun-based, read-option offense with Hundley.
With a lot of targets to supplement him, Martavis Bryant and Geronimo Allison bring a combined 11 years of NFL experience with them and both have played with Hall of Fame QBs Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger. They’ve also made plays under various conditions giving Huntley two true WR1s at his disposal. Rod Smith, the Ohio State RB will be the primary ball carrier and this offensive line is full of youthful potential spearheaded by Arizona State’s Dohnovan West and Kahlil McKenzie whose dad is former NFL lineman and former Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie and his uncle is Hall of Famer Raleigh McKenzie.
Defensively, they got their main man pass rusher in Vic Beasley. A stud under Dan Quinn in Atlanta, Beasley was pivotal in Atlanta’s Super Bowl run in 2016. Supplementing him is former TCU stud and All-America Paul Dawson and safety Maurice Smith who played under Nick Saban and Kirby Smart, bringing with him an excellent defensive background and brain. The player I’m most excited about is Destiny Vaeao. The 300-pound, 6’4 defensive tackle is a maneater. He’s an immovable force that will anchor what I assume with be a 3-4 defense under Woodson. A perfect pairing for a defense filled with talent, coached by one of the best to ever do it.
Woodson’s coaching staff is filled with knowledgeable studs as well. His DC Cris Dishman played in the NFL for 13 years and his offensive line coach Bob Wylie was pivotal in the development of Stefen Wisniewski, Joel Bitonio, and J.C. Tretter. There’s a lot going for Woodson and his Vegas Vipers this season and expect his offense to put up college numbers. The Vegas Vipers will be a wrecking crew because of the NFL talent on the field and on the sidelines.
