Soul starting season with high expectations

As the Soul prepare to open the Arena Football League season Saturday in Arizona, no one is being coy about expectations.

After practice Tuesday, co-owner Ron Jaworski posed for a photo with coach Clint Dolezel, the pair gripping a football between them.

"Next time with the trophy," Jaworski said.

Bringing back the majority of a team that came, in Jaworski's words, within a "whisker" of a title last season, there's no sense tempering the optimism.

"Championship," Jaworski said. "That hasn't changed since 2004. Our goal is to be the world champions."

For a team so close to the mountaintop, the Soul went through an unusual offseason transition by changing coaches.

Doug Plank resigned after the season, citing family reasons. He later took a job as the head coach in Orlando. The Soul promoted Dolezel, who coordinated their league-leading scoring offense last season.

Jaworski sees limitless potential in the 42-year-old Dolezel, who was one of the arena game's all-time best players at quarterback.

"I idolize the guy," Jaworski said. "There are two guys that know this game that are my friends: Jay Gruden and Clint Dolezel. They were great players and great coaches. Jay has gone on to be the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Clint has the same pedigree."

Dolezel has plenty to work with in quarterback Dan Raudabaugh, who blossomed in his first season as the Soul's starter. Raudabaugh set franchise records for yards (4,790), touchdowns (115), completions (362), and touchdown passes in a game (11).

"Dan is way more advanced than I was at his age," Dolezel said. "He's definitely top-three [in the league]."

Raudabaugh threw three interceptions in a 72-54 loss to Arizona in the ArenaBowl last year in New Orleans, a defeat he stewed over all offseason.

Walking up the tunnel to the locker room after that game, he ran into Arena League Hall of Fame quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, who was broadcasting the game. Bonner grabbed Raudabaugh and forced him to watch the Arizona celebration.

"He said, 'Let it linger in you. Let it hurt, because you guys should be back, and you should win some,' " Raudabaugh recalled.

Raudabaugh gets back top wide receiver Tiger Jones, who left the Soul in July for a tryout with the Eagles. Fullback Derrick Ross also returns.

The Soul added another big-play threat in veteran receiver Andrae Thurman, acquired to offset the loss of Donovan Morgan, who left via trade to New Orleans.

"We want the high expectations. That's the level we play at," Raudabaugh said. "We scored 68, 70 points a game last year. This year, we're shooting for 75 or 80 every game."

On defense, the Soul will be anchored up front by line returners Dustin Barno and Bryan Robinson, who set a club record with 10 sacks last season. Star defensive back Kent Richardson left to sign with the Cleveland Browns.

The Soul play an 18-game schedule that stretches to the end of July. But there will be little satisfaction among the players if they aren't playing Aug. 17, when the ArenaBowl is scheduled to be played in Orlando.

"Philadelphia deserves a championship," Dolezel said. "It's been a little while."

The Soul won their only championship in 2008.

March

23 at Arizona          8

30 Bye

April

6 at Orlando       7:30

13 at Iowa            7

20 vs. Cleveland    7:05

27 vs. Jacksonville 7:05

May

4 at Chicago          9

11 vs. Pittsburgh   7:05

18 vs. Orlando          7

25 at Tampa Bay    7:30

June

1 vs. Arizona       7:05

8 vs. New Orleans    7:05

15 at Pittsburgh       7

22 vs. Iowa          7:05

29 at Cleveland       7

July

6 vs. Chicago       7:05

12 vs. Utah          7:35

20 at San Jose     10:30

27 at San Antonio       9

All home games are at the Wells Fargo Center. EndText

No.       Pos.       Player                Ht.         Wt.

1         WR      Larry Brackins         6-4      221

3         K         Carlos Martinez         5-8      180

4         FB         Derrick Ross            6-0      240

5         QB       Dan Raudabaugh      6-3      230

6         LB         Brandon Perkins      6-0      240

7         DB         Rayshaun Kizer         5-10      190

8         DL         Dustin Barno         6-3      275

10         QB       Steven Gachette      6-1      195

11         WR      Tiger Jones            5-11      195

12         DL         Bryan Robinson      6-3      285

15         WR/KR   Alvance Robinson      5-9      170

18         LB         Joe Goosby            6-1      235

19         WR      Ryan McDaniel         6-3      198

22         DB         David Richardson      6-2      205

23         DB         LaRico Stevenson      5-10      210

25         DB         James Romain         5-11      170

55         C         Brennen Carvalho      6-1      310

72         OL/DL   Sioeli Fakalata         6-3      340

78         OL         Christian Johnson      6-4      330

81         WR      Andrae Thurman      5-10      180

92         LB/DL   Calvin Fance         6-1      245

95         OL         Jason Jones            6-4      340

98         DL         Ko Quaye            6-1      310

99         DL         Morkeith Brown      6-5      255

EndText