Conference Final Team Profile: UWE Bullets

Under the guidance of head coach Matt Dyke the UWE Bullets American Football team have now made the Playoffs in 5 consecutive seasons. After winning the National Title just two years ago UWE are looking to go all the way again but face old foes the Birmingham Lions in the Conference finals.

The nucleus of their offence is Allstar running back Mike Adams, who recently made the NFL International development squad. After spending the first two years in the shadow of Dave Egbosimba, Mike announced himself to the league in 2007 with a College Bowl MVP performance and a number of break away touchdowns in the Allstar and GB Bulldogs games. Adams is an elusive runner, capable of scoring on any given play. He displays patience and great vision with the acceleration and break away speed to match. He is also deceptively powerful and comfortable running between the tackles as well as around them. I expect the Bullets to try and get him to the edges of the big but slower Lions defence.

The Bullets Offensive line remains undersized and largely inexperience, often relying on technique over brute strength to open holes for Adams. This maybe an important factor when they come up against Birmingham's heavyweight defensive front.

Adams is complemented by a talented group of receivers. Bristol Aztec Nick Smith is one of the Best WRs in BAFL let alone BUAFL but splits his time at linebacker and has been playing banged most of the season. Possession receiver James Anderson has exceptional hands and comes fresh from a summer playing semi-pro football in Germany.

Despite the wealth of receiving talent the play of 3rd year Quarterback Ian Hugo remains inconsistent. He has all the physical assets you look for, including a cannon arm, however he tends to rush his throws and can make bad decisions, especially under pressure. Hugo is at his best when playing to his strengths, throwing deep on play action passes.

The Bullets defence recorded shut outs in all but one of their games; a flat performance against the Lions. The D is cemented with an Allstar defensive line, book-ended by GB Bulldogs, Kesav Nair and Oliver Barrett whilst the interior is manned by another formed Bulldog Dave Hughes. They will have the responsibility of getting pressure on rookie sensation QB Tristan Varney and limiting the time he has to throw.

The Bullets linebacker core is perhaps their weakest asset and includes a number of rookies. However it is sured up by time from WR Nick Smith as well as long time Bullet Kirk Dunn. Dunn's blitzes have the potential to be especially disruptive.

A play making safety partnership is completed by ball-hawking Allstar Will Parkhouse and tough tackling Gabriel Sey, another Bullets player who played semi-pro football in the summer, this time in Finland.

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(Photos courtesy of Alex Gillespie)