Sep 30th 15:00, by Florian Puth

Offseason: A lot of work ahead for Barcelona Dragons

Luciano Bisi

Sep 30th 15:00, by Florian Puth

Offseason: A lot of work ahead for Barcelona Dragons

There is no need to talk around it: A disappointing season is behind the Barcelona Dragons. With a record of 2 wins and 10 defeats, they finished second last in the Central Conference. 

The season got off to a promising start with a 23:19 victory over the Helvetic Mercenaries, who they again beat narrowly in Week 4. On the other hand, the Dragons suffered a number of high defeats and above all failed to find their rhythm.

Offensively, they were not dangerous enough. With 2,549 total yards, they achieved the second-fewest yards in the league. They also scored the fewest points with 117. Also, there was a lack of consistency at the quarterback position. A total of four different signal callers were on the field this season, throwing a combined 12 passing touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

Problems on all ends

There were also problems in the offensive line. The team suffered 33 sacks. In terms of run blocking, they were often left behind, which made life difficult for the running backs. 779 rushing yards is the season record - the lowest in the European League of Football. The running backs were usually stopped early and were therefore unable to take pressure from their quarterbacks. The same goes for the receivers. The best receiver was Imoni Telijah Donadelle with 32 catches for only 310 yards and two touchdowns.

The Spanish must also improve in defense. The team conceded a total of 577 points. That is 133 points more than the Cologne Centurions, who finished in second-last place. Furthermore, only 54.4 percent of all opposing 3rd downs were defended successfully by the team. The pass rush also has much room for improvement. They achieved only 12 sacks last season.

Roster turnover in the middle of the season

It hasn't been an easy season for the Dragons off the field either. The first major turnover in the squad took place before week 8. A total of 27 players were released. In return, 21 new players were signed.

Oscar Catalayud Perez took over as head coach from David Shelton. Genario Alfonsin was installed as the new defensive coordinator. Palmon Casado took over as the new offensive coordinator. David Pozo Nieto became the new Special Teams Coordinator. This meant that almost the entire staff was replaced in the middle of the season. Barcelona have not won a game since then. 

Offseason as a chance

A lot of work awaits the team's management. Their priority should be to strengthen the offensive line, reactivate the rushing game and create consistency at the quarterback position. If the offense can work more efficiently and stay on the field longer, it will strengthen the defense and give them a chance to take the next step. Some new skill position players could perhaps also help.

Let's see what offseason brings in for the Dragons.

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