Swedish Season Kicks Off This Weekend: Who Will Topple the Carlstad Crusaders?
[tps_title]PREVIEW: Svenska Amerikansk Fotbollförbundet[/tps_title]
The Swedish season kicks off this weekend after a somewhat tumultuous off season which saw the departure of the IFAF World Championships to Canton, Ohio, leaving Sweden’s American football community wondering what would happen next.
Nevertheless, all nine teams are eager to hit the field for the 25th edition of the Swedish Super Series. Heavy favorite, defending and five-time champion the Carlstad Crusaders lead a group of teams which have undergone a number of changes.
Carlstad Crusaders
Carlstad won a historic fifth straight gold last year after going unbeaten throughout the Super Series. The only loss for the year came in the IFAF Europe Champions League against the Helsinki Roosters. Otherwise not one other team was close.
The Crusaders are definitely the team to beat this year. Admittedly they have lost 17 players but signed 24 new ones and the core of 2014’s championship squad is intact. New head coach Duke Iverson and assistant Malik Jackson have a wealth of talent to choose from.
Quarterback Anders Hermodsson – Sweden’s leading quarterback – returns as do key imports running back Brett Koepp and defensive back Jack Moro both of whom played prominent roles in 2014.
Among the losses was receiver Fredrik Isaksson who has gone to Carlstad’s main rival Tyreso. However, he will be ably replaced by Danish national team receiver Markus Stinger Olesen who along with the rest of Carlstad’s outstanding receiving corps, which includes Brit Harry Routledge, will make them constantly dangerous on offense. Hermodsson will have the protection of arguably Sweden’s best offensive line anchored by Carl Romlin.
On defense Billy Enfjäll, the team’s top pass rusher, and linebacker Christian Kuylenstjerna lead a group of talented players including super athlete Olof Flemström. Jack Moro anchors a solid defensive secondary.
All in all, despite the changes, the Crusaders will have a powerhouse of a team in 2015. Their sound defeat of Danish champions the Copenhagen Towers is evidence of that.
