AUDL Reset: Edmonds in DC, New York Reloaded

February 28, 2023
By Adam Ruffner

Breeze Add Another Star In Free Agency With Thomas Edmonds

As if the additions of Andrew Roy and Cole Jurek from Minnesota and Joe Merrill from Salt Lake were not enough, the DC Breeze have now signed one of Pittsburgh’s top stars in Thomas Edmonds for the 2023 season. Even before the offseason began, the Breeze had one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the league. Now with Edmonds, Jurek, Merrill, and Roy on board, DC will look to push past their interdivisional rivals and reigning league champs from New York.

Along with Max Sheppard, Edmonds formed one of the most potent one-two offensive punches in the league the past three seasons for the Thunderbirds. In 30 starts since the beginning of the 2019 season, Edmonds averaged 3.2 assists, 2.6 goals, and over 50 completions per game; over his final 18 games in Pittsburgh, Edmonds averaged nearly 500 yards of offense.

A true hybrid, Edmonds excels as both a high volume distributor in the backfield, and a top receiving option downfield. He’s equally dangerous throwing from a standstill and in motion, and has a 30-to-1 completion-to-throwaway ratio over the last three seasons. Edmonds is also extremely highlight friendly.

With DC’s offense already stocked with eight or nine starters, it remains to be seen exactly where Edmonds will fit in. But it’s hard not to imagine an Edmonds and Rowan McDonnell battery as being damn near unstoppable when in rhythm.

New York Championship Core Intact

Following their second perfect season in three years, the New York Empire have been quiet this offseason. And yet with yesterday’s announcements of eight player re-signings—including 2022 MVP Ryan Osgar, All-AUDL selections Ben Jagt, Jeff Babbitt, and Jack Williams, and defenders Ben Katz, 2022 All Defense selection Marques Brownlee, Antoine Davis, and John Randolph—the Empire look ready to repeat.

Since Williams joined the team at the beginning of the 2019 season, New York is 34-2 in the regular season. It is the second highest win percentage over a three-year stretch in AUDL history; only the 2013-15 Toronto Rush (42-2 record) had a higher win percentage.

The Empire have rostered each of the last three league MVPs—two by Jagt, and the aforementioned Osgar—and could possess two or three more yet.

“[The] Empire doesn’t just want to be a winning franchise, they want to be a historic franchise,” said Co-Head Coach Anthony Nuñez.

Year Two Mark Evans

One of the most integral offseason additions a year ago was the Austin Sol’s signing of Mark Evans. A dynamic striker from Australia, Evans immediately slotted in as a premier option in the Sol offense, and earned First Team All Rookie honors with 43 assists and 24 goals in 12 starts.

Now re-signed for 2023, Evans could grow even more with more comfort and experience in the fast developing Sol system.

Armed with an array of throws, including one of the best hammers in the division, Evans was quickly utilized as the primary thrower in dead disc situations, often initiating action for Austin out of double teams with ease. Evans had a career-high 470 receiving yards and the game-clinching catch in tough coverage in the Sol’s huge Week 6 win at home over the Flyers.

The Evolution of Ryan Poloz in Toronto

After a solid if unremarkable rookie season in Ottawa in 2021, Ryan Poloz led the Toronto Rush in assists last season with 43 in just nine starts, and was an indispensable distributor on the Rush O-line. The 27-year-old has fast reads and gets the disc out quickly as a mobile thrower, which fits in perfectly in Toronto’s uptempo playbook.

Without being flashy, Poloz plays with a verve that keeps him one step ahead of most defenders. He’s good at recognizing matchups, and has a quick twitch midrange scoober that is calibrated perfectly for in-rhythm upline plays.

Poloz saved his best for last in 2022. In Week 12 against Philly, Poloz threw for 10 assists and 440 passing yards without an incompletion, including going 7-for-7 on huck attempts.

Toronto added even more receiving weapons for 2023 with Ty Barbieri and Mike Mackenzie, and Poloz looks to be in line for another big year.

Full list of announced signings for 2023 season

Atlanta
Hayden Austin-Knab
Parker Bray
Justin Burnett
JP Burns
Trip Crowley
Karl Ekwurtzel
Michael Fairley
Christian Gaeta
Tannon Hedges ^
Brett Hulsmeyer
Matthew Knowles
Jeremy Langdon
Bobby Ley
Lukas McClamrock
Christian Olsen
Dean Ramsey
Tyler Randall
Bradley Seuntjens
Matt Smith
Trenton Spinks
Austin Taylor
Kennith Taylor
Max Thorne