On Thursday evening, the Arizona Rattlers announced the return of 3-time IFL MVP QB Drew Powell. Powell spent the 2024 season with the Orlando Predators in the AFL and performed well for most of the year, but was very streaky in terms of performance and didn't look like the IFL version Powell that fans knew.
That being said, there's a couple different variables at play here:
AFL vs IFL Rule Sets
The IFL rules 100% cater better to Drew Powell's skill set as a true dual threat QB. The IFL is a much more run heavy league and Powell has put up Hall of Fame worth numbers during his time Arizona Rattlers, Iowa Barnstormers & Nebraska Danger (RIP).
Predators Misuse
While the AFL rules were different than the IFLs, the Orlando Predators still could have found more creative ways to utilize Powell's strengths. They would occasionally use him in shotgun (which is legal in arena football rules, contrary to what some may say), but were very, very predictable based on their offensive alignment.
Powell is no doubt a top tier QB in indoor football, but it's extremely interesting to see Powell go back to the Rattlers when less than 2 months ago the Arizona Rattlers won their first IFL National Championship since 2017 with QB Dalton Sneed at the helm. Which leads to the first unanswered question...
What happens with 2024 Rattlers QB Dalton Sneed?
Sneed has won 2 consecutive IFL National Championships as a starting QB (with Bay Area & Arizona) and was Mr. Johnny On The Spot when his teams needed a big play or big conversion in crunch time.
Sneed is from Scottsdale, AZ, so the 2024 season was a victorious homecoming in multiple ways. He had an injury riddled year, and according to the AZ Central, Rattler head coach Kevin Guy said the following:
"Dalton did his part and helped us get back to the championship but he also had an injury-plagued year," Guy said. "When you have one of those kind of years, some players start thinking about life after football.
"When the Rattlers signed Dalton, I thought we would get a couple of years out of him. But I'm sure the injuries and life in general changed his mind. Once Dalton said that he wasn't ready to make a decision,
Life after football?! He's only 27, but it sounds like there is a realistic possibility he hangs up the cleats and goes out on top winning a championship in his hometown? I hope not, because he is a thrilling QB to watch, but understandable if he does.
Or does he find his way to a 3rd team in 3 years? Maybe he follows a certain Assistant Head Coach that left the Rattlers and is now the Offensive Coordinator for the NAZ Wranglers? (That would also let him stay close to home)
Does he make a jump over to the AF1 for a 'new challenge'? Does he get a shot in the UFL or CFL? We have need... a Need for SNEED in 2025.
What happens with at the QB position for the Orlando Predators?
Powell was the biggest name in arena/indoor football on the Predators roster in 2024. They got hot towards the end of the 2024 season (and probably would have beat the Albany Firebirds in Week 10 if it happened, but let's not dive down that rabbit hole rn) but met a buzzsaw in the Nashville Kats offense in the first round of the playoffs.
AF1 free agency is in full swing now, but we haven't heard anything from the Orlando Predators just yet. Do they go for another true dual threat Powell type, or do they pivot to the more traditional pocket passer that the AFL has been known for?
What are the potential domino effects around the IFL now?
A few podcast episodes back, I tried to bust out the crystal ball and predicted Drew Powell to be the first QB in Fishers Freight history. It made sense: reunite Powell with the Head Coach in which he won an IFL Championship & IFL MVP with in 2018 and establish a culture with an indoor veteran in the Freight's expansion season.
But with Powell off the market, that prediction is in the trash can. Do we see Daquan Neal follow Dixie Wooten to Indiana after Bay Area signed former NAZ QB Josh Jones?
IFL Free Agency is a DOOZY and I can't wait to see what's announced next. What other domino effects are there that I am missing? Let me know on X!