Official Website of the Central Valley Coyotes

For the Central Valley Coyotes (3-12), the 2009 season has been an uncommon one. With a fourth consecutive playoff season out of consideration, the team simply will focus their efforts on defeating the Tri Cities Fever (2-13) in the season finale Saturday night in Kennewick, Washington.

 

After posting double-digit wins for three years in a row, the Coyotes will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2005. The last time Coyote fans saw a losing season out of their team was in their inaugural season in 2004 when they finished 3-13. Despite winning 42 games in the four seasons following that first year, the team has struggled this year to not only win games, but they have also struggled to put the same team on the field more than two weeks in a row.

 

The Coyotes offense, which has been among the top offenses in every major statistical category the last four years, has been inconsistent all season. Saturday night against the Fever, QB Joe Micco (6’2 215, San Jose State) will be the 7th quarterback of the season to line up under center and new comer WR Tray Hanks (5’11 190, Florida Atlantic) will be the 9th wide receiver to see game time this season for the Coyotes. The offensive front has also seen several changes this season as the Coyotes have given up 36 QB sacks behind 11 different pass blockers. In total, 27 different players have lined up on the offensive side of the ball for the Coyotes this season.

 

The Coyotes defense has been more productive than the offense this season however they too have seen several different faces in the line up this season. In the secondary the Coyotes have lined up 7 different defensive backs and the defensive front has seen 12 different faces this season. In addition, the Coyotes have played three different kickers and have had 5 different players have returned kickoffs of the net.

 

In total, the Coyotes have had 48 different players line up in the red and black this season. The majority of those changes have been due to injuries and despite their 3-12 record there have been some great individual contributions. But, inconsistencies with personnel on the field has prohibited the Coyotes for finding true team chemistry and made it hard for the team to gel week after week. Despite the many personnel changes this season 20 Coyotes will line up Saturday night with one goal, win their 3rd game of the season against the Fever and complete the season sweep.

 

Kick-off is at 7:00pm PST and can be heard, in the Valley, on 1430 ESPN or 790 “The Deuce”. Catch the action as Bryan Whitmore and Guy Haberman host their 36th Coyote game together. Internet coverage is also available on the Coyotes website home page by clicking af2 TV.