The 2015 Birmingham Bulls season was the team's 32nd season in competitive British American Football. It was also the first season under rookie Head Coach Mark Pagett and Chairman Richard Penwright, whilst Rob Amor returned for a fifth year as Club Secretary. The Bulls entered the 2015 season in the second tier following a league restructure, and were considered by some to be favourites for post-season success and immediate promotion back to the top tier.[1]
Following the departure of the previous coaching staff, former player Matt Sheldon was appointed as Offensive Coordinator,[2] while Alan Steel, departing the Coventry Jets, was appointed as Defensive Coordinator.[3] Coaches Mark Webb and Paul Roberts were retained in their role as Special Teams and Defensive Back coaches respectively.
Part way through the season, Offensive Coordinator Matt Sheldon stepped down from his role and was replaced by O-Line coach Gary Hodgen. Despite early season promise, including an away win against the eventual league champions Farnham Knights, a five-game losing streak put paid to any notion of post-season football in 2015.[4]
Recruitment
Following successful recruitment sessions in the winter of 2014,[5] several rookies joined the team, along with former players returning from playing in Europe.[6]
Bulls players set or equalled several team records throughout the 2015 season. Mark Bonazebi recorded 1206 rushing yards, the most in Bulls history, and his 93-yard run against the Hertfordshire Cheetahs was the longest in team history.[7] Gareth Thomas' 9 total takeaways was a new Bulls season record, and his 4 interceptions against the Hertfordshire Cheetahs was a record for most single game takeaways and interceptions. His 8 total interceptions equalled Hall of Famer Paul Roberts' single season record. His 125 punt return yards against the East Kent Mavericks was also a single-game record for the Bulls.[8]
Award Winners
The Bulls held their annual awards night on 20 September 2015.[9]
Week 1: vs Ouse Valley Eagles The Bulls lost a narrow opener to the visiting Ouse Valley Eagles by one score following a controversial touchdown at the end of the second quarter. The Eagles capitalised on Bulls turnovers in the fourth quarter to pull away and secure an opening day victory.[10]
Jack Pemberton: 5 total tackles, 4 solo, 2 INTs, 1 break up
Stephen Stoakes: 6 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 FF
Dominic Taylor: 7 total tackles, 6 solo
Week 2: at Cambridgeshire Cats The Bulls travelled to Cambridge and won comfortably thanks to a strong ground attack from Rob Brown and Mark Bonazebi and pass rush from the defensive line.[11]
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Bulls
0
13
13
8
34
Cats
6
0
0
6
12
Player Statistics
Passers
Dan Wilkes: 3/12, 27 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Rushers
Rob Brown: 20 carries, 157 yards, 3 TDs
Marc Bonazebi: 21 carries, 114 yards, 2 TDs
Receivers
Kieron Hinds: 1 rec, 14 yards, 0 TD
Defenders
Scott Robinson: 4 total tackles, 3 solo, 3 sacks, 1 FR
Lee Macken: 3 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 FF
Jake Harbon: 10 total tackles, 5 solo, 0.5 sacks
Tom Durn: 1 total tackle, 1 solo, 1.5 sacks
Week 3: vs Hertfordshire Cheetahs Back at home, the Bulls secondary stepped up in a big way, picking the ball off seven times, including four interceptions by cornerback Gareth Thomas, while Bonazebi again carried the offence to move the Bulls to 3-1.[12]
Week 4: at Farnham Knights The Bulls travelled to the favoured Knights but a 300+ yard display by running back Bonazebi paired with a last second pick by Thomas meant the Bulls came away with a signature win.[13]
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Bulls
6
0
16
6
28
Knights
0
10
8
8
26
Player Statistics
Passers
Dan Wilkes: 1/12, 16 yards, 0 TD, 4 INT
Rushers
Marc Bonazebi: 32 carries, 310 yards, 4 TD
Receivers
Michael Beaty: 1 rec, 16 yards, 0 TD
Defenders
Gareth Thomas: 6 total tackles, 6 solo, 1 INT, 1 break up
Jake Harbon: 7 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 INT, 1 break up
Jack Pemberton: 4 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 INT, 1 break up
Dotun Ademiju: 4 total tackles, 2 solo, 1 sack
Week 5: vs Colchester Gladiators The Bulls came back down to earth with a bump, and despite signs of an improving passing game, a number of turnovers brought an end to the Bulls' winning streak.[14][15]
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Bulls
0
0
7
0
7
Gladiators
0
7
2
0
9
Player Statistics
Passers
Dan Wilkes: 2/15, 82 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushers
Marc Bonazebi: 33 carries, 97 yards, 0 TD
Receivers
Marc Bonazebi: 1 rec, 47 yards, 1 TD
Michael Beaty: 1 rec, 35 yards, 0 TD
Defenders
Tom Durn: 8 total tackles, 7 solo, 1 FF
Domeni White: 5 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 FF, 1 break up
Stephen Stoakes: 5 total tackles, 1 solo, 1 FR
Dotun Ademiju: 6 total tackles, 3 solo, 2 break ups
Week 6: vs Solent Thrashers The Bulls defence remained stout holding the visiting Thrashers to well below their season average, but a struggling offence meant back-to-back losses for the first time in 2015.[16]
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Bulls
7
0
0
0
7
Thrashers
7
7
0
0
14
Player Statistics
Passers
Dan Wilkes: 4/9, 23 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Rushers
Marc Bonazebi: 21 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD
Receivers
Michael Beaty: 4 rec, 23 yards, 0 TD
Defenders
Jack Pemberton: 3 total tackles, 2 solo, 1 INT, 2 break ups
Dotun Ademiju: 5 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 FR, 1 break up
Olu Amudipe: 5 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 break up
Gareth Thomas: 5 total tackles, 1 solo, 1 INT
Week 7: at East Kent Mavericks The Bulls made the long trip as heavy favourites but were shut out on offence for the first time since July 2014 in a hard-fought defensive battle.[17]
Week 8: at Hertfordshire Cheetahs The Bulls struggled on a hot day in St. Albans and fell to their third straight defeat putting their play-off chances in jeopardy.
Week 9: at Ouse Valley Eagles A Bulls squad decimated by injury travelled to Bedford and kept it close in a rain-soaked return fixture against their divisional rivals, but ended their hopes of play off football with another defeat.[18]
Dotun Ademiju: 3 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 FF, 1 break up
Week 10: vs Cambridgeshire Cats The Bulls stopped the rot on the final day of the season by shutting out the already-relegated Cambridgeshire Cats at home and putting up their highest score of the season.[19]
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Bulls
14
6
22
8
50
Cats
0
0
0
0
0
Player Statistics
Passers
Richard Penwright: 1/5, 8 Yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
Rushers
Mark Bonazebi: 14 carries, 146 yards, 3 TD
Dean Thomas: 5 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD
Michael Doyle: 3 carries, 22 yards, 1 TD
Receivers
Michael Beaty: 1 rec, 8 yards, 0 TD
Defenders
Marcus Rey: 4 total tackles, 2 solo, 2 INT, 1 TD, 1 break up
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