2015 Birmingham Bulls season

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.

Following the departure of the previous coaching staff, former player Matt Sheldon was appointed as Offensive coordinator, while Alan Steel, departing the Coventry Jets, was appointed as Defensive coordinator. 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.

Recruitment
Following successful recruitment sessions in the winter of 2014, several rookies joined the team, along with former players returning from playing in Europe.

Statistics
Offence

Defence

Special teams

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. 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.

Award Winners
The Bulls held their annual awards night on 20 September 2015.

Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game Notes
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.

Passers
 * Dan Wilkes: 0/4, 0 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
 * Stuart Williams: 0/13, 0 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT

Rushers
 * Rob Brown: 14 carries, 85 yards, 0 TDs
 * Marc Bonazebi: 3 carries, 36 yards, 1 TD

Defenders
 * Jake Harbon: 10 total tackles, 7 solo, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD
 * 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.

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.

Passers
 * Dan Wilkes: 3/15, 56 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Rushers
 * Marc Bonazebi: 27 carries, 155 yards, 1 TD

Receivers
 * Michael Beaty: 2 rec, 52 yards, 0 TD

Defenders
 * Gareth Thomas: 0 tackles, 4 INT, 2 break ups
 * Dominic Taylor: 3 total tackles, 1 solo, 1 INT, 1 TD
 * Olu Amudipe: 7 total tackles, 3 solo, 1.5 sacks
 * Jack Pemberton: 4 total tackles, 2 solo, 1 INT

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.

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.

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.

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.

Passers
 * Richard Penwright: 6/15, 63 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT

Rushers
 * Marcus Rey: 12 carries, 44 yards, 0 TD

Receivers
 * Michael Beaty: 2 rec, 46 yards, 0 TD

Defenders
 * Jake Harbon: 10 total tackles, 7 solo, 1 INT, 1 FF
 * Olu Amudipe: 7 total tackles, 4 solo, 1 sack, 1 breakup
 * Gareth Thomas: 3 total tackles, 1 solo, 1 INT, 2 breakups
 * Adam Fleet: 8 total tackles, 5 solo, 0.5 sacks

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.

Passers
 * Richard Penwright: 1/3, 5 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
 * Daniel Maher: 2/16, 12 yards, 0 TD, 2 INTs

Rushers
 * Marcus Rey: 3 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD
 * Mark Bonazebi: 11 carries, 108 yards, 0 TD

Receivers
 * Marcus Rey: 1 rec, 11 yards, 0 TD

Defenders
 * Dotun Ademiju: 6 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 sack, 3 break ups
 * Jack Pemberton: 5 total tackles, 4 solo, 1 INT
 * Adam Fleet: 7 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 FF
 * Ilya Kaznachyeev: 10 total tackles, 9 solo

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.

Passers
 * Richard Penwright: 8/15, 67 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs

Rushers
 * Mark Bonazebi: 38 carries, 166 yards, 2 TDs

Receivers
 * Michael Doyle: 1 rec, 47 yards, 1 TD

Defenders
 * Olu Amudipe: 5 total tackles, 4 solo, 2 sacks, 2 FR
 * Gareth Thomas: 4 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 INT, 1 FF, 3 break ups
 * Simon Taylor: 5 total tackles, 4 solo, 1 FF
 * 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.

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
 * Lee Macken: 4 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 FF
 * Dan Williams: 5 total tackles, 4 solo, 1 FR
 * Gareth Thomas: 2 total tackles, 1 solo, 1 FR, 2 break ups