Avengers attempt to turn it around

After finishing 5-11 and failing to make the playoffs last season, the Avengers hope that a little change will be good for them in the revamped Arena Football League.

The AFL, in its 21st season, signed a five-year deal with ESPN, which will televise games and also owns a portion of the league. The AFL also adjusted a few rules -- the most significant of which eliminated the one-substitution-per-quarter rule.

“The roster limit did not go up, so people are still going to have to play both ways at times,” said Lonnie Ford, the Avengers’ all-time leading rusher with 500 yards in four seasons.

“To me, the new rules will just make the game better.... Instead of having your best players on the field tired, you get to have fresh guys in the game at all times.”

The league’s new free substitution rule prompted teams to alter their roster makeups. Quality one-dimensional players became a premium over solid two-way players.

“We’ll see how it balances out, but we’re excited about the guys that we picked up,” said Coach Ed Hodgkiss, who will have eight rookies on the Avengers’ opening-game roster against San Jose on Sunday at Staples Center.

One player no longer with the Avengers is veteran two-way specialist Greg Hopkins, an un-signed free agent who had shoulder surgery during the off-season. Hopkins, who failed in his attempt to win a seat in Congress in his home state of Pennsylvania in November, had been with the Avengers since 2002.

“It’s going to be tough not having him here for me personally,” Hodgkiss said. “But, I think it’s good for the team. We needed a change and now we have new guys stepping into leadership roles.”

For the Avengers to return to the playoffs and challenge the defending AFL champion Chicago Rush, they will need a strong effort from second-year quarterback Sonny Cumbie, who started the final 12 games last season. Cumbie was a rookie-of-the-year finalist after completing 59.6% of his passes for 3,241 yards and 59 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. Still, the Avengers suffered their worst season under Hodgkiss.

“We feel that we have as much talent as any team,” Cumbie said, “but the key for us will be going out there every week and just play loose after failing to play up to expectations.”

Split end Kevin Ingram, who led the team with 111 catches for 1,354 yards and 34 touchdowns last year, said the Avengers have the right mix of youth and experience to contend for the AFL championship. ArenaBowl XXI will be played July 29 at the New Orleans Arena.

“Our expectations are high, but they’re high going into every season,” said Ingram, a two-time All-AFL selection. “The difference now is that we have some real good young players. I really like them.... We still have to see after a few games, but it seems like the chemistry is there.”

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lonnie.white@latimes.com