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+---- Thread: (S28) Ultimus Week (/showthread.php?tid=31809)
RE: (S28) Ultimus Week - Lowlycrib - 05-11-2021
Tier 2:
10. Write a short biography or story about your player. This could include background about how they came to the ISFL and how they’ve done so far, a story about their role in an exciting game, or anything else related to their experience in the league (500 words)
Andy Fantuz has recently just joined the Developmental Simulation Football League and landed with the London Royals on their quest and success in winning the Ultimini. While this is a big step in his career thus far, it is also important to consider some of the earlier events in his career and backstory that led to him being in this situation and opportunity. Andy Fantuz was first introduced to football in his early days watching some of the legends of the International Simulation Football League such as Joilet Christ or Franklin Armstrong tear up the league at the quarterback position. While Andy Fantuz initially wanted to play at the quarterback position, he found more success at the wide receiver position due to his rock steady hands that rarely ever dropped many passes. While Andy Fantuz may not be the fastest player around, he has the skills to become a dominant 3rd down guy or even for the redzone due to his ability to find the open spots in the defense and his glue like hands. Andy Fantuz continued to play football into high school where he then stopped playing the other sports that he loved such as hockey and basketball, this allowed for him to solely focus on becoming the best wide receiver on his team and the city. While football in Canada is certainly different than the game played in the United States of America, it still has the same fundamentals and core skills to develop. Andy Fantuz initially did not receive much playing time in his early years at his high school due to their already being a number of great receivers on the team but this did allow for him to start to hone his skills on special teams as both a gunner and the returner. When Andy Fantuz got his shot to shine in his junior year of high school he did not disappoint as he broke the school record for receiving yards and touchdowns and led the team to the provincial championship game. In his senior year though Andy Fantuz was faced with a gruesome leg injury that cut his season short after just the first half and led to him only receiving one offer from the States to play college football for the Maryland Terrapins. Andy Fantuz ended up being redshirted his freshman year of college which allowed for him to acclimate to both the college environment as well as America as he had never visited before his acceptance to Maryland. Andy Fantuz after his redshirt never really popped off like both he and the team had hoped but he continued to be a reliable option for both the quarterback and the team as he finished his college career with zero drops in total before he declared for the DSFL draft and wound up on the London Royals before their Ultimini winning season where he was able to contribute a few catches per game for them. Fantuz has already received a number of scouting calls and looks forward to be taken in the DSFL draft so that he can continue to improve his skills and prepare for the jump ahead to the ISFL game because he already has decided he will not be sent down after his required season in the DSFL. (548)
13. Expansion Expansion Expansion! The league seems to love talking about it, but it has still not happened. Tell us why it should happen / should not happen soon?
Expansion is crucial to both the league's short and long term success as a simulation league. Expansion allows for a higher amount of users to be starting and gaining playing time which is one of the most sought after parts of any simulation league. While the league has continued to ignore an element such as injuries within in the league, this forces the hand of expansion as the only option towards continuing the growth of the league. One of the issues that arises from this though is that you'll need to keep all of this members active and raise the floor for it to continue and any mass retirement or players leaving due to whatever issue such as a Bachelorette, commissioner tampering, or a variety of questionable choices. Expansion also allows for new and interesting places to have a shot at hosting a team such as Sarasota which was in the recent expansion. Another element that expansion allows for is for older players who might have been pushed out and forced to retire with a new opportunity to play and help shape a new locker room and interact with users they wouldn't have before. One of the issues to consider for expansion is having quality GMs for the team as people can see with situations such as Baltimore or Chicago in the past who struggled to find any success or consistency with the team and creat an environment that is not fun for individuals and could drive them away so ensuring you have the correct candidates is crucial to the success of the expansion. Another knock against expansion that I can think of includes the terribly long stream set ups for the games that needs to change before even considering a potential expansion. Most of these streams are pushing an hour and a half and are painful to watch if you're one of the last teams so in order to fix something like this you'd need to either split the ISFL games into different time slots or just upload the games as a preloaded video rather than live so that people can pick and choose the games that they want to watch. If the league can iron out some of these issues that arise with expansion, I think that expansion could definitely be beneficial to all the different parties involved with the league but if they can't figure out the solutions to some of the issues that I have raised than I believe that expansion would ultimately be detrimental to the league and some of its users rather than beneficial.
(430)
RE: (S28) Ultimus Week - KezKincaid - 05-11-2021
7. This task is exclusive to non-recreate rookies of the S29 class and later. In 400 words or more, how has your experience been in the league? Who have you met that has made your time here more fun, friendly, and exciting? Have you been satisfied with your player’s early start? What was it like being drafted for the first time? Do you have any comments or suggestions for the entire league that you think should be implemented?
So I have been in the SHL for a while, and over the last few seasons we've been seeing more and more ISFLers crossing over into our league, and on WPG we have several people that are in both leagues. Generally speaking, anyone I knew from ISFL seemed to be pretty cool and knew sim leagues well enough to make good players and be good additions to any LR. So when they convinced me that I should create a player in ISFL (mostly to give Kyle recruitment TPE) I figured, what the heck, I like football, too. The first thing that surprised me was that I had previously created an account back in 2017, but apparently never did anything with it. I don't really recall that at all but nonetheless, this time I would actually create a player. It was recommended to me that Tight End was a position of need for several teams so that was what prompted me to go that route. Little did I know that it would end up being a TE-heavy draft class, but that's ok because it gives some competition to be the best at that position!
So I created at the TDL and was picked up by Portland to finish off the season. I didn't get any playing time but it was a chance to see what the sim was like and so on, it seemed pretty decent even though the sim was a bit baffling with play-calling and time management, but, not really my concern! I focused more on just building my player and doing PTs, trying to set myself up for a good rookie season.
The DSFL Draft and scouting was great, I think I had conversations with most teams, and I was keeping an open mind about all teams - one of the appealing things to me about joining a new league was a chance to maybe share a LR with people I might not otherwise get to do, or even just to meet and chat with people who were brand new! So I wasn't really expecting to be drafted too high but to my delight I went 5th OV to Tijuana, which was a surprise but felt pretty good! It definitely made me want to be sure I was worth it so I made sure I did all my point tasks and stuff. The weekly updating and PTs are easy enough to keep up on and I did most everything, left a few TPE on the table because I didn't get my wiki done, and didn't earn enough money for the max coaching, but otherwise I stuck with it and have hit the DSFL Cap.
I definitely enjoyed my rookie season with Tijuana, both GMs are really great and do a good job of keeping everyone motivated and excited for game days. We had a pretty strong season with some fantastic play from many players, so making the finals and seeing some hardware come to some guys for their individual efforts was a real boost to the team! Personally I didn't have a ton of stats but my big accomplishment was getting touchdown with my first catch in the first game! All downhill after that! One thing I like about ISFL is that because there are only a couple of games per week, instead of several every day, Game Day is a lot more hype and it's great to be able to catch the stream and cheer along with the gang!
So overall I am glad I decided to give ISFL a try, it is enjoyable to only have to worry about my own player for once but I have also gotten attached to Tijuana a bit and will hopefully be able to contribute with some scouting and being named a team captain for next season is great as well! I have no idea where I will go in the pending ISFL Draft but if my destination has got some good people and I have a chance to make some plays on the field, I will be happy to give it my all!
10. Write a short biography or story about your player. This could include background about how they came to the ISFL and how they’ve done so far, a story about their role in an exciting game, or anything else related to their experience in the league.
What do you get when you cross a Las Vegas Showgirl with a Professional Hockey Player? You get the athletic genetic blueprint for an all-American sports and entertainment star! Gronku Muerto grew up in Las Vegas, playing both baseball and football in youth league and high school. Despite his family name being more well-known in European hockey circles, Gronku's passions delved more into 'traditional' American sports. Despite being offered scholarships to play baseball for several colleges after high school, Gronku chose to try out for his home-town favorite football team, the UNLV Rebels, playing as a Tight End. His size and speed were enough to grant him a spot on the team, and although not initially a starter, he played several games for the squad as an injury replacement or second-string over his time there. He never surpassed more than 50 receiving yards in any one game, but did manage to score a career-high 4 Touchdowns in his final season. Scouting reports on him were sparse due to his lack of starts, but he did receive praise from his coaches for his work ethic and team-first attitude.
His skill level was not quite enough to get drafted to the NFL, and after being unable to secure a training camp invite to any teams, he was prepared to utilize his father Riko's connections and try out for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. However, that plan was squashed when the Canadian league was forced to shut down due to covid concerns. With his future uncertain, he declared eligibility for the ISFL at the trade deadline in Season 27. He was a waiver-wire signing for the DSFL Portland Pythons, and spent the remainder of the season on the practice squad for that team. Despite not getting any playing time, he was able to learn more about the league and found that the talent and competition levels, as well as the fan base, were very strong and could provide a reasonable career for him. He was entered into the S28 DSFL Draft, and was then selected 5th Overall by the Tijuana Luchadores. It was a bit of a surprise pick to many as he was expected to be a 2nd/3rd round selection. After a strong showing in Training Camp and preseason, he was slotted in as the starting Tight End for the regular season. In his first game, he caught his first pass which was for a touchdown in the first quarter. However, he did not score another touchdown until the 2nd last game of the season, then added another in the playoff semi-finals. Despite underwhelming receiving yards and scoring plays, Gronku developed a reputation as a decent blocker, leading the league in Pancakes by a Tight End, and allowing 0 sacks on the season. The Luchadores finished first in the South Division. Going to the finals in the first season was a thrill, but unfortunately the Luchadores were unable to come away as victors.
Gronku's future in the league seems secure, projected to be a late first round or early second round pick. In a draft class heavy on Tight Ends, Gronku is rated as the 4th best rookie at his position. His development has continued to be steady and he improved at a similar rate to others in his Draft class, but his statistics definitely fell behind the other prospects at his position. Several teams were reportedly interested in Drafting him, but at this time it is unknown where his future might end up. Expectation are certainly that he should have a long and prosperous career in the ISFL, barring injury .
RE: (S28) Ultimus Week - xtitanxmvpx - 05-12-2021
UW S29 - xtitanxmvpx Option #6 - 10 TPE (825 words)
I want to first say that all players who won awards this off-season definitely deserved them. I think this is a fair thought that I am going to write about and one that should really be looked into in the coming seasons. With that being said, let’s dig in.
My topic is about defensive players and the MVP award along with other awards and possible changes. Where do I begin on this one? I mean, it’s pretty straight forward with the idea that some people do not believe these players have the impact that offensive players do. I want to put something into perspective here; a cornerback gets 9 interceptions on the year and scores 2 touchdowns. Along with any sacks, tackles for a loss, forced fumbles, fumbles recovered, or other stopping plays, this player would not be realistically considered ‘most valuable’ if they were on a winning team. I’m not going fully into the statistical analysis of how many impactful plays the player had, but if you were to look at the percentage of affect a key defensive player has is quite high.
I want to put my own stat line out from this last season: Xavier Walls -
Tackles 106
TFL 4
FF/FR 7/3
Sacks 12
Int 4
PDs 16
Sfty 0
DTD 1
Over the course of the year, I could have been considered top at any defensive position (for which I was voted Defensive Player of the Year) pretty handily. Moreso though, I look through my games and see how much impact I brought to each of the Pythons games that led to our second consecutive 11-3 season. Our offense was down this year and you could argue that the leadership I provided our rookies and defense overall led to a large majority of our wins. I tied 3 records, broke 2, and played like a mix between a cornerback, safety, linebacker, and defensive end. I’m not sure what a player would have to do to realistically have a shot at winning the MVP award from the defensive side of the ball.
The winner of the award, Lonnie Jackson is a great dude and I’m happy to say that a team mate of mine at the ISFL level won the award at least. I’m grateful for winning Linebacker of the Year, Def. Performance of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year; however I truly think something needs to change in the consideration the defensive side of the ball gets to be an MVP. It was a gut shot to know that I was considered behind the only other players to get votes (both offensive). I got 1 vote for a season that was truly awe-striking. Some might call this bitching and ungrateful, but I really want the discussion to start on whether this award is solely an offensive award or if other players in the future can earn real consideration for it if they play as such.
MVP aside, I also think that the safety position awards should be split up into two different awards. The positions are extremely different and do things in a very different way. Being on the awards committee the last two seasons, I have seen how the conversations go in regards to stat importance and comparing the two positions to one another and having to pick hybrid safeties over other safeties because of PDs and Ints over forced fumbles, sacks, and tackles. If a safety is playing at high end linebacker levels I think they deserve an award shot as well, and you might say some were on the ballot this year, but honestly the pass coverage safeties still won out on the awards over hard nosed safeties who played close to the line. One such player was Romulus Roman who put up very good tackle numbers, but overall the rest of his stats were disregarded as they weren’t ‘safety’ stats. This isn’t arguing he should have beaten out the winner for the award, but moreso saying in a strong safety category he would have had a much higher chance of winning it.
I look forward to my start with the Philadelphia Liberty this next season and will cherish the accolades I’ve been given. I hope in the future these awards can be more clear in what they are for and the criteria designated for each one. MVP should be a neutral award and I think many people share my opinion on it. I don’t think I can even fill one hand with defensive MVPs looking back through the seasons that the DSFL has existed which is quite sad.
Good luck to this next season’s rookies and other players vying for awards. I hope your experience is a great one and that voters take a closer look at the amount of impact EVERY position has on the games. Love ya and peace, just my two cents. -Titan
RE: (S28) Ultimus Week - HENDRIX 2.0 - 05-12-2021
15. Going to Disneyland! Who was the Ultimus Game MVP? Give us a rundown of their celebratory trip to Disneyland. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
Douglas Quaid has had the great fortune of playing on an Ultimus Bowl contender since the day he was drafted. Playoff experience over the years has galvanized him into one of the team leaders. When the Wraiths faced off against the Copperheads in Ultimus Season 28, less experienced players looked toward Quaid as an example. Calm, intense, and focused. This game of all games is what Quaid lives for. Quaid was all over the field in the championship. He accumulated ten tackles, had two pass deflections, had a sack, and also forced and recovered a fumble. With two minutes left in the game the Copperheads had the ball down by 5, trying to score the game winning touchdown. After an eight yard completion on 1st down, Quaid squashed Austin’s chances at a comeback. On 2nd down, from out of nowhere, Quaid blitzed Daytona and had a forced fumble sack recovery. Game over. The celebratory trip to Disneyland is getting boring to Quaid at this point. He’s been there three times already. During the trip Quaid showed the 1st timers the ropes and paid the 50 thousand dollar dinner and alcohol bill the team compiled over the weekend. All the employees of Disneyland know Quaid by name. Rumor has it Quaid already booked hotel rooms for the Wraiths after season 29.
(247 words)
RE: (S28) Ultimus Week - Arvot - 05-12-2021
1. This week will see the S28 Ultimus and Ultimini races begin in earnest. How did each team arrive at the playoffs? Were there any dark horse teams that went unexpectedly far, or any presumptive favourites that fell flat? Who do you think will win the final? If you’re writing this after the finals were decided, were you surprised by the outcome?
I’m going to take a look at the London Royals path to the playoffs. The Royals ground their way to the Ultimini through a staunch defensive line and a superstar running back in Manhattan Project. Project had the second-most rushing yards in the DSFL whilst Glenn Smart got shit done on the defensive side of the ball with 11 sacks, good for second-best overall in the regular season.
The season started off with a home win against the Portland Pythons. The Royals edged out the Pythons in a close game 20-13. The game was won in the 4th quarter where two touchdowns from Hulkenvettel and Hunter helped to give the Royals the lead whilst the defense managed to shut out the Pythons. The game was pretty clean with no turnovers from either team, but the Royals managed to grind out the win and start the season off right.
Next up the Kansas City Coyotes came to London to see if they could bounce back from their season 27 Ultimini loss and losing their first game of the season. They could not. London put on a show destroying the Coyotes 41-10 intercepting the Coyotes 3 times. Whether it was Abed or Jaroppolo Jr. didn’t really matter, they both thought the Royals cornerbacks were their new receivers. Manhattan Project torched the defense as well putting up 138 yards and 3 touchdowns. Rip KC.
The Norfolk Seawolves were next up in what was soon becoming the fortress of London. It was another big win for the Royals, crushing the Seawolves 40-17 as the offense exploded once again. The ground game was unstoppable once again, but this time it was quarterback Arrow Jr. putting up insane numbers as he ran for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns. Two +70-yard touchdown runs helped London to a massive win and a performance from Arrow many Royals fans will never forget.
London now had to go on the road for the first time this season and found things tough over in Dallas. The Birddogs managing to defeat the Royals 35-24. The Dallas defence managed to slow down London causing three turnovers with one of them being a pick 6. Gaare had a huge game rushing for Dallas putting up 119 yards and 3 touchdowns. London would hope to bounce back with a win next week away to Tijuana.
The Luchadores proved tough opponent for the travelling Royals but the team from London managed to eek out a win, triumphing 21-20. In a closely fought battle London came away with the points thanks to a big fourth quarter where they converted a 2-point conversion to seal the victory.
Bondi Beach Buccaneers were the next team to visit London as the Royals hoped to maintain their strong early home form. The Buccaneers had other ideas though as the Royals secondary couldn’t cope with Ozymandias, Bronko and Funyuns. After a strong first quarter from the Royals, Bondi Beach managed to slow down the London offense holding them to a solitary field goal in the next three quarters.
At this stage of the season, the Royals were 4-2 with some huge wins under their belt. There was reason to be optimistic with a strong running game and defense helping them to set a good early pace. They would now make a real push for the playoffs by going on a nice run of games where they really start to click.
This started with a closely won game away to the Minnesota Grey Ducks. The Royals emerged victorious in a low scoring 17-12 game. It was a cagey affair, but Project managed 109 yards whilst Tapian Pete also put up 87 for a rushing total of 196-yards. The Royals could grind out results thanks to the strong running game whilst the defense could keep things tight by creating pressure. Smart got 2 sacks and a forced fumble in this game to help nullify any threat from the Grey Ducks offense.
In another closely fought shootout Royals overcame the Birddogs 47-42 to bring their record to 6-2. Both quarterbacks had huge games with Arrow Jr. having 3 touchdowns to 1 interception and Christ Jr. had 4 touchdowns to 1 interception. The Royals superior rushing game helped them to win out in the end putting up 183 yards whilst the Birddogs only managed 90. A great kicking game by Rainbow Dash also helped seal the win hitting 4 out of 5 field goals with one of them being a 52-yarder!
Next up the Kansas City Coyotes hosted the Royals once again as they looked to avenge their early season hammering. This time they put up a much better fight holding the Royals to 24 points, but it was not enough as they could only put up 21 points themselves. Abed threw 2 interceptions again in this game as the turnovers proved to be too costly. London was on a roll winning their fourth game in a row.
The next game was another closely fought battle, but the Royals continued their streak. Taking their 5th win in a row they beat the Tijuana Luchadores 28-27 with a last-second touchdown pass to running back Taipan Pete. This game had it all with 5 turnovers between the two teams and a huge rushing game from Jackson of the Luchadores putting up 191 yards. London ground out another result to make the playoffs seem more and more certain.
The Bondi Beach Buccaneers came to visit London in the next game. London was looking for payback after losing to the Buccaneers when they went to Bondi Beach. They found it, hammering them 41-14 to make it 6 games unbeaten. Taipan Pete carried on from his heroics in the last game with a 113-yard rushing total and 2 touchdowns. Project also put up 94 yards as the London ground game dominated once again.
The Portland Pythons then came along to bring the Royals back down to earth as they finally lost a game. London couldn’t keep up with Miles Weperom as he amassed 155 yards and 2 touchdowns in only 4 receptions. The big play machine helped the Pythons humble the Royals and ensure they refocused for the upcoming playoffs. Sitting at a 10-3 record the Royals could look forward to playoff football but had to win against Minnesota to ensure home-field advantage.
They managed to beat them 23-16 giving them that all-important advantage and taking the season record to 11-3. The rest is history as they ploughed their way through the playoffs to bring home the Ultimini title.
RE: (S28) Ultimus Week - ajtigger - 05-12-2021
Question 4
While I don't think it drastically altered the outcome of the season, the San Jose Sabercats had some very poor sim luck this season and were the epitome of "Sim gonna Sim". To set a bit of a background, the Sabercats had one of the highest average TPEs for their players heading into season 28 of the ISFL, yet they finished finished with a very disappointing 5 and 11 record. While TPE is not always the be all end all of a team's success, the Sabercats had some very unfortunate sim luck with four games going to overtime this season and each of those games ending in a loss for San Jose.
The first overtime game was week 2 against the New York Silverbacks. After a furious comeback and a bomb of a 61 yard field goal the Sabercats had forced overtime with the silverbacks. The teams cats got the ball back first and that's where things started to unravel. Immediately Monty Jack is sacked on the first play of overtime and the drive sputters. This in itself is not unlucky, but what happened next is. McDairmaid the man who just booted a 61 yard field goal came out to punt and his punt went.... 32 yards. That's right the highest TPE kicker or punter only was able to hit the ball 32 yards. This gave an incredibly short field to the silverbacks who capitalized on it for a win.
The second overtime game was just a week later against Honolulu. This game was a back and forth affair with Honolulu kicking a last second field goal to send the game to overtime. Again, the Sabercats won the toss and started with the ball in overtime. Similar to the previous week, the offensive line crumbled and Monty Jack was sacked early. This time he star quarterback fumbled the ball which was scooped up by the defense. Honolulu only had 25 yards to go to score the game winning touchdown, plunging San Jose to a second straight overtime loss in only 3 weeks of the season.
It took until week 10 for the third overtime loss to occur for the Sabercats. This time they were playing against the Colorado Yeti. After a furious comeback capped off by a touchdown and two point conversion, the Sabercats forced overtime. This time however their coin flip luck had run out and Colorado won the toss and elected to receive. The first two plays for the Yeti only gained 5 yards setting up a huge 3rd down and five. The Sabercats made a huge stop on the play holding the Yeti to only 4 yards and seemingly forcing a punt. However, the Sabercats were called for an unnecessary roughness penalty on the playing, gifting the Yeti fifteen yards and an automatic first down on the play. The Yeti used this penalty as a huge momentum shift and proceeded to drive the length of the field and set up a one yard rushing touchdown. This touchdown sealed the fate of the Sabercats in the game making them now 0 and 3 in overtime games.
The fourth and final overtime game this season came in week 14 against a familar opponent, Honolulu. This time the game script was a bit different as the Sabercats jumped out to an early lead. However, down ten in the fourth quarter, Honolulu was able to rally and tie the game. San Jose did nothing with their final possession and so the game went into overtime. In overtime the Honolulu started with the ball and began to march down the field. Luckily the Sabercats were able to stop the Honolulu team before they were able to get in the endzone. Powers kicked a field goal giving Honolulu the lead but a chance for San Jose to get the ball and match or beat the score. San Jose though had the same problems arise in overtime as the last game against Honolulu. Monty Jack was under constant duress and was sacked on a crucial third down play. On the final play of the game, Jack was scrambling for his life and fired a pass downfield that was intercepted. This put an end to the game and marked the fourth overtime loss for San Jose in the season.
Apart from these overtime losses, San Jose further had 4 more games that were decided by one score. The team may have had one of the unluckiest seasons in ISFL history with so many close losses. The team did lose 11 games so it is unlikely that even flipping a few games would have lead to a playoff appearance, but San Jose can take comfort in the fact that they were competitive for most games this year. The team should plan to retool moving forward and make a push with the players that are just entering regression this season. If the sim gods decide to smile on San Jose, then maybe it can be the other teams saying Sim gonna sim next year as the cats lift the Ultimus trophy.
RE: (S28) Ultimus Week - KenitohMenara - 05-12-2021
5. The league has a rich and fascinating history, and our perspectives on it differ from person to person. In 800 words or more, describe any significant moment in ISFL or DSFL history, whether you were around for it or not. Describe the context, the significant members, and the events. What exactly made this event so famous (or infamous) and why does it deserve to be remembered? Events might include championship wins, the inducting of players to the hall of fame, or even a league scandal.
It was the off-season just before season 23 and the Dallas Birddogs were looking to fill out their roster. As a second year expansion team, alongside the London Royals, they were entering the new season with big hopes. They had gone 5-11 their first season and they were looking to build up their new team with one goal in mind. Find defensive players that fit their system. General Managers Inverted and Steg felt they had a good offensive core but they needed to build the defence core… after all, defence wins championships. At the draft itself, they ended up taking 5 defensive players out of their 8 picks. Tyler Montain, Hingle McCringleberry, Byron Blackwell, Yuuto Kira Cloudera and Bradley Owens. Even then, they weren’t finished as they converted their third round pick, Tomas Mcgullagher and their fourth round pick Raphael d’Alcott from wide receiver to safety and cornerback. It was a group of young graduates who would have to come together quickly, some of whom had never played on this high a stage before, others had not even played the defensive side of the ball… this was going to be a rough year. Or at least that’s what people thought would happen.
Greedy Sly and Tyler Montain were effectively neck and neck going into the draft, so it was obvious that whoever went first, the other would go second. The DSFL has always been a run heavy league so drafting the highest rating Defensive Tackle made sense for the Birddogs at second overall. So far, he’s paid early dividends for Dallas as he would anchor the swiftly growing stronger defensive line. He would end the season with 5 sacks, 2nd out of all DT’s by one sack and 35 tackles. The only really knock against Tyler is that he ended the season with no Tackles For Loss, then again it was tough for any DT’s to really get many of those last season so its not as big a deal as one might think.
With Griffin Porter and Tyrone Woods gone in the first round, McCringleberry was the highest rated Linebacker available. The man was one of the highest working linebackers coming out of college so it was an easy choice for Dallas with this pick. With a pressing need to protect their QB, McCringleberry would be given his baptism of fire very early in the season. A legitimate contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year that season, Hingle would collect 17 Tackles for Loss (leading all Linebackers in the league), 16 Pass Deflections (tied for league leader with Sackson Sr), 5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. He’s been the biggest bang for the buck in Dallas and has entered the DSFL with no slow down in his game.
The surprise of the draft for Dallas was Raphael d’Alcott. They had predicted that d’Alcott would have been off the board a round ago by this point and took him immediately when he was there. Raphael has caused quite a stir amongst the GMs in the league with his draft interviews with Norfolk reportedly wanting to take him with pick 27. Like McGullager, the former Ohio State standout wide receiver would not stay on the offensive side, converting to Safety before the season started. With this conversion, Dallas would gain the reputation of the “No Fly Zone” as d’Alcott would put on a season to remember. Another contender for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Raphael would finish the season with a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, 3 interceptions, 10 pass deflections (leading all free safeties in the league) and a pick six in the final game of the season. d’Alcott has rocketed up draft boards recently to the point where he is predicted to go in the first round, a far cry from being a 4th round selection. It goes to show that while you can judge a player's numbers, you cannot judge his work ethic and heart. With that pick, Dallas was laughing all the way to the bank.
With Montain taking the spotlight at DT it was hard for Kira Cloudera to get a chance to prove himself. To his credit, the Gakuin Graduate proved that there is raw talent that can be converted at the next level. With 30 tackles, a forced fumble, two sacks and a safety, Yuuto proved that he could get it done when called into action. What Cloudera needs is consistency and unlike other higher rated players from this class, Yuuto is keeping active in training sessions and trying to work his way up the depth chart.
Just goes to show that late round choices can be just as important as 1st rounders. Originally a Quarterback, Owens was convinced to become a Linebacker by the Dallas front office as they believed he could convert his raw athleticism and strength at this level. He would not disappoint. 11th in tackles overall at 118 total recorded, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery and 5 total sacks paint a very pretty picture for a 9th round pick.
This infamous defence, often called the No-Fly Zone eventually became known by another name. The Dallas Dawg Pound. A defence that would go on to make pro bowls and win championships in the ISFL. They truly were a marvel like no other.
(884 words)
RE: (S28) Ultimus Week - bowl0 - 05-12-2021
7. To start off, my experience in the league so far has been pretty awesome. In the few months I've been around I've gone through the DSFL draft which brought me to the amazing locker room of the Tijuana Luchadores. It felt pretty great that Tijuana decided to draft me more based on personally then as a position. Kotasa has been especially awesome throughout my first season after meeting me while he was my prospect bowl GM. I guess I made a better impression then I initially thought between the prospect bowl and the pre draft discussions I had with him, since he made the decision to draft me in the fourth round. While I was not satisfied with my earning specifically at the beginning Kotasa kicked my but into gear and I finished the season much better for my TPE since he didn't let me procrastinate on some of the stuff (like I'm doing right now), I am broke though, so I got to figure something out to earn some cash here though. Dude_Man has also been great for me in the league so far as well, he helped me with some PT stuff by letting me bounce some ideas off of him as well as giving me some reminders since I otherwise I would probably procrastinate myself until the last minute.
While we are obviously currently in the pre draft for the ISFL draft, I have had a lot of fun talking to most of the teams so far during the draft process and I am excited for whichever team drafts me so I'm really looking forward to May 13th. It is really great with how many of these people are willing to help out with what feels like anything you need at any point. The one thing I think should be changed would be having the discussion regarding ISFL contracts and how they work more visible somewhere, since I didn't learn about how all of that works until one of the people scouting me (Pat) mentioned if I knew anything, then they walked me through some of the basics of it, so I at least had a decent idea of what I was doing at the time, not exactly sure how that could be implemented though, since it's not exactly a normal discussion topic in the DSFL.
All in all, I have had a lot of fun this season and I'm looking forward to the rest of my career! (411)
14. So this will be a review of Rean Schwarzer and his team the Tijuana Luchadores for this past season. For my stats this season I had 56 Tackles, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery, 5 Interceptions, and 31 PD's with Tijuana who went 8-6 and just fell short while going for their 9th Ultimini.
We started off with a smothering effort against Bondi Beach with a 41-10 victory, Lonnie started off his MVP season here with 168 yards and 2 touchdowns here, and Rean started his almost record setting season with 2 tackles and 3 PD's. In our second game against Norfolk it was a much closer affair where we won 26-23 where fellow cornerback Sir Peter Jackson and I both had strong games leading us to victory, Jackson and Rean both had a FF, 3 PD's and an Interception. Our third game was the first setback getting handled by Dallas, while nobody really had great games here Rean had 5 tackles (no PD's sadly), Jackson got 2 PD's and an interception. Tijuana got back on track once they played Minnesota with LB In Active lighting up the sheet with 3 tackles, 2 sacks and a FF. Rean had a solid game with 5 tackles and 3 PD's.
This is where Tijuana starts a 4 game losing streak now, while we played tough games, couldn't quite get it done. Against London we lost 21-20 Lonnie went off for 202 yards and a TD on offense, while on defense Jackson had 3 PD's and an interception and Rean had 4 tackles and 4 PD's. Next up was a matchup in Kansas City starting the 3 game road trip where we lost 27-17. Jackson had another great game with a forced fumble and a recovery as well as a PD while Rean had 6 tackles and 4 more PD's. Now onto back to back games in Portland where we fell 29-22 in the first game, LB Devonte Crook had a solid game with 12 tackles, 4 TFL, and a forced fumble. Rean had a good game as well with 2 PD's and an interception but we couldn't get the offense going enough to prevail. The second game against Portland was a different story where Lonnie had a good day with 101 yards and 2 TD's, but we couldn't stop Portalnd 44-31 Not much happened on defense and Rean had 5 tackles. Tijuana got back in to their winning ways in their next 2 games against Minnesota and Norfolk. Minnesota we won 12-9, the offense didn't really do much, but defense prevailed where Rean had 2 PD's and an interception. For Norfolk it was a close fought game where I only had 2 tackles. London edged us out in the next game 28-27 where Jackson was strong with 4 PD's a FF and an interception, while I also had a forced fumble and a recovery with 2 PD's. We finished the regular season with 3 straight wins on the way to the 1 seed in the south with an 8-6 record. In our first playoff game against Bondi Beach Lonnie went off with 137 yards and a TD and I had 6 tackles and 2 PD's in our 27-22 victory which brings us to the Ultimini against London which didn't go so well where we lost 26-10 Lonnie had a good game with 141 yards and a TD, but we couldn't pass very well against them and I finished my season with just a tackle. It was an amazing year and I'm looking forward to competing with Tijuana again to get the elusive Ultimini #9
(A Lot)
RE: (S28) Ultimus Week - Thelastheraclid - 05-12-2021
7. This task is exclusive to non-recreate rookies of the S29 class and later. In 400 words or more, how has your experience been in the league? Who have you met that has made your time here more fun, friendly, and exciting? Have you been satisfied with your player’s early start? What was it like being drafted for the first time? Do you have any comments or suggestions for the entire league that you think should be implemented?
My experience with the league has been top notch since signing up a few weeks ago. I had been meaning to sign up for the league for a while now but things just kept getting in the way or I would fall asleep when I actually had time to sign up and create a player. Luckily, Zeagle mentioned in the Baltimore Platoon’s locker room that the trade deadline passed and it would be a good time to create a player. Zoone said he was going to jump in so I no excuse not to anymore. Coming into the league I was a bit worried about it. I don’t really know anything about football but luckily that hasn’t been an issue at all. I was played a few games for the Tijuana Luchadores to finish out season 28 and everyone in that locker room was excellent. GuitarMaster116 and Kotasa were both super welcoming and helped get me situated in the league. Since the season ended I have been in touch with quite a few of the other DSFL GMs and everyone has been ultra friendly and they have really made me feel excited to be a part of the site. I have also come across some familiar faces from the SHL which has been a good way to settle into the league.
I am satisfied with my player’s early start but I am expecting much more in his first full DSFL season. In four games played my player had a little over 80 yards receiving. It ain’t much but it is honest work. Unfortunately, I was not able to convert any of my receptions into touchdown but that will come. Losing in the championship game was pretty bittersweet. It felt great to be a part of a team in the finals and get that experience for my player. Unfortunately, the Luchadores lost that big game. I will choose to look at it as getting disappointment out of my system for the rest of my career.
I haven’t been drafted yet but the lead up to the draft has been a great experience. I have had a good number of teams reach out and it has made me feel like the belle of the ball. I am really excited for draft but I probably won’t be able to actually catch the stream because of work. I am going to have to figure out a way to stream the draft and tie it in to a lesson plan.
Coming from another sim league I think that the league is set up great. The only problem is just being new. I’m still getting used to where each forum is but that is just a matter of time before it becomes muscle memory.
(458 words) 5 TPE
16. This task is exclusive to recreate/non-recreate rookies of the S29 class and later. The season is over and the draft is coming up. What do you bring to a team, and why should a team choose to take a chance on you next season?
Cliff Burton entered the DSFL right at the tail end of the season and was nabbed by the Tijuana Luchadores. In the few games that Burton played with the squad I think he showed what he can offer to a DSFL squad. In 4 games with the Luchadores Burton had 82 yards receiving with an average of 10.2 yards per reception. Now this is not exactly lighting the league on fire but it does show that a bare bones kids just stepping into the league has some chops. To add on to that, Burton is not some egomaniacal future superstar or anything like that. He is more than happy to play a complementary role if that is what is necessary for the team that does end up selecting him in the coming draft.
Outside of the character, I am a reliable updater. I have been involved with the SHL for going on three years and have missed one 1 TPE task. I have been captain of the Baltimore Platoon for a good bit so dedication is there. Even though I probably won’t be a max earner I will be a reliable high middle type of guy which is why I am happy to fill that complementary role in a team.
(210 words) 2.5 TPE
29. Affliate PT from either SHL/PBE/GOMHL. The Weeks must match with the timeframe of this UW
SHL affiliate 2.5 TPE
RE: (S28) Ultimus Week - TeyonSchavari - 05-12-2021
Task 3 - 830 words
Examining teams and their players and users throughout their history can lead one down a rabbit hole of interesting facts and incredible feats of the team’s current and former members. There are plenty of teams that have a robust historical stronghold on the league, while others are more fresh and harder to appreciate until they have a chance to make their own marks on the ISFL.
For my task during Ultimus week, I decided to look at the Orange County Otters and their rich and successful history. This was not an easy task, as there have been so many outstanding members of this organization. After taking some time to research their history, and from my time as an Otter myself, I have compiled my own ‘Mount Rushmore’ of sorts of their most impactful users and players in their history.
I would not be able to make a Mount Rushmore of the Otters without including Speculadora. As a player, safety Jaylon Broxton was a cornerstone of Orange County in their early years, winning a couple of ultimuses, while his next player Hugh Mongo was able to bring home three championships of his own. Now, once again, spec’s latest player, Owen Holloway, is looking to get a ring himself on yet another stacked Otter team. For being in this league for so long, it is astounding that he was able to accomplish so much while staying on the same team his entire sim league career. His players may not have seen the most success statistically, but the real contributions he has made are as a user and a GM. Spec is very familiar with the sim and is one of the greatest at keeping his players happy while still being competitive. The Otters have never had a losing season, and for the bulk of their existence Spec was a GM. After stepping down as GM, he was still a huge part of the Otters success as a member of the war room. As a GM, Spec won more than any other and ran a tight ship. He may honestly be the greatest GM of all time in this league. For this, spec takes the first spot on OCO’s Mount Rushmore.
The next person I need to put on Orange County’s Mount Rushmore is from an earlier era. Timeconsumer is an ISFL legend. You may not see him around as much anymore, but you will not find a person with more sim knowledge than him. TC was a huge part of the Otters success in the early seasons, helping to guide them to their first three championships. But his success doesn’t end as a user. He is also the man behind the player of Angus Winchester, one of the best to ever play the game. If you could compare him to any NFL player, it would be Lawrence Taylor. Winchester was a linebacker during his career with OCO, and after setting nearly unreachable records over the course of his career, he was honored as a Hall of Fame player soon after his retirement. For his contributions to the team and to the league, TC gets the next slot on this list.
I’d like to bring us back to the modern era of the ISFL, and as the rules have changed it has become much harder to earn ridiculous stats that the old timers were able to achieve. However, moonlight’s player Franklin Armstrong shattered expectations and became the best QB in the league for a long string of years. Not long after being called up, Armstrong was able to lead the Otters to three straight Ultimus titles. To add to this, Armstrong also nabbed a plethora of awards throughout his career including multiple MVPs. Armstrong is a sure-fire Hall of Fame QB, and his contributions as a user shouldn’t be downplayed either. Moonlight was a member of the war room for much of his career as an Otter, and these contributions help solidify him as the third face on OCO’s Mount Rushmore.
Finally, to round off the list I can’t leave off the user that created quite possibly the greatest QB to play the game. JBlaze_the_boss is the man behind Mike Boss, who started his career right at the leagues humble beginnings. Boss set countless records as QB and easily made it into the Hall of Fame. After Boss, JBlaze next created Johnny Blaze, who nearly matched legend DiMirio’s numbers in his career as well. Not to mention Blaze’s many championships as an Otter that helped him get on OCO’s Mount Rushmore. Blaze had two outstanding players, and is a pleasant user to boot.
Some may disagree, but I believe this is how the Orange County Mount Rushmore should look. BWestfield is someone else who I would also consider being on this list as someone who shaped the team from the beginning. I’d also like to mention Marc Spector, Hall of Fame cornerback who’s user RedCydranth unfortunately passed away. May he rest in peace.