[DEV] ISFL Forums
(S5) - Ultimus Week - Printable Version

+- [DEV] ISFL Forums (http://dev.sim-football.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Player Development (http://dev.sim-football.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=8)
+--- Forum: Point Tasks (http://dev.sim-football.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=92)
+---- Forum: Archived Point Tasks (http://dev.sim-football.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=53)
+---- Thread: (S5) - Ultimus Week (/showthread.php?tid=7245)

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6

(S5) - Ultimus Week - speculadora - 01-29-2018

Robbed: The robbery of the NSFL season was the Philadelphia Liberty falling just short of a playoff appearance. The Liberty suffered some brutally close losses down the stretch, losing three of their final six games by a combined 15 points. After pulling off an upset in a must win game against the league best Orange County Otters, the Liberty found out they would miss the playoffs as the Baltimore Hawks defeated the Arizona Outlaws earlier that day. The Hawks and Liberty finished the season with the same point total, but the Hawks actually allowed one more point, leaving the Liberty with the better point differential for the season. The two teams were closely matched throughout the season with each team picking up a win at home. The real robbery is not that one of these two teams made the playoffs over the other, but that one might have missed the playoffs because of their conference. The Arizona Outlaws, the ASFC’s runner-up, actually finished with a point differential of just +5 as compared to Philadelphia’s +66. The Outlaws also went 4-4 against their NSFC schedule while the Liberty went 5-3 against their ASFC schedule, suggesting that if the conferences were reversed, the Liberty would be sitting comfortably in the playoffs while the Outlaws would be out.

Playoff Predictions: The first round of the Season Six NSFL playoffs start tonight as the Hawks face off against the Wraiths and the Outlaws take on the Otters. I’ll start with what I believe is the easier to predict of the two games in Arizona versus Orange County. The Otters will be playing on their home turf and that presents a huge advantage as they were undefeated at home this season. Orange County was the convincingly superior team during the two matchups between during the regular season with a dominating 44-14 win at home and 31-24 come-from-behind victory on the road. It seems as though all signs point toward the Otters having an opportunity to defend their Ultimus title this year. The second of the two opening round matchups may be quite a bit closer. The Baltimore Hawks enter these playoffs on fire after winning 7 of their last 9. The Wraiths, on the other hand, stumbled during the heart of their schedule before righting the ship with two tune-up games against Las Vegas and Colorado. The two teams were separated by a razor thin margin in their two matchups this season with each team winning on their home turf. It is worth noting, however, that the Hawks lost by just two points when they took on the Wraiths in Yellowknife in week one. I’ll stick with my pre-season predictions here and say the Hawks pull of the upset and move on to the championship game. In the predicted matchup between the Hawks and Otters, I have to say that it’s hard to imagine anything but an Orange County victory. They took both of the regular season meetings and the Hawks will simply find themselves outclassed in this one as the Otters seal back-to-back Ultimus Trophies.

Root for the Underdog: I touched on this in my playoff predictions write-up, but I’ll reiterate that I see the Baltimore Hawks having a real chance at toppling the favored Yellowknife Wraiths in the NSFC Championship round. The Wraiths look to be the superior team, but it’s much closer than most are making it out to be. The Hawks hit a rough patch at the start of their season in which they went 1-4. During that same stretch they managed to play the Wraiths to a one score game on the road. As the Hawks hit their stride in the second half of their schedule they were able to take a home game against Yellowknife by a score of 27-16. The Wraiths will have little hope of moving the ball on the ground against Baltimore’s NSFL best rush defense. The key to this matchup for the Hawks will be slowing down Eric Kennedy. During the Hawks week 8 victory they followed a similar game plan and, while Kennedy did damage, they kept the Wraiths out of the end zone until the fourth quarter. If the Hawks can create some chaos in the passing game their defense may be able to get the ball back into the hands of their high-powered offense and steal a win.

Matchup Nightmares: The matchup nightmare of the Season Six NSFL playoffs will be Jordan Yates against the entire Outlaws defense. Yates might just be deserving of the MVP award after posting an absurd 1800 scrimmage yards and 21 touchdowns this year. Yates scored four touchdowns in the two regular season games between the two teams and will look to continue his offensive outbursts into the playoffs. The Outlaws, on the other hand, made the playoffs in spite of their defense rather than because of it. They finished second to last in the NSFL in all of: scoring defense, yards allowed, rushing defense, and passing defense. Struggling against both the rush and the pass is a nightmare formula when going up against Yates, the league’s most dynamic player. The Outlaws will have to rely on their entire defense to contain Yates, but in the end they might just lack the talent to do so. They simply don’t have linebackers who can run stride-for-stride with Yates or safeties who can handle his physicality. If they sell out to stop him in the receiving game they’ll be leaving Bradley Westfield and Robert Phelps uncovered. To put things simply, there are just too many weapons on the Orange County offense for the Outlaws to focus on containing Yates and it seems likely that this will be a waking nightmare for the Arizona defense.

(S5) - Ultimus Week - DeathOnReddit - 01-29-2018

Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them. Must be completed after the playoff series you write about


The playoff MVP for the Ultimus game between the Orange County Otters and the Yellow Knife Wraiths has to have been Bradley Westfield. In a game where both Quarter Backs performed pretty terribly, Bradley Westfield had 6 receptions for 141 yards with an average 23.5 yards per catch. While he did not have any touchdowns, think about how important those catches were to set up field position. If he only caught one pass per drive, and the team started at the 50, his catch would put them at the 36 yard line. Thats insane, and would be huge for making sure the drive ends in a score. As well as catching all of these passes, think how big of a target he was, and how many times he drew double and maybe even triple coverage sometimes. Even when Westfield isnt catching the ball, the defense has to show respect to him or else he would make them pay. Its why Orange County is so good, they have 2 great weapons in Westfield and Phelps, and combine that with the league MVP in Mike Boss and Jordan Yates who had the most TDs in the league, and you get an insane team that cant be stopped.

Unsung Hero:Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)

The Unsung Hero of the playoffs had to have been Dominic Verns of the Orange County Otters. Against the Arizona Outlaws in the ASFC Championship Game, Dominic Verns had 5 tackles, 1 pass deflection, as well as a interception that went for a touchdown. Yet after the game I barely heard anyone saying his name, it was mostly about Angus Winchester, Mike Boss, Jordan Yates, Bradley Westfield, Robert Phelps, or some of the other incredible players from the Otters, that while they do deserve to be praised and loved, I believe Verns deserves just as much love for his work in the back of the otters defense. Against the Yellow Knife Wraiths in the Ultimus game, Dominic Verns did even better than how he played against the Outlaws. He had 7 tackles, 1 Tackle For Loss, 1 pass deflection, and 1 Interception. In a game as big as this, and it was sort of close, to be able to perform this well and do this much is something incredible. What he did was not MVP worthy, not very close to MVP worthy, but he deserves to have some high praise. I think he will continue to get even better, and I am very excited to see how he does next year.

Sit-down with a star:Interview a player from a team that is not your own that is in the playoffs. You must ask them four questions and at least three must relate to the league in some way. YOU MUST POST THE QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS FOR CREDIT. (Can be completed at any point) Cornerback Dermot Lavelle

1. 2nd year in a row in the ultimus, 2nd year as underdogs, what makes this year different?
I think just the fact that we're back here consistently is a big step up. Plus you always look forward to these big games, especially with a player like Eric Kennedy on your side. Add to that the addition of Blaster Blade, the consistency of Akselsen passing the ball, nuck running the ball and Lombardi putting it through the uprights and you've got a champinship calibre team, which is exactly where we are right now.

2. What has this season been like for you?
This season personally has been great for me, after coming off my best season yet this wasn't too much like my last. This will all change if we get to hoist the Ultimus tonight though. I just look forward to honing my craft, being a threat on this team and bringing home some championships to this great city.

3. Do you think the new sim would be better for cornerbacks?
I believe the sim is the exact same regarding cornerback stats in terms of pd/s ints but I do believe there's less blown coverages. By in large we will have to do alot of testing to see but HOPEFULLY it's an improvement and the people at wolverine studios are somewhat competant at their jobs, we hope..

4. Is a hotdog a sandwich?
No, a hotdog is not a sandwich. It is the furthest thing away from a sandwich in my mind.

Sit-down with a fan:Answer questions for an interview from a player that is not your own. You must answer at least four questions and at least three must relate to the league in some way. Link to the interviewers PT to receive credit. NOTE: THEY MUST POST THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR YOU TO GET CREDIT. (Can be completed at any point)
http://nsfl.jcink.net/index.php?showtopic=...ndpost&p=105191

(S5) - Ultimus Week - ItsJustBarry - 01-29-2018

Root for the Underdog: I am taking a look at the matchup between the Baltimore Hawks and the Yellowknife Wraiths. Lets first start with the fact that the Hawks weren’t even supposed to make the playoffs. After a horrendous 1-4 start, they went to work to finish out the season 7-2 doing just enough to slide past Philadelphia for that number 2 spot. Looking ahead to the matchup, the Hawks will have to travel to Yellowknife for a week 1 rematch. During the season, these 2 teams played each other close. In the first game, the Hawks started off hot before losing all momentum. They let over 25 minutes pass between field goals during the 2nd and 3rd quarters. The wraiths scored 14 points during that same time frame. Although the Hawks surged back in the 4th quarter, the damage was done and Yellowknife had won. In their 2nd matchup, the Hawks started slow before putting up 3 touchdowns in just over 17 minutes. This pace of play showed to be too much for Yellowknife and they fell 27-16. With each team taking a win at home, the scale should lean towards the Wraiths but I would never count out Baltimore’s potent offense in any matchup. (202)

New Talent: The easiest argument for an S5 trade that made a huge impact would be the trade that sent Ricardo Sandoval headed to Colorado via Las Vegas and brought Alexandre LeClair to Baltimore. It was going to be interesting to see how LeClair fit into the Hawks’ offensive scheme and he wasted no time making a name for himself. Catching 83 balls for an amazing 1567 yards is incredible. He also managed to reign in 11 touchdowns and maintain an 18.9 yards per reception average, all of these being career highs. Heading into the conference championship with a weapon like this has to give Baltimore a ton of confidence. Yellowknife’s defensive backs, Dermot Lavelle and Pierre Carter, will have their work cut out for them as they try to contain LeClair. It doesn’t stop there as Trey Willie, John Wachter, and Owen Taylor will be running wild as well. The addition of Alexandre LeClair is without a doubt one of the biggest factors in the Hawks returning to the post season after missing out in S4. While this may not have been the biggest trade to occur during the S5 season, I would argue it could have the greatest significance to a team’s success. (203)

Playoff Predictions: For my playoff predictions, I will start with the ASFC. I am going from memory but I believe the Arizona Outlaws will be facing the Orange County Otters in the post season for the 5th consecutive time. While this isn’t the Arizona team from S3, they did surprise many people with their success this season. With that being said, they did lose both matchups against Orange County this season including a 30 point blowout in OC. I expect the Otters to win this and I don’t even expect it to be a fun game to watch unless you’re an Otters fan.
Next, I’ll take a look at the matchup between the Baltimore Hawks and Yellowknife Wraiths. This should be an interesting matchup with the 2 teams splitting their games during the regular season. Although the Yellowknife Wraiths have home field advantage, I will give the slight, probably bias edge, to Baltimore. Despite the regular season records, these 2 teams are pretty evenly matched so I wouldn’t even call this an upset. Despite the outcome, I expect this game to be fun for any fan of football in general as I expect it to come down to the final possession to be decided.
This means Otters and Hawks meet in the Ultimus. Otters win. Yay! (214)

Matchup Nightmares: I touched on this briefly above but I will say it again, the Baltimore Offense is a matchup nightmare for any team’s defense. Boasting an impressive receiving group, paired with a bruising running back and competent quarterback, the Hawks’ have a top tier offense in every statistical category. First, you have Avon Blocksdale as the general on the field. Behind him, rushing juggernaut Owen Taylor. On either side, we find Alexandre LeClair, Trey Willie, and John Wachter lined up. This team has been hard to contain as they average almost 29 point per game and they usually make it look easy when they’re doing it. Averaging 26.5 points against Yellowknife alone this season, the Wraith’s defense have the trying task of slowing this group down. With a pass first mentality, the defensive backs of Dermot Lavelle, Pierre Carter, and Dirk Cutter (who?) will likely be the determining factor on this games outcome. Another matchup nightmare will be Turk Turkleton vs. the entire Wriath’s special teams. Battling for field position, Turk can easily be the key playmaker who changes the pace of the game. If you recall the Hawks’ week 8 win, they won easily with only 241 yards through the air so its safe to say the Hawks can beat you in many ways. (214)

Bonus: [Image: v3B4sd7.png]

Bonus 2:

Robbed: Make a graphical stat comparison of a team who failed to qualify for playoffs but why they should have over another team.
@kckolbe @37thchamber

[Image: fEoXQwq.png]


[Image: to4pIdQ.png]

(S5) - Ultimus Week - manicmav36 - 01-29-2018

(01-29-2018, 06:05 PM)ItsJustBarry Wrote:Bonus: [Image: v3B4sd7.png]

lol

(S5) - Ultimus Week - run_CMC - 01-29-2018

Sit Down With A Star (Done with iamslm)

Q: You had a huge improvement from last season to this one, getting 3 fewer picks, 24 more touchdowns, and posting an over 60 completion percentage. What did you do to make such a positive change?

A: I mean there was obviously a lot of hard work over the off season but I don't think I improved all that much. My numbers were so much better because of my supporting cast. Obviously Trey Willie is improved, as is Owen Taylor, but Hendrix did an incredible job putting talent around me. The drafting of John Wachter and Trade for (and re signing) of Alexandre Leclair was absolutely incredible. Those two guys made it a lot easier to put up big numbers.

Q: What was the highlight of your season?

A: This is going to sound a bit rude - but making the playoffs over Philly is always a highlight. I mean those guys talk a ton of smack and recently MIA Kevin Cushing is always a blast to beat after how he shit talked my man Antoine Delacour. So making the playoffs and beating down Philly was awesome. The loss in the playoffs certainly hurts - but we got a bit unlucky along the way. I'm confident we'll be back next year even stronger.

Q: Speaking of that playoff loss, what’s it like playing in Yellowknife this time of year?

A: Man it is fucking COLD. It's legit one of the coldest game environments I've ever been in. I never played there this late in the year (last time we faced them in the NSFC champ game we were the home team. And their Defense is super tough. So combine the toughness of the cold and the toughness of their defense and Yellowknife is a miserable place to play in. Not to mention its never fun to play in front of 5 fans. I like a full arena.

Q: And my last question for you today: what are your main off-season goals?

A: My Main off season goal is to just keep plugging ahead and improving. Our team is loaded, and I was an MVP candidate this season. I wanna be the run away MVP next year. I want our team to be the number 1 seed in the league. If we can pitch a couple FAs and have a good draft I have no reason to think we can't be even better this next upcoming season.

(406 words)

Sit Down with a Fan (also done with iamslm)

Link

Playoff Series MVP

There is a clear Ultimus MVP this season. And his name? BRADLEY MADLAD. That’s right. The Otters’ kicker. Before you shut me down, just hear me out. For starters, Madlad scored 14 of the Otters’ 26 points over the course of 4 field goals and 2 extra points. 14! 53.84%! Madlad fell just one point short of the entire opposing team’s point total. If he missed even one field goal, it would’ve been a one score game after the Wraiths score in the 4th, and they would’ve had a chance to come back. If he missed multiple, then it’s a very different game even before the 4th quarter, because the Otters miss out on 3+ points and the Wraiths get the ball from good field position instead of off a kickoff. And let’s not disregard his punting: he averaged a full 3.8 yards more per punt than the Wraiths’ kicker (Iyah Blewitt) and had a long of 59. Now, I’ll be fair: Madlad out kicked his coverage a few times, leading to one scary 20 yard punt return by Dermot Lavelle that nearly broke into open field. But you can’t deny his extensive contributions this Ultimus. I may be biased because I’m doing my best to write about kickers, but I think in this case it’s hard to disagree.

(219 words)

(S5) - Ultimus Week - Leafer - 01-29-2018

Robbed: Write about why a team that failed to make the playoffs should have over somebody else. Can be completed at any point

You want to talk about teams being roobed? Well there is lots of teams that were robbed and that did not make the playoffs and teams being scrubs and being sucking. But there is only 1 in this league so lets start of with the Philadelphia Liberty. They were actually robbed from making the playoffs which is the whole point on why I am writing this. They were tied with the Baltimore Hawks and somehow they did not make the playoffs because of the diviosional record now that sucks. They had a record of 8-6 which is the same, they have scored a total of 405 points which is also the same as the hawks but they allowed less points than the Hawks by 1 which is a big difference. So they are better defensively. The Liberty had a good start to the season but later on, they were losing games and that is how they missed out. Now whoever makes it would face the Wraith but difference is that Hawks actually beat the Wraith but Liberty lost but both games were very close. The Liberty have a rough road record which is the reason they did not make it. Home advantage is a thing.

Playoff Predictions: Give a short write up on each of the playoff matches (including the championship game). Must be completed before the simulation of the Conference Finals

The first CF game is between the Hawks and Wraith. This game will go to the Wraith. Number one they are the better team and playoff football is not like playoff hockey where anyone can win, no. Its whoever is the better team wins. The Wraith led by Akselsen, Law, Jarden, Cook, Kane, and Lavelle, is how you win against the Hawks. The offense and defensive game goes towards the Wraiths.

The second CF is between the Outlaws and the Otters. Now this is no shout of the doubt goes to the Otters. Sure the defense is good for the outlaws but the offense from the otters is crazy good. Yates, Phelps, Westfield, Winchester, O'Sullivan and of course the best QB in the NSFL, Mike Boss who will lead the otters to the finals once again. There is no chance the outlaws can stop the otters unless they cheat which is not the case. But still, otters going in to the finals.

And finally the finals between the Wraith and Otters. Bascially, rematch. Last season the otters defeated the Wraith to win the Ulltimus. This is going to be an interesting game but this goes to the Otters again. This is going to be an offensive game otters take that advantage.

Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them. Must be completed after the playoff series you write about

I will obviously talk about the conference final game between the Outlaws and the Otters. Now this game was pretty going to be predictable because we know how both teams did in the regular season but the success they have had. The Otters were clearly favourites and in fact, they kicked the outlaws' ass. And this was expected to happen unless the otters fuck up or the opponent cheats but that would never happen. The Otters had an MVP favourite Mike Boss. The best QB and here is why he was the MVP. He killed it out there. He was a offense dynamite. 37 for 56 in passing, and that was 366 yards of passing completed which is lit good and 3 touchdown passes. He is the man who had no interception passes. 21 points coming from him and though the score was 43-19, the otters would have the game with mike boss alone and that is how good he is. Now the outlaws were not a challenge and let think that there is no challenge for Mike Boss and it may be too easy. This is why he is the MVP of this series because he is my man Mike Boss.

Playoff Review: Write a short review of the playoffs and each of the matchups. Must be completed after the Championship Game

NSFC: Baltimore Hawks vs. Yellowknife Wraiths (37-21)

The Wraith were the best team in the NSFC and the second best behind the otters in the league. They go off to face the team that were lucky enough to make the playoffs who are the hawks. The start was pretty close game as both teams tried to get the lead but the wraith managed to take cover over the game in the 2nd half and Akselsen had some help and 10 straight points to take the win and head to the Ulltimus Finals once again.

ASFC: Arizona Outlaws vs. Orange County Otters (43-19)

This was a pretty predictable game and we knew who would win this game. It starts of with the otters being the otters and immediately taking the lead. TD after TD after TD and then great defensive plays. The outlaws had no chance against the otters and the defense could not handle the offense. The outlaws did their best and put a lot of effort proving they are contenders.

Ultimus: Yellowknife Wraiths vs. Orange County Otters (26-15)

The rematch occuring once again in the finals and they meet. Otters won last season so the Wraith want revenge. This was an interesting game. Defense has been great this game and that teams scored a lot from field goals instead of touchdowns. Otters were close to the red zone for more field goals and a touchdown in the 3rd quarter to secure the Ulltimus.


(S5) - Ultimus Week - PigSnout - 01-29-2018

Playoff Predictions:
ASFC Championship: ARI @ OCO
For the fourth year in a row, the Otters and the Outlaws meet in the ASFC Chamionship, although this time it will be played in Orange County. The Outlaws' offseason scandal devastated their roster and made the Otters the new powerhouse in the ASFC, but the Outlaws managed to stay competitive and make it back to the playoffs. This game has the making of a shootout as it pits the Outlaw's #1 scoring offense (436 points) against the Otter's #3 scoring offense (421 points). However, the difference maker is on defense as the Otters boast the #1 scoring defense (261 points) while the Outlaws hold the #7 scoring defense (431 points). The Outlaws' high powered offense will run into a brick wall in the Otters' defense while the Otter's offense will tear apart the Outlaws' porous defense. The Otters also have home field advantage and swept the Outlaws this season and so I expect them to advance to the Ultimus for the second year in a row.
Prediction: ARI 20 OCO 38

NSFC Championship: BAL @ YKW
The NSFC Championship returns to Yellowknife but this time the Hawks are the visitors. The Wraiths had an impressive season with both the #2 scoring offense (433 points) and the #2 scoring defense (310) points. The Hawks also put up good numbers as they are tied for the #4 scoring offense (405 points) and have the #4 scoring defense (339 points). However, I think the Wraiths have the edge with both a better defense and a better offense. The teams split their series this season with both winning at home and I think the Wraiths' home field advantage will be the key to their victory as they return to the Ultimus.
Prediction BAL 20 YKW 27

NSFL Championship: YKW @ OCO
The Wraiths and Otters meet in the Ultimus for the second year in a row. The Wraiths have a slight edge on offense while the Otters have a big edge on defense. Both teams will score points but I think the Otters' suffocating defense along with home field advantage will be the key in this matchup. The Otters repeat and the ASFC continues its Ultimus dominance.
Prediction: YKW 24 OCO 30

Quote:383 Words

Playoff Series MVP:
In the biggest games of the year, teams generally look to their quarterback to step up and lead the team to victory. That is exactly what Matt Akselsen did for the Wraiths in the NSFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Hawks. Akselsen had one of the best passing performances we have ever seen in the playoffs as he completed 28 of 45 passes for 486 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and a passer rating of 121.2. However, he wasn't just playing safe to avoid mistakes as he averaged an impressive 17.4 yards per completion. What's most impressive about his performance is looking at the receiving stats. Akselsen didn't just feed one good receiver, he spread the ball out and made everyone look like a star as 3 Wraiths players had over 100 receiving yards and 2 more had over 50 receiving yards and all 3 passing touchdowns were to different receivers. Akselsen did everything the Wraiths could ask for in that playoff game as he made big plays, avoided mistakes, and spread the ball around so it was impossible for the Hawks to cover everybody. The Hawks never stood a chance with Akselsen playing in such good form and he is the reason the Wraiths are advancing to the Ultimus game for the second year in a row.

Quote:218 Words

Root for the Underdog:
Coming into the Ultimus Game, the Wraiths are underdogs against the Otters. However, calling them an underdog sells short just how good this Wraiths team is. They finished the season 10-4, the first time an NSFC team has held double digit wins, with the #2 scoring offense and the #2 scoring defense. They were one of the 3 teams to beat the Otters this season as they dominated them 34-14 in Week 11, though the game took place in Yellowknife, however the Wraiths were still competitive in Orange County in a 26-20 loss. While the Otters' pass defense is statistically much better than their run defense, I think the Wraith's key on offense will be to assert themselves through the air. The passing attack has fueled the Wraiths all season long and they shouldn't dramatically change the formula in the most important game of the year. Additionally, the Otters have been unable to slow down Matt Akselsen this season as he posted a passer rating over 100 in both games against the Otters this season. What can the Wraiths due to slow down the Otters' high powered offense? With 13 fumbles recovered and 19 interceptions, the Wraiths' defense has forced a league leading 32 turnovers this season. The closest threat to a home loss the Otters faced in the regular season came against the lowly Yeti when they were able to forced Mike Boss into throwing 5 interceptions. While Boss is unlikely to have another outlier performance like that, the Yeti showed that the best way to shut down the Otters is to keep the ball out of their hands. If the Wraiths can get some turnovers, either by forcing Boss to make mistakes and intercepting some passes or by stripping the ball from ballcarriers, they can keep the Otters' offense off the field and allow their own offense to control the game. It may be a longshot, after all the Otters have a perfect record at home this season for a reason, however if any team has a chance to dethrone the Otters, it's the Wraiths who appear to be equally stacked in their own right.

Quote:357 Words

Unsung Hero:
Most people pay attention to the Otters for their gaudy offensive numbers and flashy offensive playmakers. However, their success is just as equally owed to their stout defense. This year in the playoffs, they went against the highest scoring offense and the second highest scoring offense in consecutive games. However, they held both of these teams to less than 20 points and held two top quarterbacks to passer ratings of less than 70. The driving force of this defense is the pass rush that got 29 more sacks than any other team this season. This makes sense with the Otters having some big names at linebacker including Angus Winchester, Julian O'Sullivan, and Ian Bavitz. However, neither of those players led the Otters in sacks this postseason. The unsung hero of this Otters playoff run is rookie defensive lineman Ryan Sierra. Sierra's 3 sacks were more than any other Otters player had during this postseason. This is especially considering that Sierra was previously an offensive lineman so this is his first season ever playing defense. While he may not be one of the flashier names on the Otters, Sierra made a huge impact on their impressive defensive performance and is certainly one of the heroes of this championship run.

Quote:208 Words


(S5) - Ultimus Week - ExemplaryChad - 01-29-2018

Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them.

(This was written before the re-sim, so apologies that it doesn't match the Index.)

Budda Browning, who knew? He’s been a solid player since he entered the league in season 3, but he hasn’t often been dominant. He finished the regular season ninth in receptions, fifth in yards, and eleventh in touchdowns. These are good numbers, but they’re far from staggering. In the Outlaws’ matchup versus the reigning champs, the Orange County Otters, he finished the game with 6 receptions for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns. This was certainly a day where he wasn’t the only receiver to shine, as King Bronko threw for almost 500 yards and 5 touchdowns. However, both of Browning’s touchdowns came in the first half, when the game was still close. His catches took the wind out of the sails of the Otters, pulling the game out of reach before it had even really started. He wasn’t ever-present in the second half, but he was still making enough plays to keep the game well out of reach.

Essentially, I’m not making the case that Budda Browning was the sole reason that the Outlaws pulled off this stunning upset; he wasn’t. But he was a huge part of it, and it wouldn’t have been possible without him. He’s my MVP for the Outlaws-Otters series.

Word count: 204


That Magic Moment: Pick one moment from a playoff game and describe what made it so amazing to watch.

The Hawks-Wraiths matchup in Yellowknife was all set to be a close game, hotly contested in the time leading up to it. Once gametime finally rolled around, it didn’t disappoint. The game stayed close throughout, and either team had a legitimate shot at coming out on top. As was expected, the teams mirrored each other in so many ways, and the end result was a game that could go down as a classic in the annals of the NSFL.

It seems fitting, then, that the biggest play of the game came with only 1:14 left in the game. Hawks star running back Owen Taylor had come out of the game for the late drive after posting significant numbers receiving and carrying a heavy workload on the previous drives. His backup, Dieter Koch, hadn’t touched the ball much. A few plays earlier, Koch had taken a big hit from Wraith Luke Tiernan and coughed the ball up, but he had recovered his own fumble. On this play, however, with the Hawks attempting to overcome a nine point deficit from the 3-yard line, he wouldn’t be so lucky. Speedy, hard-hitting safety Cameron Taylor forced the ball out and recovered the fumble, stymying any hopes for a miracle comeback and ending the game. It was a terrible moment for the backup running back Koch, but a great one for Taylor, and an even better one for fans of the NSFL.

Word count: 238


Unsung Hero: Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us.

To those in the know, it’s no surprise that Dermot Lavelle performed well in the playoffs. He’s consistently a leader on defense for the Yellowknife Wraiths, and his play is one that cornerbacks all over the league look to him as for how to play the position.

But it’s easy to overlook the impact he had in the playoffs because, ultimately, he played for the losing team. While the Otters handily defeated the Wraiths in the Ultimus Championship this season, there are players on the Wraiths who still deserve some recognition, and even played well in that defeat. Kennedy and Cook, Kane and Ridley spring to mind. But Lavelle is the one who played up to, and perhaps even beyond, the lofty expectations placed on him.

He really shined in the matchup against the Hawks, he racked up eight tackles (second on the team), two passes defended, and one interception. This is truly a great game, and the picture of someone who was able to put the team on his back and carry that defense to victory. In the matchup against the Wraiths, his stats weren’t nearly as gaudy, but his performance was still strong. He notched three passes defended and a couple of tackles. This wouldn’t be enough to win the game, but it showed that he was active in the defensive backfield. Westfield exploded against them for 141 yards, but this was a total defensive failure, not one placed on Lavelle. In short, even though his team lost in the end, Dermot Lavelle played like a champion.

Word count: 259


Hate the player or the game: Tell us which team made the playoffs and shouldn't have, or which team didn't and should have?

With half of the league making the playoffs every year, it’s pretty likely that there are going to be tiers of teams that are separated in that field. This year, the Wraiths and Otters made a pretty clear case that they should be there, and no one can really question that. Their record and their history of play throughout the season showed that they belonged and, as expected, they were represented in the Ultimus.

Unfortunately, outside that top tier of teams laid two teams that probably shouldn’t have been there. That’s not to say there was anyone else who should have been there; there really wasn’t. But the Hawks and Outlaws were simply outmatched in the conference championships. They both had winning records going into the playoffs, which was definitely a plus for them. They both also had other teams pretty hot on their heels to get in. Still, my contention is not that they didn’t do the work to get there. It’s just that they were both so overmatched once they got there that the question of whether they should’ve been there to start has to be asked. It’s hard to tell if the Liberty or the Cats would have done any better, but it would have been hard to do much worse.

Word count: 214


(S5) - Ultimus Week - Supersquare04 - 01-29-2018

Root for the Underdog - Well I'll be damned. The outlaws are back in the ultimus and absolutely crushed the Otters in Orange county. But now they have to go to YellowKnife and do the same thing, and take home the trophy. I think that they are extremely capable of winning this game, and my reasoning for that is the freaking game we just watched. The otteres were dismantled, in every aspect of the game. Mike Boss looked like an off brand Nick Pierno, the famed defense still boasted its impressive sack count, but they nearly got a 50 bomb dropped on them. We are talking about the outlaws dropping almost 50 on the defending champs, surely they can do it to the wraiths. I mean the otters defense is really good, it's miles above the rest of the league. I can see King Bronko owning the Wraiths like the playoff god he is. Get ready for a #upsetalert people, it's happening. Now I need some filler to get to 200, so what other reasons can the outlaws win this? The answer is experience. The Outlaws, despite cheating know their way around the playoffs. They have been here plenty of times and are ready for it. While it may not matter in the sim, Mike Boss also played like an 8 year old so screw the sim. I think experience does matter, and they have plenty more than the wraiths. (235)

Matchup Nightmares - Arbin Asipi Sr will be looking to absolutely ruin Mat Akselsen's day during the Ultimus. he made the life of Mike Boss a living hell in the match up with the otters, and now he looks to do the same for the Wraiths. I am not a big Asipi fan, ask anyone and they'll tell you. But you gotta admire Asipi's performance against the otters and you have to understand that he may do the same against the Wraiths. MA is a very skilled quarterback with numerous weapons, but can he get the ball out to one of those weapons before Asipi gets to him? I don't know, it is Asipi's last season and he wants to go out with a bang, specifically the bang when he smacks MA into the turf. Damnit now I need filler. It is so hard to write about Asipi and how he's going to dominate when he is just so bad in the statistical categories. All I can say is he is experienced and shows up in the playoffs. I mean he has a fire in his stomach since he is retiring this year and he is wanting that 4th ring (1st without an *). I think that Asipi is going to have something to prove against the YellowKnife Wraiths in this game. We will see come thursday. (223)

That Magic Moment - Boy have I got a good moment for this. The Hawks are down 2 scores, they need 1 touchdown and have just enough time for a quick stop and a quick touchdown to come back and win it against the Wraiths and perform the upset. They are inside the 5, they hand it off and the running back is almost to the endzone!...fumble...the crowd is silent for a moment and then explodes. The Wraiths fans that is. Everyone at home on their couches wearing their Trey Willie jersey is in shock. This ended the game between the Wraiths and the Hawks, as soon as that moment happened it was OVER. Everyone knew it, it was like the interception at the goal line in the Patriots v Seahawks superbowl, it was a huge moment. If the outlaws hadn't shattered the hopes and dreams of the otters this may have been the moment everyone would be talking about. I remember watching this game and up until that moment I thought that the Hawks still had a chance, as soon as that moment happened I knew it was over. The entire stream knew it was over, even the Hawks fans were saying good game. (203)

Playoff Series MVP - King Bronko is the MVP of the Conference championships. To put up THAT many points on THAT defense is incredible. He is clutch, if I could define clutch I would just show you a picture of a bronco with a crown on it. I mean he just destroyed the Otters. He was able to get a touchdown against the legendary play known as the CB blitz, which is virtually unbeatable. He was getting sacked all night long, including a couple big hits from Angus Winchester. But Bronko kept on getting up and throwing it even better than before. He pulled off arguably the biggest upset in NSFL history. Whether or not Bronko will be the MVP of the season or not is uncertain, but he is definitely the MVP of this round, his performance was bar none the best of all the other performances in the Conference championship round. I am still impressed by what he did and it's been almost 2 hours after the stream. I don't know if they actually hand out any awards for something like this, if not why the hell is this a pt? But anyway I think he is the clear cut winner of the award. (202)

(S5) - Ultimus Week - KimJungBigDong - 01-30-2018

Conference Final MVP Sig:
[Image: gbAhwVx.png]


Playoff Recap Infographic:
[Image: hEGkuHq.png]

Championship Banner:
[Image: 0wnY86E.png]

That Magic Moment:
[Image: EdClFZA.png]