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+---- Thread: (S5) - Ultimus Week (/showthread.php?tid=7245)
(S5) - Ultimus Week - tlk742 - 02-01-2018
Sit down with a star - GM Arbin Asipi
1. How does it feel to win. Have it resimmed and then lose? Do you think the resim should have happened?
It felt like shit, because we were all so excited in the locker room, and you saw how excited we were in the main discord. To have it taken away feels like shit. No comment.
2. Let's assume the resim didn't happen, what would have been the gameplan v yellowknife
2. It probably would've been the same game plan as the one against the otters. If the re-sim doesnt happen, I believe the Otters are a way better team than the wraiths, and if we can beat the otters away I dont think I would have seen a reason to change something that worked
3 .Sure but let's assume they notice the extra plays in the playbook. What goes?
We change it up. We try to keep the pass attack going, and throw it at Dermot Lavelle. I told Bronko whenever we play the wraiths, "This guy sucks, he isn't good. Just have Budda go up with him, and throw the ball at him. There is no way he is good enough to cover Budda." And who knows if it would work.
4. So what's the plan next year, do you see people leaving as a result of the resim or sticking around because of it?
I dont know. I would hope people stay and try to build on what we achieved, but I cant read their minds. Ill try my best to keep them and add better players, but if they want to leave Ill get rid of them and draft or sign someone to replace them. Its all up to the player, because there is so much I can say and do as a GM.
(S5) - Ultimus Week - toivo - 02-01-2018
Hate the player or the game
Following the off-season disaster that Arizona went through, the league expected The Outlaws to be at the bottom of the totem pole in Season Five. Much to the surprise of everyone outside of Arizona, The Outlaws defied the odds and made the post-season. They weren’t supposed to, but they made their claim to a position in the ASFC Championship Game. The Outlaws, according to most of the league, made the playoffs when they really shouldn’t have. Sneaking into the playoffs was the goal all along in Arizona, and it made the entire organization happy. I’m not personally saying that Arizona shouldn’t have the playoffs, I’m very happy that we did, but I am taking the standpoint of the entire league. Heading into the season, the Outlaws were not a playoff team. Weird things can happen, and they did, the Outlaws kept winning and proved to be one of the best teams in the league. There were subtractions in the off-season, but after a glorious history in Arizona, the winning culture was rooted deeply in the locker room, management and fan base. The message I have for the league is to not hate the team, hate the game, because sometimes your predictions miss completely.
Championship Game Recap: Do a recap of the best play from the championship game. Must be completed after the Championship Game
4th and 7, 10:42 in the first period, and the Otters debated going for it to send a message. The game is still 0-0, on the opening drive. The Otters snap the ball and Madlad connects…. It’s good! The Otters are up 3-0 and it was the beginning of the end. I mean, it’s hard to say definitively that a play so early, a field goal, going up 3 points is the play of the game, or the beginning of the end, but that was the case. The Otters didn’t lift their foot off the throttle, and while the game wasn’t a blowout by any means, the Otters really set the tone early on in the game. As we’ll see in other big games, the kicker needs to make his field goals, getting wonky on these easy, guaranteed kicks is a recipe for disaster, and Madlad did it with calm and ease, so big props to him. This play likely won’t be mentioned by anyone else, it’s underrated, and for that, we tip our glasses to the Otters for pulling it off. The 27 yard field goal is one that will be included in highlight videos all of next season.
Unsung Hero:Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
Bradley T Madlad, is unquestionably the unsung hero of the playoffs. The man was money on the field goals and the Otters relied on him when they knew it was safer for the guaranteed 3 points, or the extra point, then trying on a risky 4th down or going for two. It seems, far too often, teams don’t really acknowledge the importance of kicker position. But it was Madlad who showed us the way in the playoffs. Look at the Championship game when Madlad got the Otters on the scoreboard first. The Otters relied on Madlad, but it was the other “stars” of the team that got the spotlight. That’s a crime! It’s sad to see talent go unsung, and that’s what we’re experiencing here in the league right now. The audacity some sportswriters have in casting off what Madlad brought to the table in the playoffs; it’s baffling. It’s hard to go over all the stats of Madlad without watching all the games again, but the eye test told us all that Madlad was making the kicks that he needed to. The Otters are going to need to up the value of Madlad’s contract if they want to keep on winning the championships.
Unsung Billboard
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(S5) - Ultimus Week - bagwell - 02-02-2018
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 (21-37)
The Wraiths had the second best record in the league and best in the NSFC before facing the Hawks in the NSFC conference finals. This game started off very close with both teams staying within one score of each other or a few points all through the first and second quarters, but the Wraiths managed to break away with a well timed Bailey Cook touchdown. It was the fourth quarter where the Wraiths showed their playoff power and a DJ Law reception followed by a Lombardi field goal gave the Wraiths 10 unanswered points leading them to the Ultimus once a gain.
ASFC: Arizona Outlaws vs. Orange County Otters (19-43)
This game ended in quite a blowout for the Otters much to everyone’s surprise. The Otters were unstoppable getting up the field and the combination of Phelps and Westfield proved to be too much for the Outlaws defense to handle as the Otters spent about 34 minutes of possession on the field. The Outlaws put up an honest effort and will remain a playoff contender for seasons to come.
Ultimus: Yellowknife Wraiths vs. Orange County Otters (15-26)
This was a repeat of last season’s Ultimus game and it’s always great to see 2 team of high caliber go against each other again. Both teams played amazingly well on defense. This meant that every touchdown scored was a huge boom to the team’s overall score. There were a total of 7 field goals scored this game and it shows how well both team’s defense did to contain the others passing attack. In the end the Otterse won by scoring a slew of field goals in the second quarter and a Burnsman touchdown in the third.
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 would have to be Marc Spector(@RedCydranth) of the Orange County Otters. The Pro Bowl cornerback absolutely helped shutdown the passing game against the Outlaws where he had 5 tackles and 2 key pass deflections at the end of the first quarter to stop the passes to Browning and Chess and resulted in stopped the Outlaws in their tracks at their 44 yard line. He did a great job covering Browning and Chess who are great receivers in their own right. Defensive backs don’t get much love in my opinion and I think they deserve to be highlighted more and especially if they play like Spector. He didn’t get any pass deflections against the Wraiths because the Otters front seven did a great job with pressure and sacks, but managed to get 3 tackles this game and covered some dangerous wide receivers that the Wraiths had like Gosh Jarden, DJ Law, and Bailey Cook. That is no easy task and Spector worked his ass off to keep up with them throughout the game. I noticed that consistent high level play is what really sets a championship caliber team apart from the rest and Spector has proven that throughout the season. I think all new cornerbacks should look to his skillset and play if they want to be successful in this league.
(S5) - Ultimus Week - Chukka - 02-02-2018
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(S5) - Ultimus Week - ralz9 - 02-02-2018
ROBBED: Honestly, there’s no doubt in my mind that the Colorado Yeti would deserved to compete in the National Simulation Football League playoffs. The Yeti, obviously playing in Denver, Colorado, would’ve been at an obvious advantage and potential favorite to win the Ultimus. Let’s break it down for a second: Look at the College Football Playoff—in the 2017 version, Alabama made it into the playoff over Big Ten champion Ohio State. Why was this? Because the committee believed Alabama had better odds of winning the title than Ohio State. If the National Simulation Football League wanted to pick playoff teams that had the best shot of winning it all, the Yeti would’ve surely made it over the Baltimore Hawks. The Hawks were thrashed in the first round by the Yellowknife Wraiths; however, had it been the Yeti playing instead, it would’ve been a much closer game as the Yeti would’ve been prepared for the frigid Canadian weather. The Yeti’s ground and pound game would’ve been a major key as league leader Boss Tweed would’ve led the rushing attack that features two other runners ranked in the top 10: No. 9 Farlane and No. 10 Nicholas Pierno who would’ve had a bit of a chip on his shoulder against his former team.
PLAYOFF SERIES MVP: There’s no doubt that Bradley Westfield was the MVP of the Ultimus game. In a game where the two quarterbacks threw just two touchdowns, a combined 57.6 completion percentage and a combined five interceptions, a reliable receiver was needed. Westfield lived up to the hype, grabbing six balls for 141 yards. To compare, no other receiver in the game had more than 94 yards, no receiver with more than two catches even sniffed his yards per catch average of 23.5 and he was so crucial to his team’s offensive success that the otters’ next top receiver had just 56 yards on seven catches. Big plays make the difference in big games, and Bradley Westfield delivered just that for the Orange County Otters’ offense led by quarterback Mike Boss. Outside of the offense, he returned three kicks for 115 yards (average of 38 yards per return) and took a punt back 18 yards, allowing Orange County to completely dominate the field of possession game that ultimately proved to be the difference in a match-up of the two best teams in the National Simulation Football League. It didn’t happen in the Ultimus, but Westfield had a 69-yard punt return touchdown earlier in the year, meaning he was already the most #nice player in the league entering the playoffs.
NEW TALENT: Josh Garden was a HUGE component in the Wraiths’ run to the Ultimus, the National Simulation Football League’s annual championship game. He had 123 yards in Yellowknife’s first playoff game and first in the league during the regular season in receiving touchdowns with an astounding 16. His quarterback, Matt Akselsen, had a career-high 5,133 passing yards, a number that no doubt wouldn’t have been matched if not for Garden’s ability to catch the ball himself but also receive extra attention from opposing defenses that opened up space for the Wraiths’ other wide receivers. At 15.9 yards per catch, Garden provided a perfect medium between being a possession receiver and a big play threat. His variety of route running skills made him a first down machine for the Wraiths but also a big play explosion waiting to happen due to his speed and ability to get open downfield. Many receivers or right ends can do one thing or the other, but not many can do both as well as Garden can. Yellowknife was unable to win the Ultimus next year, but by returning the best QB – Wide Receiver combo in the nation next year, it’s hard to bet against them as early favorites.
(S5) - Ultimus Week - The_Hero - 02-02-2018
Robbed
For this Point Task I'm going to be discussing why I think the San Antonio Marshals were robbed of their playoffs. I'm not going to argue why I think they should've won the Ultimini (I think Portland deserved that win.) Instead I'll be talking about the lead up to them losing a chance at the playoffs.One of the biggest reason I believe they were robbed was honestly because of the bot teams. I understand that the league wanted to make them competitive and I can respect that, but God damn did the Polar bears clean house. Norfolk did really well as well, going to the playoffs over the Kansas City Coyotes. I also believe San Antonio was the better team over the Tijuana Luchadores but that final game with Tijuana beat San Antonio sealed San Antonio's fate. Losing to Portland the previous game did them no favors either. However their entire season seemed to be able to be summed up by the phrase "Too little too late." San Antonio never truly got steamed rolled in a sense (barring the Polar Bears but I already made my point on that.) But always seemed to come up just a hair short in most of their games. For this reason I think they were robbed of their playoff chance.
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Hate the Player or the game
So I'm going to do my best to prevent this from becoming a "rant" but I'm going to be discussing the Palm Beach Polar bears. I don't want to say that I think they didn't "deserve" to go to the playoffs however I think they had an advantage in getting there. As everyone knows both Palm Beach and Norfolk were converted into bot teams in order to condense the people in the Dsfl. However these bot tears were a tad over powered in this league. Norfolk was actually at an OK level going six and eight and landing in the middle of their division. However Palm Beach cleaned house in the west division. They went eight five and one tie getting themselves number one in the division. Not too mention the Ultimini trophy. Now I don't mean to belittle the accomplishments of their GM (I can't remember their name sorry.) Because they seriously kicked some ass with their strategies, but I think Tijuana or San Antonio deserved to be in the playoffs over Palm Beach solely on the fact that Tijuana and San Antonio are both human teams. I've heard changes are coming and that's great but San Antonio and Tijuana should have been in that playoff game!
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Sit down with a star
I sat down with Portland Pythons tight end Glenn Mcpoyal post Ultimini game to ask a few questions
1. How do you feel losing to Palm Beach in the Ultimini? Did you feel like they deserved the win?
How does Glenn McPoyal feel about losing to Palm back in the ultimini? Well it doesn't feel very good. Coming out with a storming lead and then failing to do finish the game definitely hurts. I personally don't think the Palm Beach solar bears should of been in the playoffs in the first place
2. How would you rate your first season in the Dsfl on a scale of 1-10 why?
I would rate my first season a 10. Regardless of lossing the finale it was still s great season. We had the best DT, QB and WR and of course me, the best TE. And we had the best GM possibly in both leauges in pdxballer
3. Anything you wish you would have done differently during the season?
Absolutely nothing I would do differently during this season
Drafts will be starting soon. What overall number do you hope to be drafted by?
4.well I hope to be fairly high in the draft but I'm not sure what number I'll actually go. I've seen some mocks going from as high as number four overall to as low as eighteen overall. So where do I think I'll go? I have no actual idea. I wouldn't mind going to the Baltimore Hawks because of course you know this. But my cousin Gregory Fletcher, you, are there and it would be cool to play next to my cousin.
5. Any teams in particular you'd like to be apart of?
well I kind of answered this question at the end of question number four. So re read that answer to find out the correct answer for this exact question.
6. Last but definitely not least what's your favorite color?
Of course my favorite color is red. The absolute best color in the world. Because it is the color of blood.
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(S5) - Ultimus Week - Bwestfield - 02-02-2018
Robbed: Write about why a team that failed to make the playoffs should have over somebody else. Can be completed at any point
The Philadelphia Liberty. They should’ve made the playoffs. There is no doubt in mind this team could’ve gone to the Ultimus if they had made it. They really seemed to have picked things up in the second half of the season. They had everything worked out but it was just a bit too late. They didn’t make the playoffs this year but the most certainly will next year. With Clifford Rove at the helm this team will go far. They looked really good in all aspects of their game. They are better than the Baltimore Hawks this year. The Hawks a good team and so are the Yellowknife Wraiths. However the Liberty have the potential and young age to take the helm for many years to come. The middle of the season was a bit of a transition for the team. A quick hot start to only have it almost completely walk away form them. Luckily they finished strong. They didnt make the playoffs but they did show the league that they will be a fierce competitor for years to come. So this year was just a taste of things to come. Watch out Wraiths, there is some real competition on the block.
Championship Game Recap: Do a recap of the best play from the championship game. Must be completed after the Championship Game
There were a lot of plays in this game that the otters made look amazing. One of those plays was Bradley Westfield’s 48 yard reception. It took the Otters out of their own end and placed them in scoring position on the Wraiths 26. Only a few plays passed since then and there was an interception by the Wraiths. Mike Boss looked again to his primary receiver Westfield but Carter had different plans. This time he made Boss look foolish. So it didnt turn into a score or points on the board but it did give them an opportunity. Neither team really had the most outstanding day, but both teams gave it their all. The wraiths have one of the best defenses and corner back pairs in the league. Westfield saw an opportunity and took it. Westfield is one of the best receivers and can often make corners look foolish. This time he did with the help of Mike Boss. Boss saw Westfield with man to man coverage and slung it in the air. The result was beautiful. In all its glory it came together like peanut butter and jelly. Boss had a bit of a difficult time but this was the best play I saw by either team.
Going to Disneyland!:Who was the Ultimus MVP? Give us a rundown of their celebratory trip to Disneyland. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
Orange County Otters’ Wide Receiver, Bradley Westfield, has been named this year’s Ultimus MVP. To celebrate, Westfield took his wife, son, and parents to Disneyland where they enjoyed a few days of adventure and most importantly, relaxation. Although the Westfields are not avid Disney fans, Brad reported “spending a day in the park with my son on the rides, playing games, and making memories was every parent’s dream.” The rest of the trip was spent sampling many of the restaurants’ offerings and enjoying time in the spa with his wife, while his son enjoyed some pool time with his grandparents. The highlight of the trip was not only watching the magical nighttime parade, but riding in a float with his wife and son. “We were able to wave and thank the fans as we rode through one of the most amazing places the country has to offer. We are so grateful for the experience, especially experiencing it with my son, who ate as much candy as he threw to the children that lined the parade route.” The last day was a washout and the family spent time playing in several arcades throughout the park. Brad’s competitive nature is shared throughout his family and everyone enjoyed a day of gaming, especially a rousing afternoon air hockey tournament. Not surprisingly, Brad’s wife walked away as the champion. “Now we have two MVPs in our family,” she said as she laughed. The family was able to reconnect after a long, yet exciting season and they look forward to rooting on Brad this Fall.
Unsung Hero:Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
A lot of praise is being passed around the NSFL. Some of it deserving and some of it not. During the season Eric Kennedy was unstoppable. Everyone was talking and raving about his abilities as a receiving back. During the playoffs I feel like all of that went away and focus turned onto the Wraiths Defense and Mat Akselesen. If you ask me this guy did what he needed to and took his team to the Ultimus. Not only would they have not made the playoffs without him but I dont think they would made the Ultimus if he didnt work his magic. Kennedy may not be that downhill runner that everyone can fall in love with like Bubba Nuck or Boss Tweed, but Kennedy always can get the job done. Right now the league is going through somewhat of a transition at running back. Today it a receiver back and tomorrow it might be that downhill runner. But one thing is for certain and that is that Eric Kennedy will always be in the spotlight and I feel that was taken away from him in this playoff bracket. His numbers speak for themselves. Let’s hope he gets the awards he deserves.
Playoff Review: Write a short review of the playoffs and each of the matchups. Must be completed after the Championship Game
Firstly I will talk about the NSFC Championship game. The Yellowknife Wraiths versus the Baltimore Hawks. The hawks came in to the game as underdogs and left the same way. The Wraiths were expected to win and they did everything they were expected too. They were killer on offense and good enough on defense. Mat Akselsen exposed the weak Hawks secondary. Normally the Hawks would also fly through the aiir but the Wraiths secondary was able to keep them in check.
Secondly I will talk about the ASFC Championship game. The Orange County Otters versus the Arizona Outlaws. Again the Otters were the favorite to win and they did just that. Weirdly enough I had a dream that night about the Outlaws winning but it was just that, a dream. The Otters got it done in the first half of the game and never let go. The slowed it down the second half and made sure the clock ran down as much as possible before giving the ball back to the limping Outlaws. Mike Boss and his duo of receivers and his new weapon in Jordan Yates got the job done.
Lastly I will talk about the Ultimus Game. The Orange County Otters versus the Yellowknife Wraiths. The boxscore is actually much closer than the game shows as the Otters were in control the whole time. The Wraiths were held without a touchdown until 2 minutes left in the game.
(S5) - Ultimus Week - PaytonM34 - 02-03-2018
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Unsung Hero:Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)I believe the unsung hero for the DSFL playoffs, is Norman Bagwell. Even though the Pythons fell to the Solar Bots, i mean, Solar Bears, Bagwell managed to give the Pythons a chance at winning the game. His stats against the Norfolk Seawolves were : 4 tackles, 2 sacks, and his stats against the Palm Beach Solar Bears were : 6 tackles, 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Total, thats 10 tackles, 4 sacks, and a FF, in only 2 games. In the championship game, the first of Bagwells sacks came off the Solar Bears first drive on a 3rd and 4. This momentum change to give Portland the ball allowed the Pythons to put up the first score on the board with a field goal. The second sack in the championship game actually resulted in a strip sack and fumble recovery all in the same play. On this drive, Palm Beach started with field position already across mid-field, so at the very least it was expected that the Solar Bears would come out with at least a field goal. On 3rd and 10, Bagwell forced the turnover and it led to Portland raising the lead to 10-0. Bagwell gave this team a chance to win the Ultimini, but the bots had other plans.
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That Magic Moment: Pick one moment from a playoff game and describe what made it so amazing to watch. (Must be completed after the game you write about)It was 10-0 for Portland in the second quarter of the DSFL Season 5 Ultimini Championship game, between the Portland Pythons and the Palm Beach Solar Bears. Palm Beach had driven the ball up to Portland 40 yard line on the backs of Forte and Payton. On 3rd and one, Forte managed to squeeze by the defense and grab an 11 yard gain setting up first and 10 at the 37 yard line. The play call was RB Under for the Solar Bears, and Portland responded with a 4-3 wide set, stunting the Dline. Portland ended up bringing the pressure with 2 linebackers, with the other linebacker staying on the runningback running the underneath route, and man coverage across the board with no safety help. On the left side of the field, Willie Gault was running a go route against CB Winter. Gault managed to gain some separation, and QB Jim Mcmahon managed to dump the ball right into Gaults hands. Gault managed to get away from the cornerback initially, and ran the ball 28 yards, setting up Palm Beach inside Portlands 10 yard line. Two plays later, McMahon got the ball to his TE for a redzone touchdown, sparking Palm Beaches comeback.
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Playoff Review: Write a short review of the playoffs and each of the matchups. Must be completed after the Championship GameFirst of the 3 DSFL playoff games featured the Tijuana Luchadores and the Palm Beach Solar Bears. The Solar Bears were coming off some insane momentum from the end of the regular season, where they finished the last 9 of their games with 8 wins. The Tijuana Luchadores had just defeated the San Antonio Marshals in a week 14, winner-gets-into-playoffs game. The Luchadores tried to rely on their run game to slowly chip away at the Solar Bears, but couldn't get it done, as they averaged 3.4 ypc on their 36 runs. Jim McMahon posted a 109.1 passer rating, leading them to a 27-3 win over the Luchadores.
The second game featured Portland Pythons and Norfolk Seawolves. Portland entered the playoffs on a 6 game win streak, two of which were against Norfolk. After losing their first two games against Norfolk, it seemed as though Portland had finally found the winning formula to beat the Seawolves. Portland leaned a little bit more on their runningback to generate some offense against Norfolk and it got the job done.
The last game, between the Pythons and the Solar Bears was a nail biter. Portland opened up the game with a 10-0 lead, but the Solar Bears rallied and managed to get ahead of the Pythons to take the S5 Ultimini Championship, through shutting down Roenick, and having McMahon let the ball fly.
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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 aboutI think that the Playoff Series MVP should go to Jim McMahon of the Palm Beach Solar Bears. McMahon in his two playoff games, managed to tally up 476 passing yards, 4 passing TDs, and 0 interceptions, while also posting a 109.1 passer rating in the first game, and 118.6 passer rating in the Ultimini. McMahons favorite reciever throughout the playoffs was Willie Gault, who had 9 catches for 154 yards, and 1 touchdown. Against Tijuana, McMahon averaged 7.6 yards per attempt, and against Portland, managed to average an amazing 8.8 yards per attempt. Almost averaging a first down on every pass attempt, is kind of like Lebron James almost averaging a triple double every game for his entire career. With Palm Beach's versatile offense, it makes it very hard for teams to gameplan against. With McMahon under center, any game can turn into a gunslinging contest between both teams quarterbacks. Although sacked 9 times throughout the playoffs, McMahon managed to keep almost every drive alive with the help of his two tailbacks, Matt Forte and Walter Payton. Pair that with Palm Beach's speedy wideouts, and you have a young DSFL dynasty in the making. Watch out for regression next year though, as its rumored that Palm Beach and Norfolk players will have to play games with 75lb weight vests underneath their equipment to better balance the league out.
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(S5) - Ultimus Week - SwagSloth - 02-03-2018
Robbed: You have to feel bad for the Liberty this season. After an incredible run, they missed the play-offs by point. Literally. Tied with the Baltimore Hawks, the Liberty found themselves faced with a 1 point deficit in the tiebreaker. That has to hurt. This isn’t to take away from the Hawks, who played admirably and even overcame a 3-4 losing record in the first half. The Hawks deserved to make it to the play-offs, but so did the Liberty. Somehow, the NSFC sported 3 teams with a winning record and at least a 65 point surplus in the differential. By comparison, the 2nd place ASFC team, the Outlaws, only had a 5 point differential. If there was ever an argument for breaking down the conferences and moving to a general top 4 for the play-offs, the Liberty are the ones to make it. Unfortunately, the rules are the rules, but I think the Liberty need to be honored for their efforts. And so I raise my glass to them. They had a great run this season and could just as easily have another great season ahead. Perhaps they’ll look back and laugh at this close call as they raise an Ultimus above their head sometime over the next few seasons, but for now, the sting is still very recent. (219 Words)
New Talent: For the Yellowknife Wraiths, one trade arguably put them over the top as a play-off contender. The team went into the season as a strong favorite, coming off just competing in an Ultimus match-up in S4, but they faced strong contenders in the ever-consistent Baltimore Hawks and a revitalized Philadelphia Liberty. After week 6, Yellowknife traded for Defensive End Fuego Wozy in order to strength their defensive line. The move was risky as it forced them to give up a loyal Safety Jogn Floggity to the Outlaws and Wozy was rumored to be looking to test Free Agency, but the Wraiths were deep at the Secondary and needed a missing piece after another incoming DE Jayce Tuck, who also came from the Outlaws, was suspended. Despite the risk, the move secured a trip to the play-offs for the Wraiths and likely helped push them into the Ultimus itself. Like many Defensive Linemen kept in check by the league’s ever-improving Offensive Linemen, Wozy’s stats didn’t tell the whole story, so his impact is difficult to measure, but it’s clear that the Wraiths’ linebackers were aided by a strong d-line, resulting in many sacks for the team. Wozy filled in for Tuck quite well and helped propel the Wraiths past the Hawks to their second NSFC Championship. Wozy has indeed decided to test Free Agency, so his stint with the Wraiths appears to be short-lived, but it certainly had the desired impact. (240 Words.) (@TheWoZy)
Hate the player or the game: When looking closely at the numbers, there was one team that shouldn’t have made the play-offs and that was the Arizona Outlaws. I say this not as a dig, but in some ways, as a compliment. Their GMs took a team that was supposed to be on the wane after falling from greatness and still led them to the play-offs for the team’s 5th time in a row. After seeing the Outlaws absolutely dominate for 3 seasons, the league was ready to see them fall to mediocrity, but that was not the team’s plan and their GMs were determined to prove everyone wrong. Still, despite the team’s incredible run, that success seems unsustainable. And it all comes back to one statistic: Points Allowed. The Outlaws have the second highest points allowed last season, trailing only the Legion, who appear to be sporting a DSFL-level defense and were scrambling on the heels of a mass retirement. And they were well behind the next team, the much-maligned Coloradi Yeti, who gave up 2 less points per game compared to the Outlaws. Even the Sabercats, who struggled to compete at an offensive level, were far more successful. It was only because of Arizona’s offensive explosion this season that they managed to outpace such a weakness. They were the top offense in the league as far as Points Scored, but while that should be celebrated, the top’s defensive woes forced their offense to excel in order for them to win games. If you asked me in week 6 or 7 if the team with the second-highest points allowed could continue to be on pace for a point surplus, I could call that unsustainable. Comparatively, the Hawks and Liberty in the NSFC both hold a point differential of over 60 points while the Outlaws held a differential of 5 points. Such a low gap does not suggest excellence, but perhaps excellence was never the goal. In a rebuild, teams have to be realistic and I imagine the Arizona GMs were very realistic in their own expectations. So, they didn’t set out to be excellent. They just set out to win games. And, despite the odds, they did. Not only that, but they kept winning them. In fact, they won enough to make it into the play-offs. Arizona is going to have to address these defensive woes if they expect to put together another play-off run. Otherwise, they’re going to find themselves in a similar against-the-odds situation. That said, they achieved the seemingly impossible this season and my gut tells me that they just do it again next season. (433 Words)
Unsung Hero: The most talented player that gets the least love is clearly Dermot Lavelle. Dermot has worked hard on the practice field, seizing every opportunity to improve according to coaches. Even in his 5th season, the Wrath’s top Cornerback remains as dedicated as ever. And yet the stats aren’t always kind to Cornerbacks. While other positions are measured by the numbers they put up, Cornerbacks are measured more by the numbers they deter. In a perfect game, a cornerback might never even show up on the stat sheet, forcing Quarterbacks to ignore the receiver they’re guarding. QBs act on opportunity and CBs exist to diminish those opportunities, forcing QBs to instead settle for throwing the ball to a slower target. Good wider receivers can still make an impact, but that impact would arguably be much more when paired against a weaker cornerback. So, it’s hard to measure the true impact of a player like Dermot, which is exactly what makes him underrated. Still, when we look closely at the numbers, there is a clear impact, especially when we review the Quarterbacks that the Wraiths faced. Avon Blocksdale and Mike Boss hold claim to the highest QB Ratings this seaso, rating at 98.5 and 98.6 respectively. And yet, in the NSFC Championship, Blocksdale was held to a 73.3 Rating. This could be an outlier, but it seems less likely when you consider a similar performance by Mike Boss, who put up a 102.2 Rating against the Outlaws in the ASFC Championship, only to drop down to a 68.9. He doesn’t do it alone, but under Dermot’s guidance, the Wraiths Secondary has found a way to make MVP-level Quarterbacks look like rookies. It’s an impressive feat and neither Dermot nor his team seem to get much credit for it. This season, Dermot has easily been a tier 1 cornerback. During the regular season, he racked up 4 interceptions, tying him 1st among CBs, and 15 Pass Deflections, ranking 7th among CBs. He’s also one of only 5 CBs with a defensive touchdown. The stats aren’t always kind to him, but he’s a locker room leader that has helped his team both on and off the field. And he’s a big part of the Wraiths’ success. So, today, we honor Dermot Lavelle for his consistent excellence this season and in many others. (388 Words) (@White Cornerback)
(S5) - Ultimus Week - AsylumParty - 02-03-2018
Robbed: Write about why a team that failed to make the playoffs should have over somebody else.
Playoff Review: Write a short review of the playoffs and each of the matchups.
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?
Going to Disneyland!:Who was the Ultimus MVP? Give us a rundown of their celebratory trip to Disneyland.