![[DEV] ISFL Forums](http://dev.sim-football.com/forums/images/emerald/logo.png "[DEV] ISFL Forums"){kind=logo}
+- [DEV] ISFL Forums (http://dev.sim-football.com/forums)
+-- Forum: Community (http://dev.sim-football.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Media (http://dev.sim-football.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=37)
+---- Forum: Graded Articles (http://dev.sim-football.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?fid=38)
+---- Thread: * X-Factor: Baltimore Hawks (/showthread.php?tid=3705)
* X-Factor: Baltimore Hawks - iamslm22 - 08-26-2017
When thinking of the Baltimore Hawks a few things immediately come to mind. You think of the dominant defense lead by Kurt Hendrix, Erasmo Broadway and Stephen Harrison. You also think of star Rookie running Back Darlane Farlane and even the passing attack of Scrub Kyubee and Cooper Christmas. Heck you might be thinking of deposed Tight End Carmel Gibson. But one name who has flown under the radar is Matthew Vincent. Vincent had a strong season, catching sixty seven balls and going for over 800 yards. He's recently had to step it up given Gibson's absence, but had a bit of a disappointing end to the season. Vincent was a seventh round pick and has been a pleasant surprise this season. Vincent recently sat down with us at NSFLN to talk about his season, and the upcoming NSFC championship game against the Yellowknife Wraiths.
How do you feel about the season you had?
For my first official year, not bad. I had really thought that I would have more touchdowns and less yards, but anything to help the team. I've needed to make a lot of plays on third down to move the chains, which may have freed up Christmas and *sigh* Gibson in the endzone.
The hawks were underdogs this year. Were you surprised by the team's success?
Not really. My veteran teammates got me hyped and prepared for the season and we crushed it early on. We won the games we were expected to and lost the ones we weren't. The most surprising thing this season was the wraiths having a slight down year and the Liberty having a decent year, and it kinda clumped all the teams together near the end and made those last few games really nerve-racking.
How have you had to step it up in the wake of Carmel Gibson's suspension?
I didn't. I kinda fell apart near the end of the season statistically. I got paired up with some really good defensive backs and could not elevate the game the way that I hoped. The ones who stepped up were Jesse, John, and Marcus. Marcus helped get those short gainers and John and Jesse covered the reception totals.
[i]Is there anyone you've felt has helped mentor you in the league?[/i]
Oh yes definitely. two names come to mind right away. The first is Kurt. he is always there to make sure I get my workouts in and spots me every once in a while, always pushing me for that last rep. He makes sure I get the correct meetings on time and has really done a lot for me and my rookie teammates. The other person that comes to mind is Coop. He may not realize it, but everything he does just makes me want to get better. He is one of the more quite guys on the team but he is the hardest worker. Any time I get a sweet catch in practice, he goes up for one that makes everyone forget mine. He keeps me humble and always striving to be the best, but also acknowledging when I do good. He is always telling me, "Play like you are #1, Train like you are #2."
How do you think the Hawks are set up for the future?
It is hard to say. The league changes dramatically every year. you could improve all around, yet only win half the games from a season before. I think the GM has set us up for success in the future and it will be exciting to see what happens.
What was your best game of the year?
Probably our week 12 match-up with the liberty, sure, I got outplayed by half the Wide Receivers in the game and I only had 50 yards on 5 catches, but the reason why that was my best game is because I played a huge part in our comeback win. After the 2nd turnover late in the game by Rafa, I got us deeper into Liberty territory with a first down on the first play. eventually Coop got the touchdown as time expired to tie it up. go into overtime and we get the ball back after a punt. I start the drive off with a catch just short of the first down line, then I get a completion later in the drive to put us just inside fieldgoal range for turk to put it through the uprights. I guess you could say it was my best 7 minutes; 3 catches, 38 yards and helping our team win potentially the most exciting game of the season.
Now, on to the NSFC championship game, the Wraiths have a high powered offense, do you think the Hawks offense can keep up?
Depends how often Scrub throws my way haha. In all seriousness, we have a good chance this weekend. We were dominant at home early in the season and the later game in frigid Yellowknife we were 49 seconds and 49 yards away from tying the ball game up when the final 3 play calls were run, run, check down. I will leave it at that.
Is there anyone on the Wraiths you're looking forward to facing?
The one person that I always love to play against is Smallwood, but as you probably know, he is no longer there. It's always humbling to play against Garden, but we cannot affect each others stats. There is also a high pick for a CB on their team, but if I remember correctly, he really hasn't been a problem.
The Hawks have home field in the game, how much does that help the team?
Well we are 7-0 at home this season, so it means its a 50-50 ball game. either we win or they win. I guess it helps hear the play calls when the crowd is quiet on offense rather than louder, but 20,000 fans in yellowknife aren't too loud anyways. something something Canada joke about being to polite to disrupt our play calls. However, the Wraiths will probably be happy that the forecast is calling for snow, so it should be interesting.
Do you think the Hawks will beat the Wraiths?
If we score more points than them, I think we have a chance.
1048 - split evenly between myself and @sapp2013. $600,000 bonus, additional $250,000
* X-Factor: Baltimore Hawks - HalfEatenOnionBagel - 08-27-2017
Great article.
Seriously so many guys stepped up for the Hawks this season. Win or lose in the playoffs, you guys made a huge turnaround in a short time
* X-Factor: Baltimore Hawks - kckolbe - 08-27-2017
(08-27-2017, 03:57 AM)HalfEatenOnionBagel Wrote:Great article.
Seriously so many guys stepped up for the Hawks this season. Win or lose in the playoffs, you guys made a huge turnaround in a short time
I remember that after the draft Hendrix said something along the lines of the Hawks having acquired more players in the first X rounds than the Liberty, and how they'd added a LOT more talent than was being noticed.
* X-Factor: Baltimore Hawks - iamslm22 - 08-27-2017
(08-27-2017, 05:57 AM)HalfEatenOnionBagel Wrote:Great article.
Seriously so many guys stepped up for the Hawks this season. Win or lose in the playoffs, you guys made a huge turnaround in a short time
Thanks man! Glad you like it. I was looking through the season one draft. It's crazy how almost none of our early round picks are still on the team. Had a lot of guys step up.
* X-Factor: Baltimore Hawks - iamslm22 - 08-27-2017
(08-27-2017, 08:34 AM)kckolbe Wrote:I remember that after the draft Hendrix said something along the lines of the Hawks having acquired more players in the first X rounds than the Liberty, and how they'd added a LOT more talent than was being noticed.
Yea Hendrix did a crazy good job drafting. He made a couple of trade downs, and in a league like this that's the right call.
* X-Factor: Baltimore Hawks - kckolbe - 08-27-2017
(08-27-2017, 06:45 AM)iamslm22 Wrote:Yea Hendrix did a crazy good job drafting. He made a couple of trade downs, and in a league like this that's the right call.
I wouldn't say it was the right call in a league like this, but definitely in a draft like the S2 one. There was a ton of talent there. This draft is currently looking more top heavy, and with the reddit recruitment having not kicked off yet I'm not sure if that will really change.
* X-Factor: Baltimore Hawks - iamslm22 - 08-27-2017
(08-27-2017, 08:58 AM)kckolbe Wrote:I wouldn't say it was the right call in a league like this, but definitely in a draft like the S2 one. There was a ton of talent there. This draft is currently looking more top heavy, and with the reddit recruitment having not kicked off yet I'm not sure if that will really change.
That's true. It was certainly the right call in the S2 draft.