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+---- Thread: S2 - Ultimus Week (/showthread.php?tid=3747)
S2 - Ultimus Week - Noble - 08-28-2017
Welcome to Ultimus Week! This is a special point task that will run from August 28th to September 2st. It is broken down into eight written and eight graphic point tasks of which you will choose FIVE to complete. Each point task completed is worth 2 TPE and you can earn a maximum of 10 TPE from this event.
NOTE: Each written point task has a 200 word count.
NOTE x2: You can complete five point tasks in any combination of written and/or graphics.
NOTE x3: Please keep all submissions you make to ONE post.
There will be some limitations as to when certain tasks can be completed. Here are each of the tasks listed below, and with special notes if any limitations apply.
Written Points
Offensive Comparison: Compare one offensive player from each team in a series. Can be completed at any point
Defensive Comparison: Compare one defensive player from each team in a series. Can be completed at any point
Bottom Half: Write about why two of the four teams were not able to make the playoffs. Can be completed at any point
Future Talent: Write about which S3 waiver pickup will or did have the biggest impact in the playoffs. Can be written at any time depending on if you choose to write about who already has or who will do good
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
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
Playoff Review: Write a short review of the playoffs and each of the matchups. Must be completed after the Championship Game
Championship Game Recap: Do a recap of the best play from the championship game. Must be completed after the Championship Game
Graphic Points
Offensive Comparison: Compare one offensive player from each team in a series in a side by side graphic. Can be completed at any point
Defensive Comparison: Compare one defensive player from each team in a series in a side by side graphic. Can be completed at any point
Bottom Half: Make a graphical stat comparison of a team who failed to qualify for playoffs to another team that qualified for the playoffs from their division. Can be completed at any point
Future Talent: Make a sig for a S3 player who you feel will or did make a large impact for their team in the playoffs. Can be written at any time depending on if you choose to write about who already has or who will do good
Playoff Matchups: Make a graphic displaying the matchups in the first round of the playoffs. Must be completed before the simulation of the Conference Finals
Conference Final MVP Sig: Make a sig for a player of your choice who you felt was the MVP of a Conference Final matchup. Must be completed after the Conference Finals
Playoff Recap Infographic: Make a graphic displaying the results of the playoffs. Must be completed after the Championship Game
Championship Banner: Make a banner (sig style) featuring the MVP of the Championship Game and another player of your choice from the winning teams and S2 Champions or something similar to that. Must be completed after the Championship Game
S2 - Ultimus Week - Noble - 08-28-2017
Offensive Comparison
Going into the Season 2 NSFC Championship game we have a matchup between two of the leagues top quarter backs. Monday night we see Scrub Kyubee take on MVP front runner and top quarterback shoe in Chris Orosz. Both players saw tremendous success during the regular season, each posting an average completion percentage of over 58%. Orosz will run away with the lead in this matchup though just based upon the crazy season he had, being the first ball chucker to even come close to cracking 4000 yards on a season (he finished with 3657). On top of this crazy yard total, Orosz threw twenty one touchdowns this season for the Wraiths. Expect to see the dominant force of Josh Garden and Bailey Cook team up for a ton of yards and to help Orosz take this title game against the Hawks when his team needs it the most.
You can't count Kyubee completely out of the picture though. The young quarterback wasn't the most consistent of player's but when he was good, he was amazing. If he gets on fire in this game against Yellowknife, it'll be game over for the Hawks. His 3000+ yards was the fourth highest total in the league, so while he might not be at the very top of the charts he certainly still know how to throw.
Defensive Comparison
For our defensive comparison we'll be matching up two linebackers in A.C Hackett of the Yellowknife Wraiths and Erasmo Broadway of the Baltimore Hawks. These two are in high contention for the linebacker of the year positional award, and both have fighting words that will earn them a spot at the top. Broadway had a break out season, blowing past all expectations this year and posting 12 sacks, catching 3 interceptions, and making over a hundred tackles. His performance on the defensive side of the ball was outstanding this year, and Hackett's Wraiths offense will be evenly matched against this team. It's going to be a fire fight of unstoppable force versus immovable object in this bloodbath of a show down.
Hackett can't be expected to just kneel over and give up though, he has just as much of a chance at being a dominant part of this game as Broadway does. With 6 sacks, two interceptions, and 114 tackles, Hackett was an all around defensive threat for the Wraiths after moving from the San Jose Sabercats earlier in the season. Who knows if it was just the change of scenery or what spiked in him, but his levels went through the roof to end off the year.
Future Talent
My prediction right now is that Hawks running back Darlane Farlane will by far have the best playoff appearance out of any rookie. This guy ran away (literally) with the ball this season and not only lead the league in rushing yards, but set the all-time record in yards per season while posting a competitive 3.4 YPC. Some critics are calling for statistical inaccuracies though as Farlane saw quite a few more carries than any of his closest competition, making his stats a little altered. This is where YPC comes in, and I think Farlane really proves himself at the end of this statistical analysis as the best overall rookie and running back in this playoffs.
The Hawks will likely see a tough first round match up against the Yellowknife Wraiths before moving on to face the Arizona Outlaws who I believe will repeat as the Solis Champions. While the Yellowknife defense isn't the strongest in the league, the Outlaws is and Farlane will have a far harder time matching up against the likes of Ernston, Tuck, Lee, and the powerful secondary. If he manages to shed his skin as a rookie and explode into his role as a star though, I could see him making an absolutely massive impact on this playoff series and possibly even leading his Hawks to the championship title.
Bottom Half
Colorado Yeti - The Colorado Yeti are undisputed the most under rated team in the NSFL. Boasting the league's top quarterback in terms of skill in Logan Noble and a powerful set of wheels in Boss Tweed alongside three talented receivers in Hendrix, Law, and Ross, Colorado has an offense ready to strike that was held back this season by a lack of an offensive line. Their defense was renowned as top of the line among league members, holding star players like Blaster Blade, Fuego Wozy, Alex Hayden, Jonathan Saint, and Wyatt FUlton. The list keeps going on for the number of powerful players on the Yeti roster, but you don't hear a lot of talk about them as the team tends to keep their head down and out of the blazing heat of the social media buzz. There will be no surprise if the Yeti make the playoffs again next season, even in the dominant NSFC.
San Jose Sabercats - San Jose is not the worst team in the league despite some regards. With Darren Smallwood and Vincent Sharpei headlining the future in SJS, the team is well on its way towards becoming a strong team and a playoff contender once again. Right now they're playing in the imbalanced ASFC which has the almighty Arizona Outlaws and the slightly more defeat able Orange County Otters. With the outlook of a successful Season 3 draft, the Sabercats are looking towards the future where they will be there first team to do a full rebuild.
Playoff Predictions
NSFC - The Baltimore Hawks face off against the Yellowknife Wraiths in this rager of a match up. While one team exceeds in their defense, the other is a deadly force at the offensive side of the ball. These two teams will have tough time finding a head up on the other as the game will likely stay at even ground the whole way through. I'm expecting a close, low scoring game by these two teams, with the final score being 15-12 for the Wraiths due to their better offense.
ASFC - This game is almost a deadlock to go one way. While the Otters aren't a weak team by any regards, they don't have the same dominant play style that is becoming more and more prominent in Arizona as the season goes by. With Bronko feeding balls to a crazy talented offense and the strongest defense in the league on the other side, the Outlaws are likely to see a repeat appearance in the NSFL championship game.
NSFL - Here we see the Yellowknife Wraiths match up in the final against the reigning champion Arizona Outlaws. Once again we have a terribly strong offense facing off against an overwhelming defense, but this time I see the defense winning. With the roster they have built, Arizona is too strong not to take this game and even with Orosz behind the ball Yellowknife just won't be able to find their targets.
S2 - Ultimus Week - Roshambo - 08-28-2017
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:ph34r:
Bottom Half:
The shock of S2 came via heartbreak for the Yeti. A powerhouse in S1, where they won the NSFC Championship, just narrowly missed the S2 Playoffs due to a tiebreaker. Yellowknife drove the proverbial knife into the heart when they “upset” the Otters in a close high scoring battle to close out the season. Despite being sent home early, Colorado didn’t exactly underachieve this season nor take a step backwards. They fielded one of the top defenses in the NSFC with only 216 points allowed (best in the conference), the most tackles in the league (767), and the most forced fumbles and recoveries (12/12). All the pieces are in place and the experience is there, look for the Yeti to come back and be a contender yet again in S3.
A little less surprising to the league is are the two S2 expansion teams; the Philadelphia Liberty and the Las Vegas Legion. Both missed the playoffs by a fairly large margin. (The Liberty less so with a record of 5-9, with the Legion bottom of the league at 3-11). Both of these squads executed offseason plans with completely opposite strategies, one wheeling and dealing for players, the other for picks. There was more hope than expectations for both of these new teams but only time will tell if the plans for the future pay off. Several powerhouse stars litter both rosters, such as Fox North of the Liberty and Mark Ramrio of the Legion, who will no doubt continue to shine and have the sky as the limit once surrounded by a more established side.
(266)
Future Talent
Brice Boggs is inching closer to be the consensus #1 overall pick in the upcoming S3 Draft. Boggs burst onto the scene as a S2 Waiver pickup made an immediate impact for the Yellowknife Wraiths. As a raw linebacker, Boggs is a bit of a swiss army knife who can do whatever is asked of him but has not quite found his niche or specialty. He can rush the passer (6 sacks), stop the run (82 tackles with 5 tackles for loss), and even at times produce in coverage (1 INT and 3 passes defended). The sky is the limit as to the ceiling for this prospect, he lined up as the Weak-side or “Will” Linebacker whose responsibility more often than not forcing a run back inside or covering the slot man. If Boggs is moved inside, or to the strong-side, it is not out of the question for his numbers to soar in S3. Boggs is also currently leading all S3 prospects in TPE, and showing no signs of slowing down, it’s hard to deny Boggs’ potential and dedication to the game. Teams without immediate linebacker need are even looking to make moves to land the player who many see as a future Hall Of Famer. Honorable mention would have to mention JD Boom of the Baltimore Hawks. Boom is a powerful quick-twitch pass rusher who snagged 7 sacks last year.
(232)
Offensive Comparison
The Ultimus will be decided while two thoroughbreds are on the field. The Baltimore Hawks face off against the Arizona Outlaws to decide who will hoist the trophy and crack the champagne after the final whistle. Baltimore sports new rookie sensation and league rushing leader Darlane Farlane who has been the definition of workhorse for the Hawks this year. Farlane has 43 carries and almost 200 yards over his next closest competitor… fittingly the Outlaws’ Reg Mackworthy. Ol’ Mack has the edge over Farlane in just one category, but it’s the one that puts points on the board - 7 touchdowns to Farlane’s 5. It’s not hard to say Mackworthy would be right up there in yardage with Farlane if he had 43 more carries to work with (in fact using Mack’s 3.3 average carry his total would come up 141 yards adding those carries, putting him just 30 yards behind). But both of these running backs will say the real stat that matters is the one that wins the big game. It’ll be interesting to see if Darlane Farlane can grind away and tire out the formidable Outlaw defense - or if star Hawks linebackers Broadway and Harrison can stop Mackworthy from running rampant and taking over the game. We’ll find out tonight! Clydesdale vs race horse!
(217)
Playoff Recap Infographic:
![[Image: i69ZiO0.jpg]](http://i.imgur.com/i69ZiO0.jpg)
Future Talent
![[Image: 6iv6Uos.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/6iv6Uos.jpg)
S2 - Ultimus Week - bovovovo - 08-28-2017
Offensive Comparison: Compare one offensive player from each team in a series.
Darlane Farlane v. Bubba Nuck
Bubba Nuck of the Yellowknife Wraiths is the reigning MVP of the NSFL, but Darlane Farlane has exploded onto the scene this year as running back of the Baltimore Hawks. Bubba Nuck’s volume was cut considerably this season as the Wraiths focused on a more aerial offensive attack, having 290 rushes compared to Farlane’s league – leading 376 attempts. Unsurprisingly, Farlane also had more rushing yards than Nuck with 1267 yards compared to 1041. However, Nuck has been more efficient, averaging 3.6 yards per carry (among the best in the league) compared to Farlane’s 3.4 yards per carry. They also both scored 5 TDs this year. However, Nuck had 9 more receptions than Farlane did and also had 3 receiving touchdowns compared to Farlane’s 0. The Baltimore Hawks lean on their rushing attack and Darlane Farlane for their offense, while the Yellowknife Wraiths take a much more balanced approach, but both of these players have extremely important roles in their respective offenses. If the Yellowknife Wraiths are able to contain Darlane Farlane, the Baltimore Hawk’s offense will likely struggle. The opposite is true as well, if the Baltimore Hawks are able to contain Bubba Nuck, then the Yellowknife Wraith’s offense will likely struggle.
(207 words)
Defensive Comparison: Compare one defensive player from each team in a series.
Jaylon Lee v. Erasmo Broadway
These two LBs take command of their respective defensives for the Arizona Outlaws and the Baltimore Hawks, who will be meeting in the NSFL Championship. Stats wise, Jaylon Lee has more tackles with his league-leading 139 compared to Broadway’s 115, but Broadway has a fantastic 7 tackles for a loss compared to Lee’s 1. Broadway also has more sacks than Lee, with Broadway having 12 and Lee having 7, as well as interceptions with Broadway’s 3 compared to Lee’s 1. Where to two really standout is in their pass defending ability, as Broadway has an outstanding 13 passes defended (tied for leading all LBs) compared to Lee’s 4.
Looking at their builds, it’s somewhat clear that Jaylon Lee has been built specifically to stop the run. He sports an outstanding 83 strength, 80 tackling, 85 speed, and 72 agility to help him catch and wrestle down any RBs that make it past the Outlaw’s dominant defensive line. Comparatively, Erasmo Broadway has 71 strength, 70 tackling, 80 speed, and 75 agility. While less than Jaylon Lee in almost every single category, Broadway has made the most of his opportunities and has become one of the more dominant linebackers in the entire league in only a very short amount of time.
(214 words)
Bottom Half: Write about why two of the four teams were not able to make the playoffs.
Philadelphia Liberty and Las Vegas Legion
The two S2 expansion teams also failed to make the playoffs in their first year of existence, but the outlook for their futures could not be more different. The two teams took drastically different approaches to building up their teams the first year: the Philadelphia Liberty went about it the “old fashioned way” and acquired as many draft picks as they could to build through the draft, while the Las Vegas Legion traded their picks away for established players. Before the season started, everyone was wondering how these two approaches would pan out. As it turns out, the two approaches would pan out mirror opposites of each other.
Both teams started the year extremely slow, but as time went on the Philadelphia Liberty slowly rose and finished the year relatively strong with a 5-9 record, while the Las Vegas Legion finished 3-11. While both teams finished last in their respective divisions, it’s clear to see that the future for the Philadelphia Liberty is much brighter than that of their fellow expansion team. The Liberty still possess a plethora of draft picks in addition to a solid core of active players, while the Las Vegas Legion have virtually imploded. They don’t have many draft picks left because they traded them all away, and their team has been unable to find their feet and get things together this year.
(233 words)
Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them.
Arizona Outlaws v. Orange County Otters: Dental Dam, DE
The Outlaws v. Otters playoff game was dominated by the two defenses, as neither team was able to do hardly anything at all on offense. Only 3 touchdowns were scored the entire game, and the game went down to the wire with the Outlaws narrowly winning by only two points. Dental Dam caused a key fumble early in the game, and recovered it too! This turnover put the Outlaws within 10 yards of the end zone, ending in a touchdown. This one singular play was probably the most important play of the entire game. The Outlaws would only put together one scoring drive the entire game where they actually had to drive it, so being able to get this one touchdown ended up being a game winner for the Outlaws. Dental Dam also walked away with a solid stat line of 3 tackles and 2 sacks, leading all Outlaws in sacks.
The truth is that there weren’t really any other MVP candidates because the Arizona offense performed so terribly. King Bronko threw three interceptions and Mackworthy was held to only a measly 52 yards rushing at 2.7 yards per attempt. The Outlaws relied on their defense for this win, and the unit played together as a team exceedingly well. Dental Dam stands out and is the MVP because of that one play which I believe turned the course of the entire game.
(241 words)
Playoff Review
Hawks defeat Wraiths 16-14
In the NSFC championship game the Baltimore Hawks narrowly squeezed out a win over the favored Yellowknife Hawks. While the box score indicates an extremely close game, the Hawks actually had this game in total control for the majority of the game. The Hawks had an astounding 23 first downs on offense, had 452 total offensive yards including 336 passing and 116 rushing, while holding the Wraiths to only 7 first downs and 191 total offensive yards. The Wraiths were able to capitalize on turnovers, which put them on the board, and the Wraiths bend-but-don’t-break defense did a relatively good job keeping the Hawks off the scoreboard, but it wasn’t enough as the Hawks had this game under control from the start.
Outlaws defeat Otters 17-13
The ASFC championship game was much more defensive, with both offenses generally struggling throughout the game. The Outlaws threw 3 interceptions, but were able to capitalize on a key forced fumble recovery to score what would be the game-winning touchdown. This was a defensive showdown for the ages.
Outlaws defeat Hawks 33-6
This game was over before it began. The Outlaws had this one completely under control as the Baltimore Hawks had no answer for either the Outlaws offense or their swarming defense.
(213 words)
S2 - Ultimus Week - PigSnout - 08-28-2017
Offensive Comparison:
The NSFC championship league featured as showdown between two of the league's top running backs: Darlane Farlane and Bubba Nuck. Farlane has a bigger workload than any other running back in the league as he carried the ball 376 times, 43 more times than any other running back. He made good use of those carries as he ran for 1267 yards, 178 more than any other running back this season. While Nuck did not receive as large of a work load, he ran more efficiently when he got the ball as he averaged 3.6 yards per carry while Farlane averaged 3.3 yards per carry. Both players rushed for 5 touchdowns during the regular season. They were on similar ground as receivers as Farlane had 122 receiving yards and Nuck had 118 receiving yards. Farlane was a more efficient receiver as he averaged 7.6 yards per reception while Nuck only averaged 4.7 yards per reception. However, Nuck made up for his less efficient receiving with 3 touchdown catches while Farlane did not have any. Farlane also contributed on special teams as a kick returner and a punt returner. While these two running backs specialize in different areas, they are both top players at their position and their match-up makes for a great rivalry.
Quote:212 Words
Bottom Half:
The Yeti missed the playoffs because their offense did not score enough. For most teams, you can speculate towards why they missed the playoffs, but for the Yeti there is a literal reason they missed the playoffs due to tiebreakers. In addition to the tiebreakers, offensive struggles played into some of the Yeti's struggles during the season. The Yeti lost twice against expansion teams when they scored just 14 points against the Liberty and 17 against the Legion. The Yeti's offense came up flat in big road games such as when they only scored 3 points against the Otters and 9 points against the Hawks. If the Yeti had put together a better offensive performance and won even one of those four games, they would have been the #1 seed in the NSFC and would likely be playing in the championship game for the second season in a row, but instead they sat at home during the playoffs. It's strange that a team with the highest rated quarterback and the highest rated running back in the league struggled to put up points, but the Yeti's offensive line was well below average. Without a strong line, the offense could never really get into a flow and suffered many drive-killing sacks. The Yeti have the talent to be a top team in the league, but the offense will need to perform more to its talent level if they hope to return to the playoffs next season.
The Legion were a team I considered as a contender after their initial off-season trades. Instead, they ended up as the worst team in the league. I think their biggest issue was player training. They traded for some of the best performers from Season 1. However, many of those players stopped training, so their development did not catch up with players from other teams. Once they fell behind, their performance regressed and the team ended up under performing. The Legion will need to get players who train more actively in order to get back on track and be able to contend.
Quote:345 Words
Future Talent:
![[Image: LcpT9DO.png]](http://i.imgur.com/LcpT9DO.png)
Playoff Predictions:
*Note: I did some test simulations of these games so my score predictions and winning percentages are based from those*
NSFC Championship:
@ 
This looks to be an good matchup between what most people consider to be the best passing offense in the league and the best rushing offense in the league. However, I think this game will ultimately be decided by defense. In terms of points allowed, the Hawks' defense ranks 4th while the the Wraiths' defense ranks 6th. The Hawks defense ranks 3rd in sacks and interceptions while the Wraiths' defense ranks 7th in sacks and 8th in interceptions. Both teams have great offensese, but I think the Hawks' defense will slow down the Wraiths' offense enough for the Hawks' offense to go off on the Wraiths' defense and send the Hawks to play for the Ultimus. The last time these two teams met in Baltimore, the Hawks scored 37 points while holding the Wraiths to 19 points. Home field advantage will play a big role as the Hawks are one of two teams who remain undefeated at home.
Prediction:
18 20 (60% chance Hawks win)ASFC Championship:
@ 
I think this game could surprise some people with how close it is. The Outlaws have been very dominant this season and already swept the Otters and are 6-1 all time against the Otters. From a basic perspective, the Outlaws should dominate this game. However, I think the Otters are a very talented team that has under-performed its talent level with its regular season record. The Otters have the talent to play well against any team, but I still think they will struggle to get the job done in Arizona. The Outlaws have overperformed my simulations all season and I think they will remain undefeated at home and continue their domination against the Otters with a playoff victory
Prediction:
17 20 (56% chance Outlaws win)NSFL Championship:
@ The Hawks have put together a great season and surprised a lot of people, but I don't think they will be able to make it through the Outlaws. The Hawks have only won 1 road game all season while the Outlaws have only lost 1 home game all season. This is before taking into account how dominant the Outlaws have been this season. However, the Hawks are 1 of the only 2 teams to win against the Outlaws this season, so they could give them a tough match-up, but I think the Outlaws will ultimately win the championship for the second season in a row.
Prediction:
15 19 (61% chance Outlaws win)Quote:443 Words
Playoff Recap Infographic:
![[Image: 31jry8R.gif]](http://imgur.com/31jry8R.gif)
S2 - Ultimus Week - RainDelay - 08-28-2017
1) Playoff Predictions: Well, in the first game, we have the Yellowknife Wraiths headed to Baltimore to take on the Hawks. The sim generally favors home teams, but in this one, I think the Wraiths will come out on top. For one, the Canadian squad is coming off of a win against the Orange County Otters, whereas the Hawks just got throttled by the Colorado Yeti, who missed the playoffs. The Wraiths passing attack, manned by Chris Orosz throwing to Josh Garden, Bailey Cook and Ricky Maddox will be too much for the Hawks DBs or handle, and will be the difference.
In the second game, the heavily favored Arizona Outlaws are at home against the Otters. I think this game will be more black and white than the NSFC game, as the Outlaws won't have too much trouble holding off the California team. The Outlaws defense, led by Jaylon Lee and Jayce Tuck will overpower the o-line and make quarterback Mike Boss force some questionable passes.
In the championship game, I'll be fair and unbiased. I think the Arizona Outlaws will have a way to repeat the Ultimus this year. Starting off the league with back to back championships will be no easy feat, but they have the tools to do it. I think the Wraiths will give them a run for their money, but the home favorites will prevail in the end.
2) Offensive Comparison: Many people are going to be comparing the quarterbacks here, or maybe the running backs, but I'm going for a route less traveled which still should count as offense. I'm talking about the kicking game, that is. Kickers tend to not get as much recognition as well, any other players on the field, save for maybe offensive lineman. But these two are quite integral to their teams' respective successes. Converted soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo is the Outlaws kicker and Turk Turkleton is the Hawks kicker. Ronaldo had the golden boot when it came to extra points, which are the easiest points one is supposed to get in a season. He connected on 97.6% of his tries. Turkleton was also adept at this, connecting on 95.8%. When it came to field goals, the Hawks' Turkleton was a shade better than Ronaldo. Turkleton hit 89.2% of his field goals, three percent better than Ronaldo's 86.2% clip. Both are quite formidable, and when it comes time to kick the ball through the uprights, these two are among the most trusted in the league. Punting is also something that both these men do well, Ronaldo a bit better. He averages 46.2 yards per punt, whereas Turk averages a clean 44 yards per punt, also respectable.
3) Defensive Comparison: So I definitely took the unconventional approach when talking about the offensive comparison, so for the purposes of this part, I will be sticking to conventionality and will be talking about linebackers. Specifically, I will be looking at Erasmo Broadway of the Baltimore Hawks and Jaylon Lee of the Arizona Outlaws, who I wrote about in last season's Ultimus Week. Broadway had 115 tackles, and seven of them resulted in a loss of yardage, which may or may not be as a result of his 100 agility (just kidding, that didn't affect much). Jaylon Lee led the league in tackles, posting a whopping 139, but only one of them was for a loss. He did have seven sacks, but Broadway had five more. This can largely be attributed to a difference in game approach and play style. Broadway is an aggressive linebacker who likes to jump the gun and pressure opposing quarterbacks, whereas Lee often holds back into coverage, allowing him to make all those tackles, and explaining why only one was for a loss. Lee's approach makes his seven sacks all the more impressive though, and both these guys are legit beasts of the gridiron. Looking like they are going to be making a big difference in the Ultimus.
4) Bottom Half: The Colorado Yeti were mainly kept out of the playoffs because of a lack of top tier offensive lineman. Bender Rodriguez, arguably their best blocker, would have trouble cracking a top 10 linemen list in the NSFL, a league that has eight teams. Protection is the weakest part of the Colorado Yeti roster. Gadget Tech has had a nice little season with improvement, but this line is pretty much devoid of talent. Antonio Sandoval, a Season 3 player, is not likely to end up back in Denver, so there goes another piece of the puzzle. If Rodriguez and Daniel Robicheaux ever return to training activity, then there may be a light at the end of the tunnel, but for now, the line needs serious improvement. Imagine what Boss Tweed could have accomplished had there been a competent line in front of him. The same goes for Logan Noble, who often didn’t stand a chance back there.
As for the San Jose SaberCats, they were kept out because of their defense as a whole. A.C. Hackett is just one player, but losing him from an already week defensive unit was a crushing blow. This team gave up the most points in the league, and while a lot of that is from their crushing 65-0 loss to the Arizona Outlaws in Week 12, points are indeed points. And even though that came in one game, they still had to allow all those points in said game. How did they do that? For one, except for Dan Miller, the defensive line play was borderline nonexistent. Third-round pick Enchilada Charlton can already be seen as a major bust from that draft, highlighting the team’s inability to select defensive ends in early rounds (see: S1 Draft, Greg Taylor). While Chidubem Okonkwo has shown a commitment to updating, his performance has not yet caught up.
5) Playoff Review: For the beginning of the first matchup, I was not home. I was at a charity fundraiser, so I'll only be talking about the second half of Otters vs. Outlaws. It was, well, just kinda eh. There wasn't much action to speak of, save for two touchdowns in the third quarter. But the fourth quarter was pretty stale and devoid of action. I figured the Outlaws would win so it wasn't surprising.
Then it was onto the game I really cared about. The Wraiths who I play for we're taking on the Baltimore Hawks. I was expecting a close game and got just that. The Wraiths offense struggled mightily throughout so that wasn't much fun to watch. Although I did have the most catches and yards on the day. Josh Garden surprisingly had zero of both, which was quite shocking considering his season. They beat us 16-14 and we went home upset that night.
In the Ultimus game, the Arizona Outlaws beat the Baltimore Hawks by a huge margin of 33-6! What more can I really say about that, though? I figured they would win in that fashion and they came through. It made me wonder what would've happened if it was the Wraiths representing the NSFC in the game instead of the Hawks. Hmm...maybe it's better not to know.
As a whole, the playoffs were a little undersold and underwhelming. Hoping for more firepower and publicity next season!
S2 - Ultimus Week - SimmerDownBruhh - 08-28-2017
Bottom Half:
With the playoffs rapidly approaching, we have to recognize the four teams that will be looking for an entry into the playoffs come Season 3.
First off, we have the NSFC Champions of S1, the Colorado Yeti. Despite having the same record as the Wraiths and Hawks, they lost the tie breaker when Yellowknife won their final game against the Otters. They have a stellar core in their lineup to contend for years to come. With Logan Noble leading the way, their arrow will always be pointing up.
Next we have the San Jose Sabercats. They went through a bad stretch of games in the middle of the season and it took them out of contention early. They will need to begin their rebuild process immediately but their culute took a complete 180 after acquiring WR Darren "Checkers" Smallwood, he's going to be one of the main catalysts to bring them up from the ashes.
Philadelphia Liberty is the next to last team that was unable to secure a playoff berth. Led by Rookie WR Fox North bringing in the clutchness, I still see a bright future ahead of them as well. Losing 4 of the last six games was the nail in their coffins this year, but with the next draft full of rookies for their choosing and a stout defense, they have plenty of chances to improve.
Finally, we have the Las Vegas Legion, who most are calling "the team that needs the most improvement all across the board." They will have a lot to prove in these next couple of years. Their issues go to alot of different areas that I'm not going to bother listing, but we will have to see what will happen after free agency and the Season Three NSFL Draft to see what cards they will be dealt for the upcoming season.
Future Talent:
The S3 NSFL Draft is not that far away. Yellowknife just happened to signed a top three drafted as a waiver for S2. And he's all that can be asked for in a Linebacker and so much more.
Brice Boggs said he was going to take this league by storm and he did just that. Constant pressure on the Quarterback, amazing pass rushing skills, coverage ability is amazing, jumping out of the gym type of athleticism, he has it all and so much more. Showing he can be a leader from his first day wearing a Wraiths jersey.
In his waiver wire season, he's not classified as a rookie but he looked like a veteran amongst rookies a majority of time when he's on the field. Posting up the third most tackles on the team (82, five were for a loss of yardage), second most sacks in the Yellowknife defense (6), three passes defensed, and one interception (that should have been a pick six but got stopped one yard shy of breaking the plain).
You tell me if he's going to beast in a future. Haha He's going to be just fine as long as he's with a team that will game plan for him. Luckily for Brice, he's on a team that's is always willing to do so. Hopefully this will not be the last game he plays in Yellowknife. Mark my words, this guy has HOF potential talent and he'll show the world against the Hawks.
Playoff Predictions:
NSFC Championship Game:
Yellowknife Wraiths @ Baltimore Hawks
These two teams will meet for the first time in NSFL Playoffs history. The Wraiths made it to the playoffs both years but fell short to Colorado. The odds certainly are in Baltimore's favor. They're at home and the home field advantage will surely be in full effect. The Wraiths will be looking to beat those odds by the means of pure offense and bend but don't break defense. The Wraiths are the underdogs for a few valid reasons and this is why I call this a "trap game" for Baltimore. I'm giving Yellowknife the edge close away from home.
Predictions:
27-19 with Yellowknife advancing.
ASFC Championship Game:
Orange County Otters @ Arizona Outlaws
Look, I'm not going to waste your time with this one, I can't swing this for the Otters in any way in my mind. Arizona is at home with the top rated defense, best front seven, great receiving core, quarterback, running back, secondary is legit, I can go on and on about how great they are but thinking from the Otters perspective, they need to do three things to upset the Outlaws:
Pressure Bronko into mistakes.
Don't let Mackworthy be Mackworthy.
Limit turnovers.
Hell, if I can add one more thing to it, I would say that QB Mike Boss has played a stellar year. If he can stay as cool, calm and collected as he's been since he's entered the NSFL, they can make some serious moves.
I still think the Otters will lose, but I don't think it'll be a blowout victory. They may fall two possessions shy of a chance for the Ultimus this year.
Predictions:
35-24 Arizona pulls off the home victory
NSFL Championship Game
Yellowknife Wraiths @ Arizona Outlaws
Arizona has earned Home Field Advantage for the playoffs for the second straight year so once again this matchup favors the Outlaws for this matchup. They're favored in every game they are lined up in their schedule for literally a season and a half. I said a half because no one expected them to be this good when S1 began. Well, except Arizona, of course.
What Yellowknife will need to do is similar to what the Otters needed to do. What Yellowknife has that Orange County doesn't is a extremely potent offense led by S2 Best QB candidate Chris Orosz. The offensive line is classified by most by best in the league. They need to keep him upright and let Josh Garden, Ricky Maddox, Bailey Cook and Damien West play their game. It'll be a tall task to hold that stellar front seven.
Offense will win games but defense still win championships and build dynasties. I still have Arizona winning this one in a much closer game, Yellowknife will put up a good fight but will eventually fall short in a close matchup.
Predictions:
29-24 Arizona Becomes 2-time NSFL Champions
(1021 Words Combined for all three articles Give or take around 340 words each, something like that.)
Offensive Comparison (Graphic):
![[Image: pJx0rju.jpg?1]](http://i.imgur.com/pJx0rju.jpg?1)
Conference Final MVP Sig:
![[Image: 3WnoywG.jpg?1]](http://i.imgur.com/3WnoywG.jpg?1)
S2 - Ultimus Week - cosbornballboy - 08-28-2017
Offensive Comparison: Mike Boss, starting Quarterback for the Orange County Otters, will be facing off against Arizona Outlaws, who feature the Quarterback King Bronko. This one has been hyped up so much, folks, as many people have said that the Otters may be the team best equipped to defeat the Arizona Outlaws. Let's look at the breakdown of the two QBs. Boss, with an 81.7 quarterback rating, is just ahead of Bronko, with 77.1 QBR. This is almost a minuscule difference and it shows how closely matched these two competitors really are. Furthermore, looking at interceptions, Boss has thrown 16 and Bronko has thrown only 15 interceptions. Once AGAIN, we see little difference between these quarterbacks. Completion percentage? Boss has 60%, Bronko has 55%. Touchdowns? Boss has 21, Bronko has 25. Yardage is a little more separated, but not much, with Bronko at 3,130 yards, and Boss at 3,609. Maybe the only difference is their rushing abilities, where Bronko averages 2.5 yards per carry, and Boss has -0.1 yards per carry. Now, no matter what the situation or the outcome in the game is, I can personally guarantee, and I mean GUARANTEE you, that the QB stats will be almost impossible to differentiate in terms of which stat line is who's. (209 Words)
Bottom Half: Today, let's take a look at the downfall of the Las Vegas Legion, and the cracking of the Philadelphia Liberty. These two teams were generally regarded as the teams that were supposed to be the laughingstock, the butts, the bottom, the shitholes, whatever you want to call it, of the NSFL. And that prediction was right. For the Legion. Ho-oly shit, were they bad. The Legion went 3-11, and that was a surprise. There was little upside in their season, but there was upside, which came in the form of 2 of their 3 wins coming in the form of away victory steals, including one steal in Colorado against the Yeti, which really shook up the playoff picture. Now, let's look at the Liberty. OH MY GO- actually, they weren't all that bad. All things considered, them being an expansion team, having to start at such a disadvantage in TPE totals, 5-9 isn't terrible. They may have a long-term QB in Jameis Christ, Omar Wright wasn't complete trash, and Fox North was fantastic. Huh. Good shit, Liberty. I think here, in these two expansion teams, we see the disparity that can occur when one expansion team is run by a dedicated GM and a smart GM, and one is run by a sociopath that gave up a 1st overall pick, then turned the team over to some poor chump that has to deal with the mess. (236 words)
Future Talent: You thought I was gonna talk about Boggs? Blewitt? Myself? Someone of importance? Fuck yourself, cause today we're talking about Mark Strike. This could've also probably qualified for my Bold Predictions PT, but fuck it, we're doing this now. Numbers? Statistics? Fuck yourself again because numbers are for fucking nerds. Real men use their guts, you fairy. I have a great feeling that, even though there's a 100% chance he'll be a bust and be total shit, there's always that 0% chance he may be great... Oh, shit. Wait. Like I said, numbers are for neeerrddss. Who needs numbers when you've got a kid with the arm of Denard Robinson, the legs of Tom Brady, the intelligence of Junior Seau (after his retirement), and the discipline of a post-draft Ryan Leaf. Numbers don't matter, go with your gut, Mr. Dwyer. Take this man 1st overall. The Outlaws need someone hampering them, anyway. You think it's fun having you guys win all the time? It isn't, so do us a favor and make the wrong pick. I promise you'll regret it. Just like Mark Strike will regret being a QB after I get done with him. Mark Strike, fuck yourself. (200 words)
S2 - Ultimus Week - Esa77 - 08-28-2017
Playoff Series MVP:
I have chosen to write about Arizona Outlaws star Running Back and Offensive player of the Year Reg Mackworthy. Big Mack was leaned on heavily in the playoffs for Arizona, but the championship game is where he really made a huge difference. Mackworthy is our choice for MVP of the Utimus Cup between Arizona and Baltimore. Reg Mackworthy racked up 97 yards on 27 carries including 1 touchdown, he could have easily eclipsed 100+ yards but in a blowout was rested later in the 4th. He also caught 2 balls for 29 yards and made a big impact on special teams 93 kick return yards including a 60 yarder as well as 27 punt return yards. All combined that's 246 total yards on the day helping the Outlaws to their 2nd consecutive championship with a 33-6 drubbing of Baltimore. In the process Reginald Mackworthy solidifies himself as the most clutch back in the league. 2 seasons, 2 championships, two big performances in the playoffs.
Offensive Comparison:
![[Image: 1terrell_davis_006.jpg11.jpg]](https://s26.postimg.org/l6r5pjlu1/1terrell_davis_006.jpg11.jpg)
Defensive Comparision:
![[Image: 1111113.jpg]](https://s26.postimg.org/e1400u24p/1111113.jpg)
Conference Final MVP
![[Image: tuck12s-1-webq111.jpg]](https://s26.postimg.org/6nffae3bd/tuck12s-1-webq111.jpg)
Championship Banner:
![[Image: terrell-davis-superbowl-32-trophy1.jpg]](https://s26.postimg.org/7lchqyp8p/terrell-davis-superbowl-32-trophy1.jpg)
S2 - Ultimus Week - Oles - 08-28-2017
Offensive Comparison: Compare one offensive player from each team in a series.
Bubba Nuck and Darlane Farlane, 2 of the top RBs in the league played against each other in the Glacies Trophy game. The 2 premier RBs did what they do every game, they provided a good opportunity to their team in the form of a good RB and a good game. First, for the winning team, Farlane compiled 101 yards on 31 attempts. Much like his whole season, he was fed well and often in his 101 yard performance. He did not see end zone in his performance, which is a bit disheartening for the top RB, as the only touchdown for the Hawks came off of a TD pass. As for Nuck, he didn’t do as well but still had a respectable game. He ran for 78 yards on 27 attempts, and like Farlane, he did not see the end zone in his performance. It seems as if the whole offense was out of sync in the NSFC title game, as the high powered offense was held in check the whole game, with their only TD coming from a kick return. Farlane was certainly the better RB in this matchup, as he averaged 3.3 yards per carry compared to Nuck’s 2.9 yards per carry, slightly edging out the top S1 RB. (212 words)
Defensive Comparison: Compare one defensive player from each team in a series.
Franklin Harris of the Otters, Jaylon Lee of the Outlaws, when you think of the league’s top LBs, these are some of the first names to come to mind. Both dominant LBs help their defenses in any way possible, whether it’s a tackle machine or sack machine, getting PDs or fumbles, just doing anything they can in order to help their team win. First I’ll start with Jaylon Lee, the LB for the victorious Outlaws. He amassed 5 tackles, 1 sack and 1 PD, which is sort of an off game for him, considering the caliber of his play. He still clearly helped his team out, and helped the defense stop one of the better offenses in the NSFL. As for Harris, he compiled 11 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 PD. This is clearly a better performance, and he did a lot to help his team, even though they would ultimately lose to the Outlaws. His performance should not go unnoticed, as he was able to penetrate the line with ease, and keep players in check in order to keep his team in the game. Harris had the better performance, even though he did not win the game, he did everything he could to help his team, and had one of the best performances of the year, and the playoffs. (220 words)
Bottom Half: Write about why two of the four teams were not able to make the playoffs.
I could easily talk about San Jose and Las Vegas here. The two teams that were abysmal throughout the year, the two teams that did not show any glimmer of hope as the season progressed, and never really had a shot at contending for a playoff spot. Instead I believe it is better to talk about why the Yeti and Liberty were unable to make the playoffs. First the Liberty, the team that had to pick up a year late (along with the Legion) and had to build from scratch through the draft. The team has a rising defense, with a great secondary that got better as the season progressed. On the other side of the ball however, the offense was not that good outside of 3 or 4 guys. The offensive line was horrible, and the QB left something to be desired. This led to a lot of games where drives constantly stalled and left the defense out to dry, and caused the Liberty to not make the playoffs. As for the Yeti they got screwed, plain and simple. They got screwed by a tiebreaker that should not have been. Who knows how different the playoffs would have gone, but I do know that the Yeti should stay competitive in the NSFC, and missing the playoffs this year seemed to be a fluke due to weird tiebreaker rules. (229 words)
Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them
The Ultimus Championship MVP is none other than Christiano Ronaldo. Yes, the Outlaws kicker had the mvp performance in what turned into a slaughter of the Hawks. I could have gone with Reg Mackworthy, who had a good game, I could have pointed out Chess with his good game as well. I could have brought up the 2 players who sacked Kyubee in the end zone for safeties, but no, instead I want to bring light to an underrated position, 1 that has an impact on almost every score. Why go with Ronaldo here? It’s simple, he provided 17 points for the Outlaws, more than any of his teammates did. He also was useful in his 5 punts, average 51 yards per punt on 5 punts, with a total of 255 yards in the punting game. He was able to pin them deep and not allow them a short field, and that should be commended. With his 5 field goals, 1 from under 20, and the other 3 from 30-39 yards out, he was a reliable point getter and his points alone would have led them to a 15-6 lead, as he kicked 5 field goals. This is why a kicker, not the QB, not the RB, not anyone else, deserves the title of MVP. (215 words)
Playoff Review: Write a short review of the playoffs and each of the matchups
In the NSFC championship, the Wraiths and Hawks faced each other for a chance at the Ultimus Game and Trophy. It was a game not detached from controversy, much like the Hawks season itself, when it was found out that there was some deer antler spray used by Erasmo Broadway in order to buff up his game. We don’t know how much it mattered in the end, with the Hawks winning 16-14, and winning the Glacies trophy. In the ASFC championship game, the Outlaws and Otters played a close game, with the Otters providing one of the best fights of the season with the Outlaws. They were able to keep up with the Otters the whole way, but couldn’t quite close the gap and beat the Outlaws. The Outlaws would go on to win 17-13, on their way to their second consecutive Solis trophy victory. The Ultimus game was not a close fight. There was nothing good about this game for the Hawks, and this was not a pretty sight for Hawks fans and players. The team did not do well, they did not put up a fight, and ultimately the defending champs could not be stopped on their way to a second Ultimus trophy victory. The Outlaws demolished the Hawks, winning 33-6. (213 words)