![[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: *You gon' learn today, vol. 1 (/showthread.php?tid=5146)
*You gon' learn today, vol. 1 - 37thchamber - 10-11-2017
Lesson #1: The Outlaws can be beaten at home
Last year, the Outlaws posted a perfect home record of nine wins from nine games, including the post-season. In fact, their only loss at the Bandit Pit since Turk Turkleton kicked a winning field goal in week eight of season one, was a frankly meaningless pre-season defeat at the hands of the Otters, which they lost by a single point, despite starting a reserve quarterback for the entire game.
This year, it looked as though the reigning champions and prohibitive favourites were heading for a perfect season, until the "bend, don't break" Hawks defense came to town. Statistically, the Outlaws played a solid game, as always. But their inability to get on the board in the first half cost them in the long run.
Trailing by thirteen at the half, Bronko appeared to (somewhat understandably) attempt moving the chains through passes, more than through hand-offs to the reliable Reg Mackworthy. While this worked to an extent -- the Outlaws racked up a total of 260 passing yards, including two players on 100+ for the night; not exactly a common occurrence against the Hawks -- it was only through Mack that the ball reached the Hawks endzone. Mack was doing fine at halftime, too, averaging around four yards per carry, but the Hawks defense repeatedly put the Outlaws in difficult third down situations and managed to end drives through a combination of aggressive defensive line play, and stout coverage.
No doubt, the rest of the league will be on alert now, and the Otters -- the other candidates for the ASFC Championship -- might even fancy their chances of beating the Outlaws en route to the Ultimus, particularly given their extremely impressive aerial attack. Should the Otters take an early lead, we might see them hold out. The Hawks offense isn't as strong as the Otters, so it's reasonable to think the team from Orange County could eclipse that thirteen point lead, which was enough to get them to overtime, where a Turkleton field goal (again) earned them the win over the NSFL's big bad.
Lesson #2: Don't doubt Delacour
In fairness, this shouldn't be a lesson. The entire league was warned about this one by an article in the league's very own magazine last week. A short article which highlighted Delacour's propensity for exceeding expectation explicitly stated that "Antoine Delacour is the league's best at proving doubters wrong". It's true. Prior to the draft, questions were asked of his size, and ability to cope on an island against the league's bigger and better receivers. He has done pretty well in that regard, with only Robert Phelps seeming to constantly give him trouble; a fact he acknowledges himself.
However, another article in that very same issue of NSFL Insider magazine saw fit to cast doubt on Delacour's status as arguably the league's top return man...
Quote:Dermot Lavelle is easily the best punt returner in the league. [...] Dermot gains a whole 4.4 yards more per punt than an extremely accomplished returner like Delacour. [...] He's also the only returner to score a TD off a punt return. He also has the longest punt return of the season, a 77-yard scamper. Delacour is close with a 69-yard return but still second.
The quiet man from Lafayette said nothing directly in response, but less than three minutes into his next game...
![[Image: 2aXZsMd.png]](https://i.imgur.com/2aXZsMd.png)
...hwell then.
Admittedly, Dermot Lavelle has broken the season punt return yards record, and will likely finish the season with the most punt return yards. However, his average is only half a yard better than Delacour. With the Hawks facing a solid Liberty defense on the road in week 14, there's a good chance Delacour will have a few attempts to overtake Lavelle. However, the Wraiths travel to Orange County, where it's probably safe to assume Lavelle will also have a few opportunities to run punts back.
What is certain at this point is that the two are going to have a close race for the punt return title this season, with the winner also taking the league record. Should Delacour win out, that will presumably establish him as the league's premier return guy overall, as he already holds the season record for kick return yards. Either way, proclamations of Lavelle being the league's top punt returner are premature at best.
Lesson #3: Gambling and Las Vegas really don't mix well
(Unless you're the Legion, I guess)
Again, this should really go without saying, but when you gamble with Las Vegas, Vegas always wins out. Eventually.
Of course, in this case, I'm talking about Kevin Cushing's wager that the Legion would win less than two games through seasons three and four of NSFL. In hindsight, this appears to be a reckless wager, but to be fair to Cushing, it did look reasonable. Let's break it down.
Bearing in mind the wager was made at a time when the Legion were easily the league's worst team, before Noble effectively crippled the Yeti with his cartoon-like villainy. The Legion looked likely to finish season three winless, and it wasn't a totally unfair bet to say they'd pick up just one win in season four, even. They were pencilled in to be the underdogs in every away game, and all but maybe two or three of their home games, depending on hw well the Sabercats and Liberty rebounded during season three. Considering the Sabercats were improving, and the Liberty looked like a potential playoff dark horse, you'd be forgiven for thinking the Legion would actually be the underdogs in ALL their games, and even accounting for home field advantage and upset potential, it wasn't particularly likely they'd win more than one.
That the second win -- and the one that confirmed Cushing would have to move to Vegas -- came against the Yeti was fitting in many ways. Not as poetic as if it had come against the Wraiths (Cushing's current team) for obvious reasons, but fitting nonetheless. In the wake of the Yeti entering a true rebuild, they have... underdogged? [what's the opposite of leapfrogged? - Ed.] the Legion as the league's worst team. Their defeat in Vegas served as a sort of baton pass, in some ways.
With all that said, it seems probable that the Legion will improve significantly with Cushing joining their secondary, though there is still a decent case to be made that they are the league's worst team. That baton pass might not have actually be a baton pass at all, in the grand scheme of things.
Extra Credit: Belt and Baton
Speaking of baton passes, perhaps it is time to introduce some lineal titles, or a belt and a baton, if you will. Much like in boxing, there is a lineal championship -- i.e. you have to beat the man to be the man -- it is possible to apply similar rules to the NSFL. If we trace back to the end of season one, and award the Outlaws the "NSFL Championship Belt" and the Hawks (as the league's bottom team at the time) the opposite, for the league's worst team (let's call it "The Tank's Baton", for now; I considered naming it after a GM but not sure which one), we can then trace the lineage of each award.
Ignoring pre-season games, let's apply the following rules:
- If a team holding the Championship Belt loses, the belt changes hands.
- If a team holding the baton wins, the baton changes hands.
- Neither the belt nor baton can change hands on a tie game.
Season 2, Week 00: Outlaws awarded NSFL Championship Belt
Season 2, Week 04: Yeti win belt from Outlaws
Season 2, Week 05: Liberty win belt from Yeti
Season 2, Week 06: Otters win belt from Liberty
Season 2, Week 07: Outlaws win belt from Otters
Season 2, Week 08: Hawks win belt from Outlaws
Season 2, Week 10: Wraiths win belt from Hawks
Season 2, Week 12: Otters win belt from Wraiths
Season 2, Week 14: Wraiths win belt from Otters
Season 2, Week 15: Hawks win belt from Wraiths
Season 2, Week 16: Outlaws win belt from Hawks
Season 3, Week 12: Hawks win belt from Outlaws
Season 3, Week 13: Otters win belt from Hawks
Current NSFL Champions: Orange County Otters
(Note: The Legion and Sabercats are the only teams to never hold the NSFL Championship Belt)
Tank's Baton lineage
Season 2, Week 00: Hawks awarded Tank's Baton
Season 2, Week 02: Hawks pass baton to Otters
Season 2, Week 03: Otters pass baton to Liberty
Season 2, Week 05: Liberty pass baton to Yeti
Season 2, Week 07: Yeti pass baton to Sabercats
Season 2, Week 13: Sabercats pass baton to Legion
Season 3, Week 10: Legion pass baton to Sabercats
Season 3, Week 12: Sabercats pass baton to Wraiths
Season 3, Week 13: Wraiths pass baton to Legion
Current NSFL Worst Team: Las Vegas Legion
(Note: The Outlaws are the only team to never hold the Tank's Baton)
(1503 words, ready for grading)
GRADED
*You gon' learn today, vol. 1 - White Cornerback - 10-11-2017
I hope one day somebody tracks CB's and WR's on a game to game schedule so it shows us YPG allowed and QB rating when throwing to that CB. Right now all we've got to go off of is stats which isn't even 50% of the CB's abilities.
*You gon' learn today, vol. 1 - kckolbe - 10-11-2017
Great shit. I like the "tank baton" concept. I'd seen the belt idea before, though.
Also, thanks for a very fair assessment on the bet.
*You gon' learn today, vol. 1 - iamslm22 - 10-11-2017
GREAT read man. Awesome article
*You gon' learn today, vol. 1 - 37thchamber - 10-11-2017
(10-11-2017, 01:28 PM)Dermot Wrote:I hope one day somebody tracks CB's and WR's on a game to game schedule so it shows us YPG allowed and QB rating when throwing to that CB. Right now all we've got to go off of is stats which isn't even 50% of the CB's abilities.I just wish we knew how many times we were targeted. That alone would help a lot when evaluating DBs, imo
But yeah, there's a lot more going on. A cornerback who has a lot of tackles could be really good at covering for his teammates, or just really bad at preventing catches. Or both. There's no way to know by just looking at raw numbers.
(10-11-2017, 01:34 PM)kckolbe Wrote:Great shit. I like the "tank baton" concept. I'd seen the belt idea before, though.Thanks. Came to me as I was writing the article, haha. The baton pass analogy came, then I remembered the lineal belt concept and thought "hmm..."
Worked out better than I thought it would, tbh. Might try and keep track of both from now on, maybe get some more stats around them. Depends if I have time. Before I do any of that, I need to finish my player bio for SHL to get that sweet, sweet first article money.
*You gon' learn today, vol. 1 - kckolbe - 10-11-2017
(10-11-2017, 07:15 AM)37thchamber Wrote:I just wish we knew how many times we were targeted. That alone would help a lot when evaluating DBs, imo
But yeah, there's a lot more going on. A cornerback who has a lot of tackles could be really good at covering for his teammates, or just really bad at preventing catches. Or both. There's no way to know by just looking at raw numbers.
Thanks. Came to me as I was writing the article, haha. The baton pass analogy came, then I remembered the lineal belt concept and thought "hmm..."
Worked out better than I thought it would, tbh. Might try and keep track of both from now on, maybe get some more stats around them. Depends if I have time. Before I do any of that, I need to finish my player bio for SHL to get that sweet, sweet first article money.
Yeah, targets would count for a lot, but still wouldn't affect YAC, TDs allowed, etc. It is fun being a CB, though.
You joined SHL? Which player and team?
*You gon' learn today, vol. 1 - 37thchamber - 10-11-2017
(10-11-2017, 03:23 PM)kckolbe Wrote:Yeah, targets would count for a lot, but still wouldn't affect YAC, TDs allowed, etc. It is fun being a CB, though.Yeahhhh I've tried to approximate some stuff, and if you watch every game, you can get an idea of YAC, but it's not good enough. Having actual numbers would be great.
You joined SHL? Which player and team?
Also: Picard, PGF
*You gon' learn today, vol. 1 - 4D Chess - 10-11-2017
We will be alright. I promise.
*You gon' learn today, vol. 1 - 37thchamber - 10-11-2017
(10-11-2017, 03:29 PM)4D Chess Wrote:We will be alright. I promise.good to know.
if you guys win the ultimus again, ill consider making a "million dwyer belt" with dwyer heads instead of dollar signs or some shit. you know. for the threepeat.
*You gon' learn today, vol. 1 - jparks98 - 10-11-2017
ironically we've never held the tank baton this season
:belly: