Ladies and gentleman, welcome again to ESPNSFL. My name is Zerin Nandrews and this is episode number 17 of our “Thoroughfare to Glory” (TTG) saga, bringing you the life of Season 18 QB, the “Portuguese Phenom”, Jay “Football” Cue.
3 games of the season were played and the Arizona Outlaws sit on 3-0. 2 away wins at very difficult venues, against the Hawks and the 3 times champions Orange County Otters and 1 home win against the San Jose Sabercats. To the surprise of some, including their own players, the Arizona is now the only undefeated team. Are they a sleeper pick for maybe a playoff spot this season? Or this is just a fluke, about to come crashing down when they travel to Austin to play the 2-1 division rivals Copperheads?
Let us see how Jay is dealing with the pressure of his first season in the NSFL, with Dirk travelling to Arizona to find out.
Dirk - So Jay, 3-0, great numbers for any QB, let alone a rookie one, how has it been so far?
Jay - I really can't complain Dirk. I think no Arizona player can, not a single fan can as well. We came into the season with certain expectations, to face it as a transition year, so we were (and are), just looking to get as many wins as possible and not finish last in the ASFC. And, let us face it, we are indeed 3-0, but just 2 games ahead of the 4th place in the division, currently the 3 times champions Otters. So, it all can change very quickly.
Dirk - Your team has 3 very difficult games this week, how do you feel it is going to end for you?
Jay - There are no easy games in the NSFL, i think we can all agree with that. Copperheads, NOLA and the Wraiths, teams with real aspirations of a playoff berth, 2 of them away from home... It is very tough to play in the NSFL, we know that, and we are trying the best we can to make it harder for the other teams.
Dirk - But do you feel like the Outlaws can get a place in the post season?
Jay - No idea Dirk. We know games are always up for grabs until the time runs out, we feel like everyone thought the we would lose against the Hawks and the Otters and we came out with 2 wins. So, we never know what might happen, we just try to play with the strategy we practiced and get a win. So far, so good, but all it takes is a couple of bad results and we will be out of the run. We are just trying to avoid that.
Dirk - And what about your personal performances? Are things going the way you thought they would be?
Jay - Looking at numbers, i am way ahead of the curve, so i can see how people are surprised with my games. I am confident about competing against the best QB's in the league, against the best defenders, because that is what i have been preparing for in the last 3 years. Obviously there is a lot of factors that decide the numbers we are going to have, like the OL, the receiver corp, the running game, but I have been very comfortable playing and i think that transpires to the team. A confident QB, a confident game manager, relaxes and gets the best out of the team and the results are showing that.
Dirk - Still, it must feel very good to be one of the top QBs so far.
Jay - It does, of course. Trust me, it is hard work to throw for almost 1000 yards and 8 TDs in 3 games. But my main goal is to limit the turnovers as much as possible. If teams want to score against us, they should work and go the entire length of the field for that. The morale gets destroyed if their offense scores after starting in the red zone or if their defense gets a pick 6. So i need to play it safe every time and go for the big plays only if i feel it is almost certain we can get it.
Dirk - Considering what you said about the objectives for this season, is it safe to assume that you have different objectives for next season?
Jay - We do. We have a long term plan in place in Arizona, with every player involved aware of that. it might not be a perfect plan, but our objective this season is to try and be competitive as much as possible and to get the newer players playing experience. I have no idea why, but the Outlaws are not seen as a good place to play by Free Agents. We have a young and upcoming QB, a young receiver corp, very good players on defense, a fantastic locker room, so we are trying to make a name for ourselves and to attract players with a winning mentality to help us chase an Ultimus trophy. Like Green Acres, Arizona is the place to be and will be for a long time. We intend to build a dynasty here.
Dirk - Now to discuss something that happened outside the field, how do you see the controversy that happened with the NSFL Commissioner?
Jay - I have already talked about the subject, gave my opinion on the subject and there is not much to add to that. HO made a couple of decisions that i do not agree, but my input does not carry that much weight. I do not want to add any more fuel to the fire. Whichever the decision is, with my agreement or not, i will play the same way and try to get Arizona some trophies.
Dirk - Thank you again for your time Jay, looking forward to see you perform this week.
Jay - Thanks Dirk, come back soon.
And this is all the time we have for today, stay tuned for more interviews and information on our TTG. This was Zerin Nandrews, for ESPNSFL at the Arizona Outlaws training facility, goodbye, see you next time.
3 games of the season were played and the Arizona Outlaws sit on 3-0. 2 away wins at very difficult venues, against the Hawks and the 3 times champions Orange County Otters and 1 home win against the San Jose Sabercats. To the surprise of some, including their own players, the Arizona is now the only undefeated team. Are they a sleeper pick for maybe a playoff spot this season? Or this is just a fluke, about to come crashing down when they travel to Austin to play the 2-1 division rivals Copperheads?
Let us see how Jay is dealing with the pressure of his first season in the NSFL, with Dirk travelling to Arizona to find out.
Dirk - So Jay, 3-0, great numbers for any QB, let alone a rookie one, how has it been so far?
Jay - I really can't complain Dirk. I think no Arizona player can, not a single fan can as well. We came into the season with certain expectations, to face it as a transition year, so we were (and are), just looking to get as many wins as possible and not finish last in the ASFC. And, let us face it, we are indeed 3-0, but just 2 games ahead of the 4th place in the division, currently the 3 times champions Otters. So, it all can change very quickly.
Dirk - Your team has 3 very difficult games this week, how do you feel it is going to end for you?
Jay - There are no easy games in the NSFL, i think we can all agree with that. Copperheads, NOLA and the Wraiths, teams with real aspirations of a playoff berth, 2 of them away from home... It is very tough to play in the NSFL, we know that, and we are trying the best we can to make it harder for the other teams.
Dirk - But do you feel like the Outlaws can get a place in the post season?
Jay - No idea Dirk. We know games are always up for grabs until the time runs out, we feel like everyone thought the we would lose against the Hawks and the Otters and we came out with 2 wins. So, we never know what might happen, we just try to play with the strategy we practiced and get a win. So far, so good, but all it takes is a couple of bad results and we will be out of the run. We are just trying to avoid that.
Dirk - And what about your personal performances? Are things going the way you thought they would be?
Jay - Looking at numbers, i am way ahead of the curve, so i can see how people are surprised with my games. I am confident about competing against the best QB's in the league, against the best defenders, because that is what i have been preparing for in the last 3 years. Obviously there is a lot of factors that decide the numbers we are going to have, like the OL, the receiver corp, the running game, but I have been very comfortable playing and i think that transpires to the team. A confident QB, a confident game manager, relaxes and gets the best out of the team and the results are showing that.
Dirk - Still, it must feel very good to be one of the top QBs so far.
Jay - It does, of course. Trust me, it is hard work to throw for almost 1000 yards and 8 TDs in 3 games. But my main goal is to limit the turnovers as much as possible. If teams want to score against us, they should work and go the entire length of the field for that. The morale gets destroyed if their offense scores after starting in the red zone or if their defense gets a pick 6. So i need to play it safe every time and go for the big plays only if i feel it is almost certain we can get it.
Dirk - Considering what you said about the objectives for this season, is it safe to assume that you have different objectives for next season?
Jay - We do. We have a long term plan in place in Arizona, with every player involved aware of that. it might not be a perfect plan, but our objective this season is to try and be competitive as much as possible and to get the newer players playing experience. I have no idea why, but the Outlaws are not seen as a good place to play by Free Agents. We have a young and upcoming QB, a young receiver corp, very good players on defense, a fantastic locker room, so we are trying to make a name for ourselves and to attract players with a winning mentality to help us chase an Ultimus trophy. Like Green Acres, Arizona is the place to be and will be for a long time. We intend to build a dynasty here.
Dirk - Now to discuss something that happened outside the field, how do you see the controversy that happened with the NSFL Commissioner?
Jay - I have already talked about the subject, gave my opinion on the subject and there is not much to add to that. HO made a couple of decisions that i do not agree, but my input does not carry that much weight. I do not want to add any more fuel to the fire. Whichever the decision is, with my agreement or not, i will play the same way and try to get Arizona some trophies.
Dirk - Thank you again for your time Jay, looking forward to see you perform this week.
Jay - Thanks Dirk, come back soon.
And this is all the time we have for today, stay tuned for more interviews and information on our TTG. This was Zerin Nandrews, for ESPNSFL at the Arizona Outlaws training facility, goodbye, see you next time.
