(S6) - Ultimus Week

[nunccoepi]

Sit-down with a star: Interview a player from a team that is not your own that is in the playoffs. You must ask them four questions and at least three must relate to the league in some way. YOU MUST POST THE QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS FOR CREDIT. (Can be completed at any point)

Interviewed by Brian Mills/Payton
1) How do you feel about your first season in the DSFL? Did you accomplish everything you set out to do?
I feel mostly good. I know that I got a bit of a late start (but not a slow one), so I felt a little behind for most of it. Also, I was disappointed that I've been kept out of the end zone all season. So, in that sense, I wish I had accomplished more. But hopefully I've done enough to prove to the NSFL that I'm the real deal and that I'm here to win a championship.
2)What was your favorite thing about being in the DSFL?
The development of new players. Although the skill level is certainly higher in the NSFL, there seems to be more parity and excitement surrounding new players and their development in the DSFL. You never really know what's coming next. Also, it's been cool to see some of the support from the NSFL guys who used to be in TIJ. That sense of camaraderie, even across teams and leagues is cool.
3)What are your goals for the NSFL? Any team you want to get drafted by?
I've said it all along, I want to be the best ever. First ballot HOF. I know there aren't ballots right now, but why can't I be the first first ballot HOF-er? Time will tell.
I haven't been very open about it publicly, but I'd love to go to NOLA. Great atmosphere there, and I like what they're doing. Baltimore could be another cool destination, but I'll be giving it my best wherever I go.
4)How was your playoff experience in the DSFL?
Too short. Frankly.

(226 words)

Interview by a fan: I am a fan of Brian Mills I

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)

Although many people, I'm sure, have detailed the incredible goal-line stand by the Otters as time wound down and assured the Ultimus would stay in Orange County, I found another play to be simply more *magical*. For the Philadelphia Liberty who have been doing everything possible to overcome the away field disadvantage (including 4 times as many penalties for 5 times as many yards as the Otters), nothing could have been more discouraging than giving up a touchdown early in the fourth quarter after holding their opponent out of the end zone for the entire previous quarter. Many teams would have hung their dejected heads for only a moment of self-displeasure before taking the field for another stand. Not the Liberty. They didn't even wait for their offense to get back on the field as Josh Garden returned the kick off over 100 yards for a touchdown that brought the game again within 3 points. Philly fans traveling well, the atmosphere in the arena was electric as the statement was made clear--the Philadelphia Liberty would not roll over and die so easily. Great players make big plays in big moments. And that's what this was. Although the Liberty had ample opportunities to even the score, even dropping the go-ahead touchdown pass with seconds left on the clock. It would not have been have been possible without that magic moment.

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Old Faces, New Places:Create a graphic for a player who changed teams during free agency this past off season and made the playoffs. Show how they've changed on their new team or what kind of impact they made for their new team. (Can be completed at any time)

Howard Miller leading his team to the Ultimini:

[Roly]

Alright, in honour of our Marshals, here's a DSFL version...

Playoff Series MVP
I'm actually going to do 3 MVPs, one for each of the games in the DSFL playoffs. The first MVP is from the Tijuana Luchadores v San Antonio Marshals SFC Championship Game. @Daybe was playing as QB2 behind Mike Vick for the Marshals, but that didn't stop him from absolutely dominating on his limited snaps and being the difference maker in that pivotal game. When Tijuana still had a shot of making a comeback at 17-8 after 2 quarters, Applehort delivered two big touchdowns: one in the third and one in the fourth to secure the Marshals SFC victory and move the team onto the Ultimini showdown.

The second MVP is from the Kansas City Coyotes v Portland Pythons NFC game. The nod unsurprisingly goes to @`BenLongshaw` Howard Miller who, after Portland brought the game to within 1 TD in the 3rd quarter, goes for an incredible 40 yard touchdown that turns out to be the game winner after Porland did indeed get another TD in the 4th. If it wasn’t for Miller’s big play, this game might’ve been very different.

The final MVP is from last night’s Ultimini championship game between San Antonio and Kansas City. It’s strange to give a player on the losing team the MVP, but damn Howard Miller brought it once again. He went over 100 yards, 1 TD and got yet another long 40 yard TD. Even in a tough loss at home for the Yotes, Miller demonstrated his greatness that makes him a generational talent in this draft.

Championship Recap
A recap of the best play from the Championship game eh? Well for any viewer of the Ultimini showdown in Death Valley, KC last night, there is one clear play that stands out. With 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter, San Antonio was up 16-13. The score was close and the last few plays had resulted in punts back and forth. At this time in the game there had been two blocked punts already, so watching the situation on the field was nerve-wracking. Then after a Coyotes punt puts the Marshals back on their own 20 after a touchback, coaching staff signal for a run on 1st down. Until this point, runs were being handled by committee: Carter Bush, @Sleepy Willy Nyquist, and Mike Vick as QB were all in on the rushing game. However it was Nyquist jogging out onto the field to make a run. And what a run it was. Right from the his own 20, on the 1st down, Willy F** Nyquist breaks through the line, gets some assistance from @andybj for a big block on the LB going for the run stop, and breaks free. Suddenly he’s off and open ground is ahead of him. No Coyote can catch him and he hits the hometeam’s 40. Then 30. The crowd is going wild, the Marshals are jumping, as he breaks the endzone with a final leap.

That incredible 80-yard run put the Marshals up by 9 and secured them their second franchise Ultimini, and the first since the DSFL’s first season. Nyquist waited until the biggest moment possible to come alive and secure the win.

That Magic Moment
Alright so the magic moment in a playoff game to discuss would naturally be the Nyquist 80 yard run to win the Marshals the Ultimini. However, since I just wrote 270 words on that, I think I’ll change it up and discuss a different play from a different series. The first magic moment has already been touched on in the NFC matchup between Portland and Kansas City, but I’ll mention it again: Howard Miller’s 40 yard TD reception in the 3rd quarter. The momentum at this time of the game was beginning to swing. Shawn Ariel had just scored a TD for the Pythons, putting them only one TD and XP behind the visiting Yotes at 17-10. The offensive line for the Coyotes looked tired and were letting the Pythons pass and rush defense put a lot of pressure on the pocket. Despite that, the Coyotes had managed a decent drive from their own 19 yard line to the Pythons 40 yard line. But after Strike is stuffed attempting a first down QB drive up the middle, he gets sacked by Zack Skinner. Suddenly its 3rd and 19, a very long situation. Unsurprisingly the Coyotes lineup for the pass and the Pythons form up the nickel. Boom – the play breaks off and there is significant pocket pressure on Strike. He’s facing another sack if he doesn’t let loose the ball quick. On the right side, Miller has broken free of his coverage and Strike spots him in a veteran move. The rest is history – Miller runs 40 yards for the winning TD and they beat the Pythons.

Unsung Hero
A lot of times guys can get lost behind star players. That was the case this playoffs for @cpetrella’s Footballer Catcherman who was, unfortunately, often missed due to the incredible performance by Howard Miller. Catcherman played fantastic in both Marshals games: against Tijuana Luchadores in the SFC battle, and against the Kansas City Coyotes in the Ultimini showdown.

Against the Luchadores in the SFC Champsionship game, Footballer Catcherman had five receptions for 32 yards – a rather slower pace than most games for the speedy receiver. But he still had a tremendous impact on the game, notching two touchdowns on the matchup – one in the first quarter from Mike Vick and one in the fourth from Ryan Applehort. In one of the biggest games of these players’ careers so far, Catcherman brought it in the endzone big time.

In the Ultimini showdown, Catcherman was held out of the endzone, but made his presence felt elsewhere. With six receptions for 68 yards, he was the Marshals’ top receiver in the game and managed to convert a number of key downs. After a brutal start by the Marshals that saw a punt get blocked and converted by the Coyotes into an early TD, Catcherman was pivotal in the next drive that provided San Antonio with a FG. On a 3rd and 1 he caught for 10 yards, and immediately followed it up with another 9 yard reception – bringing the Marshals over the 50 and into the Coyote’s end. For the rookie WR it was an incredible, if unsung, playoff performance.

[Durden]

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Robbed: Write about why a team that failed to make the playoffs should have over somebody else. Can be completed at any point

The Baltimore Hawks were one of the teams that was so close to making the playoffs, but fell just short of the mark. Because the Yellowknife Wraiths tied a game instead of losing it in overtime, they had the slight advantage that put them into the playoffs over the Hawks. Honestly, the Wraiths should have won their game against New Orleans, but they couldn't pull that off against a team who only won 2 games all season. But, the Hawks could've closed it out and won their last game of the season against the Wraiths, but failed to do so. The reason they failed to make the playoffs this season is because of their rushing game. They managed the third most yards on the ground, but failed to get into the end zone. This could be a coaching issue, but how do you run so often and not pound it in when it counts? They definitely play a pass first game, but it didn't help them when it counted. The Hawks need to work on blasting it into the end zone next season, and playing some better defense. Allowing less points means winning more, which will help them squeak into the playoffs next season.

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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 about

This is going to sound a bit odd, but M Badlad is definitely the Most Valuable Player for the Erie Orange County Otters in these playoffs. This guy does it all for his team when it comes to kicking, and he came up with what was needed in the clutch. In the Championship game, he punted for 285 yards, with an average of 40.7 yards and a long of 54. He was also money when it came to kicking the ball through the uprights. He had field goals of 18, 55 and 22 yards. While they seem short, these are the kicks that put the Otters ahead, and kept them ahead. In a game that was close and determined by only 6 points, these 9 points matter.

He was also the key piece in getting by the San Jose Sabercats as well. He hit three field goals in this game as well. He hit them from 22,. 32 and 34 yards. Again, while none of these were super long, they were clutch. The Otters won this game by a mere 3 points. Without one of those field goals it's tied.... without two, they lose. He is definitely a valued.... actually the MOST valued player on the team this post season.

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Playoff Review: Write a short review of the playoffs and each of the matchups. Must be completed after the Championship Game

Wriaths at Liberty
This game seemed over before it even began. The Liberty were riding high and the Wraiths were simply limping into the playoffs. During the first quarter, they felt each other out and no one did too much... but the second period was incredible for the Liberty. They scored 17 points as the half ran out. They came out hard in the third quarter as well, with Rove running back an interception for 59 yards. The Wraiths came back hard in the fourth with two touchdowns to add to the single one scored by them in the third, but it wasn't enough and the Liberty skated to a W.



Sabercats vs Otters
The closest of the three playoff games, this was decided by a late field goal from Madlad with just 34 seconds remaining. The biggest lead came for the Otters in the second period as they led by 11 points. Despite being a close game, the Sabercats never held the lead.



Liberty vs Otters
Another close game, but it shouldn't have been. The Otters messed up with their 2 interceptions, but found a way to win. Madlad was the bright spot on the Otters offense, making sure that his team won with his 3 field goals. Without him, the Liberty stumble to a victory.

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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? (Can be completed at any point)

The Yellowknife Wraiths had no business being included in the playoffs this season. The put on a pitiful showing during the regular season. Their low point came in tying the New Orleans Second Line, and barely beating them the second time they played, winning by just 4 points. They threw for the third lowest number of yards (3556) and only had 2 more touchdowns than they did interceptions (18 to 16). Their rushing game definitely helped, with a league leading 20 touchdowns on the ground. But those 16 turnovers in just the passing game were brutal. Their defense took care of them when they didn't have the ball, but the mistakes just kept coming for their offense. As a team that does poorly when they have the ball, they really trusted in their quarterback a lot, which even shows with how many times Akselsen threw the ball. If I were the Wraiths, I would focus a lot more on the rushing game, and gather up a couple of wide receivers. I'd also make Akselsen train a lot harder, because right now he's just bringing the team down. If the defense can stay strong, they're likely to get back to the playoffs. But with this current strategy, it's not happening.

[7hawk77]

1.) 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

@Aenir
Chris Orosz has been absolutely stunning with the time he has spent in San Jose. Before him coming on, the team struggled to find it's identity on offense. We had a mobile QB that would run himself in to the entire defensive line or throw multiple interceptions. Every once in a while he would throw none and we would dominate that game.
We lost hunt and gained Chris. He is the reason we made the playoffs and a huge turning point for the team. I think that he was the best player on the field for the Otters Sabercats playoff game. He had a QB rating of 93.7 which was better than the opposing QB, multiple MVP Mike Boss as a measly 69.8.
Chris Orosz threw for 22 completions out of 45 attempts and covered a total of 309 yards with 3 touchdowns. This is a pretty great statline. We didn't always connect but the average yardage was 14. That's some big gains. The most impressive thing was we had no interceptions. Not a single one.
I think that these two teams are very evenly matched up, and it could have gone either way. They just happened to collectively play better, but I think our quarterback was the reason we we're in it in the first place.

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2.) Playoff review
First up we have the wraiths playing against the Philadelphia liberty. Phily did a lot of things right to take this win away. They did better with passing, and defense. I think that the yellowknife rushers actually did a better job.
One thing that was really impressive was Liberty's kicker knocking down a long field goal. This was a nice edge and super helpful in securing a lead. Also, the punting game from the liberty was just overall better.
Next we have San Jose Sabercats vs the Orange county Otters. This was a fantastic game to watch and very close. These two have battled throughout the season and every time they played, it was really anyone's game. This was still true.
I think both defenses are very stout. On offense, the otter's running game seemed to function better in keeping drives alive than the san jose sabercats. Both of the rushers for the otters found the end zone, where none of the sabercats runners did.
I've already talked about the QB's in this game so really it was a very close game and I think if there had been 2 more minutes on the clock, San Jose would be the current ultimus champions.

203 words

3.) 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)
This might be a bit controversial but I think that the Ultimus MVP is none other than Bradley Westfield. He played an insane game. First off, I think Mike Boss did great, but throwing 2 interceptions is not MVP worthy.
Bradley Westfield was up there as the most efficient receiver for this team and over a lot of receptions. It is true that Jordan Yates also did a smash job on offense, but Westfield had the longest catch on the team, was more efficient with the catches he got and he found the end zone.
Now getting 130 yards on 7 receptions with a touchdown is pretty insane, but that's not all bradley westfield did for this team. He plays special teams too which gave the orange county otters a huge advantage. He returned 3 kicks for a total of 86 yards. and 3 punt returns for 18 yards. I think if you take away this player or substitute him out with a worse player, It's very possible that the otter's did not win the MVP.
As far as Disneyland, he is looking forward to a nice vacation with his family where he can have some downtime. I believe he recently had a newborn so he will go forth and join the fleets of other parents pushing strollers making memories and having fun.
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4.) Unsung Hero:Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
@Muford Vincent Sharpei was the unsung hero of the playoffs.
Without Vincent Sharpei, first off there is no playoffs. He transitioned from offensive line to a linebacker for the good of the team and he's been doing a great job at it.
During the playoff game, He recorded an insane 11 tackles and 2 sacks. This would be a massive feat on it's own, but lets compare it to the league leading linebacker. Angus Winchester was tied for the most sacks in the league with a defensive lineman Dan Miller at season's end. Angus has done an amazing job being the backbone of his defense. I will note that Even with Angus and Dan at 18 sacks for the normal season, Sharpei had 14 which is good enough for 3rd highest in the league.
He actually played against Vincent Sharpei's team and only recorded 5 tackles and 1 sack. He did end up having 3 passes defended so it's very possible that I'm comparing apples and oranges, however 11 tackles and 2 sacks is a very strong performance. It possibly means that too much of the defense was relying on Vincent, or that the Otter's relied more heavily on the ground game than the sabercats. Either way, and I might be biased since I'm on the team and defense, but he is definitely my unsung hero of the playoffs
229 words

[PaytonM34]

Sit down with a star
http://nsfl.jcink.net/index.php?showtopic=...ndpost&p=114724
for me and nuncoeppis first interview

Sit Down with a Fan
1. What are your career ambitions? What do you hope to accomplish with the short career span of an nsfl player?

My career ambitions as a player are to bring a Ultimus trophy to the city of New Orleans for the fans and more importantly, for Bovo. My personal ambitions are to one day get into the Hall of Fame, although that's not something I have to stress too much about right now. I'm just trying to take each game one at a time.

2. Who do you look up to in the league? Is there anyone you model you game after?

Growing up I looked up to guys like Urlacher and Lewis, but once I reached the league I developed new role models. Wallace Stone really helped in my development as a veteran on the team, so I'm really sad to see him leave NOLA this offseason. Players outside of NOLA that I look up to are guys like Saint and Winchester who are completely changing the game as LBs.

3. Do you have any predictions on how free agency and the draft will turn out for NOLA?

I'm hoping that Free Agents see NOLA for what it is, a team that is planning on having huge success 1-2 seasons down the road. We have a lot of young guys on the team who are crushing it in the weight room and improving every week. For the draft, I'm personally hoping for some help on defense, bring in a new guy eager to get better and play for this franchise.

4. You just transferred out if the B1G. Can you tell us a little more about your decision and if it has anything to do with the upcoming NCT?

That's right, I just transferred from Michigan to UNC. UNC needed a linebacking corp and it just turns out that my highschool football coach just got the job at UNC, so I wanted to go play for him again, while also earning a starting position while I'm at it.

That Magic Moment
I think everyone watching the sim of the NSFL Ultimus Championship game was either shocked, ecstatic, or furious at the 4th down end zone drop by Josh Garden. As a non-fan of either team, watching that red zone drive was amazing as a football fan in general. That defensive stand by the Otters will go down in history as one of the most memorable events in the NSFL. Kids are gonna ask their parents one day, "Dad, were you watching the game when Josh Garden dropped the ball in the end zone on 4th down in the S6 Ultimus game?" and i will answer "yes son... and it was the craziest shit ive ever seen in my life let me tell you that for free." The post-game outrage by Liberty fans was big enough to fuel all of the fires that emerged when the city of Philadelphia rioted that night. I'm sure that Josh Garden has thought about that play ever since the ending of that game, and Philly fans across the nation are not going to forget that lightly, but they have to remember that they were within literally a yard of beating the dynasty that is the Orange County Otters.

202 words

Unsung Hero
In my own opinion, i think Borkus Maximus was the unsung hero of the S6 NSFL playoffs. Let me tell you my reasoning before you quote me saying "But payton you idiot, New Orleans Second Line didnt even make the S6 playoffs you doorknob". My reasoning is this... If borkus maximus hadn't selflessly let the other teams win all season, we wouldve went 14-0, putting up 100 points a game, and completely steamrolling through the playoffs without any resistance. It wouldn't have even been entertaining to watch and i think it would have completely destroyed the league and caused every single other team to mass retire, because they were so tired with losing. Borkus Maximus is just waiting until someone dares him to actually go all out and throw for 17,000 yards in a season with 86 TDs and -1 Interceptions. The playoffs would have been a joke had Maximus not spent all season hooking up with the Second Line groupies and actually went to practice for once, but Borkus was too kind to the league. We should all be thanking Bovo for allowing us to have an entertaining playoffs to watch. Josh Garden wouldn't have even had the opportunity to drop the game winning TD, so think about that.

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[ErMurazor]

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? (Can be completed at any point)

The Baltimore Hawks are probably the team that should have made the playoffs but did not. I believe this is the second time in the short history of the National Simulation Football League where the Baltimore Hawks have struggled late in the season and failed to make the playoffs after losing their final game of the season. At this point I think that is just because they are unlucky and have not had the success the franchise deserves.

Obviously this season I cannot complain too much because it was my own team that was the benefactor of the late season meltdown in Baltimore but I do not think anybody in Yellowknife or in Philadelphia is counting on the Hawks being out of contention when the playoffs roll around next year.

Baltimore has some of the best leadership in the league and I think Hendrix will continue to put his team in a position where they can compete for a playoff berth and a title. Not only is Hendrix a guru at building a culture but his coaching skills are also extremely strong and it shows in his team’s preparation each week. When you look at the combination of front office and coaching from Hendrix and look at the stars on the roster in Baltimore, it is clear that they are a playoff team that belong in the race for the Ultimus late in the season.

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 has to be Jayce Tuck. The playoffs marked an entire season where Jayce Tuck was able to play in the league without getting suspended for….things. Now, I know what you are thinking. Is this real life? What about stats? What about his team losing? What about whatever else? Is that not a super low standard?

Sure maybe it is a low standard, but when the league is actively looking for reasons to get you out of town and you manage to stick around it is heroic for all parties involved. Jayce Tuck is like the Ndamukong Suh of the National Simulation Football League. He is a generational player that the league is just afraid of so they are just trying to keep him down so that he does not make everyone else look bad. Just like Ndamukong Suh has been falsely blamed for a bit of incidental physical contact in the sport of tackle football, Jayce Tuck was set up and blamed for helping a few of his teammates with their…”personal branding.”

Now the league is constantly trying to keep Jayce Tuck down too. There is even a rumor floating around that the league is using the Russian “O’Sullivan” model 1, 2, and 3 bots to tarnish him and get him out of town.

@JuOSu

Sit-down with a star:Interview a player from a team that is not your own that is in the playoffs. You must ask them four questions and at least three must relate to the league in some way. YOU MUST POST THE QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS FOR CREDIT. (Can be completed at any point)

1. The Sabercats finally made the playoffs this season, what was it like?
2. What are the Sabercats going to do next season to make it past the Orange County power house?
3. How has your career differed from what you imagined when you were coming into the league?
4. Kill, Marry, Fuck: Dermot, Muford, and Bzerkap

1. It was an amazing expirience, to bring the Good Fans of SJ the thrill of the playoffs for the first time. it was a really well fought season, and i am a bit upset about how it ended, to come so close to lose like that. I am going to resouble my efforts and do my best to bring the Title home to San Jose
2. Well I would tell you, but then I would have to kill you, Its still too early in the offseason to make any plans, but I can say confidently I believe in the front office and that they will do their best to increase the abilities of this team
3. I would say the biggest difference from what I expected is that I was able to stay at QB, having played before and been relegated to other positions has made me hopeful, but realistic about my chances, these are some of the best players ever and here I am trying to keep up with them!
4. thats a tough one..... but I think it would be Kill Dermot.... Kill Muford.... and Fuck Kill Bzerkap :smile:

@Bzerkap @Muford @White Cornerback

Sit-down with a fan:Answer questions for an interview from a player that is not your own. You must answer at least four questions and at least three must relate to the league in some way. Link to the interviewers PT to receive credit. NOTE: THEY MUST POST THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR YOU TO GET CREDIT. (Can be completed at any point)

See @Aenir 's post.

[Mongoose87]

Hate the player or the game:

You want a team that deserved the playoffs over someone else? How about the Norfolk Seawolves over the Portland Pythons. Norfolk is a feisty team, who finished the season with two wins, they've got a half decent QB and no serious glaring weaknesses. Oh yeah, and they're not the Portland fucking Pythons who were undefeated at home and on a three game winning streak, with home field locked up for the playoffs, when they decide to take off the first game of the playoffs and take their first home loss. It's not even that Norfolk was a particularly great or even good team. It's that Portland showed so little goddamn heart and came in like they'd already won. What kind if first ranked scoring defense and second ranked scoring offense does that? At least Norfolk would've looked like they appreciate the opportunity. They would've had Palmer out there smiling for all the cameras and taking interviews and they would have been nice and grateful for the opportunity. Portland decided they'd already won the championship on paper, why bother on turf? We're still giving trophies for paper wins, right? Oh, no, we're not? Well, look at that. What a fucking surprise.

Yes, I'm bitter.

Series MVP:

Kansas City Coyotes vs Portland Pythons: Mark Strike
I know it's becoming cliché to name a QB as MVP, but there's a reason it keeps happening: football teams live and die by their quarterback. The Kansas City- Portland game was no aberration. Portland lost, look at their quarterback’s day: one touchdown, three interceptions. Now, look at Strike's game winning performance: two touchdowns in the air and one on the ground. Don't let his 73.4 passer rating deceive you, that stat has always been unfair to passers who score on the ground.

I don't know what the media was thinking naming Gore offensive player of the game. He didn't get it done where it counts: the end zone. Give me points. You don't win without points and Strike got the points Kansas City needed to win. Rainey had a good performance too, and there's no doubt a running game helps the pass, but he wasn't the guy finishing the job. Miller had an impressive receiving game, but too much of it came on one 40 yard scoring pass. More importantly, a receiver can't get it done without a quarterback. Strike have Miller the quarterback he needed to succeed. Quarterback is king, and long live king Mark Strike.

Going to Disney Land:

I don't think it would surprise anyone if I told you Mike Boss was my Ultimus MVP this year. So, I will: Mike Boss is my Ultimus MVP this year. He may have given up two picks, but his two touchdowns and sheer volume of yardage make up for it.
What does a guy like Mike Boss do at Disney Land? He starts with Mr Toad's Wild Ride. Mike goes straight to it, because that crazy car riding is the closest thing to being a ball carrier in the whole park, and the off-season is long and boring, so he needs to feel like he's on a football field.
Next, Boss hits up the haunted mansion. After fearlessly slinging the ball 53 times in the big game, he needs to see if anything can even scare him anymore. Spoiler alert, it can't, he's got nerves of steel.
Next, Boss uses quarterback privilege to cut the line and ride Splash Mountain ten times in a row. Each time he makes a different funny face, buys the picture, signs it and gives it to the kid next to him. He's just a cool guy like that. This game changed his life, he's gonna change theirs.

Unsung hero:


Let's talk a little about big guys. No, not the Big Bopper. Not Tom Hanks in Big. The big guys, the San Antonio Marshalls' offensive linemen. These hungry hungry hippos may have allowed five sacks in two games, but it's so easy to forgive when you see the thing of beauty that was San Antonio’s run game. Sweet lord, Bush put up over a hundred yards in each game! The team itself totaled over two hundred rushing yards per game, including over 270 in the finals. That's an absurd ground game. That's a decent day throwing the ball, let alone running it.

It's one of football's most beaten drums, but an effective ground game does so much. It limits the opportunity for mistakes and turnovers. It limits opposing time of possession. Most importantly, it exhausts the defense to get run all over. People like to credit flashy running backs, but those guys aren't getting it done unless the big boys up front are coming out to play. I think the ability of both Vick and Nyquist to lug the rock effectively, as well, proves that the linemen were the real secret behindthe Marshalls’ ground game success. They should take that big guys out to dinner, make sure they stay nice and big.

[manicmav36]

Robbed: Write about why a team that failed to make the playoffs should have over somebody else. Can be completed at any point

The Baltimore Hawks were, once again, robbed of a playoff spot at the last possible moment. But then again, when I say robbed, I mean just got incredibly unlucky, as the Wraiths fairly earned their spot. The Hawks came into the final two weeks of the season with a half game lead over the Yellowknife Wraiths. All they had to do was win one of two games, away versus the Philadelphia Liberty, or at home versus the Wraiths. In typical Hawks fashion, they held the lead against the Liberty for nearly the entire game but folded at the very end. With just under 5 minutes left, they kicked off to the Liberty, who then proceeded to put together a 10-play drive, moving 60 yards down the field and taking a 1 point lead with 1:06 left on the clock. Their attempt at taking back the lead was embarrassing to say the least. LeClair took the ball out of the end zone on the ensuing kickoff, only to be stone-walled and finish with an 8 yard return. They were able to complete 2 passes, 1 to Willie, 1 to Taylor, before Ron Jeremy was called for an illegal shift, essentially killing their comeback chances.
The Wraiths game was just an utter disappointment from start to finish, with the Hawks being out-played in every facet of the game.


New Talent: Write about which S6 trade 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

When looking over playoff rosters, there aren’t too many rookie players that look to have a huge impact this season. The Orange County Otters have never been known for their defensive prowess outside of their blitzing linebackers (well, until this season). One man however, Elvin Enchant, may just be the exception to the rule. Enchant has had a season that would make any linebacker proud but, considering the fact that he’s a rookie, makes it even that much more impressive. He finished third on the Otters’ defense with 83 tackles, while also recording 3 sacks, as well as forcing 3 fumbles and recovering 2 others. He was no slouch in pass coverage though either, as he recorded 3 passes defended and 1 interception on the season. He ability to makes plays and create turnovers in every facet of the game is what makes him an invaluable tool for the Otters, and is why I believe he will have a massive impact in the playoffs this season. Although he may not be well known around the league yet, I fully expect this man to soon become a household name, and it may just come on the back of his playoff performance this season.


Root for the Underdog: Pick an away team in an upcoming game and try to convince yourself (and us) why they can win. (Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)

This is the year the San Jose SaberCats finally make their push and appear in their first ever Ultimus Bowl. Everyone laughed at me when I said this was the year they finally make it over that hump and earn their first ever playoff spot and look how that turned out. After a stellar season that saw the SaberCats finish 11-3 with all three losses coming to playoff teams, the SaberCats are the real deal. The SaberCats finished in the top half of nearly every team statistical category, including second in points allowed per game. Their only weak spot was movement on the ground, as they ran for the least amount of yards per game in the league, and had the lowest yards per carry of any team in the league. But don’t let that fool you, this team is very good. However, despite tying for the best record in the league, this team will be the underdog come ASFC championship time. With an 0-2 record on the season against conference rival, and ASFC championship opponent, the SaberCats will have tough sledding to get to the championship. But as the saying goes, it’s almost impossible to beat a team three times in one season, and if anyone in the playoffs can stop this Otters dynasty, it’s the SaberCats.


Matchup Nightmares: Pick an offensive and defensive player who will be going up against each other and why it will be a nightmare for one of them. (Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)

Jordan Yates vs. Kevin Cushing
Talk about two entirely different players. Jordan Yates is a quiet, unassuming man that continues to dominate the league through the air, leading the NSFL this year in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and finishing second in receptions. His season was one for the ages as he set the single season record for receiving yards. He shows up every day, quietly puts on a show, then goes home. Then you come to the man tasked with guarding him, Kevin Cushing. A loud-mouthed man who never stops complaining about how badly he gets beat… and boy does he. Frequently. However, despite all this, after finishing the season with 13 passes defended and 1 interception, he is the best cornerback the Liberty have to offer (at least if you ask him he is). Clifford Rove, however, would beg to differ. From a statistical standpoint, Rove finished with a better season, ending the year with 15 passes defended and 4 interceptions. Despite the differences in seasons, the Liberty coaching staff believes in Cushing and will look to him to do most of the heavy lifting against Yates. Word on the street is that Yates may not be a power player much longer though, as rule changes are in the works that disallow running backs to line up at the wide receiver position.

[Vikain]

Robbed...this year it seems that two teams kind of got robbed from attending the playoffs this year. For the NSFC side there always seems to be one team that gets robbed by one game. Two years ago it was the Hawks missing as the Philadelphia Liberty squeezed in. Last year it was the other way around as the Hawks squeezed in and Liberty just could not find a way to get in. This year though Liberty took the lead and never looked back. Instead the Hawks and the Wraiths battled for the second seed. Unfortunately Hawks again found themselves on the wrong side of the standings as the Wraiths squeezed in with the tie they had. In the ASFC the Outlaws who were a powerhouse team early in the NSFL birth unfortunately they kind of have an asterisk next to their names. The Outlaws saw their bounce back last year and looked to make another big step this year. Though they had a good record of eight and six they find themselves looking in. If they were playing in the NSFC they would have been above everyone except for the Liberty. Sometimes that's how it plays out and hearts are broken every year at least for some teams.


It's time for Philadelphia to win it. And I mean the whole thing. After beating the Wraiths they are looking ahead towards meeting the Otters who have won the last two Championships. Are the Liberty the underdogs? Ohh yea. This will be their first appearance in Ultimus ever. Otters are heavily favored to win even from the start of the season. Philly will have a hard time to play against the Mega Dogs. Obviously the Otters are a powerhouse team looking to create a new dynasty left open when the Outlaws had so many scandals. Eyes and ears will be kept on both sides. Especially Liberty who during the reign of the Outlaws would state that there were some fishy things going on. Though many dismissed these statements as just a team that was trying to find excuses eventually news did break out that majority of things did not add up and that the Outlaws were indeed cheating. I would imagine some would look to cry wold just to be sarcastic towards the Liberty. On the other side you dont go this successful like how Outlaws and the Otters have been without some looking to find some dirt. Though I think the Otters are very clean I would not be surprised if someone tries to throw dirt or call for more transparency for the team.

[Bzerkap]

Playoff Review: Write a short review of the playoffs and each of the matchups. Must be completed after the Championship Game
The playoffs were great once again in this sixth season of the NSFL. A quick recap:

The Liberty hosted the Wraiths in the S6 NSFC Championship Game. The first time the Liberty have hosted a playoff game in their career, and the second time the Wraiths have been on the road for the NSFC Championship Game. It was almost a second half comeback as the Wraiths outscored the Liberty 21-14 in the second half. Ahhhh who am I kidding, the Wraiths were down by 17 at the end of the first half and it really wasn't that close. Josh Garden paced the field with a great four catches for 113 yards, and Rove had the dagger to start the second half with a 59 yard interception return for a touchdown. The Liberty won 31-21.

In the ASFC the Otters dynasty hosted the Sabercats on their first ever playoff berth. Congratulations to the SaberCats, great job. The Otters wouldn't be denied though as they played with grit and passion. Their world-class defense didn't show up, and neither did the cannon arm of Mike Boss, but the whole team did just enough to win. Jordan Yates, verifiable Alvin Kamara clone showed up in a big way with six catches for 158 yards, even Mike Boss ran in a touchdown. It was really a full team effort for the Otters to win 32-29.

The Ultimus, Otters have been here three times now, and the Liberty have their first berth. It was the ultimate showdown, a truly great matchup. The Ultimus finally had its game after six seasons of trying. Both teams played some great defense with enough offense to keep it exciting. The Otters defense only allowed two scores to the Liberty, however, their special teams did let in a kick return touchdown. THe Liberty defense bent but didn't break as they allowed five scores, with three of those being field goals from close range. The strong play from the Liberty wasn't enough to stop the Otters dynasty, as a last second drop by Joh Garden in the end zone halted the dream. The Otters won 23-17.

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)
My choice is going to be a little controversial as I am not really picking any one guy, but my choice for MVP is the entire Otters defense. They really played an extremely strong game from start to finish.

They only allowed two offensive touchdowns and forced the Liberty to punt an incredible ten times, to go along with the ten first downs given up as opposed to the twenty their own offense got. Harris definitely earned his paycheck this game. They also clamped down when needed, holding the offense to only 2/14 on third down. That is an incredible 14% conversion rate, well below league average. The defense also did not commit a single penalty against them. Safe, lockdown D was the name of the game for the Otters and I can't blame them as they showed out.

Now this isn't to say the Otters were completely safe. They had some splash plays as the sack machine was in high gear, going for six sacks against Tyler Oles, and one pass deflection. They also stuffed the Liberty on their one fourth down attempt.

The Otters defense is my definite Ultimus MVP. Controlled ferocity was the name of the game for the boys in orange.

Sit-down with a star:Interview a player from a team that is not your own that is in the playoffs. You must ask them four questions and at least three must relate to the league in some way. YOU MUST POST THE QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS FOR CREDIT. (Can be completed at any point)
I interviewed @`To12143`

1. The switch to QB this year caused some controversy around the league with younger players fighting for a spot. Can you talk to that?
I understand that a lot of people, especially those on poorly performing teams, were frustrated with that move, but a lot of people seem to have focused on just 1 facet of it, when our goal was to make our team better and playoff ready. Many who opposed it wanted us to have to go into a rebuild because we determined Rove wasn’t the answer, and we felt that was the wrong direction to go in. I get the young players are fighting for spots but with how close we are blowing it all up would have been the wrong decision.

2. How did it feel to finally host your first playoff game this season?
It was great, it’s hard to travel in this league so having the home playoff game really pumped us up. We felt like we could win and use that momentum to shock the world in the championship, it was a huge confidence boost and it really cemented our best season as a team. Being able to at least cap the season off with our first NSFC Championship on our turf was a great feeling.

3. Who would you rather catch your ball, One 100 Hands Josh Garden or 100 One Hands Josh Garden?
Uh, 100 One hands Garden. There would be so many of them on the field that they can combine to catch the ball and it would be hard to stop.

4. Who has the best seafood, Maryland or New Orleans?
As someone born in Baltimore I’m sure you knew the answer when asked. Maryland Crab Cakes, and Blue Crabs in general are better than most things. I’ll take some sort of Maryland Crab concoction over anything else.

Sit-down with a fan:Answer questions for an interview from a player that is not your own. You must answer at least four questions and at least three must relate to the league in some way. Link to the interviewers PT to receive credit. NOTE: THEY MUST POST THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR YOU TO GET CREDIT. (Can be completed at any point)

I answered questions for to12143