(S23) - PT1 - With a Little Help From My Friends

[TeyonSchavari]

For AJ Lattimer's last ride, it seems the Otters are poised to go right back to the Ultimus this season. After the heartbreaking loss against the Colorado Yeti at the end of the last season, the Otters had a fantastic draft and made a huge move picking up Inspectah Deck in free agency this offseason. The defense on Orange County is stacked and will be one of the best in the league. Deck will be an instant contributor, and others in the linebacking core such as Lanzer Grievous will anchor this defense. The secondary is quite possibly the best in league history, with old man Lattimer taking the nickel slot and high TPE earners Abernathy, Dream, Biggums, and Vegeta all hawking for interceptions. Don't pass against these fellas. Want to run instead? Rapid Eagle, Big Edd, Thorian Skaarsgaard, and Bobby Boucher have something to say about that.

Lets not forget about how scary our offense is as well. Led by 3x MVP Franklin Armstrong, this offense can't be stopped. Weapons such as Hugh Mongo and Future Trunks are lethal in the receiving core with TE Jeffrey Phillips primed to have a breakout season. Tatsu Nakumara leads the backfield as a great back in this league. Douglas Quail anchors the O-Line and will be blowing holes for Nakumara to run through. All in all, this is a terrifying team to play against, and we'll be back in the championship once more.

[Rabidsponge21]

Well since I have chosen to retun to the Royals for a 2nd season rather than make the direct NSFL jump lets have a look at this often laughed at expansion team and how it lines up for the coming season. (Finalists last season by the way if you missed it).

Capped Players (250 TPE+)

Colby Jack - QB
Susan Cash Jr - WR
Danny King - RB
Greedy Sly - S
Mikel van Perkins - CB
Lesean Paris Crooks - CB
Datsum PhastBawls - K/P
Bob Bob - S

Mid/High Tier (150 - 225)

Ed Ball - S


Lower Tier (Sub 150)

Tre'Darius J'Vathon - WR
Juan Domine – LB
Busch Light – LB
Mr. Large Sternum - DE
Jay McCowski - DE
Bob Smith - DE
Gunner Thorbjornsson – WR
Harrison Andrews – DE
Charlemagne Cortez - QB
Frank Michell - TE
Macaroni “Mac” Elephant - OL

The big take away here for me is that the team seems to be super top heavy heading into this season. How important are the positions they are strong at? Well with some good tools both offensively and defensively, they will have a more balanced attack I feel. I am not 100% up to date with every other roster int he DSFL but I feel like this is a team with a strong core and some reliance on the new bloods coming in with some hopefully aggressive earning to push more players into the mid tier by the end of the season to make that strong push. Maybe the Royals are buyers this year at the deadline? Lets hope so cause I want an ultimini!

[IsaStarcrossed]

I believe the New Orleans Second Line are situated well for this season. We have a couple older players who are taking a step back, but they are still plenty capable in their current positions and any step they haven taken backwards they have worked to quickly recover. This has let us focus on our host of young players. Last season New Orleans started six rookies. 25% of our roster were green and young and we still made the playoffs. All of those young players are now taking strides forward and each are vastly improved from the season before. I think with their youthful exuberance and their constant drive to improve and carry this team forward will be a huge part of why we're even better this season. Last season we made the playoffs, this season we're aiming to return to the ASFC championship game at a minimum. With guys like Ugarth who had an electric rookie season already off to a high impact season in S23? It is hard to not believe that we have some magic going. Ugarth almost won LBotY last season and I think this season he has a solid chance to go at it even harder now that he's improved a season. I look forward to seeing what this team is capable of as we make this trek towards the playoffs. It is the first 16 game season in the history of the league and I fully anticipate us taking it by storm.

[Bruins10]

SHL Affiliate
https://simulationhockey.com/showthread.php...1786#pid2851786

[abh89]

On paper, everything is there for the London Royals to be one of the best teams in the DSFL this season and to make a return to the Ultimini. The roster is loaded with talent with several capped players returning on both sides of the ball. Any result other than bringing home the Ultimini trophy would be considered a letdown.

The offense will run through three capped out players at the skill positions in QB Colby Jack, WR Sue Cash Jr., and RB Danny King. The Royals also picked up some additional help in the DSFL draft with the addition of some electric prospects in Tre’Darius J’Vathon, Gunner Thorbjornsson, Charlamagne Cortez, and Frank Mitchell. You could argue the most impactful addition to the offense is Macaroni Elephant as the Royals ran an offensive line composed entirely of bots last season. The points and yards will be plentiful for the Royals offense this season.

Like the offense, the defense will be anchored by its returning veterans, including the #1 overall pick in this years NSFL draft, Greedy Sly. In front of the secondary, the Royal’s defense gets younger as it is prospect heavy in the box. The youth of the LB and DL groups should not be mistaken for a weakness though. The Royals went defense-heavy at the top of the draft filling their positions of need with game-ready athletes in Juan Domine and Busch Light at LB and Harrison Andrews and Bob Smith at DE.

In the event the Royal’s offense isn’t able to get the ball into the endzone, they’ve got the reliable Datsum Phastbawls to snag 3 points from deep with arguable the strongest leg in the league, or to flip the field on the opposing offense in a field position battle.

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[Drizzy]

SHL PT (username is dankoa)

[Blasoon]

This season really feels like a do or die for Norfolk, at least for me personally. There is new blood running the organisation, myself included there, and it has become painfully obvious that so far Norfolk has been able to always end up making the postseason and the conference championship game, but has not advanced to the Ultimini since the first season of the Developmental Simulation Football League’s existence. I believe that this year, a playoff berth will not be acceptable for the Seawwolves. We must make the big game. And then at that point, what else is there to do but win it?

Of course, for this season, I’m returning and hoping to be in the best form possible, but on the defence, we have the return of our stud, now linebacker, Adélie de Pengu, who really held the defence together last season, learning from Jack Banks. In order to fill the hole at safety, one of our big wide receivers, Benoit Blanco has gone back to his college form and taken up the position of safety. In addition, we were able to draft our waiver safety Quentin Button and have him on the team for this season, which I am really happy about. Finally, through the right send downs and a great draft, I believe that this season will really allow for Norfolk to break their curse.

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[ZootTX]

After what they hoped would be a competitive season turned into a disappointing even 7-7 record and a playoff miss, the Birddogs are hoping that a fresh infusion of new blood can help elevate their game this year.
Although many of last year’s players were either drafted or called up to the NSFL, a few of the old guard still remain. The DSFL can prepare to (try) and contain the best tight end duo of Zee Rechs and Tristian Hex, and wide receiver Luca Scabbia returns to give new QB Mattathias Caliban some veteran targets to throw to downfield. Rookie wide receiver Taro Raimon and running back Zoe Watts are promising additions to the Birddogs offensive machine.
The defense features a wide mix of returning veterans and promising rookies. Safety Abbas Muhammad and Cornerback Tomage McGullager look to whip the newbies into proper shape so the Birddogs can be contenders.
Unfortunately, while the Birddogs have had to say goodbye to their best players, it seems many of the other DSFL teams have kept theirs. With only three capped players on their team (as of this writing,) the Birddogs are going to have an uphill battle this season contending with other teams that have double or triple that number. The Birddog faithful may have to be satisfied with another .500 season in this years DSFL.

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[Number 82]

Honolulu enters Season 23 coming of the back of a 4-9 season. An expansion team entering their second season, Season 23 appears to be one more focused on development with the prospects of playoff appearance appearing unlikely at this time moment in time. It will be a rough start to the season with 3 of the first 4 games of the season on the road against with the likely playoff contenders Austin Copperheads, Orange County Otters and New Orleans Second Line. The emphasis is will be on development and continuing to build a strong foundation in the hopes of contending down the line. It's a longer season with the move to 16 games, hopefully one where Honolulu will finish with a record above .500.

While playoffs aren't really expected, that does not mean there isn't any talent on the roster. In fact there will be several players who could very well walk away from the Season 23 Awards Show with some hardware. Venus Powers, back to back Punter of the Year is as strong as ever and could very well make it a 3 peat. There are some talent rookies, namely Buck Thornton, Jim Waters and Heinrich Kackpoo who could very well walk away with Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. At running back we have the versatile Ke?oke?o K?ne-Maika?i who is factors into the teams running and passing attack whilst also serving as the teams kick and punt returner. Wouldn't be surprised if Ke?oke?o is in the running for the Running Back of the Year or Returner of the Year awards.

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[Vorshayla]

This year might not be the year for the Sabercats, however, the team is full of young talent. The team is mostly comprised of players who have been in the league for 2 or less years. Some are entering their 3rd year in the bigs.

This is a team that will grow together and when their window opens in the next 2-4 years, this is the team to beat. Their young defense lead by generational CB PickSix is already turning heads along with new Wideout Hood.

This is a team that has been carefully crafted over the last few years and the harvest will yield many seasons of continued success. The league continues to take the Sabercats lightly at their own peril as last year will show they missed the playoffs on the last day of the season.

The future looks bright in San Jose, the players are developing nicely, they've called up 6 rookies this year alone and each one has already had a solid impact in the overall game in just week 1. As long as everyone stays healthy and the GMs can add a few veteran pieces here and there at the deadline, this is a team that could make another surprise run towards the playoffs.

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