Robbed
I don't think there is any question that the Kansas City Coyotes managed to be the team that got shafted the most this season as they managed to fall behind the Norfolk Seawolves right at the end of season and into the third position in the NFC, failing to qualify for the playoffs in the last two weeks of the season. Kansas City hosts a roster of players that is incredible and talented, including a number of players who will be extremely valuable to their success in the future. Players like Andrew Reese, John Canton, and Yulic Nagasawa were offensive firepower for the Coyotes all season long, and will continue to help the team in the future as they will likely all be staying down for another season in the DSFL ranks. On the defensive side of the ball, two rookies made huge impacts. These players are Alex Selich (LB) and Lenox Garnett (FS) both of whom are bound to be insanely talented NSFL players in the long run. Garnett will likely find his way into the pro circuit this coming season, while it's expected that Selich will spend another season down with the Coyotes in an attempt to lead them to glory.
Playoff Predictions
So while I am technically completing this after the conference finals have been simmed, I will give me opinion on what the outcome would have been if I had imagined it. It is pretty close to the actual outcome but not spot on. So in the SFC I had the Tijuana Luchadores pinned to overtake the San Antonio Marshals in the first round, knocking out my irl friends and in game competition of Luke Boechler and Ryan Cobalt, both of whom were super excited at a shot for the championship. On the NFC side, I don't think there is any question that Portland has had the strongest roster all season long, and so it will be a complete roll over for the Pythons as they overtake the Norfolk Seawolves and send them home in tears. In terms of the Ultimini finals, I really feel like it could go either way. There's a good chance that the Pythons are able to take the victory over the Luchadores as they did during the regular season, but under the same regard this is an incredibly strong roster being put forward by Tijuana this season, and it will be hard to compete against. My money is on Portland.
Series MVP
I think that there was arguably two MVP's of the first round of the playoffs, and both of them came during the Luchadores vs. Marshals game where the Luchadores offense wracked up 34 points and held the Marshals to only 3 in a huge blowout victory that was quite unexpected considering the immense strength of both teams. There was a player on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball for TIJ that contributed and made them a strong threat, and these players are Luchadores linebacker Tana Keita, and Luchadores wide receiver Thaliji Halvorsen. Halvorsen is an awesome threat at receiver and has been racking up gains all season long, but in this offensive shooting gallery last night he was able to jam in a touchdown and take home 107 yards on 8 receptions for an outstanding night. He really was crucial to the Luchadores success, and without him I think they would have been hard pressed to find the success they did. In terms of Keita, the linebacker had an outstanding night, posting 7 tackles against the Marshals and adding a forced fumble (as well as recovering it). His ability to change the tide of the game was outstanding.
Root for the Underdog
While I don't think there is any really obvious underdog in this upcoming Ultimus game, I think that there is a team that is slightly less inclined to win. While I am a Portland Python, I can also recognize the makings of a great roster when I see one, and I know that the Tijuana Luchadores have all the making of a championship team (which is obvious from their two previous championships). I also think that Portland has the same makings, but maybe to a slightly lesser degree. The Pythons went through a short retooling this season, adding a massive crop of players that are ready to contribute at an elite level. The Pythons are led by their rushing game which is highlighted by star rookie backs Antonio Summer and Slim Shady who will find holes in the Luchadores defense with ease. Their passing is no where near weak with legendary quarterback Joliet Christ taking the field again this season, and having a supporting cast in Johnson Cox III with receiving options like Felix Hasslehoff, Josh Parker, and Sunnycursed. Don't forget that laden defense with names like Mark Spector, K.J Becker, Kwame Mbanefo, and Dan Schneider. Portland could throw it all in and take it home this season for sure.
I don't think there is any question that the Kansas City Coyotes managed to be the team that got shafted the most this season as they managed to fall behind the Norfolk Seawolves right at the end of season and into the third position in the NFC, failing to qualify for the playoffs in the last two weeks of the season. Kansas City hosts a roster of players that is incredible and talented, including a number of players who will be extremely valuable to their success in the future. Players like Andrew Reese, John Canton, and Yulic Nagasawa were offensive firepower for the Coyotes all season long, and will continue to help the team in the future as they will likely all be staying down for another season in the DSFL ranks. On the defensive side of the ball, two rookies made huge impacts. These players are Alex Selich (LB) and Lenox Garnett (FS) both of whom are bound to be insanely talented NSFL players in the long run. Garnett will likely find his way into the pro circuit this coming season, while it's expected that Selich will spend another season down with the Coyotes in an attempt to lead them to glory.
Playoff Predictions
So while I am technically completing this after the conference finals have been simmed, I will give me opinion on what the outcome would have been if I had imagined it. It is pretty close to the actual outcome but not spot on. So in the SFC I had the Tijuana Luchadores pinned to overtake the San Antonio Marshals in the first round, knocking out my irl friends and in game competition of Luke Boechler and Ryan Cobalt, both of whom were super excited at a shot for the championship. On the NFC side, I don't think there is any question that Portland has had the strongest roster all season long, and so it will be a complete roll over for the Pythons as they overtake the Norfolk Seawolves and send them home in tears. In terms of the Ultimini finals, I really feel like it could go either way. There's a good chance that the Pythons are able to take the victory over the Luchadores as they did during the regular season, but under the same regard this is an incredibly strong roster being put forward by Tijuana this season, and it will be hard to compete against. My money is on Portland.
Series MVP
I think that there was arguably two MVP's of the first round of the playoffs, and both of them came during the Luchadores vs. Marshals game where the Luchadores offense wracked up 34 points and held the Marshals to only 3 in a huge blowout victory that was quite unexpected considering the immense strength of both teams. There was a player on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball for TIJ that contributed and made them a strong threat, and these players are Luchadores linebacker Tana Keita, and Luchadores wide receiver Thaliji Halvorsen. Halvorsen is an awesome threat at receiver and has been racking up gains all season long, but in this offensive shooting gallery last night he was able to jam in a touchdown and take home 107 yards on 8 receptions for an outstanding night. He really was crucial to the Luchadores success, and without him I think they would have been hard pressed to find the success they did. In terms of Keita, the linebacker had an outstanding night, posting 7 tackles against the Marshals and adding a forced fumble (as well as recovering it). His ability to change the tide of the game was outstanding.
Root for the Underdog
While I don't think there is any really obvious underdog in this upcoming Ultimus game, I think that there is a team that is slightly less inclined to win. While I am a Portland Python, I can also recognize the makings of a great roster when I see one, and I know that the Tijuana Luchadores have all the making of a championship team (which is obvious from their two previous championships). I also think that Portland has the same makings, but maybe to a slightly lesser degree. The Pythons went through a short retooling this season, adding a massive crop of players that are ready to contribute at an elite level. The Pythons are led by their rushing game which is highlighted by star rookie backs Antonio Summer and Slim Shady who will find holes in the Luchadores defense with ease. Their passing is no where near weak with legendary quarterback Joliet Christ taking the field again this season, and having a supporting cast in Johnson Cox III with receiving options like Felix Hasslehoff, Josh Parker, and Sunnycursed. Don't forget that laden defense with names like Mark Spector, K.J Becker, Kwame Mbanefo, and Dan Schneider. Portland could throw it all in and take it home this season for sure.
