1) PLAYOFF REVIEW: Give a short write up of one playoff match.
“Anything can happen in the playoffs.” That statement has never been more true than this season, which saw the dark horse Arizona Outlaws defeat the Philadelphia Liberty in a game for the history books. Arizona, which hadn’t even made the playoffs since Season 7, made a surprising run at the Ultimus this season, and managed to walk away with a hard-fought victory. The game seemed to be safely in Arizona’s hands through most of the game; at one point, the Outlaws led by fourteen points. But Philadelphia know what playoff football is about, and managed to claw their way back into the game. A forty-two yard pick six by Richard D’Attoria V midway through the fourth put the Liberty up by three and stole all the wind out of Arizona’s sails. But Arizona took the ensuing kickoff and marched down the field. They leaned heavily on Seer Zephyrous, Slim Shady, and the arm of Andrew Reese on this clock-eating drive, and were rewarded with a touchdown with only ninety seconds left to play. Philadelphia tried, but there simply wasn’t enough time left to make anything happen, and Arizona was triumphant. Make no mistake: Arizona, despite being a sleeper pick to win the title, has a very talented roster, and that roster was on full display during these playoffs. Now they can rest easy, having won their first championship since Season 3, and let their success speak for itself.
4) HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS: Write about two offensive and defensive players who have faced off in the playoffs.
This season’s Ultimus saw two young players go head to head on football’s biggest stage, but only one emerged victorious. Safety Martavius Mack of Arizona (@Allplanet) and wide receiver Nacho Varga of Philadelphia (@Fordhammer)were both part of the initial r/nfl recruitment drive, whose players are now entering their primes. Mack and Varga both performed admirably in the Ultimus: Varga caught 4 passes for 59 yards, while Mack recorded 5 tackles and even managed to sack Liberty quarterback Adriana Falconi. These numbers might appear poor, but one has to remember that these players are only in their sophomore seasons in the NSFL, and that there’s still plenty of room for improvement for both players. Granted, Varga has much more TPE to his name than Mack (561 TPE to Mack’s 223). But in a league where some of the best players have 900 or even 1000 TPE, this Ultimus was a great showing for both players. Again, this group of players (namely, the first r/nfl draft class) is only now starting to enter their primes, so the stats themselves aren’t important. What is important is what their presence in the Ultimus signifies: that the Season 15 rookies are growing up quickly, and it won’t be long before the landscape of the league changes drastically to reflect that reality.
5) SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH: The first r/nfl wave made our biggest class ever. Now that class is hitting its prime. Write on one of the players in this year's Ultimus Week that are Season 15 and spotlight how they did affect this year's Ultimus.
Brock Landers (@gucci), the first overall pick in the Season 15 NSFL draft, has been a force for Arizona, and is a big part of the reason they were even playing for an Ultimus in the first place. He caught 64 passes, picked up 1004 receiving yards, and scored 6 touchdowns for the Outlaws. Coming into the playoffs, Landers was expected to be a big part of Arizona’s gameplan. But the stats weren’t there: in three playoff games, Landers caught only 11 passes for 211 yards, and he didn’t score a single touchdown. His biggest play was a 52 yard catch in the ASFC Championship game against Orange County, which set up an early fourth quarter touchdown for Arizona. But Outlaw faithful shouldn’t be concerned. Landers is still a young player, and has yet to reach his full potential. While the boxscore might paint Landers in a bad light, simply looking at the numbers fails to capture his full impact on the game. Landers’ intangibles are fantastic, and by helping bring a ring to Arizona for the first time in over ten seasons, he’s proven that he was worth being drafted first. Now, with that experience under his belt, he can continue to improve, and I have no doubt that he will quickly become one of the most feared offensive weapons in the league for seasons to come.
7) NEXT YEAR: If your team has been eliminated, why will the next year or the year after that be the year that your team is going to win the Ultimus.
Why will New Orleans win an Ultimus in the next few years? Two words: young blood. Season 15 was rough for New Orleans, having gone 2-12 and missing the playoffs. But Season 16 saw some crucial additions to the team. Forrest Gump and Johnny Slothface were both called up from the DSFL, and the rookies made an immediate impact on the field. The Season 16 draft was sparse for New Orleans, but that didn’t matter: the Second Line improved to a 6-7 record, beating strong teams like eventual champions Arizona and surprise powerhouse Chicago. New Orleans’ talented young core has proven that they can win, and adding some more young talent to that roster will only help put them over the top. They have the #3 overall pick in the Season 17 draft, but the Season 18 draft is where things get interesting. The latest r/nfl rookie class--now at least ninety players strong--will be entering the NSFL in Season 18, and New Orleans is positioned to capitalize on that influx of talent. They have two picks in the first and third rounds each, which means they’ll have their pick of the pool. So, to sum it up: a strong young core that has already proven itself, good positioning in the upcoming draft, and a treasure trove of picks in a stacked draft. When you look at it like that, it’s obvious that New Orleans will be a contender for a long time.
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238 words4) HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS: Write about two offensive and defensive players who have faced off in the playoffs.
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217 words5) SPOTLIGHT ON YOUTH: The first r/nfl wave made our biggest class ever. Now that class is hitting its prime. Write on one of the players in this year's Ultimus Week that are Season 15 and spotlight how they did affect this year's Ultimus.
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227 words7) NEXT YEAR: If your team has been eliminated, why will the next year or the year after that be the year that your team is going to win the Ultimus.
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243 words![[Image: BODE.png]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/800790374204571721/893650710489628732/BODE.png)
